58 I. The Landing in Africa. [ENEID. devicer Hic regina gravem gemmis auroque poposcit i ٩٠١ whom spumantem pateram, et pleno se proluit auroor post alii proceres. Cithara crinitus Iopas 741 Atlans. R. 730 the wind BOOK II. - THE FALL OF TROYΥ. ÆNEAS begins the tale: the Greeks, discouraged, had withdrawn to Tenedos, leaving the wooden horse, in which chosen warriors were hidden (vv. 1-39). Laocoön in vain protests against receiving it within the walls: meanwhile Sinon, pretending to have fled from the Greeks, is received in confidence by Priam, whom he persuades that the horse is a sacred offering to Minerva (40-198). Laocoön and his sons are destroyed by two monstrous serpents: the horse is brought with rejoicing into the city, and at night Sinon sets free the Grecian chiefs (199-267). The ghost of Hector appears to Æneas, and warns him to flee. The city is seen in flames: Æneas and his companions take arms (268-369). Victorious encounter with a party of Greeks: a disastrous conflict follows, and they come to Priam's palace (370-452). Defence and storming of the palace: the fate of Priam, slain by Pyrrhus, while vainly attempting to protect his son (453-558). Æneas returns to his own house - first meeting Helen, whom Venus warns him not to slay - and beholds in a vision the divinities who preside at the destruction of Troy (559-633). Anchises at first refuses to fly, but is encouraged by a divine omen (634-704). Æneas, bearing his father, and attended by his wife Creüsa, and his son, seeks escape; but, confused by a sudden alarm, loses Creüsa on the way (705-751). He seeks her in vain at his palace, which is now filled with the armed enemy; but she meets him in a vision and comforts him by assurance of her own deliverance from hostile hands. At dawn, he finds a numerous company escaped from the city, with whom he seeks the shelter of Mount Ida (752-804). C ONTICUERE omnes, intentique ora tenebant. Inde toro pater Aeneas sic orsus ab alto : Infandum, regina, iubes renovare dolorem, Troianas ut opes et lamentabile regnum eruerint Danai; quaeque ipse miserrima vidi, et quorum pars magna fui. Quis talia fando Myrmidonum Dolopumve aut duri miles Ulixi >temperet a lacrimis? Et iam nox umida caelo praecipitat, suadentque cadentia sidera somnos. incipiam. Fracti bello fatisque repulsi ductores Danaum, tot iam labentibus annis, instar montis equum divina Palladis arte aedificant, sectaque intexunt abiete costas: votum pro reditu simulant; ea fama vagatur. Huc delecta virum sortiti corpora furtim includunt caeco lateri, penitusque cavernas ingentis uterumque armato milite complent. Est in conspectu Tenedos, notissima fama insula, dives opum, Priami dum regna manebant, nunc tantum sinus et statio male fida carinis: huc se provecti deserto in litore condunt. 25 30 sive dolo, seu iam Troiae sic fata ferebant. At Capys, et quorum melior sententia menti, aut pelago Danaum insidias suspectaque dona praecipitare iubent, subiectisque urere flammis, aut terebrare cavas uteri et temptare latebras. Scinditur incertum studia in contraria volgus. Primus ibi ante omnis, magna comitante caterva, Laocoön ardens summa decurrit ab arce, et procul: 'O miseri, quae tanta insania, cives? Creditis avectos hostis? Aut ulla putatis dona carere dolis Danaum? Sic notus Ulixes? aut hoc inclusi ligno occultantur Achivi, aut haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros 35 40 45 15 ecum. R. 25 6 susp. hiat. R. 29 saevos. R. inspectura domos venturaque desuper urbi, 50 55 60 circumfusa ruit, certantque inludere capto. Accipe nunc Danaum insidias, et crimine ab uno disce omnes. 65 Namque ut conspectu in medio turbatus, inermis constitit atque oculis Phrygia agmina circumspexit : 'Heu, quae nunc tellus' inquit 'quae me aequora possunt accipere? Aut quid iam misero mihi denique restat, cui neque apud Danaos usquam locus, et super ipsi Dardanidae infensi poenas cum sanguine poscunt?' Quo gemitu conversi animi, compressus et omnis impetus. Hortamur fari; quo sanguine cretus, 70 quidve ferat, memoret, quae sit fiducia capto. [Ille haec, deposita tandem formidine, fatur:] 'Cuncta equidem tibi, Rex, fuerit quodcumque, fatebor vera, inquit; neque me Argolica de gente negabo : hoc primum; nec, si miserum Fortuna Sinonem 56 staret; 57 pos; 75 quive fuat. R. memores. R. 75 finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque improba finget. Tum vero ardemus scitari et quaerere causas, ignari scelerum tantorum artisque Pelasgae. Prosequitur pavitans, et ficto pectore fatur: 'Saepe fugam Danai Troia cupiere relicta moliri, et longo fessi discedere bello; fecissentque utinam! Saepe illos aspera ponti interclusit hiemps, et terruit Auster euntis. Praecipue, cum iam hic trabibus contextus acernis staret equus, toto sonuerunt aethere nimbi. Suspensi Eurypylum scitantem oracula Phoebi 80 85 00 95 100 105 110 |