horresco referens—immensis orbibus angues I shudder relating it—(twin snakes) with huge coils

1. Laocoön, ductusNeptunosortesacerdos,Laocoon, priest to Neptune having been chosen by lot,sollemnistaurumingentemmactabat ad aras.Was sacrificing a huge bull at the altar(s).Ecce autemgemini a Tenedotranquilla per alta—Look, however, twin (snakes) from Tenedos through/across the calm deeps—

2. horrescoreferens—immensisorbibusangues I shudder relating it—(twin snakes) with huge coils 205 incumbuntpelago, pariterque ad litoratendunt; brood over the sea, and side by side they stretch/head to the shores pectora quorum inter fluctusarrectaiubaeque The breasts of which raised high among the waves and crests sanguineaesuperantundas; pars cetera pontum Blood-red surmount the waves; the other part (i.e. their bodies) skims pone legit, sinuatqueimmensavolumineterga. the sea behind, and twists their huge backs in a coil.

3. Fit sonitusspumantesalo; iamquearvatenebant, The salt foaming, a noise arises; and now they were holding (taking hold of) the fields, 210 ardentisqueoculossuffecti sanguine et igni, and suffused in respect to their flaming eyes with blood and fire (i.e. their flaming eyes are suffused with blood and fire. NOTE: occulosardentis are accusatives of respect) sibilalambebantlinguisvibrantibusora. They were licking their hissing mouths with vibrating tongues.

4. Diffugimusvisuexsangues: illiagminecerto Pale, we fled at the sight: those on a sure course/fixed line Laocoöntapetunt; et primumparvaduorum Seek Laocoon; and first each serpent having embraced the small bodies corpora natorumserpensamplexusuterque Of his two children 215 implicat, et miserosmorsudepasciturartus; Squeezes (them), and feeds on their wretched limbs with a bite; This is a great example of enjambement. Enj. is when an idea intrudes into the next line of poetry, rather than finishing at the end of a line. Vergil is using it here to build emotion in the reader.

5. post ipsumauxiliosubeuntem ac telaferentem Afterwards, (him) approaching as help and bringing weapons corripiunt, spirisqueligantingentibus; et iam They seize, and bring (him) with large coils; and now bis medium amplexi, biscollosquameacircum Having embraced twice in the middle, twice having placed around his neck tergadati, superantcapite et cervicibusaltis. Their scaly backs, they rose above (him) with their heads and their high necks.

6. 220Illesimulmanibustenditdivellerenodos, That man at the same time tries to pull apart the knots with his hands, perfusussanievittasatroqueveneno, his headbands soaked (literally “soaked in respect to his headbands”) with gore and black poison, clamoressimulhorrendos ad sideratollit: At the same time he lifts horrifying shouts to the stars:

7. qualesmugitus, fugit cum sauciusaram Of such a sort (is) the mooing, when (a bull) wounded flees the altar taurus, et incertamexcussitcervicesecurim. and has shaken from its neck the unsure axe. 225 At geminilapsudelubra ad summa dracones But/And the twin snakes with a glide to the highest shrines effugiuntsaevaequepetuntTritonidisarcem, Escape and, seek the citadel of cruel Athena, sub pedibusquedeaeclipeique sub orbeteguntur. and under the feet of the goddess and under the circle of her shield they are hidden.

8. Tumverotremefactanovus per pectoracunctis Then indeed a new (fear) through their made-to-tremble breasts in all (of us) insinuatpavor, et scelusexpendissemerentem creeps, and that Laocoon, deserving, paid for a crime 230 Laocoöntaferunt, sacrum qui cuspiderobur they relate/say, (Laocoon) who wounded the oak with a spear laeserit, et tergosceleratamintorserithastam. and hurled a wicked spear in its back.

9. Ducendumad sedessimulacrumorandaquedivae That the image must be led to the seats and that the godhead/powers/divinity of the goddess must be entreated numinaconclamant. they shout together. Dividimusmuros et moeniapandimus urbis. We split the walls/ramparts and we spread open the walls of the city.

10. 235 Accinguntomnesoperi, pedibusquerotarum All equip (themselves) for the work, and put a gliding of wheels under their feet subiciuntlapsus, et stuppeavinculacollo and hemp cables/chains to/from its neck intendunt: scanditfatalismachinamuros,they extend: the deadly device scales the walls,

11. feta armis. Pueri circum innuptaequepuellae pregnant with weapons. Boys and unmarried girls around (it) sacra canunt, funemquemanucontingeregaudent. Sing sacred (songs), and rejoice to touch the rope with their hand. 240 Illasubit, mediaequeminansinlabitururbi. That (device) approaches, and glides threatening/towering over the middle of the city. NOTE: the deponent verb minor, minari takes the dative case.

12. O patria, O divomdomus Ilium, et inclutabello O fatherland, o home of (our) gods—Ilium, and (home of) the famed in war moeniaDardanidum, quater ipso in limineportae Walls of Troy, Four times on the gate’s threshold itself substitit, atqueuterosonitumquaterarmadedere: it resisted, and so four times the weapons gave a sound from the belly: instamustameninmemorescaeciquefurore, However/nevertheless we press on unmindful and blind by madness, 245 etmonstruminfelixsacratasistimusarce. and we set the unlucky omen in our hallowed citadel.

13. Tuncetiamfatisaperit Cassandra futuris Even then Cassandra discloses by means of fates to come ora, deiiussu non umquamcreditaTeucris. Mouths (i.e. words), by the order of a god not ever believed by Trojans. Nosdelubradeummiseri, quibusultimusesset We unfortunates, for whom that day was to be the last, ille dies, festavelamusfronde per urbem. deck the shrines of the gods with festive foliage through the city.