Aeneid 2.197-211 ( Laocoon and the Serpents: the snakes approach)

Through these tricks

talibus insidiis

and the skill of deceitful Sinon

periurique arte Sinonis

his story was believed,

credita res,

and we were trapped by his tricks,

captique dolis

and false tears

lacrimisque coactis

[we] whom neither Diomedes,

quos neque Tydides

nor Larissan Achilles,

nec Larisaeus Achilles,

non anni domuere decem,

nor ten years [of war] conquered

nor 1000 ships.

non mille carinae.

Then

hic

something greater

aliud maius

and much more terrible

multoque magis tremendum

befalls us miserable [people]

miseris obicitur

and shakes our unsuspecting hearts.

atque improvida pectora turbat.

Laocoön, chosen as priest of Neptune,

Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sacerdos

by lot,

sorte,

was sacrificing a huge bull

taurum ingentem mactabat

at the usual altars.

sollemnis ad aras.

But look!

ecce autem

A pair of serpents

gemini angues

with huge coils

immensis orbibus

press on through the sea

incumbunt pelago

from Tenedos

a Tenedo

through the calm deep [sea]

tranquilla per alta

(I shudder to recall it)

(horresco referens)

and head for the shore side by side:

pariterque ad litora tendunt;

their fronts lifted high

pectora quorum arrecta

over the water

inter fluctus

and their blood-red crests

iubaeque sanguineae

rise over the waves,

superant undas

the rest of their bodies

pars cetera

slide through the ocean

pontum legit

behind them

pone

and they arch their huge backs

sinuatque immensa terga

in folds.

volumine.

There's a roar from the foaming sea:

fit sonitus spumante salo;

now they began to reach the shore

iamque arva tenebant

and, their burning eyes suffused

ardentisque oculos suffecti

with blood and fire

sanguine et igni

they were licking

lambebant

their hissing mouths

sibila ora

with their flickering tongues.

linguis vibrantibus.