Aeneid, lines 370-401

Primus se Danaum magna comitante caterva

Androgeos was the first to offer himself to us with a big crowd of Greeks accompanying,

Androgeos offert nobis, socia agmina credens

unaware and believing the massed troops to be allied,

inscius, atque ultro verbis compellat amicis:

and of his own accord he called out with friendly words:

'festinate, viri! nam quae tam sera moratur

“Hurry, men! Come now, what slow sluggishness delays you?

segnities? alii rapiunt incensa feruntque

The others are seizing and pillaging burning Troy:

Pergama: vos celsis nunc primum a navibus itis?'

Are you now for the first time coming from the tall ships?

dixit, et extemplo (neque enim responsa dabantur

He spoke, and straightaway (for sufficiently believable answers were not being given),

fida satis) sensit medios delapsus in hostis.

he sensed that he had strayed into the middle of the enemy.

obstipuit retroque pedem cum voce repressit.

He was astonished and held back his feet along with his voice.

improvisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem

As one who in harsh thickets pushes down upon an unanticipated snake,

pressit humi nitens trepidusque repente refugit

treading hard on the ground and, fearful, retreats suddenly

attollentem iras et caerula colla tumentem,

from it as it raises its anger and swells its blue-green neck,

haud secus Androgeos visu tremefactus abibat.

just so did Androgeos begin to withdraw, made to tremble by the sight.

inruimus densis et circumfundimur armis,

We charged forwards and surrounded them with close-packed weapons,

ignarosque loci passim et formidine captos

and on every side we crushed them, unaware of the location and captured by fear;

sternimus; aspirat primo Fortuna labori.

Fortune smiled on our first toil.

atque hic successu exsultans animisque Coroebus

And at this point, Coroebus, exultant in success and spirit, said

'o socii, qua prima' inquit 'Fortuna salutis

“O allies, where Fortune first shows the path of safety,

monstrat iter, quaque ostendit se dextra, sequamur:

and where she shows herself to be favourable, let us follow:

mutemus clipeos Danaumque insignia nobis

let us change our shields and put the emblems of the Greeks onto ourselves.

aptemus. dolus an virtus, quis in hoste requirat?

Who asks whether it’s deceit or courage in war?

arma dabunt ipsi.' sic fatus deinde comantem

They themselves will give us arms.” Thus he spoke and then put on

Androgei galeam clipeique insigne decorum

Androgeos’ plumed helmet and the shield with its beautiful design

induitur laterique Argiuum accommodat ensem.

and he attached an Argive sword to his side.

hoc Rhipeus, hoc ipse Dymas omnisque iuventus

Rhipeus did this, Dymas himself did this and all the happy young men

laeta facit: spoliis se quisque recentibus armat.

each man armed himself with the recent spoils.

vadimus immixti Danais haud numine nostro

We proceeded, mingled with the Greeks, with an unfamiliar divine power leading

multaque per caecam congressi proelia noctem

and, having clashed, joined many battles throughout the blind night,

conserimus, multos Danaum demittimus Orco.

we sent many of the Greeks down to Orcus.

diffugiunt alii ad navis et litora cursu

Some scattered to the ships and by running

fida petunt; pars ingentem formidine turpi

made for the trustworthy shores; others climbed the huge horse again in shameful terror

scandunt rursus equum et nota conduntur in alvo.

and they hid themselves in its familiar belly.