Aeneid, lines 212-227

diffugimus visu exsangues. illi agmine certo

Made pale by the sight of it, we scattered. In a certain advance

Laocoonta petunt; et primum parva duorum

they make for Laocooon; and at first each snake,

corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque

having embraced the small bodies of his two sons,

implicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus;

entwined them, and fed on their wretched limbs with their bite;

post ipsum auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem

after they seized him as he was coming to help and bringing his spears

corripiunt spirisque ligant ingentibus; et iam

they bound him with huge coils; and now,

bis medium amplexi, bis collo squamea circum

having embraced his torso twice, having wound their scaly backs twice around his neck,

terga dati superant capite et cervicibus altis.

they towered over him with their heads and tall necks.

ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos

At the same time that man tried to tear apart the knots with his hands,

perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno,

the sacred ribbons drenched in gore and black venom,

clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit;

at the same time he raised bloodcurdling shouts to the stars;

qualis mugitus, fugit cum saucius ara

like the bellowing when a bull has fled the altar wounded

taurus et incertam excussit cervice securim.

and has shaken the hesitant axe out of its neck.

at gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones

But the twin serpents escaped by slithering to the highest temple

effugiunt saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem,

and sought the citadel of cruel Athena,

sub pedibusque deae clipeique sub orbe teguntur.

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