primus ibi ante omnes, magna comitante caterva, 40
Laocoon ardens summa decurrit ab arce,
et procul: ‘o miseri, quae tanta insania, cives?
creditis avectos hostes? 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 ferentes.
sic fatus validis 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.

Then first, before all, with a great crowd accompanying him,
Laocoon runs down from the high citadel blazing,
and from a distance (cries): “Oh wretched citizens, what great madness is this?
Do you believe the enemy has sailed away? Or do you think
any gift of the Greeks might lack trickery? Is this how well you know Ulysses?
Either the Greeks are hidden, shut inside this wood,
or this machine has been built to attack our walls,
to spy on our homes and come down from above upon the city,
or some other deception lies hidden: do not trust the horse, Trojans.
Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks, even when bearing gifts.”
So he spoke, and with great strength hurled his massive spear
into the side and into the belly of the beast, curved with joints.
There it stood, trembling, and as the womb was struck,
the hollow caverns resounded and gave out a groan.
And if the gods’ utterances, if their minds had not been unfavourable,
he would have driven us to defile the Greek hiding places with steel,
and Troy would now stand, and you, high citadel of Priam, would remain.”

How does Virgil make this a memorable passage?

This scene is a dramatic account of the moment the Trojans discovered a huge wooden horse on the shore outside their city. It is being told to the Carthaginian queen, Dido, by her guest, the recently shipwrecked Aeneas, who not only survived the events he describes, but was also an eye-witness to them.

The Trojans cannot decide what to do with the horse, and in this passage the Trojan priest Laocoon rushes down from the citadel to warn the Trojans that it is a trap – what more should they expect from the Greeks? He then strikes the horse with his spear and both we and Aeneas sense how agonisingly close Laocoon was to foiling the whole scheme, and thus preventing the annihilation of Troy.

It is clear that Laocoon will be the main character in Virgil’s account of the Trojan Horse because, even before we hear his name, we are told that he arrives “primus ante omnes” (“first before all”) and “magna comitante caterva” (“with a great crowd accompanying him”). His eagerness to arrive first is emphasised by the position of “primus” at the start of the line and the reinforcement of “ante omnes.” His influence among the Trojans is shown by size of the crowd accompanying him (“magna”) and the alliteration of “comitante caterva.” When Laocoon’s name is finally dropped, it starts a new line for extra impact, immediately followed by “ardens” (literally “burning”), implying not just eagerness but urgency. This sense of emergency continues with “decurrit” (“he ran down”) and the fact that he calls out to the Trojans before he has even got to them (“procul”) – the omission of any verb of speaking also adds to the pressing nature of the situation.

Laocoon’s speech is an attempt to win over the Trojans to his point of view. He is convinced that the horse is a trap. He addresses his fellow Trojans as “miseri cives” (“wretched citizens”) to get their attention, which encloses the stark question “quae tanta insania” (“what great madness is this?”) – Laocoon cannot believe that some of them are suggesting the horse might be a good thing, and his incredulity is pointed up by the assonance of “a” in his question. A flurry of further questions follows: do the Trojans really think the Greeks have sailed away (“creditis avectos hostes?”); do they think any Greek gifts could be free from trickery? (“ulla putatis dona carere dolis Danaum”); have they forgotten Ulysses? (“sic notus Ulixes?”). Each question is missing a form of “esse”, making them more direct. The alliteration of “dona…dolis Danauum” emphasises Laocoon’s suspicions, and the name “Ulixes” is placed last to create a strong irony: Laocoon uses Ulysses’ name as an egregious example of a deceptive Greek, but Ulysses will become world famous for masterminding the wooden horse. He then makes a series of predictions, all neatly introduced by “aut,” all chillingly close to the mark. First, perhaps there are Greeks hidden shut inside the wooden horse (“aut hoc inclusi ligno occultantur Achivi”) – an idea which is visualised in the enclosing word order of “hoc inclusi ligno.” Then, perhaps the horse is some sort of siege machine (“machina”) designed to attack the city walls (“muros”) – a vivid alliteration. Laocoon even gives a direct instruction to the Trojans: “equo ne credite” (“Don’t trust the horse!”) before uttering a phrase so memorable that it is still well-known today: “I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts” (“timeo Danaos et dona ferentes”) – the “d” alliteration and a chiasmus further underline the Latin phrase.

As soon as Laocoon finishes speaking (“sic fatus”), he hurls his huge spear into the side of the structure. Virgil uses a variety of techniques to make the moment as dramatic as possible. The huge spear is thrown with almighty strength (“validis ingentem viribus hastam”): the interlocking word order and striking alliteration of “v” convey the idea of Laocoon’s epic power. The spear goes into the side and belly of the beast (“in latus inque feri alvum”), the anaphora of “in” driving home the penetrating force of the spear. Finally, the actual hurling of the weapon is emphasised by the delay and enjambment of “contorsit” (“he hurled”). There is a dramatic pause as the lodged spear vibrates (“stetit illa tremens”) before noises from within the horse betray its hollow structure: “insonuere cavae gemitumque dedere cavernae” (“the hollow chamber echoed and gave forth a groan”). The tension is marked up by the emphatic placement of “insonuere” (“resounded”) at the start of the line, the alliteration of “cavae gemitumque … cavernae” and the image of a groaning horse (“gemitum dedere”) brings the structure to life (as well as suggesting that perhaps a Greek warrior was struck by the spear).

The drama of the passage is intensified in the final lines as the narrator, Aeneas, considers how close Laocoon was to saving Troy from destruction. He exclaims “si fata deum, si mens non laeva fuisset” (“if the utterances of the gods, if their will had not been unfavourable”). The anaphora of “si,” the tautology of “fata deum” and “mens” and the litotes of “non laeva” all serve to highlight Aeneas’ agony as he ponders “what if?” He almost relishes in the idea of Greek slaughter when he says “he would have driven us to stain the Greek hiding place with our swords” (“impulerat ferro Argolicas foedare latebras”), and the final line produces the most emotional impact: “Troy would now be standing, and you, tall citadel of Priam, would remain” (“Troiaque nunc staret, Priamique arx alta maneres”). The poignant 2nd person address (“maneres”) to the ruined city gives the sense that Aeneas’ affection for his lost country is undimmed, and his pain, even after so many years, is still unrelentingly raw.

ecce, manus iuvenem interea post terga revinctum
pastores magno ad regem clamore trahebant
Dardanidae, qui se ignotum venientibus ultro,
hoc ipsum ut strueret Troiamque aperiret Achivis, 60
obtulerat, fidens animi atque in utrumque paratus,
seu versare dolos seu certae occumbere morti.
undique visendi studio Troiana iuventus
circumfusa ruit certantque inludere capto.
accipe nunc Danaum insidias et crimine ab uno 65
disce omnes.
namque ut conspectu in medio turbatus, inermis
constitit atque oculis Phrygia agmina circumspexit,
‘heu, quae nunc tellus, inquit, quae me aequora possunt
accipere? aut quid iam misero mihi denique restat, 70
cui neque apud Danaos usquam locus, et super ipsi
Dardanidae infensi poenas cum sanguine poscunt?’
quo gemitu conversi animi compressus et omnis
impetus. hortamur fari quo sanguine cretus,
quidve ferat; memoret quae sit fiducia capto. 75
[ille haec deposita tandem formidine]:

Look, in the meantime Trojan shepherds were dragging a young man
with his hands tied behind his back to the king with much shouting,
who had offered himself voluntarily, as a stranger, to those coming along,
in order to contrive precisely this and to open up Troy to the Greeks,
confident in spirit and ready for either outcome:
either to continue spinning his lies or to meet with certain death.
From all sides rushed the Trojan youth, pouring round in their eagerness
to see and competing to mock the prisoner.
Listen now to the treachery of the Greeks and from one crime
learn them all.
For when he stood in the middle of their view, agitated
and unarmed, and looked around at the Trojan ranks with his eyes,
he said, “Alas, what land now, what seas can
receive me? What is left, in the end, for me in my misery,
for whom there is no place anywhere among the Greeks, and moreover
the hostile Trojans themselves demand punishment with my blood?”
At this groaning, their minds changed and all violence
was restrained. We urged him to say from what blood he was born,
what he was reporting, to state what assurance he had as a captive.
[Then, having put aside his fear, he spoke at last:]

‘cuncta equidem tibi, rex, fuerit quodcumque, fatebor
vera, inquit; neque me Argolica de gente negabo.
hoc primum. nec, si miserum Fortuna Sinonem
finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque improba finget.80
fando aliquod si forte tuas pervenit ad aures
Belidae nomen Palamedis et incluta fama
gloria, quem falsa sub proditione Pelasgi
insontem infando indicio, quia bella vetabat,
demisere neci, nunc cassum lumine lugent85
illi me comitem et consanguinitate propinquum
pauper in arma pater primis huc misit ab annis.
dum stabat regno incolumis regumque vigebat
conciliis, et nos aliquod nomenque decusque
gessimus. invidia postquam pellacis Ulixi90
(haud ignota loquor) superis concessit ab oris,
adflictus vitam in tenebris luctuque trahebam
et casum insontis mecum indignabar amici.
nec tacui demens et me, fors si qua tulisset,
si patrios umquam remeassem victor ad Argos,95
promisi ultorem et verbis odia aspera movi.
hinc mihi prima mali labes, hinc semper Ulixes
criminibus terrere novis, hinc spargere voces
in vulgum ambiguas et quaerere conscius arma.
nec requievit enim, donec Calchante ministro —100
sed quid ego haec autem nequiquam ingrata revolvo,
quidve moror? si omnes uno ordine habetis Achivos,
idque audire sat est, iamdudum sumite poenas:
hoc Ithacus velit et magno mercentur Atridae.’

‘I shall indeed confess to you the whole truth, king, whatever happens,’
he said; and I shall not deny that I am from the Argive race.
This is the first thing. Nor, if Fortune has made Sinon wretched,
will she unjustly also make him false and a liar.
If, by chance, in discussion the name of Palamedes, son of Belus,
has reached your ears at all and his renown famous by report,
whom, under a false charge of treachery, with shocking evidence,
because he was against the war, the Greeks sent down to death
though innocent, now they mourn him, deprived of the light:
As a companion and close relative to him,
my poor father sent me here to arms from my teenage years.
While he stood safe in his royal power and thrived in the councils
of kings, I too bore some name and some
glory. But when, due to the malice of the deceitful Ulysses
(I say things not unknown) he withdrew from the shores above,
having been cast down I dragged out a life in darkness and grief
and in myself I was indignant at the fate of an innocent friend.
Nor in my madness was I silent and, if any chance would bear it,
if i might ever return to my homeland Argos, I promised that
I would be an avenger and I stirred up harsh hatred in words.
From here came the first slip of evil for me, from then Ulysses
always terrified me with fresh accusations, from then he sowed
dark rumours among the people and sought arms as a conspirator.
Nor indeed did he rest until, with the help of Calchas –
but why, however, do I repeat these unpleasant things in vain,
why do i delay? If you hold all Greeks in one category,
it is enough to be called this. Exact the punishment long overdue:
the Ithacan would wish for this and the Atreidae would pay a lot for it.

tum vero ardemus scitari et quaerere causas, 105
ignari scelerum tantorum artisque Pelasgae.
prosequitur pavitans et ficto pectore fatur:
‘saepe fugam Danai Troia cupiere relicta
moliri et longo fessi discedere bello;
fecissentque utinam! saepe illos aspera ponti 110
interclusit hiems et terruit Auster euntes.
praecipue cum iam hic trabibus contextus acernis
staret equus, toto sonuerunt aethere nimbi.
suspensi Eurypylum scitatum oracula Phoebi
mittimus, isque adytis haec tristia dicta reportat: 115
“sanguine placastis ventos et virgine caesa,
cum primum Iliacas, Danai, venistis ad oras;
sanguine quaerendi reditus animaque litandum
Argolica.” vulgi quae vox ut venit ad aures,
obstipuere animi gelidusque per ima cucurrit 120
ossa tremor, cui fata parent, quem poscat Apollo.
hic Ithacus vatem magno Calchanta tumultu
protrahit in medios; quae sint ea numina divum
flagitat. et mihi iam multi crudele canebant
artificis scelus, et taciti ventura videbant. 125
bis quinos silet ille dies tectusque recusat
prodere voce sua quemquam aut opponere morti.
vix tandem, magnis Ithaci clamoribus actus,
composito rumpit vocem et me destinat arae.
adsensere omnes et, quae sibi quisque timebat, 130
unius in miseri exitium conversa tulere.
iamque dies infanda aderat; mihi sacra parari
et salsae fruges et circum tempora vittae.
eripui, fateor, leto me et vincula rupi,
limosoque lacu per noctem obscurus in ulva 135
delitui dum vela darent, si forte dedissent.
nec mihi iam patriam antiquam spes ulla videndi
nec dulces natos exoptatumque parentem,
quos illi fors et poenas ob nostra reposcent
effugia, et culpam hanc miserorum morte piabunt. 140
quod te per superos et conscia numina veri,
per si qua est quae restet adhuc mortalibus usquam
intemerata fides, oro, miserere laborum
tantorum, miserere animi non digna ferentis?’

Then indeed we were eager to ask and seek the causes,
unaware of such great crimes and the Greek art.
Trembling, he continued and spoke from his false heart:
‘Often the Greeks have longed to abandon Troy and
to attempt flight and leave, exhausted by the long war.
If only they had done so! Often a harsh storm cut them off on
the sea and the south wind terrified them as they tried to go.
Especially when this horse, woven from maple beams, was now
standing, the storm clouds resounded through the whole sky.
Anxious, we sent Eurypylus to consult the oracle of Phoebus,
and he brought back these unfortunate words from the sanctuary:
“You appeased the winds with blood and a slaughtered maiden,
when first, Greeks, you came to the shores of Troy;
the return must be sought with blood and a sacrifice made with the
life of a Greek.” When this utterance reached the ears of the crowd,
minds were numb and an icy tremor ran through the innermost bones:
for whom were the fates preparing things? Whom was Apollo demanding?
At this point the Ithacan dragged forward the prophet Calchas with great
commotion into the middle of them; he urgently requested what the will of
the gods was. And now many were predicting the cruel wickedness of the
schemer against me, and were seeing in silence what would come to pass.
For ten days he was silent and in his tent refused
to betray anyone with his words and to expose him to death.
Finally, with difficulty, driven by the great cries of the Ithacan,
by agreement he burst into speech and destined me for the altar.
Everyone approved and, what each man was fearing for himself,
he tolerated when it was directed at the ruin of a wretched individual.
And now the horrific day had arrived; sacred rites were being prepared for me:
both the salted grain and the headband around the temples.
I confess, I snatched myself from death and broke my chains,
and by a muddy lake, throughout the night, I hid concealed in the
swamp-grass until they set sail, if they happened to do so.
And there was no hope for me now of seeing my ancient homeland
nor my sweet children nor my longed-for father,
on whom they will exact punishment because of my
escape, and will make amends for this guilt with the deaths of wretches.
Now by the gods above and the divine powers privy to the truth,
by whatever unviolated trust there is which still remains for humans
everywhere, I beg you: pity such great
toils, pity a soul enduring undeserved things.

his lacrimis vitam damus et miserescimus ultro. 145
ipse viro primus manicas atque arta levari
vincla iubet Priamus dictisque ita fatur amicis:
‘quisquis es, amissos hinc iam obliviscere Graios
(noster eris) mihique haec edissere vera roganti:
quo molem hanc immanis equi statuere? quis auctor? 150
quidve petunt? quae religio? aut quae machina belli?’
dixerat. ille dolis instructus et arte Pelasga
sustulit exutas vinclis ad sidera palmas:
‘vos, aeterni ignes, et non violabile vestrum
testor numen, ait, ‘vos arae ensesque nefandi, 155
quos fugi, vittaeque deum, quas hostia gessi:
fas mihi Graiorum sacrata resolvere iura,
fas odisse viros atque omnia ferre sub auras,
si qua tegunt; teneor patriae nec legibus ullis.
tu modo promissis maneas servataque serves 160
Troia fidem, si vera feram, si magna rependam.
omnis spes Danaum et coepti fiducia belli
Palladis auxiliis semper stetit. impius ex quo
Tydides sed enim scelerumque inventor Ulixes,
fatale adgressi sacrato avellere templo 165
Palladium caesis summae custodibus arcis,
corripuere sacram effigiem manibusque cruentis
virgineas ausi divae contingere vittas,
ex illo fluere ac retro sublapsa referri
spes Danaum, fractae vires, aversa deae mens. 170
nec dubiis ea signa dedit Tritonia monstris.
vix positum castris simulacrum: arsere coruscae
luminibus flammae arrectis, salsusque per artus
sudor iit, terque ipsa solo (mirabile dictu)
emicuit parmamque ferens hastamque trementem. 175
extemplo temptanda fuga canit aequora Calchas,
nec posse Argolicis exscindi Pergama telis
omina ni repetant Argis numenque reducant
quod pelago et curvis secum avexere carinis.
et nunc quod patrias vento petiere Mycenas, 180
arma deosque parant comites pelagoque remenso
improvisi aderunt; ita digerit omina Calchas.
hanc pro Palladio moniti, pro numine laeso
effigiem statuere, nefas quae triste piaret.
hanc tamen immensam Calchas attollere molem 185
roboribus textis caeloque educere iussit,
ne recipi portis aut duci in moenia posset,
neu populum antiqua sub religione tueri.
nam si vestra manus violasset dona Minervae,
tum magnum exitium (quod di prius omen in ipsum 190
convertant!) Priami imperio Phrygibusque futurum;
sin manibus vestris vestram ascendisset in urbem,
ultro Asiam magno Pelopea ad moenia bello
venturam, et nostros ea fata manere nepotes.

To these tears we granted life and felt pity besides.
Priam himself was the first to order the man’s handcuffs and tight
chains to be lifted and spoke thus with friendly words:
‘Whoever you are, from now on forget the Greeks you have lost
(you will be one of us) and explain truthfully to me when I ask these things:
Why have they erected this bulk of a huge horse? Who was the instigator?
What do they seek? What sacred object is it? What machine of war?’
He had spoken. Sinon, trained in tricks and the Greek art,
raised his palms, freed from chains, to the stars:
‘I call to witness you, everlasting fires, and your untouchable
divine power,’ he said, ‘you altars and wicked swords, which I have fled,
and the sacred ribbons of the gods, which I wore as a sacrificial victim:
it is lawful for me to renounce the sacred laws of the Greeks,
it is lawful to hate the people and bring everything out into the open,
whatever they are hiding; nor am I bound by any laws of my country.
May you only stand by your promises, Troy, and having been kept safe,
keep safe your faith in me, if I relay the truth, if I pay great rewards.
All the hope of the Greeks, and their confidence in the war they started,
always depended on the help of Pallas. But indeed, from the time when
the sinful Diomedes and Ulysses, author of evil deeds,
attempting to tear away the fateful Palladium from its sacred
temple after slaughtering the guards of the high citadel,
took hold of the sacred statue and with bloody hands
dared to touched the sacred ribbons of the virgin goddess,
from that time the Greeks’ hope ebbed and, sliding backwards,
was swept away; their strength was broken, the mind of the goddess hostile.
And Tritonia gave these signs by no uncertain portents.
Scarcely was the image placed in the camp (when) gleaming flames
blazed from her staring eyes, and salty sweat ran along her
limbs, and three times she herself (incredible to report) leapt up from
the ground, carrying both her shield and quivering spear.
Immediately, Calchas predicted that we should attempt the seas in flight,
and that Troy could not be destroyed with Argive weapons
unless they sought again the auspices at Argos and restored her divine
favour which they carried with them on the sea in their curved ships.
And now, as to the fact they have sought their native Mycenae by wind,
they are preparing arms and gods as companions and, recrossing the sea,
they will be here unexpectedly; thus Calchas interprets the omens.
Having been warned, they erected this statue in place of the Palladium,
for her wounded divinity, so that it may compensate for their wretched sin.
However, Calchas ordered them to raise this massive bulk
of interwoven oak-timbers and to build it up to the sky,
so that it could not be admitted through the gates nor led inside the city walls,
nor protect the people under their traditional religious practice.
For (he said that) if your hands should violate the gifts of Minerva,
then a great destruction (may the gods first turn this omen against
Calchas himself!) would be upon the kingdom of Priam and the Trojans;
but if it should be lifted into your city by your hands,
that Asia would come unprovoked in a mighty war to the walls
of Pelops, and such a fate awaits our descendants.’

talibus insidiis periurique arte Sinonis 195
credita res, captique dolis lacrimisque coactis
quos neque Tydides nec Larisaeus Achilles,
non anni domuere decem, non mille carinae.
hic aliud maius miseris multoque tremendum
obicitur magis atque improvida pectora turbat. 200
Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,
sollemnes 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
ardentesque 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.
ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos 220
perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno,
clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit:
quales 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.

By such treachery and the skill of the oath-breaker Sinon, the story
was believed, and we were deceived by his tricks and forced tears,
we whom neither Diomedes nor Larissan Achilles,
nor ten years conquered, nor a thousand ships.
At this point, another thing more significant and much more dreadful was
presented to us wretches, and it threw into confusion our unwary hearts.
Laocoon, appointed priest to Neptune by lot,
was sacrificing a huge bull at the established altars.
But look! From Tenedos, over the calm sea, two
snakes (I shudder as I relate it) with huge coils
lean upon the sea and head towards the shores side by side;
their breasts, upright amid the flows, and their blood-red
crests rise over the waves, the other part skims the sea
behind and bends their huge backs into coils.
A noise arises from the foaming sea; and now they took hold of the fields
and, with their burning eyes tinged with blood and fire,
they were licking their hissing mouths with their flickering tongues.
We scattered, made pale at the sight. But they, with an unwavering course,
head for Laocoon; and first each serpent, embracing the small bodies of his
two sons, entwines them and feeds on their wretched limbs by biting;
next, they snatch Laocoon himself, as he approached to help and carrying
weapons and they bind him in their huge folds; and now,
twice having embraced his torso, twice having placed their scaly backs around
his neck, they rise over him with their heads and tall necks.
While he strives to tear apart the knots with his hands,
his sacred ribbons dripping with gore and black poison,
at the same time he raises dreadful cries to the stars:
just like the bellowing when a wounded bull flees from the
altar and has shaken off a poorly-aimed axe from its neck.
But the two snakes, by gliding to the highest shrines,
escape and head to the citadel of cruel Tritonia,
and hide under the feet of the goddess and beneath her shield.
Then indeed a strange panic wormed its way through the hearts
of everyone, and they said that Laocoon had paid for his crime
deservedly, because he had damaged the sacred oak with his
spear and hurled his accursed spear at the back.
They cried out that the image should be brought to the temple and that
they should beg for the favour of the goddess.

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.

We part the walls and open up the city’s fortifications.
Everyone gets ready for the task and sets beneath its feet
gliding wheels, and they stretch cords of flax upon the
neck; the machine of doom scales the walls, pregnant
with armed men. The boys around and unmarried girls
chant hymns and rejoice to touch the rope with their hands;
it moves on and menacingly glides into the centre of the city.
O my country! O Ilium, home of the gods, and the walls of the
Trojans, celebrated in war! Four times, on the very threshold of the gate,
it stops and four times the weapons make a sound in its womb;
yet we pressed on mindlessly and blind with frenzy
and we placed the cursed monster on our holy citadel.
Even then, Cassandra opened her lips for the fates to come,
which were never believed by the Trojans on the order of the god.
We wretches, since for us that day would be the last,
adorned the shrines throughout the city with festal garlands.