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Summary; Line 228-369
The Trojans interpret the serpents’ attack as an omen that they must appease Minerva, so they wheel the Horse into the city of Troy.
Night falls, and while the city sleeps, Sinon opens the Horse’s belly.
The warriors emerge, kill the Trojan guards, and open the gates of the city to the rest of their forces.
Meanwhile, Hector, the fallen leader of the Trojan army, appears to Aeneas in a dream and informs him that the city has been infiltrated.
Climbing to his roof, Aeneas sees fighting everywhere and Troy in flames.
He runs for arms and then heads for the heart of the city, joined by a few of his men.
primus se, Danaum magna comitante caterva,
Androgeos offert nobis, socia agmina credens
inscius, atque ultro verbis compellat amicis:
“festinate, viri: nam quae tam sera moratur
segnities? alii rapiunt incensa feruntque
Pergama; vos celsis nunc primum a navibus itis.”
First with a great crowd of Danaans accompanying Androgeas presents himself to us, believing, unaware, that we are allied ranks and he address us with friendly words: “Hurry, men! For what idleness is delaying you so late? Others are plundering and carrying burned Troy; are you now going for the first time from the tall ships?”
Androgeas believes that the Greeks are Trojans and have just arrived from the ships.
dixit, et extemplo (neque enim responsa dabantur
fida satis) sensit medios delapsus in hostis.
obstipuit retroque pedem cum voce repressit.
He said, and immediately (for reassuring enough replies were not given) he understood that he had fallen into the middle of the enemy. He was dazed and drawing backwards he restrained his foot together with his voice.
improvisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem
pressit humi nitens, trepidusque repente refugit
attollentem iras et caerula colla tumentem;
haud secus Androgeos visu tremefactus abibat.
Just as somebody who has crushed the unexpected snake in the rough thorns stepping on the ground, and suddenly alarmed he flees from it raising its wrath and puffing up its deep blue neck; not differently Androgeas was going backwards trembling at the sight.
Simile - Androgeas is being careful and the Greeks are compared to snakes
inruimus, densis et circumfundimur armis,
ignarosque loci passim et formidine captos
sternimus; adspirat primo fortuna labori.
We attack and surround them with thick weapons, we slay them here and there ignorant of the place and seized by terror; Fortune breaths favourably upon our first effort.
‘primo’ - ominous tone and ironic as later the Greeks’ effort becomes unsuccessful
atque hic successu exsultans animisque Coroebus,
“o socii, qua prima” inquit “fortuna salutis
monstrat iter, quoque ostendit se dextra, sequamur:
mutemus clipeos, Danaumque insignia nobis aptemus.
And here exulting in success and passions Coroebus says, “Oh comrades, where first Fortune shows the road of safety and where her right hand shows itself, let us follow: let us change our shields and put on the emblem of the Danaans.
The emblems distinguish the Greeks and Trojans; Greeks are pretending to be Trojan
dolus an virtus, quis in hoste requirat?
arma dabunt ipsi.” sic fatus, deinde comantem
Androgei galeam clipeique insigne decorum
induitur, laterique Argivum accommodat ensem.
Deceit or courage, who would ask when it comes to an enemy? They will give us weapons.” Having spoken in this way he puts on the hairy helmet of Androgeas and the beautiful emblem of the shield and fits to his side the Greek sword.
‘ipsi’ - Pronoun - sort of dark humour as the Greeks won’t willingly hand their weapons over; only do so when they are killed
hoc Rhipeus, hoc ipse Dymas omnisque iuventus
laeta facit; spoliis se quisque recentibus armat.
Rhipeus does this, Dymas himself does this and all the young men do this happily; each one arms himself with fresh spoils.
‘hoc… hoc’ - Anaphora - sense of urgency
vadimus immixti Danais haud numine nostro,
multaque per caecam congressi proelia noctem
conserimus, multos Danaum demittimus Orco.
We go on mingled with the Danaans guided by the a divinity not our own, and having come together we joined many battles through the blind night, and we send down many of the Danaans to Orcus.
‘haud numine nostro’ - ominous tone
‘Orco’ - The Greeks are being sent to the underworld
diffugiunt alii ad navis, et litora cursu
fida petunt; pars ingentem formidine turpi
scandunt rursus equum et nota conduntur in alvo.
Some scatter to the ships and they seek trustworthy shores with speed; another part of them with disgraceful terror they climb again the huge horse and hide in the known womb.
‘ingentum…equum’ - Hyperbaton - reflects the confusion
“heu nihil invitis fas quemquam fidere divis!
ecce trahebatur passis Priameïa virgo
crinibus a templo Cassandra adytisque Minervae,
ad caelum tendens ardentia lumina frustra,
lumina, nam teneras arcebant vincula palmas.
“Alas, it is not right for anyone to rely on the gods against their will! Look at the maiden Cassandra Virgin of Troy was being dragged with streaming hair from the temple and from the sanctuary of Minerva, lifting to heaven her blazing eyes in vain, her eyes, for bonds were confining her tender palms.
‘Priameïa virgo’ - Lofty way to name her and Ironic as she was raped by Ajax.
Religious symbolism shows how the Greeks violated someone as sacrilegious as her.
‘lumina’ Repetition - creates emotional effect
non tulit hanc speciem furiata mente Coroebus,
et sese medium iniecit periturus in agmen.
consequimur cuncti et densis incurrimus armis.
Inflamed Coroebus could not bear this sight, and threw himself doomed to die into the middle of the crowd. We all followed and attacked with thick weapons.
hic primum ex alto delubri culmine telis
nostrorum obruimur, oriturque miserrima caedes
armorum facie et Graiarum errore iubarum.
Here at first from the high roof of the sanctuary we are overwhelmed by the weapons of our own and a very wretched slaughter arises from the appearance of our weapons and from the confusion of the Greek crest.
There is confusion and they are killing their own because of the disguised Greeks.
tum Danai gemitu atque ereptae virginis ira
undique collecti invadunt, acerrimus Aiax,
et gemini Atridae, Dolopumque exercitus omnis;
Then the Danaans with a moan and anger at rescued maiden and gathered from every side they attack, most fierce Ajax and the 2 sons of Atreus and the whole army of the Dolopians.
‘Atridae’ - patrynomic
‘Aiax’ - He is hated by Minerva as he raped Cassandra in front of her statue
Note 
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