172-194 Virgil book 2

vix positum castris simulacrum: arsere coruscae

luminibus flammae arrectis, salsusque per artus

Scarcely was the statue placed in the camp when flickering flames blazed

from its uplifted eyes, and salty sweat went through its limbs

sudor iit, terque ipsa solo (mirabile dictu)

emicuit parmamque ferens hastamque terentem

and three times she herself (strange o tell)

flashed from the ground and holding a shield and a trembling spear

extemplo temptanda fuga canit aequora Calchas

nec posse Argolicis exscindi Pergama telis

Immediately Calchas prophesised that they should try to flee across the sea

and that Troy could not be destroyed by the greek weapons

omina ni repetant Argis numenque reducant

quod pelago et curvis secum avexere carinis

unless they were to seek again omens from argos and bring back divine favour

which they had brought away with them in their round ships

et nunc quod patrias vento petiere Mycenas,

arma deosque parant comites pelagoque remenso

and now because they were making for Native Mycenea with a wind

and they were preparing weapons and the gods as their companions, having returned their sea journy

improvisi aderunt; ita digerit omina Calchas.

hanc pro Palladio moniti, pro numine laeso

they will arrive unexpectedly; in this way Calchas explained the omens

As advised they have set up this horse to atone for the Palladian statue

effigiem statuere, nefas quae triste piaret.

hanc tamen immensam Calchas attollere molem

the injured divinity and the wretched crime.

However Calchas ordered them to raise up this mighty mass with woven oak beams

roboribus textis caeloque educere iussit,

ne recipi portis aut duci in moenia posset

and draw it up to the sky,

so that it could not be welcomed through the gates or brought into the city

neu populum antiqua sub religione tueri.

nam si vestra manus violasset dona Mineruae

nor protect the people according to their ancient religious obligations

for if your hands were to violate the gift of Minerva

tum magnum exitium (quod di prius omen in ipsum

convertant!) Priami imperio Phrygibusque futurum;

then great destruction (may the gods turn the omen first

against him!) shall fall on Priams empire and Trojans

sin manibus vestris vestram ascendisset in urbem

but if by your hands it were to climb into your city

ultr Asiam magno Pelopea ad moenia bello

venturam, et nostros ea fata manere nepotes

then going further Asia will come to the walls with a mighty war

and this fate will be in store for our grandchildren