Aeneid 2.162-202

omnis spes Danaum et coepti fiducia belli

All the hope of the Greeks and their confidence in this war they began

Palladis auxiliis semper stetit.

has always rested on the help of Pallas Athene.

impius ex quo Tydides sed enim scelerumque inventor Ulixes,

But in fact, from the time when the godless son of Tydeus (Diomedes) and the originator of wickedness, Ulysses,

fatale adgressi sacrato avellere templo Palladium

daring to tear away the fateful Palladium from its sacred temple

caesis summae custodibus arcis,

by slaughtering the guards on the top of the citadel

corripuere sacram effigiem manibusque cruentis

snatched away the sacred image and, with bloodied hands,

virgineas ausi divae contingere vittas,

dared to sully the maiden headbands of the goddess,

ex illo fluere ac retro sublapsa referri spes Danaum,

it was from that time that the hope of the Greeks ebbed away slipping backwards, was carried off

fractae vires, aversa deae mens.

their strength was shattered, the mind of the goddess was turned from them.

nec dubiis ea signa dedit Tritonia monstris.

With no doubtful omens, Minerva fgave these signs.

vix positum castris simulacrum:

Scarcely had the image been placed in the camp:

arsere coruscae luminibus flammae arrectis,

when there blazed forth glinting flames from her staring eyes

salsusque per artus sudor iit,

and salty sweat spread over her limbs,

terque ipsa solo (mirabile dictu)

and three times did she herself spring up from the ground (amazing to relate),

emicuit parmamque ferens hastamque trementem.

carrying her small shield and quivering spear.

extemplo temptanda fuga canit aequora Calchas,

At once they must make trial of the seas in flight, chanted Calchas,

nec posse Argolicis exscindi Pergama telis omina ni repetant Argis

nor (he said) could Pergamum be uprooted by Greek spears unless they were to seek new auspices in Argos

numenque reducant quod pelago et curvis secum auexere carinis.

and bring back the god which they have carried away with them over the sea in their curved ships

et nunc quod patrias vento petiere Mycenas,

And now, as to the fact that they have sought their native Mycenae with the wind,

arma deosque parant comites

they are preparing weapons and gods as their companions

pelagoque remenso improvisi aderunt;

once they have retraced their sea-voyage, unexpected they will be upon us;

ita digerit omina Calchas.

thus it was that Calchas explained the omens.

hanc pro Palladio moniti, pro numine laeso

effigiem statuere,

This image here they set up in place of the Palladium once they had received the warning,

nefas quae triste piaret.

to expiate the woeful wrongdoing.

hanc tamen immensam Calchas attollere molem roboribus textis caeloque educere iussit,

But Calchas ordered them to raise high this structure here with interlocking timbers and to build it up to the heavens,

ne recipi portis aut duci in moenia posset,

so that it could not be received inside the gates or led inside the walls,

neu populum antiqua sub religione tueri.

or to protect your people under the ancient sanctity.

nam si vestra manus violasset dona Minervae,

For if your hand violates this gift to Minerva,

tum magnum exitium (quod di prius omen in ipsum convertant!)

then great destruction (may the gods first turn this omen upon Calchas himself!),

Priami imperio Phrygibusque futurum;

will be visited upon Priam's kingdom and his Phrygians;

sin manibus vestris vestram ascendisset in urbem,

but if by your hands it ascends into your city,

ultro Asiam magno Pelopea ad moenia bello venturam,

of her own accord will Asia come in mighty warfare to the walls of Pelops,

et nostros ea fata manere nepotes.'

and this is the fate that awaits our grandsons.'

talibus insidiis periurique arte Sinonis credita res,

It was through such deception and the skill of the perjuring Sinon that the tale was believed,

captique dolis lacrimisque coactis

and we were trapped by his trickery and forced tears

quos neque Tydides nec Larisaeus Achilles,

- men whom neither Tydeus' son (Diomedes) nor Achilles of Larissa,

non anni domuere decem, non mille carinae.

not ten years, not a thousand ships brought to our knees.

hic aliud maius miseris multoque tremendum obicitur magis

At this point, in our wretchedness, another thing, greater and much more terrible befell us

atque improvida pectora turbat.

and confused our unsuspecting hearts.

Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,

Laocoon, drawn by lot as Neptune's priest,

sollemnes taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.

at the solemn altars was in the act of sacrificing a huge bull.