English Translation |
Latin Text |
2.40-56
First before all Laocoon burning runs there from the highest fortress, a great crowd having accompanied, and far off says, ‘O wretched citizens, what so great insanity is this? You believe that the enemy have been carried away? Or do you suppose that any gifts of the Danaans are free from tricks? Is Ulysses thus well-known? Either Achaeans are hidden enclosed in this wood, or this machine has been fashioned against our walls, about to look into houses and to come into the city from above, or some deceit lies; trust not in the horse, Teucrians. Whatever this is, I fear the Danaans even bringing gifts.’ Thus having spoken he hurled with mighty strength his huge spear against the side and against the belly of the beast curved with joints. That thing stood quivering, and, the belly having been struck, the hollow cavities resounded and gave a groan. And, if the fates of the gods, if their intention had not been unlucky, he would not have impelled us to defile with the sword the Argolican hiding places in the beast, and now Troy would stand, and you, high fortress of Priam, would remain. |
2.40-56
Primus ibi ante omnis magna comitante caterva 40 Laocoon ardens summa decurrit ab arce, et procul 'o miseri, quae tanta insania, cives? creditis avectos hostis? aut ulla putatis dona carere dolis Danaum? sic notus Ulixes? aut hoc inclusi ligno occultantur Achivi, 45 aut haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros, inspectura domos venturaque desuper urbi, aut aliquis latet error; equo ne credite, Teucri. quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentis.' sic fatus ualidis ingentem viribus hastam 50 in latus inque feri curvam compagibus alvum contorsit. stetit illa tremens, uteroque recusso insonuere cavae gemitumque dedere cavernae. et, si fata deum, si mens non laeva fuisset, impulerat ferro Argolicas foedare latebras, 55 Troiaque nunc staret, Priamique arx alta maneres. |
2.201-19
Laocoon, a priest for Neptune drawn by lot, was sacrificing a giant bull at the sacred altars. Behold however twin serpents of immense coils from Tenedos across the tranquil deeps—I shudder recounting—lie over the sea and equally reach to the shores, the chests raised between the waves and the bloody crests of which overcome the waves, the remaining part skims the sea behind and twists the immense bodies with coiling. A roar occurs, the salt foaming; and now they were reaching the fields and they burning, having been suffused in their eyes by blood and fire, were licking their hissing mouths with quivering tongues. We flee bloodless because of the sight. Those seek Laocoon in a sure column, and first each serpent having enfolded the small bodies of the two children entwines and feeds on their wretched limbs with biting; after they snatch up him coming for aid and carrying weapons and bind him with giant coils; and now twice having enfolded his middle, twice having placed their scaly bodies around his neck overcome with heads and high necks. |
2.201-19
Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos, sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras. ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta (horresco referens) immensis orbibus angues incumbunt pelago pariterque ad litora tendunt; 205 pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque sanguineae superant undas, pars cetera pontum pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga. fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni 210 sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora. diffugimus visu exsangues. illi agmine certo Laocoonta petunt; et primum parva duorum corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque implicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus; 215 post ipsum auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem corripiunt spirisque ligant ingentibus; et iam bis medium amplexi, bis collo squamea circum terga dati superant capite et cervicibus altis. |
2.220-49
That man soaked with blood and dark poison in bands at once pulls with his hands to tear apart the knots, at once raises horrible shouts to the constellations: such as the roar, when the wounded bull has fled the altar and has shaken off the uncertain ax from its neck. But the twin serpents with gliding flee to the highest temple and seek the citadel of cruel Tritonis, and are hidden both under the feet of the goddess and under the circle of her shield. Then indeed a new terror winds through the having been made tremble chests for all, and they say that Laocoon deserving has paid for the crime, who offended the sacred oak with the spearpoint and hurled the wicked spear against the back. They shout that the image must be led to the seats and that the divinity of the goddess must be prayed to. We divide the walls and open the fortifications of the city. All gird for work and place the rollings of wheels under its feet, and draw the chain of hemp on its neck: the fateful machine climbs the walls, filled with arms. Boys and unmarried girls sing sacred songs around and rejoice to touch the rope with the hand; that thing approaches and rolls threatening into the middle of the city. O fatherland, O divine home Ilium and walls of the Dardanians renowned in war! Four times it stopped in the threshold itself of the gate and four times arms gave a crash in the body; we press on nevertheless unmindful and blind with frenzy and stand the unfortunate monster in the sacred citadel. Then even Cassandra opens mouths, not ever believed by the Trojans at the command of the god, for the future fates. We wretched, for whom that day was the last, cover the temples of the gods in festive branch through the city. |
2.220-49
ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos 220 perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno, clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit: qualis mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram taurus et incertam excussit cervice securim. at gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones 225 effugiunt saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem, sub pedibusque deae clipeique sub orbe teguntur. tum vero tremefacta novus per pectora cunctis insinuat pavor, et scelus expendisse merentem Laocoonta ferunt, sacrum qui cuspide robur 230 laeserit et tergo sceleratam intorserit hastam. ducendum ad sedes simulacrum orandaque divae numina conclamant. dividimus muros et moenia pandimus urbis. accingunt omnes operi pedibusque rotarum 235 subiciunt lapsus, et stuppea vincula collo intendunt; scandit fatalis machina muros feta armis. pueri circum innuptaeque puellae sacra canunt funemque manu contingere gaudent; illa subit mediaeque minans inlabitur urbi. 240 o patria, o divum domus Ilium et incluta bello moenia Dardanidum! quater ipso in limine portae substitit atque utero sonitum quater arma dedere; instamus tamen immemores caecique furore et monstrum infelix sacrata sistimus arce. 245 tunc etiam fatis aperit Cassandra futuris ora dei iussu non umquam credita Teucris. nos delubra deum miseri, quibus ultimus esset ille dies, festa velamus fronde per urbem. |
2.268-97
It was the time at which the first rest for sick mortals begins and most pleasing crawls as a gift of the gods. In dreams, behold, before my eyes the most gloomy Hector seemed to appear to me and pour out abundant tears, having been dragged by chariots as he once was, and black with bloody dust and having been pierced through his swollen feet in thongs. Alas for me, he was such, how much changed from that Hector who returned having donned the spoils of Achilles or having hurled Phrygian fires at the decks of the Danaans; bearing a filthy beard and hair matted with blood and those many wounds, which he received around the walls of his father. Besides I myself weeping was seeming to address the man and express sad voices: ‘O light of Dardanus, O most loyal hope of the Teucrians, what so great delays have held you? From what shores do you, awaited Hector, come? How we weary see you after many funerals of your people, after various sufferings of men and city! What unworthy cause has defiled your fair faces? Or why do I discern these wounds?’ That man says nothing, neither delays me asking vain things; but gravely drawing groans from his deepest chest he says, ‘Alas flee, goddess-born, and rescue yourself from these flames. The enemy holds the wall, Troy is falling from its high peak. Enough has been given for the fatherland and for Priam: if Troy were able to be defended by a right hand, indeed it would have been defended by this one. Troy entrusts its holy things and its household gods to you; seize these companions of your fates, seek great walls for these, the sea having been wandered you will finally establish which things.’ Thus he speaks and with hands carries forth from the inmost sanctuaries the garlands and powerful Vesta and the eternal flame. |
2.268-97
Tempus erat quo prima quies mortalibus aegris incipit et dono divum gratissima serpit. in somnis, ecce, ante oculos maestissimus Hector 270 visus adesse mihi largosque effundere fletus, raptatus bigis ut quondam, aterque cruento pulvere perque pedes traiectus lora tumentis. ei mihi, qualis erat, quantum mutatus ab illo Hectore qui redit exuvias indutus Achilli 275 vel Danaum Phrygios iaculatus puppibus ignis! squalentem barbam et concretos sanguine crinis vulneraque illa gerens, quae circum plurima muros accepit patrios. ultro flens ipse videbar compellare virum et maestas expromere voces: 280 'o lux Dardaniae, spes o fidissima Teucrum, quae tantae tenuere morae? quibus Hector ab oris exspectate venis? ut te post multa tuorum funera, post varios hominumque urbisque labores defessi aspicimus! quae causa indigna serenos 285 foedavit vultus? aut cur haec vulnera cerno?' ille nihil, nec me quaerentem uana moratur, sed graviter gemitus imo de pectore ducens, 'heu fuge, nate dea, teque his' ait 'eripe flammis. hostis habet muros; ruit alto a culmine Troia. 290 sat patriae Priamoque datum: si Pergama dextra defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent. sacra suosque tibi commendat Troia penatis; hos cape fatorum comites, his moenia quaere magna pererrato statues quae denique ponto.' 295 sic ait et manibus vittas Vestamque potentem aeternumque adytis effert penetralibus ignem. |
2.559-87
But then first a fierce terror surrounded me. I was dazed; an image of my dear father came upon me, as I watched the king of equal age breathing out life by a cruel wound, deserted Creusa came upon me and the plundered home and the misfortune of little Iulus. I look back and survey the forces which are around me. All my weary men have deserted, and they have thrown their sick bodies to the earth by leaping and have given them to fires. [And now indeed one I was surviving, when I see Tyndaris guarding the threshold of Vesta and quiet in a secret seat; the fires give a clear light for me wandering and bearing eyes through all things everywhere. That woman fearing in advance the Teucrians hostile to her on account of destroyed Pergama and the penalty of the Danaans and the anger of the deserted husband, the common Erinys of Troy and fatherland, had hidden herself and was sitting hated at the altars. Fires blazed up in my mind; anger comes upon me to avenge the falling fatherland and to exact a wicked punishment. “Doubtless this woman unharmed will see Sparta and her homeland Mycena, and triumph having been acquired will go as a queen. Will she see both her marriage and the home of her father and her sons having been accompanied by a crowd of Ilian women and Phrygian servants? Will Priam have fallen to the sword? Will Troy have burned by fire? Will the Dardanian shore have perspired with blood so many times? Not so. For even if there is not any memorable name in female punishment, this victory holds praise; I will be praised to have extinguished the unspeakable thing nevertheless and to have exacted the deserving punishment, and it will please the spirit to have filled out the rumor† of the vengeful thing and to have satisfied the ashes of my people.” |
2.559-87
At me tum primum saevus circumstetit horror. obstipui; subiit cari genitoris imago, 560 ut regem aequaeuum crudeli vulnere vidi vitam exhalantem, subiit deserta Creusa et direpta domus et parvi casus Iuli. respicio et quae sit me circum copia lustro. deseruere omnes defessi, et corpora saltu 565 ad terram misere aut ignibus aegra dedere. [Iamque adeo super unus eram, cum limina Vestae servantem et tacitam secreta in sede latentem Tyndarida aspicio; dant claram incendia lucem erranti passimque oculos per cuncta ferenti. 570 illa sibi infestos eversa ob Pergama Teucros et Danaum poenam et deserti coniugis iras praemetuens, Troiae et patriae communis Erinys, abdiderat sese atque aris invisa sedebat. exarsere ignes animo; subit ira cadentem 575 ulcisci patriam et sceleratas sumere poenas. 'scilicet haec Spartam incolumis patriasque Mycenas aspiciet, partoque ibit regina triumpho? coniugiumque domumque patris natosque videbit Iliadum turba et Phrygiis comitata ministris? 580 occiderit ferro Priamus? Troia arserit igni? Dardanium totiens sudarit sanguine litus? non ita. namque etsi nullum memorabile nomen feminea in poena est, habet haec victoria laudem; exstinxisse nefas tamen et sumpsisse merentis 585 laudabor poenas, animumque explesse iuvabit ultricis flammae et cineres satiasse meorum.' |
2.588-620
I was throwing out such things and was being carried away by my maddened mind,] when the kind mother presented herself to be seen to me, not as before so clear to the eyes, and shone through the night in pure light, having revealed herself to be a goddess both of such sort and so great as she is accustomed to be seen to divinities, and she restrained me having been seized by her right hand and added these things besides with her rosy mouth: “Son, what so great grief stirs up these uncontrolled angers? For what do you rage? Or to where has your care of us departed? Are you not first looking where you have left your father Anchises, wearied with time, whether your wife Creusa and the boy Ascanius survive? Around all whom everywhere the Greek lines wander and whom, if my care should not stop them, already the flames would have borne away and the hostile sword would have drained. Not does the face hated to you of the Lacedaemonian Tyndaris or blamed Paris; but the cruelty of the gods, the gods, overturn these resources and lay Troy low from its peak. Look (for now I will snatch away every cloud, which now having been drawn over for you watching dims mortal sights and damp darkens things around; you, fear not any commands of your mother nor refuse to yield to instructions): here, where you see the scattered masses and the stones torn off from stones, and the swelling smoke, the dust having been stirred up, Neptune with his great trident shatters the walls and the moved foundations and tears up the whole city from its seats. Here most savage Juno first holds the Scaean gates and raging calls the allied line from the ships, girded with iron. Look back, Tritonian Pallas has already occupied the highest fortresses, glittering from a cloud and with the savage Gorgon. The father himself supplies courage and favorable strength for the Danaans, himself stirs up the gods against the Dardanian arms. Son, seize flight and put an end to your suffering; I will never be far away and I will stand you protected on the threshold of your father.” |
2.588-620
talia iactabam et furiata mente ferebar,] cum mihi se, non ante oculis tam clara, videndam obtulit et pura per noctem in luce refulsit 590 alma parens, confessa deam qualisque videri caelicolis et quanta solet, dextraque prehensum continuit roseoque haec insuper addidit ore: 'nate, quis indomitas tantus dolor excitat iras? quid furis? aut quonam nostri tibi cura recessit? 595 non prius aspicies ubi fessum aetate parentem liqueris Anchisen, superet coniunxne Creusa Ascaniusque puer? quos omnis undique Graiae circum errant acies et, ni mea cura resistat, iam flammae tulerint inimicus et hauserit ensis. 600 non tibi Tyndaridis facies invisa Lacaenae culpatusue Paris, divum inclementia, divum has evertit opes sternitque a culmine Troiam. aspice (namque omnem, quae nunc obducta tuenti mortalis hebetat visus tibi et umida circum 605 caligat, nubem eripiam; tu ne qua parentis iussa time neu praeceptis parere recusa): hic, ubi disiectas moles avulsaque saxis saxa vides, mixtoque undantem pulvere fumum, Neptunus muros magnoque emota tridenti 610 fundamenta quatit totamque a sedibus urbem eruit. hic Iuno Scaeas saevissima portas prima tenet sociumque furens a navibus agmen ferro accincta vocat. iam summas arces Tritonia, respice, Pallas 615 insedit nimbo effulgens et Gorgone saeva. ipse pater Danais animos virisque secundas sufficit, ipse deos in Dardana suscitat arma. eripe, nate, fugam finemque impone labori; nusquam abero et tutum patrio te limine sistam.' 620 |