virgil section 8

talibus insidiis periurique arte Sinonis credita res,

The situation was believed by such tricks and skill of Lying Sinon

captique dolis lacrimisque coactis quos neque Tydides nec Larisaeus Achilles,

and we were entrapped by his tricks and forced tears, Which neither Diomed, nor Larisaeus nor Achilles

non anni domuere decem, non mille carinae.

Nor the 10 years of war, nor the 1000 ships had conquered.

hic aliud maius miseris multoque tremendum obicitur magis atque improvida pectora turbat.

At this point another greater and more dreadful (event) Was presented to us wretches and agitated our unsuspecting hearts even more.

Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos, sollemnes taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.

Laocoon, chosen by lot as a priest of Neptune, Was sacrificing a huge bull at the appointed altar.

ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta (horresco referens) immensis orbibus angues

But look, a pair of snakes with huge coils were leaning over the tranquille sea From Tenedos (I shudder as I am saying it),

incumbunt pelago pariterque ad litora tendunt;

And side by side they were heading for the shore,

pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque sanguineae superant undas,

Their chests rearing up over the wave and their Blood red crests towered above the waves,

pars cetera pontum pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga.

the rest (of their body) Skimmed the sea behind them and their back arched in a huge coil.

fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant

And there was a roar from the foaming sea; and now they reached the land

ardentesque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.

And their burning eyes flecked with blood and fire, they were Licking their hissing jaws with their flickering tongues.

diffugimus visu exsangues.

Pale with fright, we fled from the sight.

. illi agmine certo Laocoonta petunt;

They made for Laoccon in a straight line,

et primum parva duorum corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque implicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus;

and first each snake enfolded The small bodies of his children in their grasp And fed on their wretched limbs with their bite;

post ipsum auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem corripiunt spirisque ligant ingentibus;

Then they seized him, as he as coming up to help and carrying weapons And encircled him in their huge coils;

et iam bis medium amplexi,

and now Twice grasping his middle,

bis collo squamea circum terga dati superant capite et cervicibus altis.

With their scaly backs, they towered above him with their heads and high necks.

ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno,

He now struggled to tear away the knots from his hands His sacred headbands soaked in blood and black poison,

clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit:

Now he lifted up dreadful shouts to the stars:

quales mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram taurus et incertam excussit cervice securim

Just like a bellowing bull that has fled wounded from the altar And shook off the badly aimed axe from his neck.

at gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones effugiunt saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem,

But the two snakes escaped, gliding to the high shrine And they seek the citadel of savage Pallas Athena

sub pedibusque deae clipeique sub orbe teguntur.

They were hidden under the goddess’ feet and the circle of her shield.