aeneid ii translation Flashcards
(32 cards)
primus ibi ante omnes, magna comitante caterva, Laocoon ardens summa decurrit ab arce, et procul: ‘o miseri, quae tanta insania, cives? creditis avectos hostes? aut ulla putatis dona carere dolis Danaum? sic notus Ulixes?
There first of all, with a great crowd accompanying him, Laocoon comes running down from the height of the citadel, blazing with anger, and from far away shouts ‘O wretched citizens, what insanity is this? Do you believe our enemies have sailed away? Or do you think any Greek gifts lack treachery. Is Ulysses known thus?
aut hoc inclusi ligno occultantur Achivi,
aut haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros, inspectura domos venturaque desuper urbi, aut aliquis latet error: equo ne credite, Teucri. quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.
Either there are Greeks hidden away, shut in this wood, or this machine has been built to use against our walls, to spy on our homes and come down from above into the city, or some threat is lying hidden: Trojans, do not trust this horse. Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks, even those bearing gifts’
sic fatus validis ingentem viribus hastam in latus inque feri curvam compagibus alvum contorsit. stetit illa tremens, uteroque recusso insonuere cavae gemitumque dedere cavernae. et, si fata deum, si mens non laeva fuisset, impulerat ferro Argolicas foedare latebras Troiaque nunc staret, Priamique arx alta maneres.
Having spoken thus he threw his spear with immense strength into the beast’s side and the curved joints of its belly. It stuck, quivering and with the womb having been struck the cavity rang out hollow and gave a groan. And if the pronouncements of the gods, if their intent was not unfavourable, he would have forced us to defile the hiding places of the Greeks with our swords, Troy would stand now and you, Priam’s high citadel, would remain.
ecce, manus iuvenem interea post terga revinctum pastores magno ad
regem clamore trahebant
Dardanidae, qui se ignotum venientibus ultro, hoc ipsum ut strueret Troiamque aperiret Achivis, obtulerat, fidens animi atque in utrumque paratus, seu versare dolos seu certae occumbere morti.
Look meanwhile the Dardan shepherds were dragging a young man with his hands tied behind his back, with a great clamour, to the king; he, of his own accord, offered himself, unknown to them, whilst they were coming so that he might achieve this very thing and reveal Troy to the Greeks, trusting in his courage and prepared for either to contrive trickery or to meet with a certain death.
undique visendi studio Troiana iuventus circumfusa ruit certantque inludere capto. accipe nunc Danaum insidias et crimine ab uno
disce omnes.
And from all sides the Trojan youth , pouring around out of eagerness for spectating, rushed up and competed to mock the captive. Hear now, the tale of Greek treachery and learn of all from this one crime.
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?’
For indeed as he stood there, in full view, agitated and unarmed, and cast his eye over the Trojan ranks, he said, ‘Alas! Now what land, what plains are able to accept me? Or what now, at the end, remains for wretched me for whom there is no place amongst the Greeks anywhere, and in addition, the hostile Trojans demand my execution?
quo gemitu conversi animi compressus et omnis impetus. hortamur fari quo sanguine cretus, quid-ve ferat; memoret quae sit fiducia capto. [ille haec deposita tandem formidine fatur:]
At this lamentation, our minds were changed and all of our hostility was quenched. We encouraged him to say of what blood he was borne and what he bore; let him relate what hope there is to him as a captive. [With his fear set aside he finally said these things: ]
‘cuncta equidem tibi, rex, fuerit quodcumque, fatebor vera, inquit; ‘neque me Argolica de gente negabo. hoc primum. nec, si miserum Fortuna Sinonem finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque improba finget.
‘Indeed, I will confess to you the whole truth, O king, whatever may come of it’ he said; ‘Neither will I deny that I am of Greek lineage. This is first of all. Nor if Fortune has made Sinon wretched, will she also form a deceptive and a liar.
fando aliquod si forte tuas pervenit ad aures Belidae nomen Palamedis et incluta fama gloria, quem falsa sub proditione Pelasgi insontem infando indicio, quia bella vetabat, demisere neci, nunc cassum lumine lugent.
If perhaps some mention of the name of Palamedis, son of Belus, has reached your ears in the telling and his renowned fame by report, whom, blameless of an unspeakable charge, the Greeks, under a false, trumped-up charge, sent down to die, through wicked accusations, because he forbade the war; whom, as he is deprived of the light, they now mourn.
illi me comitem et consanguinitate propinquum pauper in arma pater primis huc misit ab annis.
It was to him my father, in his poverty, sent me as his companion, related by family, to war from my earliest adulthood.
dum stabat regno incolumnis regumque vigebat concilis et nos aliquod nomenque decusque gessimus. invidia postquam pellacis Ulixi (haud ignota loquor) superis concessit ab oris, adflictus vitam in tenerbis iuctuque trahebam et casum insontis mecum indignabar amici. nec tacui demens et me, fors si qua tulisset, si patros umquam remeassem victor ad Argos, promisi ultorem et odia aspera movi.
While Palamedis was standing, unchallenged in his kingship and was thriving in the councils of his kingship, I too bore some reputation and honours. When through the malice of the deceitful Ulysses (I speak of what is not unknown) he withdrew from the world above, I, afflicted, began to drag on in gloomy grief my life and I grew resentful with myself of the thing that befell my blameless friend. Nor was I silent in my madness, but, if any chance brought it about, if I would return in triumph to my fatherland, Greece, I vowed myself to be the avenger and I stirred cruel hate with my words.
hinc mihi prima mali labes, hinc semper Ulixes criminibus terrere novis, hinc spargere voces in vulgum ambiguas et quaerere conscius arma. nec requievet enim, donec Calchante ministro- sed quid ego haec autem nequiquam ingrata revolvo, quidve moror? si omnes uno ordine habetis Achivos, idque audire sat est, iamdum sumite poenas: hoc Ithacus velit et magno mercentur Atridae.
Hence came for me the first stain of disaster, hence Ulysses always would terrify with new charges, hence he would sow the voices into the doubtful mob and deliberately seek violence. In fact he didn’t rest, until with Calchas as his agent- but why do I go over these unwelcome things in vain, why do I bother you? If you deem all the Greeks in one rank, and it is enough to hear this, exact your vengeance without delay: this the Ithacan would wish and the sons of Atreus would trade it at a high price.
tum vero ardemus scitari et quaerere causas ignari scelerum tantorum artisque Pelasgae prosequitur pavitans et ficto pectore fatur: ‘saepe fugam Danai Troia cupiera relicta molirir et longo fessi discedere bello; fecissentque utinam! saepe illos aspera ponti interclusit hiema et terruit Auster euntes. praecipue cum iam hic trabibus contextus acernis staret equus, toto sonuerunt aethere nimbi. suspensi Eurypylum scitatum oracula Phoebi mittimus, isque adytis have tristia dicta reportat:
Thus indeed we were burning to ask and to seek the cause of, unaware of such wickedness and the trickery of the Greek. He continued on, trembling in fear and with a fictitious heart, and said: ‘Often the Greeks, having been tired of the long war, having been left to accomplish their retreat, wanted to leave Troy; and if only they had done so! Often, a harsh storm shut them off from the sea and the southerly wind frightened them as they set out. Especially while the horse was already standing, formed of beams of maple, the clouds across the whole sky resonated. Doubtful, we sent Eurypylus to ask the oracle of Apollo, and he reports these sad words from the inner shrine
sanguine placastis ventos e virgine caesa cum orimum Iliacas, Danai, venistis ad oras; sanguine quaerendi reditus animaque litandum Argolica
“You calmed the winds with blood and a girl slaughtered, when you first came to Trojan shores, Greeks; you must seek your return with blood and divine favour must be sought through a Greek life.”
vulgi quae vox ut venit ad aures, obstipuere animi gelidusque per ima cucurrit ossa tremor, cui fata parent, quem poscat Apollo. hic Ithacus vatem magno Calchanta tumultu protrahit in medios; quae sint ea numina divum flagitat. et mihi multi crudele canebant artificis scelys, et taciti ventura videbant.
When this voice came to the ears of the mob, their minds were astonished and an icy shudder ran through the deepest bones, wondering for whom the fates prepare for, whom Apollo seeks. At this, the Ithacan dragged the prophet Calchas forward, with a great shout, into their midst; he demands to know what the will of the gods might be. Many were beginning to predict the cruel crime of the schemer towards me, silently they began to see what would transpire.
bis quinos silet ille dies tectusque recusat prodere voce sua quemquem aut opponere morti. vix tandem, magnis Ithaci clamoribus actus, composito rumpt vocem et me destinant arae. adsensere omnes et, quae sibi quisque timebat, unius in miseri exitium conversa tulere.
For ten days he is silent and concealed in his tent he refused to betray anyone with his voice or to send anyone to their death. At last, scarcely driven on by the great shouts of the Ithacan, as agreed, he broke his silence and dooms me to the altar. Everyone agreed, what each one was fearing himself, they could bear when turned to the destruction of one wretched man.
iamque dies infanda aderat; mihi sacra parari
et salsae fruges et circum tempora vittae.
eripui, fateor, leto me et vincula rupi,
limosoque lacu per noctem obscurus in ulva
delitui dum vela darent, si forte dedissent.
nec mihi iam patriam antiquam spes ulla videndi
nec dulces natos exoptatumque parentem,
quos illi fors et poenas ob nostra reposcent
effugia, et culpam hanc miserorum morte piabunt.
quod te per superos et conscia numina veri,
per si qua est quae restet adhuc mortalibus usquam intemerata fides, oro, miserere laborum tantorum, miserere animi non digna ferentis.’
And now the unspeakable day was here; rites were prepared for me and salted grains and woollen bands around my temples. I snatched myself away, I confess, from death, and broke my bands and for the whole night I lurked by a muddy lake, hidden in swamp grass, waiting until they should set sail, if by chance they did. As there is no hope for me to see my old fatherland, nor my sweet children and longed-for father, maybe they will demand back my punishment because of my escape and expiate this crime of mine of the death of these wretched people. I beg, now with the gods and the divine powers knowing of the truth, by whatever faith remains anywhere amongst undefiled mortals, have pity on such great suffering, pity the soul bearing suffering he is not worthy of.
his lacrimis vitam damus et miserescimus ultro.
ipse viro primus manicas atque arta levari
vincla iubet Priamus dictisque ita fatur amicis:
‘quisquis es, amissos hinc iam obliviscere Graios
(noster eris) mihique haec edissere vera roganti:
quo molem hanc immanis equi statuere? quis auctor?
quidve petunt? quae religio? aut quae machina belli?’
dixerat.
With these tears we give him life and also begun to pity him as well. Priam himself is the first to order the manacles and the tight chains to be lifted from the man and speaks thus with kind words: “Whoever you are, forget now the lost Greeks (you will be ours) and explain fully these truths to me that I ask: For what purpose was this huge structure of a horse set up? Who was the devisor? What do they seek? What religious observance? What machine of war is it?” he spoke.
ille dolis instructus et arte Pelasga
sustulit exutas vinclis ad sidera palmas:
Vos, aeterni ignes, et non violabile vestrum
testor numen,’ ait, ‘vos arae ensesque nefandi,
quos fugi, vittaeque deum, quas hostia gessi:
fas mihi Graiorum sacrata resolvere iura,
fas odisse viros atque omnia ferre sub auras.
qua tegunt, teneor patriae nec legibus ullis.
tu modo promissis maneas servataque serves Troia fidem, si vera feram, si magna rependam.
The other, educated in the Greek art and trickery raised his hands, stripped of chains, to the stars saying, “You eternal fires, and in your inviolable presence I call upon you altars and impious swords that I escaped and you sacrificial garlands I wore as a sacrificed victim: Let it be right for me to annul the sanctified paths of the Greeks, let it be right for me to hate the men and bring out into the open. If they are concealing any things, I am bound by no laws of my country. But Troy, stand by your promises and having been saved yourself, may you save your faith, if I bear the truth and if I pay you a large return.
omnis spes Danaum et coepti fiducia belli
Palladis auxiliis semper stetit. impius ex quo
Tydides sed enim scelerumque inventor Ulixes,
fatale adgressi sacrato avellere templo Palladium caesis summae custodibus arcis,
corripuere sacram effigiem manibusque cruentis
virgineas ausi divae contingere vittas,
ex illo fluere ac retro sublapsa referri
spes Danaum, fractae vires, aversa deae mens.
All the hope of the Greeks and their confidence in the war which they had begun always stood on the support of Pallas. But indeed from whence impious Diomedes and the devisor of wickedness Ulysses, daring to tear away the fateful palladium from its sacred temple, with the guards of the highest citadel having been killed, seized the sacred statue and dared to touch the virginal ribbons of the goddess with their bloodstained hands. From that moment on the hopes of the Greeks ebbed and slipping backwards, receded, their strengths were shattered, the mind of the goddess was hostile.
nec dubiis ea signa dedit Tritonia monstris.
vix positum castris simulacrum: arsere coruscae
luminibus flammae arrectis, salsusque per artus
sudor iit, terque ipsa solo (mirabile dictu)
emicuit parmamque ferens hastamque trementem. extemplo temptanda fuga canit aequora Calchas,
nec posse Argolicis exscindi Pergama telis
omina ni repetant Argis numenque reducant quod pelago et curvis secum avexere carinis.
Tritonian Athena gave signs of this with no uncertain sign. The statue was scarcely set up in the camp: glittering flames blazed from her awakening eyes, salty swear ran over her and (miraculously spoken) three times she herself sprang up from the ground carrying a small shield and a quivering spear. Immediately Calchas declared that the seas must be braved in flight and that Troy cannot be uprooted by the weapons of the Greeks unless they seek omens again in Argos and lead back the goddess home which they carried away with themselves over the sea and in their curved ships.
et nunc quod patrias vento petiere Mycenas,
arma deosque parant comites pelagoque remenso improvisi aderunt; ita digerit omina Calchas. hanc pro Palladio moniti, pro numine laeson effugiem statuere, nefas quae triste piaret
And as to the fact that they headed for their homeland Mycenae, with the help of the wind, they were preparing weapons and the gods as companions and having retraced their steps across the sea they will be on us unexpectedly; thus Calchas explains the omens. The Greeks, having been warned by Calchas, set up this structure in the place of the Palladium, in the place of the offended goddess, so that it might expiate the sad wrongdoing.
hanc tamen immensam Calchas attollere molem roboribus textis caeloque educere iussit,
ne recipi portis aut duci in moenia posset,
neu populum antiqua sub religione tueri.
However, Calchas orders us to raise up this huge bulk high and extend up to the heavens with interlaced timbers, so that it could not be taken back through the gates or dragged inside the walls. Nor could it protect the people under their ancient religion
nam si vestra manus violasset dona Minervae,
tum magnum exitium (quod di prius omen in ipsum
convertant!) Priami imperio Phrygibusque futurum;
sin manibus vestris vestram ascendisset in urbem,
ultro Asiam magno Pelopea ad moenia bello
venturam, et nostros ea fata manere nepotes.’
“If your hands violate Minerva’s gift, then a great ruin (may the gods first turn that prediction onto him!) will happen to the power of Priam and the Trojans; yet if ut ascended into your city, by your hands, Asia would come further still to the city walls of Greece in great war and this fate would remain with our descendents.”
