OCR Latin GCSE - The Aeneid II. 225 - 253

Lines

at gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones effugiunt

But the twin snakes escaped by slithering to the highest shrines

saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem,

and sought the citadel of savage Minerva, daughter of Triton,

sub pedibusque deae clipeique sub orbe teguntur.

and they hid themselves under the feet of the goddess and under the orb of her shield.

tum vero tremefacta novus per pectora cunctis insinuat pavor,

Then indeed a new panic crept through the trembling breasts of us all,

et scelus expendisse merentem Laocoonta ferunt,

and they said that Laocoon had deservedly paid for his crime,

sacrum qui cuspide robur laeserit

he who had damaged the sacred oak with his lance

et tergo sceleratam intorserit hastam.

and hurled his wicked spear into its back.

ducendum ad sedes simulacrum

They shouted together that the effigy must be led to the shrine

orandaque divae numina conclamant.

and that the divine power(s) of the goddess must be begged for (/appeased).

dividimus muros

We broke through the walls

et moenia pandimus urbis.

and we threw open the fortifications of the city.

accingunt omnes operi

Everyone prepared for the work

pedibusque rotarum subiciunt lapsus,

and they placed gliding wheels under its feet

et stuppea vincula collo intendunt;

and they stretched ropes made of tow around its neck;

scandit fatalis machina muros feta armis.

the fateful machine climbed the walls, full of (lit. pregnant with) weapons.

pueri circum innuptaeque puellae sacra canunt

Around it boys and unmarried girls were singing sacred songs

funemque manu contingere gaudent;

and were rejoicing to touch the rope with their hands.

illa subit mediaeque minans inlabitur urbi.

It went under (the gate) and threateningly glided into the middle of the city.

o patria, o divum domus Ilium

O fatherland, o Ilium, home of the gods,

et incluta bello moenia Dardanidum!

and city walls of the Trojans, famous in war!

quater ipso in limine portae substitit

Four times it stuck on the very threshold of the gate,

atque utero sonitum quater arma dedere;

and four times the weapons gave a noise from its womb;

instamus tamen immemores caecique furore

however we pressed on, heedless and blind with frenzy,

et monstrum infelix sacrata sistimus arce.

and we placed the unlucky monster on our consecrated citadel.

tunc etiam fatis aperit Cassandra futuris

Then indeed Cassandra opened her lips of future fates,

ora dei iussu non umquam credita Teucris.

never to be believed by the Trojans, on the god's command.

nos delubra deum miseri, quibus ultimus esset ille dies,

We wretches, for whom that day was the last,

festa velamus fronde per urbem.

decked the shrines of the gods throughout the city with festive foliage.

vertitur interea caelum et ruit Oceano nox

Meanwhile the heavens revolved and night rushed up from the Ocean,

involvens umbra magna terramque polumque Myrmidonumque dolos;

wrapping both the land and the sky and the tricks of the Myrmidons with great shadow;

fusi per moenia Teucri conticuere;

the Trojans, sprawled among the buildings, fell silent;

sopor fessos complectitur artus.

slumber embraced their weary limbs.