Aeneid 2.212-227: Laocoön and the serpents - Laocoön's fate

Pale at the sight

visu exsangues

we scatter.

diffugimus.

They make for Laocoön

illi Laocoonta petunt

in a direct line;

agmine certo

and first

et primum

each serpent

uterque serpens

wraps up [and] encircles

amplexus implicat

the small bodies

parva corpora

of his two sons

duorum natorum

and biting at them,

et morsu

devours their wretched limbs:

miseros depascitur artus

Then

post

as Laocoon himself comes to help,

ipsum auxilio subeuntem

weapons in hand

[ac] tela ferentem

they grab [him],

corripiunt

and bind [him]

ligant

in massive coils:

spiris ingentibus

and now they encircle his waist twice;

et iam bis medium amplexi

twice they wind

bis circum_dati

their scaly backs/bodies

squamea terga

around his neck,

collo

they tower above him

superant

with their high necks and heads.

apite et cervicibus altis.

At the same time he strains

ille simul tendit

to wrench off the knots

divellere nodos

with his hands,

manibus

his sacred headband drenched

perfusus vittas

in blood and dark venom,

sanie atroque veneno,

while he raises terrible shouts

simul clamores horrendos tollit

to the stars,

ad sidera:

like the bellowing

qualis mugitus,

when a wounded bull has fled

cum taurus saucius fugit

the altar,

aram

[and] has shaken the useless axe

incertam excussit securim

from its neck.

cervice

But the serpent pair escape,

at gemini dracones effugiunt

slithering away

lapsu

to the highest temple,

delubra ad summa

and seek the stronghold

petunt arcem

of fierce Pallas,

saevaeque Tritonidis

and are protected

teguntur

under the goddess's feet,

sub pedibusque deae

and the circle of her shield.

clipeique sub orbe.