199. Here is presented to the wretched (ones) another greater and much more terrible (thing) and it disturbs the heedless hearts. Laocoon, priest for (of) Neptune chosen by lot, was slaughtering a huge bull on the customary altar.
203. But behold twin snakes with immense coils (I shudder recalling) from Tenedos through the calm deep they lean upon the sea and equally they tend toward the shore; whose chests bent among the waves and bloody crests overcome the waves.
207. The other part skims the sea from behind and it twists the immense back with coil. A crash with spraying salt is made; and no they were holding the fields and having suffused burning eyes with blood and fire they lick hissing mouths with quivering tongues.
212. We scattered bloodless at the sight. In a sure battle line the sought Laocoon; and first the serpent having embraced the bodies of the two sons it entwines each one and with bite he feeds (upon) the miserable limbs;
216. going down after to help and bearing weapons the seize him himself and bind him in huge coils; and now having encircled (his) middle twice, having placed scaly backs twice around the neck the overpower with high head and necks.
220. At the same time reaches with hands to tear apart the knots having soaked his band with gore and black venom, at the same time he raises horrendous shouts to the stars: like the roar when a wounded bull flees the altar and he shakes off the uncertain ax [from his] neck.
225. But the twin serpents with a glide flee to the highest shrine and they seek the citadel of savage Minerva, and beneath the feet of the goddess and they hide beneath the circle of the shield. Then in truth, a new panic crept through the appalled hearts and they say that the crime paid the deserving Laocoon, who offended the oak with spear and hurled the wicked spear into the side.
231. They shout that the simulacrum must be led to the throne and they must worship the power of the goddess.
234. We divide the walls and open the fortifications of the city. Everyone girded for the work, we placed glidings of wheels beneath the feet, and they stretch chains of hemp for the neck: the fatal machine climbs the walls teeming with weapons. Boys and unmarried girls around sing sacred [songs] and they rejoice to touch the rope with hand: it goes down and menacing it glides into the middle of the city.
241. O fatherland, o Troy, Trojan walls renowned in war and home of the gods! Four times it halted on the threshold itself of the gate and four times the arms gave sound in the belly; however we persisted forgetful and blind with madness and the unlucky monster stopped at the sacred citadel.
246. Even then Cassandra by the future fates opened her mouth by order of the gods never believed by Trojans. We miserable, for whom the day would be final, we wreathed the shrines of gods with foliage through the city.
250. Meanwhile night turned the sky and rushed from the Ocean enveloping land and sky and the treacherous Myrmidons with a great shadow; sleep embraced tired limbs.
254. And now the Greek phalanx (anachronism) with ships drawn up was going from Tenedos through the friendly silences of the (being) silent moon(light) seeking the known coast, when the royal ship lifted the (signal) flames and by the unfriendly fate(s) of the gods Sinon having been defended released the enclosed Trojans from the uterus and the pine barrier secretly.
259. Having laid them open to the altar, the horse returns and happy they bring themselves forth from the hollow oak Thessandrus and Sthenelus leaders and dreadful Ulysses, sliding through (down, along) the lowered rope, Acamas and Thoas a,d descendant of Pelias (Achilles) Noptolemus and first Machoan and Menalaus and Epeos himself, maker of the deceit.
265. They invade the city buried in sleep and wine; they cut down the guards, and at the open (standing open) gates they receive all their friends and they join the confederate battle line.
268. It was the time in which first rest begins for sick mortals creeps most thankful as a gift of the gods. Behold, before eyes in dreams saddest Hector seemed to me to be present and to pour out huge weeping, black with blood [and] with dust as once dragged by the two horsed chariot and through the swollen feet pierced reins.
274. Eh, to me what sort he was, how much changed from that Hector who returned having donned the spoils of Achilles, or having thrown Phrygian fire on [the ships] of the Danaans;
277. and bearing a filthy beard and hair matted with blood and wounds, which many he received around the walls of the fatherland. Weeping further I seemed to address the man and to bring forth gloomy voices:
281. O light of Dardanis, O faithful hope of the Teucrians, what great delays have held [you]? Wait, Hector, from what shores do you come? How gladly we see you after many funerals of yours, after varied labors both of men and of the city!
285. What unworthy cause despoiled your serene face? Or why do I see these wounds? He [said] nothing, and not having delayed my asking nothings, but bringing a heavy groan from the depths of his chest, “Hey flee, goddess born, snatch you from these flames.
290. The enemy has the walls; Troy ruches (down) from its high peak. Enough has been given to the fatherland and Priam: If Pergamum was able to be defended by a right hand, it would have been defended by this (one).
293. And Troy entrusts the Penates her sacred (stuff) and her (men); seize these friends of fates, seek these great walls, which you will finally establish, having wandered the ocean.”
296. He spoke thus, and with hands he lifted the garland and the Vestal power and the eternal fire in the inmost shrines.
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469. And in the first threshold Pyrrhus leaps forth before the vestibule itself and flashing with weapons and brazen light; like when a snake having fed on bad grass [comes] into the light which the cold midwinter has sheltered swollen below the earth, now with skin having been placed (down) new and shining with youth, he coils [his] slippery back with chest raised high to the sun, and he darts triple forked tongues in mouth.
476. Together with huge Periphas and Automedon, master of the horses of Achilles and squire, together with the whole Scyrian youth they approach the youth and throw flames to the top.
479. With the twin ax snatched up he breaks down the hard thresholds and he tears the bronze doors from the hinge; and now with the beams having been destroyed he hollowed out the firm oak and he gave (to Priam as a Christmas present) a huge opening like a wide mouth.
483. He appears inside the house and long atria open up, and the inner rooms of ancient kings and of Priam appear, and armed men appear standing in the first threshold.
186. But inside the house the tumult is mixed with a miserable groan, and inside the vaulted house howls with wailing women the clamor hits the golden stars.
489. Then panicked mothers wander the huge house having embraced they hold posts and they place kisses. Pyrrhus presses on with fatherly strength; neither barriers nor guards themselves are strong (enough) to withstand; the door wavers with the repeated ram, and the posts fall from the removed hinges. A way is made by force; The Danaans burst through the entrance and slaughter the first and fill the wide place with soldiery.
496. Not (even so gentle) as when a frothy torrent with levies having been burst, goes out and overcomes the structures places against, it is borne into fields raging in a mass and it drags flocks with stables through all the fields.
499. I myself saw Neoptolemus raging with slaughter and the stwin Atrides (Agamemnon and Menelaus) in the threshold, I saw Hecuba and one hundred daughters and Priam polluting with blood the altars which fires he himself had consecrated.
267. But the boy, Ascanius, to whom now the name Iulus is added (he was Ilus while the Ilium state stood in power), he will fulfill in power thirty great orbs (years) with months rolling, and he will transfer the kingdom from the seat of Lavinia and he will fortify Alba Longa with great force.
272. Here now (then), it will be ruled for three hundred total years under the Hectorean race until a queen priestess pregnant (heavy?) by Mars will give twin offspring in birth.
275. Then Romulus happy in the brown hide of the nurse (she) wolf will inherit the nation and found the Martian (really) walls and will say (call them) Romans from his name.
278. For them I place (establish) the boundaries of things (only), and not the times: I have given an empire without end.
279. Nay, even fierce Juno, who now wearies the sea and lands and heaven with fear, will bring back (change) her council into [something] better and she will cherish with me the Romans, masters of the world, the toga-clad nation.
283. Thus it is pleasing. With the years gliding, a time will come when the house of Assaracus will press the Pthians and the bright Myceneans in slavery and Argos will be ruled over.
286. From [this] beautiful origin will be born Trojan Caesar, who will (can) bound the empire with Oceanus, his fame to the stars, Julius, a name derived from the great name Iulus.
289. You, one day, untroubled, will receive this [man] laden with the spoils of the Orient; this [man] will also be called in vows. Then the ages will become mild, with wars having been put [away];
292. white Faith and Vesta, Quirinus with brother Remus will give laws; The dreadful gates of War will be closed with iron and close seams; unholy rage sitting within over savage weapons and bound behind back with 100 bronze knots he roars horrid [things] with his bloody mouth.
297. He said these things and he sends the son from Maia down from on high, so that the lands and so that the new towers of Carthage might lie open in welcome to the Trojans, lest Dido, unaware of fate, should keep [them] off from [her] territories.
300. He flew out through the great air with the rowing of wings and quickly stood at the shores of Libya. And now he made orders, and the Phoenicians put [down] their fierce hearts with the god willing it; in particular the queen accepted in the Teucrians with quiet spirit and calm mind.
305. But pious Aeneas wondering much through the night as first light is given decided to leave and explore new places, which shores he came to by wind, who held them (for he saw untilled) whether men or beasts, and to report back to his friends.
310. He hid the fleet in a hollow beneath a hollowed out rock enclosed by trees and trembling shadows around.
312. He went accompanied by Achates waving two spears with broad iron.
314. to whom (to him) the mother (Venus) brought herself in the middle of the forrest to meet, wearing the face of a maiden and arms of a maiden of Sparta or such as Thracian Harpalyce [as she] wearies horses and outstrips the swift Hebrus with flight.
318. And for the huntress hangs a ready bow from her shoulders by custom and she had given her hair to scatter I the winds, bare as to her knee and having collected her flowing folds (robe) with a knot.
321. And before (first) she says, “Hey young men, show if you have perhaps seen any of my sisters wandering here girded with quiver and the hide of a spotted lynx, or pursuing the path of the froth of a boar with a shout.
325. Thus Venus [spoke]; and the son of Venus in return having begun, “Nothing of your sisters has been heard or seen for (by) me, O how should I call you, virgin? For to you [there is] (you have) hardly the face of mortal, nor does (your) voice sound human; O, (you are) surely a goddess. (Or sister of Phoebus? Or one of the blood of a nymph?),
330. whoever you may be, would you be lucky and lighten our burden and show where under the sky, on what shores of the world we have been tossed; ignorant off the men and places, we wander driven here by wind and vast waves: by our (my) right hand much victim will fall before your altars. (KW: many a victim will fall)
335. Then Venus: Indeed I [am] not worthy of such an honor; it is the custom for Tyrian maidens to carry a bow and to bind legs high with purple boots.
338. You see the Punic kingdom[s] and Tyrians and the city of Agenor; but the territories of Libya [are] in intractable war.
340. Dido ruled the kingdom having set out from the city of Tyre fleeing her brother. Long is [her] injury, long are [her] wanderings. But I follow to the highest summit of things. (I have followed the tale and can explain things from top to bottom)
343. Sychaeus was husband to her, most rich (with respect to) of land of the Phoenicians, and for the wretched [woman], cherished with great love, to whom (to him) the father had given intact (virgin, presumably) and with omens he first joined [them]. 346.But the queen of Tyre had a brother Pygmalion, greater before all others in wickedness.
348. Rage came into the midst of them. Impious, he overcame incautious Sychaeus with iron before the altars, uncaring of the love of [his] sister.
351. and he hid the deed for a long time and (polysyndoton) concealing evil he deceived the weary loving [sister] with vain hope.
353. But the pale ghost itself of the unburied husband came into dreams raising wails in amazing ways;
355. he bared bloody altars and his breast pierced with iron and he uncovered the whole hidden crime of the house.
357. Then he urges [her] to hasten escape and to leave [her] fatherland and help aid for the road he discloses in the ground ancient treasure an unknown weight of silver and of gold.
360. Moved by these [words] Dido prepared flight and friends.
361. They assembled for whom there was either cruel hatred or sharp fear of the tyrant; they seized ships by chance were prepared and they loaded with gold. The riches of greedy Pygmalion were carried on the sea; a woman [was] the leader of the deed..
365. They came to a place where now you will see the huge walls and the surging citadel of new Carthage, and they purchased as much soil as they were able to encircle with a bull hide, Byrsa, from the name of the deed.
369. But who then [are] you(all)? From where or from what shores do you come? Or where do you hold journey?”
371. He [to her] asking such things sighing and dragging voice from deep in his chest: O goddess, if I were to proceed repeating first from the beginning, and there was time to hear the stories of our labors, with Olympus closed Vesper would settle the day before (I could finish).
375. A storm by its chance drove us from ancient Troy, if perhaps the name of Troy has come through your ears, carried through various seas.
378. I am pious Aeneas, who conveys with me in a fleet the penates snatched from the enemy, known by fame over the skies
380. I seek Italy a fatherland and my race is from highest Jove. Twice ten have I ascended the Trojan sea in ships, with the mother goddess showing the way I followed the given fate(s).
383. Scarcely seven [ships] survive shattered by waves from Eurus. I myself unknown, lacking, wander the deserts of Libya, having been driven from Europe and Asia.” And not asking more, Venus having suffered, interrupted [him] not complaining more in the middle thus with grief:
387. Whoever you are, I believe, you hardly pluck air (breathe, draw breath) hated by the heavens (gods), who (you) have come to the Tyrian city. Just proceed and bring you(rself) to the threshold of the queen.
390. For I announce to you that your restored friends and fleet (have been) restored and driven into safety by the changed north winds, unless my parents taught me augury falsely.
393. Look upon those twice six swans rejoicing in a line, whom, a bird of Jove having fallen from the clear sky WAS DISTURBING in the region of the upper air; now they seem in a long line either to seize land(s) or to look down on already seized lands: as those restored mock with creaking wings and in a flock they encircle the sky and give songs, not otherwise your ships and young men either hold the port or are coming to the harbor with full sail.
401. Just proceed, and where the road leads you, direct your step.
402. She spoke, and turning, she gleamed out from her pink neck, and her ambrosial hair exhaled a divine scent from the top. The clothes flew down to the bottom of her feet (that is to say, lengthened, not denuded) and with her stride she revealed a true goddess.
406. He when he recognized his mother fleeing followed with such a voice: “What (why) do you, cruel, trick (your) son also so many times with false images? Why is it not given to join right [hand] to right [hand] and to heartrue voices and reply?”
410. He reproached with such things and extended his steps toward the walls. But Venus enclosed the walking [ones] with a dark mist, and the goddess poured out (for them) with a great shroud of cloud around (them), lest anyone should be able to see them or to touch them or to make a delay or to demand (their) reasons of coming
415. She herself goes away uplifted (to) Paphos and happy revisits her throne, where [there is] a temple to her, and one hundred altars smoke with Sabaean (Arabic) incense and [the air] breathes out with [the scent of] fresh garlands.
418. Meanwhile they snatched up the road, where the path showed. And now they were ascending a hill which much overshadowed the city and faces the citadels from above.
421. Aeneas admired the structure, once huts, he admired the gates and the noise and the pavement of roads. The ardent Tyrians press on: part [of them] make walls (historical infinitive), and make the citadel, and roll rocks up with hands, some choose place for a house and enclose it with a trench; they choose laws and officials, and a sacred senate.
427. Here some are digging out a port; here others are placing the foundation for a theater, and cutting out huge columns from the rock, lofty decorations for a future stage.
430. Just like work busies bees in the new (early) summer through flowery country under the sun, when they lead the adult swarm of the hive, or when they stuff flowing honey and fill cells with sweet nectar, or they receive the burdens of [those] arriving (with pollen), or with a battle line made, the keep the drones, a lazy swarm, from the hive; the work seethes and the fragrant honey smells of thyme.
437. “O fortunate, whose walls now are rising!” Aeneas said, and looked up at the heights of the city.
439. He brought himself enclosed by the cloud (amazing to see) through the middle and he mixes with men and to any he is unseen.
441. In the middle of the city was a grove, most happy of shade, where first tossed by waves and storm the Phoenicians dug up in that place a token, which royal Juno had shown, the spirited head of a horse; for thus (they) would be through the ages distinguished in war and easy to live (hurray for supines!).
446. Here Phoenician Dido founded a huge temple to Juno rich with gifts and the power of the goddess, for which bronze doors were rising from the steps and beams were woven with bronze and the hinge on the bronze gates was creaking.
450. Here first in the grove a new presented thing eased fear, here first Aeneas dared to hope for safety and to better trust struck down things.
453. For at the foot of the great temple surveying things one at a time while awaiting the queen, while he was marveling at what fortunes the city had, the hands of craftsmen, the work and labor among them, from a line the Trojan battles and wars in fame now spread through the whole world, the Atreides (sons of Atreus) and Prium and Achilles savage to both.
459. He stopped and crying, said “What place now, Achates, what region in the wold is not full of our labors? Behold Priam. Even here there are its own rewards for glory; there are the tears of things and mortal things touch the mind.
463. Loose fears; this story will bring some safety to you.
464. He spoke thus and grazed his spirit with the empty picture groaning much and he wetted his face with a copious river. And for he was watching as Troy [was] battling around in this [one] the Greeks were fleeing, the Trojans were crushing the young men, in this [one] crested Achilles in his chariot stands against the Phrygians (Trojans).
469. And not far from here crying he recognizes the tent of Rhesus with white cloth, which was betrayed on the first night; cruel Diomedes devastated with great slaughter, and then turned the burning horses into the camp before they had tasted fodder and drunk the Xanthus.
474. In another part Troilus fleeing, with weapons having been lost, the unlucky boy unequal meets Achilles, he is carried by horses and clings on his back to the empty chariot nevertheless holding the reins; his neck and hair are dragged through the earth and the dust is marked by the turned spear.
479. Meanwhile the Trojan women are going to the temple of not impartial Athena with hair disheveled and they bring gowns humbly, and sad, their chests are beaten with palms. The goddess having turned away holds her eyes fixed on the ground.
483. Thrice he dragged Hector around the Trojan walls and Achilles was selling the lifeless body for gold.
485. Then indeed he gives a great groan from the bottom of his chest as he catches sight of the spoils, as of the chariot, even as of the body itself of his friend and Priam stretching out unarmed hands.
488. He also recognizes himself mingling with the leaders of the Greeks, and the eastern lines and the armor of dark Memnon. Penthesilea leads the battle line of the Amazons with crescent shields raging she burns in the middle of thousands, the warrior (female) fastening a golden girdle for one exposed breast, and a girl dares to run together with men.
494. While these things seemed wonderful to Dardanian Aeneas, and while he was dazed he hangs fixed on one view, the queen, Dido, most beautiful in form, went to the temple with a great crowd of youth thronging.
498. Such as on the banks of the Eurotas or through the ridge of Cynthus Diana trains the dances some thousands having followed here and the Oreads are gathering here. She carries a quiver on her shoulder and proceeding she towers over all the goddesses. Joys possess the secret heart of Latona.
503. Such was Dido, happy, she carried herself so through the middle pressing on for the work for the future kingdom.
505. Then in gates of the goddess in the middle of the vault (tortoise) of the temple enclosed with arms on the throne she sat down resting on high.
507. She was giving justice and laws to the men and assigning the labor of works in equal parts or by lot: when suddenly Aeneas sees Antheus and Sergentus approaching in a great group and strong Cloanthus and other Teucrans whom the black storm had scattered and had born away deep within other shores.
513. At the same time he himself as gaping at the same time Achates was astounded by joy and fear; eagerly they burned to join right hands; but b unknown thing disturbed their minds.
516. They disguised and looked out wrapped in the hollow cloud what fortune [there was] for the men, on what shore they had left the fleet, what (reason) they have come; chosen from all the ships they were coming begging for mercy and heading for the temple with a shout.
