Studied by 4 people
Context
Greeks have been besieging Troy for 10 years so they decide to trick the Trojans
They build large wooden horse, with soldiers inside, and others in Tenedos
Sinon lies to the Trojans that the Greeks have fled and Minerva has left the horse as a gift
He fled because he was chose as human sacrifice
talibus insidiis periurique arte Sinonis
credita res, captique dolis lacrimisque coactis,
quos neque Tydides, nec Larisaeus Achilles,
non anni domuere decem, non mille carinae.
By such tricks and by the skill of Sinons lying the story was believed, and [we were] captured by tricks and forced tears, we whom neither the son of Tydeus, nor Achilles of Larissa, nor ten years nor thousand ships conquered.
Patronymic - refers to Diomedes (Greek Hero)
The Trojans who weren’t overpowered by great forces, were tricked by the Greek, Sinon.
talibus insidiis periurique arte Sinonis
credita res,
By such tricks and by the skill of Sinons lying the story was believed,
captique dolis lacrimisque coactis,
quos neque Tydides,
and [we were] captured by tricks and forced tears, we whom neither the son of Tydeus,
nec Larisaeus Achilles,
non anni domuere decem, non mille carinae.
nor Achilles of Larissa, nor ten years nor thousand ships conquered.
hic aliud maius miseris multoque tremendum
obicitur magis, atque improvida pectora turbat.
At this point another greater thing and more terrible by far is thrust upon us wretched ones, and disturbs our unforeseeing hearts.
‘miseris’ - proleptic - they soon will be wretched
Alliteration of ‘m’
The Trojans don’t realise that they have found themselves in an unfortunate situation.
hic aliud maius miseris multoque tremendum
obicitur magis,
At this point another greater thing and more terrible by far is thrust upon us wretched ones,
atque improvida pectora turbat.
and disturbs our unforeseeing hearts.
Laocoön, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,
sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.
Laocoon, the priest drawn by a lot for Neptune, was sacrificing a huge bull at the ceremonial altars.
‘ingentem’ - suggests importance of sacrifice
Laocoon is performing a sacrifice to determine what the Trojans should do about the Horse.
Laocoön, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,
Laocoon, the priest drawn by a lot for Neptune,
sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.
was sacrificing a huge bull at the ceremonial altars.
ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta
(horresco referens) immensis orbibus angues
incumbunt pelago pariterque ad litora tendunt;
pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque
sanguineae superant undas; pars cetera pontum
pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga.
But look the twin snake from Tenedos through the peaceful depths (I shudder recalling it) with vast coils they skim over the sea and the head towards the shore together; their chests raised amid the surges and their blood-red crests rise above the waves; the remaining parts skim over the sea behind and winds the vast backs with coils.
‘gemini…angues’ - Hyperbaton - creates suspense
Gets more detailed as the snakes approach closer
Foreshadowing - attack of the Greek from Tenedos (island SW of Troy)
ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta
(horresco referens)
But look the twin snake from Tenedos through the peaceful depths (I shudder recalling it)
immensis orbibus angues
incumbunt pelago pariterque ad litora tendunt;
with vast coils they skim over the sea and the head towards the shore together;
pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque
sanguineae superant undas;
their chests raised amid the surges and their blood-red crests rise above the waves;
pars cetera pontum
pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga.
the remaining parts skim over the sea behind and winds the vast backs with coils.
fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant,
ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni,
sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.
A sound occurs with the sea foaming; and now they were reaching the fields, and tinged in their blazing eyes with blood and fire, they were licking their hissing mouths with quivering tongues.
Sibilance - sinister mimicking the hissing
‘sibila … ora’ - Chiasmus - brings focus to the snakes licking; creating fear
fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant,
A sound occurs with the sea foaming; and now they were reaching the fields,
ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni,
and tinged in their blazing eyes with blood and fire,
sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.
they were licking their hissing mouths with quivering tongues.
diffugimus visu exsangues. illi agmine certo
Laocoönta petunt; et primum parva duorum
corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque
implicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus;
We scatter pale at the sight. They with certain advance make for Laocoon; and first of all each serpent having encircled them enfolds the small bodies of his 2 sons and devours the wretched limbs with a bite;
Primary Position - highlights them scattering
‘parva duorum corpora natorum’ - Synchesis - reflects tangling of the boys’ limbs
‘agmine’ - Military word - foreshadowing Greek arrival
diffugimus visu exsangues. illi agmine certo
Laocoönta petunt;
We scatter pale at the sight. They with certain advance make for Laocoon;
et primum parva duorum
corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque
implicat
and first of all each serpent having encircled them enfolds the small bodies of his 2 sons
et miseros morsu depascitur artus;
and devours the wretched limbs with a bite;
post ipsum auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem,
corripiunt spirisque ligant ingentibus; et iam
bis medium amplexi, bis collo squamea circum
terga dati, superant capite et cervicibus altis.
Then himself coming to help and carrying weapons, they seize and bind with huge coils; and now having encircled his middle twice, having put their scaly backs around his neck, they tower above with their heads and with their high necks.
Primary Position - swiftness and finality of the serpents’ action contrast the frantic nature of Laocoon
‘et iam’ - 2 monosyllables - emphasises the finality
‘superant’ - Double meaning - either ‘vanquish’ or ‘tower over’
post ipsum auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem,
corripiunt spirisque ligant ingentibus;
Then himself coming to help and carrying weapons, they seize and bind with huge coils;
et iam
bis medium amplexi, bis collo squamea circum
terga dati,
and now having encircled his middle twice, having put their scaly backs around his neck,
superant capite et cervicibus altis.
they tower above with their heads and with their high necks.
ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos,
perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno,
clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit,
quales mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram
taurus, et incertam excussit cervice securim.
He struggles to burst the knots with his hands, drenched on his headband with blood and with dark venom, at the same time he raises terrible shouts to the stars, just like the bellowing when a wandering bull has fled the alter, and has shaken the ill-aimed axe from its neck.
‘tenere’ - Contrasts the snakes purposeful approach to Laocoon’s futile attempt to break free from the snakes
Simile - ironic as the priest of Neptune is being killed by the sea; sacrificial death
‘vittas’ - Headband is significant as it was worn by priest and sacrifice; now priest is the sacrifice
‘mugitus’ - the bellowing of a victim portended disaster
‘ad sidera’ - Hyperbole - exaggerates his pain
ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos,
He struggles to burst the knots with his hands,
perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno,
drenched on his headband with blood and with dark venom,
clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit,
at the same time he raises terrible shouts to the stars,
quales mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram
taurus,
just like the bellowing when a wandering bull has fled the alter,
et incertam excussit cervice securim.
and has shaken the ill-aimed axe from its neck.
at gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones
effugiunt saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem,
sub pedibusque deae clipeique sub orbe teguntur.
But the twin serpents by slithering escape to the highest shrines and they seek the citadel of savage Tritonia, and under the feet of the goddess and under the circle of her shield they conceal themselves.
‘at’ - Conjunction - transfers our attention to the snakes from Laocoon’s death
‘Tritonidis arcem’ - This refers to Minerva as savage as she is a war goddess that is a formidable divine opponent of the Trojans.
Imagery - The snakes are being protected by Minerva
at gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones
effugiunt saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem,
But the twin serpents by slithering escape to the highest shrines and they seek the citadel of savage Tritonia,
sub pedibusque deae clipeique sub orbe teguntur.
and under the feet of the goddess and under the circle of her shield they conceal themselves.
Note 
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