Perhaps you also ask what were the fates of Priam. When he saw the fall of his captured city and the uprooted thresholds of his homes and the enemy amidst in the innermost chambers, long too old in vain he puts unaccustomed arms and useless sword on shoulders trembling with age, and is born about to die into the dense enemy. In the middle of the shrines and under the bare axle of the sky was an altar, huge and encircled close by the Penates. Here Hecuba and her daughters around the altars in vain, like doves headlong from the dark storm, sat crowded together and clinging to the images of the gods. But with youthful arms having been taken up, as she saw Priam himself, she said 'what so hard a mind, most wretched husband, forced (you) to put on these weapons? or to where do you rush? The time is not needing such aid nor such defenders: not if now my Hector himself were present. To this at least yield: this altar will protect all, or you will die simultaneously (with us).' This having spoken with his mouth, she received him to herself and put the old man on the sacred seat.
(526) But look, Polites having slipped from the slaughter of Pyrrhus through the weapons, through the weapons, one of the sons of Priam flees from the long porticos and, wounded, seeks the empty atriums. Pyrrhus, burning, attacks that man with a hostile wound, now and already he holds by hand and presses with the spear. When at last he escaped before the eyes and faces of his parents he fell and poured out his life with much blood. Here Priam, although held already in the middle of death, however did not hold back and did not spare his voice and anger; he shouts, 'But for the crime for such reckless acts may the gods pay you back worthy thanks and return owed rewards, if there is any piety in the sky which cares for such things, who made me openly see the death of my child and befouled a fathers face (lit. pl.). But that Achilles, from whom you falsely claim you were born, was not such to Priam in enmity; but he blushed at the rights and faith of a suppliant and returned the bloodless body of Hector to a tomb and sent me back into my kingdoms.' Thus the too old man spoke and threw his feeble spear without a blow, which was straightway repulsed by the raucous bronze and in vain hung from the high boss of the shield. To whom Pyrrhus: ' Therefore you will bear back these (words) and a messenger you will go to my father, son of Peleus. Remember to tell that man my sad deeds and (of) the degenerate Neoptolemus. Now die.' Saying this, he drug him trembling to the altars himself and slipping in the plentiful (lit. much) blood of his son, and wound his hair in his left hand, and with his right he brought out his flashing sword and buried (it) as far as the hilt in his side. This was the end of the fates of Priam, this end bore him away by lot, seeing Troy burned and Pergama collapsed, once the proud ruler of so many peoples and lands of Asia. He throws the huge trunk on the shore and the head torn from his shoulders and the body without a name.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Aeneid 2.453-505
There was a threshold and hidden doors and a utility passage between (lit. among themselves) the homes of Priam, and doorposts remote in the back, by which unlucky Andromache more often was accustomed to bear herself, unaccompanied, while the royal powers remained, to her in-laws and used to bring the boy Astyanax to his grandfather. I escape to the steps of the high summit, whence the wretched Teucrians were throwing vain weapons by hand. With my sword having attacked around the turret standing at the precipice and rising up under the stars from the highest roofs, whence all Troy and the ships of the Danaans and the Achaean camps were accustomed to be seen, by which the highest floors give shaky joints, we uproot from the high seats and overthrew (it); this, having slipped suddenly brought ruin and a sound and fell over the lines of the Danaans widely. But others come up; neither the rocks nor any tribe of weapons meanwhile cease.
(469) Before the vestibule itself and on the first threshold, Pyrrhus exults, flashing with spears ad bright bronze: as when a snake, having fed on evil grasses, which winter covered, swollen, under the cold earth, now, new with skins put aside and shining with youthfulness, rolls slippery backs, lofty with chest lifted to the sun, and flickers with forked tongues in his mouth. Together huge Periphas and driver of Achilles' horses, armor-bearer Automedon together with the whole Scyrian youth advance to the roof and throw flames to the gables. He himself among the first bursts the hard thresholds wiht a snatched double-axe and tears the bronze doorposts from the hinge; and now, with the beam split, he cuts through stout oak and gave a huge window with a wide mouth. The inner home appears and the long atriums are revealed; the innermost recesses of Priam and your kings are exposed and they see armed men standing in the first threshold. But the inner home is mixed with groaning and wretched tumult, and deep within the hollow rooms howl with womanly lamentations; the clamor strikes the golden stars. Then fearful mothers wander in the huge homes and, having embraces the doorposts, hold on and press kisses. Pyrrhus presses on the fatherland with violence; neither the bolts nor guards themselves prevail to endure; the door slips with bronze ram, and the dislodged doorposts lean forward on the hinge. The way is made by force; the admitted Danaans burst the approaches and slaughter the first men and fill places with extensive soldiery. Not thus, when a frothy stream goes out of broken banks and overwhelms opposing barriers with the whirlpool, raging with a wave it is born into the fields and through all the plains and drags the hers with the stables. I myself saw Neoptolemus raging with slaughter and the twin sons of Atreus on the threshold, I saw Hecuba and the hundred daughters-in-law and Priam amid altars befouled with blood, which fires he himself had consecrated. Those fifty bedchambers, such great hope of descendants, doorposts with barbarian gold and proud with spoils lean down; the Danaans hold where fire falls short.
(469) Before the vestibule itself and on the first threshold, Pyrrhus exults, flashing with spears ad bright bronze: as when a snake, having fed on evil grasses, which winter covered, swollen, under the cold earth, now, new with skins put aside and shining with youthfulness, rolls slippery backs, lofty with chest lifted to the sun, and flickers with forked tongues in his mouth. Together huge Periphas and driver of Achilles' horses, armor-bearer Automedon together with the whole Scyrian youth advance to the roof and throw flames to the gables. He himself among the first bursts the hard thresholds wiht a snatched double-axe and tears the bronze doorposts from the hinge; and now, with the beam split, he cuts through stout oak and gave a huge window with a wide mouth. The inner home appears and the long atriums are revealed; the innermost recesses of Priam and your kings are exposed and they see armed men standing in the first threshold. But the inner home is mixed with groaning and wretched tumult, and deep within the hollow rooms howl with womanly lamentations; the clamor strikes the golden stars. Then fearful mothers wander in the huge homes and, having embraces the doorposts, hold on and press kisses. Pyrrhus presses on the fatherland with violence; neither the bolts nor guards themselves prevail to endure; the door slips with bronze ram, and the dislodged doorposts lean forward on the hinge. The way is made by force; the admitted Danaans burst the approaches and slaughter the first men and fill places with extensive soldiery. Not thus, when a frothy stream goes out of broken banks and overwhelms opposing barriers with the whirlpool, raging with a wave it is born into the fields and through all the plains and drags the hers with the stables. I myself saw Neoptolemus raging with slaughter and the twin sons of Atreus on the threshold, I saw Hecuba and the hundred daughters-in-law and Priam amid altars befouled with blood, which fires he himself had consecrated. Those fifty bedchambers, such great hope of descendants, doorposts with barbarian gold and proud with spoils lean down; the Danaans hold where fire falls short.
Aeneid 2.402-52
Alas it is not at all right for anyone to trust unwilling gods! Look! Cassandra, the maiden daughter of Priam was being dragged, with her hair spread out, from the temple and shrines of Minerva, holding fiery eyes to the sky in vain, eyes, for bonds confine her tender palms. Coroebus did not bear this sight, with a crazed mind, and throws himself into the middle of the line of battle, about to die; we all follow and rush into the dense weapons. Here first from the high summit of the shrine we are ruined by the weapons of our men and a most wretched slaughter arises because of the form of our arms and the error of the Greek crests. Then the Danaans attack, with a lament and anger over the stolen maiden, having gathered from all over, most fierce Ajax and the twin sons of Atreus and the whole army of the Dolopians: as once opposing winds with a burst whirlwind clash, both the Zephyr and the Notus and the fertile Eurus with eastern horses; the woods shriek and foamy Nereus rages with his trident and stirs the seas from the lowest depth(s). Those also appear, if we rout and rouse anyone from ambush in the dark night through the shadow in the whole city; the first recognize the shields and lying spears and notice different voices by the tone. Immediately we are rushed upon by the number, and Coroebus first falls upon the right hand of Peneleus at the altar of the warlike goddess; and Rhipeus falls, who was the most just one among the Teucrians and the greatest protector of right (it seemed to the gods otherwise); both Hypanis and Dymas die, pierced by their allies; and your very great piety and the fillets of Apollo did not protect you, dying, Panthus. Trojan ashes and last fires of my people, I swear, in your fall I avoided neither spears nor any exchanges of the Danaans, and if the fates had been that I fall, I had earned it by (my) hand. Then we were torn away, Iphitus and Pelias with me (of whom Iphitus heavier now with age, and Pelias slow with a wound of Ulysses) called straightaway to the homes of Priam by a clamor.
(438) Here indeed we saw a huge battle, as if other battles were nowhere, in the whole city no one linger, (we saw) untamed Mars and Danaans rushing tot he roofs and the threshold besieged with driven tortoise. Ladders cling to the walls, and under the posts themselves they strive on the steps; they put up shields against the spears, covered by their left hands, they grasp the gables with their right hands. The Dardanians in return pluck up the towers and the whole roofs of the houses; with these weapons, because they see the last things, they prepare to defend themselves now at the brink of death, and they roll down golden beams, high glories of old ancestors; others with drawn swords sit on the lowest gates, they preserve these with a dense line. Renewed spirits run to help the houses of the king and to relieve men with aid and add force to the beaten.
(438) Here indeed we saw a huge battle, as if other battles were nowhere, in the whole city no one linger, (we saw) untamed Mars and Danaans rushing tot he roofs and the threshold besieged with driven tortoise. Ladders cling to the walls, and under the posts themselves they strive on the steps; they put up shields against the spears, covered by their left hands, they grasp the gables with their right hands. The Dardanians in return pluck up the towers and the whole roofs of the houses; with these weapons, because they see the last things, they prepare to defend themselves now at the brink of death, and they roll down golden beams, high glories of old ancestors; others with drawn swords sit on the lowest gates, they preserve these with a dense line. Renewed spirits run to help the houses of the king and to relieve men with aid and add force to the beaten.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Aeneid 2.356-401
Thus fury has been added to the spirits of the youths. Then as plundering wolves in a black cloud, whom a wicked hunger of the belly has driven out and the abandoned pups await with dry jaws, through spears, through enemies we forge into hardly dubious death and we hold a journey for the middle of the city. Black night encircles with empty shadow. Who in telling might unfold the slaughter of that night, the deaths, or who could equal the labors with tears? The ancient city rushes down, having ruled through many years; very many lifeless bodies are strewn through the streets everywhere and through the homes and the sacred thresholds of the gods. And not only Teucrians give punishment with blood; sometimes also courage returns in the hearts of the conquered (dat. pos.) and conquering Danaans fall. Cruel grief is everywhere, everywhere is panic and very great image of death.
(370) First Androgeos offers himself to us, with a great crowd of Danaans accompanying, trusting allied bands unknowing, and he addresses voluntarily with friendly words: 'Hurry, men! For what so late sluggishness delays? Others seize and carry burn Pergama: do you come now first from the lofty ships?' He spoke and immediately (for not faithful enough responses were given) he sensed that he had slipped into the middle of the enemies. He stood silent ad pressed his foot backward with his voice. As one who has pressed upon an unseen snake in the rough briars, stepping upon the ground, and fearful immediately flees back from the one lifting his ires and swelling his greenish-blue necks; hardly otherwise does Androgeos, trembling at the sight, went back. We rush in and are surrounded by the dense arms, and we lay low everywhere those ignorant of the place and captured by fear: Fortune breathes upon our first labor. And here Corobeus, reveling in success and his spirits, says, 'O allies, where first Fortune shows the way for safety, and where a right/favorable hand offers itself, let us follow: let us change shields and let us fit the emblems of the Danaans to ourselves. Trick or courage, who asks in war (lit. enemy)? They themselves will give the weapons.' Thus having spoken, then he puts on the plumed helmet of Androgeos and the noble emblem of his shield and he fits the Argive sword to his side. Rhipeus does this, Dymas himself and the whole happy band of youth does this: each arms himself with recent spoils. We advance, mixed with the Danaans, hardly by our own power, and through the blind night we join many battles, having attacked, we send many of the Danaans to Orcus. Some flee to the ships and seek trusted shores at a run; others (lit. some) climb the huge horse again with shameful fear and hide in the known belly.
(370) First Androgeos offers himself to us, with a great crowd of Danaans accompanying, trusting allied bands unknowing, and he addresses voluntarily with friendly words: 'Hurry, men! For what so late sluggishness delays? Others seize and carry burn Pergama: do you come now first from the lofty ships?' He spoke and immediately (for not faithful enough responses were given) he sensed that he had slipped into the middle of the enemies. He stood silent ad pressed his foot backward with his voice. As one who has pressed upon an unseen snake in the rough briars, stepping upon the ground, and fearful immediately flees back from the one lifting his ires and swelling his greenish-blue necks; hardly otherwise does Androgeos, trembling at the sight, went back. We rush in and are surrounded by the dense arms, and we lay low everywhere those ignorant of the place and captured by fear: Fortune breathes upon our first labor. And here Corobeus, reveling in success and his spirits, says, 'O allies, where first Fortune shows the way for safety, and where a right/favorable hand offers itself, let us follow: let us change shields and let us fit the emblems of the Danaans to ourselves. Trick or courage, who asks in war (lit. enemy)? They themselves will give the weapons.' Thus having spoken, then he puts on the plumed helmet of Androgeos and the noble emblem of his shield and he fits the Argive sword to his side. Rhipeus does this, Dymas himself and the whole happy band of youth does this: each arms himself with recent spoils. We advance, mixed with the Danaans, hardly by our own power, and through the blind night we join many battles, having attacked, we send many of the Danaans to Orcus. Some flee to the ships and seek trusted shores at a run; others (lit. some) climb the huge horse again with shameful fear and hide in the known belly.
Aeneid 2.298-355
Meanwhile, the walls are mixed with diverse grief, and more and more, although the home of his parent Anchises, secluded and covered by trees, is set back, sounds grow loud and the horror of weapons threatens. Shaken from sleep, I both go up to the gables of the top of the house by climbing and stand with alert ears: as when flame falls upon a field of wheat with the raging South Winds, or a rapid torrent lays low the fields with mountain river, it lays low rich crops and the labors of the oxen and drags the forests headlong; the unknowing shepherd stands silent at the high peak of a rock, taking in the sound. Then indeed faith is clearly visible, the tricks of the Danaans are evident. Now spacious home of Deiphobus gave to ruin with Vulcan conquering, now neighboring Ucalegon burns; the wide Sigean straits light up with fire. both a clamor of men and a crying of crowds arise. Out of my mind, I take arms and there is not enough reason in weapons, but minds burn to join bands in war and run together in the citadel with allies; madness and anger cast down the mind, and it occurs that it is beautiful to die in arms.
(318) But look, Panthus, having slipped from the weapons of the Acheans, Panthus son of Othryas, priest of the citadel and of Phoebus, himself drags the sacred items with his hand and conquered gods and his little grandson and, out of his mind, he clings to the threshold in his run. 'In what place is the decisive struggle, Panthus? What stronghold do we hold?' Hardly had I spoken these things, when with a groan her responds: 'The final day and inescapable time of Dardania has come. We were Trojans, Ilium was and the huge glory of the Teucrians; savage Jupiter has turned everything over to Argos; the Danaans are in control in the kindled city. The lofty horse, standing in the middle of the walls, pours out armed men, and the victorious Sinon scatters fires, jeering. Some are at the wide open gates, as many thousands ever came from great Mycenae; others besiege the narrows of the streets with opposed spears; the line of battle, stripped of iron, stands with shaking sword-point, prepared to die; hardly do the first watchmen of the gates try battles and resit blind Mars.'
(336) With such words of the son of Othryas and with the will of the gods I am born into flames and into weapons, where the sad Erinys, where the roar calls and the clamor lifted tot he airs. Rhipeus and Epytus, greatest in arms, add themselves as allies, presented through the moon, both Hypanis and Dymas alson join our side, and the youth Coroebus, son of Mygdon--in those days by chance he had come to Troy, burned by mad love for Cassandra, and he was bringing aid as a son-in-law to Priam and the Phrygians, the unlucky fellow who did not hear the orders of his promised! To whom, when I saw those gathered and daring for battle, I began moreover with these (words): 'Youths, bravest hearts in vain, if you have a certain eagerness to follow me daring last thing, you see what fortune the circumstances have, the gods by whom this power had stood have all left, with the shrines and altars having been left; you run to aid a kindled city. Let us die and let us rush into the middle of the weapons. The one safety for the beaten is to hope for no safety.'
(318) But look, Panthus, having slipped from the weapons of the Acheans, Panthus son of Othryas, priest of the citadel and of Phoebus, himself drags the sacred items with his hand and conquered gods and his little grandson and, out of his mind, he clings to the threshold in his run. 'In what place is the decisive struggle, Panthus? What stronghold do we hold?' Hardly had I spoken these things, when with a groan her responds: 'The final day and inescapable time of Dardania has come. We were Trojans, Ilium was and the huge glory of the Teucrians; savage Jupiter has turned everything over to Argos; the Danaans are in control in the kindled city. The lofty horse, standing in the middle of the walls, pours out armed men, and the victorious Sinon scatters fires, jeering. Some are at the wide open gates, as many thousands ever came from great Mycenae; others besiege the narrows of the streets with opposed spears; the line of battle, stripped of iron, stands with shaking sword-point, prepared to die; hardly do the first watchmen of the gates try battles and resit blind Mars.'
(336) With such words of the son of Othryas and with the will of the gods I am born into flames and into weapons, where the sad Erinys, where the roar calls and the clamor lifted tot he airs. Rhipeus and Epytus, greatest in arms, add themselves as allies, presented through the moon, both Hypanis and Dymas alson join our side, and the youth Coroebus, son of Mygdon--in those days by chance he had come to Troy, burned by mad love for Cassandra, and he was bringing aid as a son-in-law to Priam and the Phrygians, the unlucky fellow who did not hear the orders of his promised! To whom, when I saw those gathered and daring for battle, I began moreover with these (words): 'Youths, bravest hearts in vain, if you have a certain eagerness to follow me daring last thing, you see what fortune the circumstances have, the gods by whom this power had stood have all left, with the shrines and altars having been left; you run to aid a kindled city. Let us die and let us rush into the middle of the weapons. The one safety for the beaten is to hope for no safety.'
Aeneid 2.250-297
Meanwhile the sky turns and night rushes from the Ocean, covering both the earth and the sky and the tricks of the Myrmidons with a great shadow; spread out through the walls, the Teucrians were silent; sleep embraces their weary limbs. And now the Argive phalanx, with the ships drawn up, went from Tenedos through the friendly silence(s) of the quiet moon, seeking known shores, when the royal ship had lifted the torches, and Sinon, defended by the unfair fates of the gods secretly frees the Danaans, shut in the belly, and the pine bolts. The horse, laid open, returns those men to the airs and happily they bring themselves forth from the hollow oak, Thessandrus and Sthenelus, the leaders, and hard Ulysses, having slipped along the let-down rope, and Acamas and Thoas and the son of Peleus, Neoptolemus, and first Machaon and Menelaus and Epeos himself, the builder of the horse. They invade a city buried in sleep and wine; the watchmen are slaughtered, and with the gates having been opened, they receive all their allies and join knowing lines of battle.
(268) It was the time in which first rest begins for weary mortals and by gift of the gods most pleasingly winds. Behold, in dreams most sad Hector seemed to me to be present before my eyes and to pour our great tears, snatched by the two-horse chariot as once (he was), and black with bloody dust and pierced through his swelling feet (by) thongs—ah me, such as he was so much was he changed from that Hector who returns clothed in the spoils of Achilles or having thrown Phrygian fires at the ships of the Danaans!—bearing a dirty beard and hair stiff with blood and those very many wounds which he received around the paternal walls. Weeping, voluntarily he himself seemed to address the man and to bring out sad voices: o light of Dardania, o most faithful hope of the Teucrians, what such great delays have held (you)? From what shores, awaited Hector, do you come? How weary do we behold you after many deaths of your people, after changing labors of the men and city! What unworthy cause befouled your calm face (lit. faces)? Or why do I see these wounds? That man (responds) nothing, and does not delay over me asking empty things, but gravely leading groans from his deepest chest says, ‘Alas, flee, one born from a goddess, and snatch yourself from these flames. The enemy has the walls; Troy rushes from her high summit. Enough has been given to the fatherland and to Priam: if Pergama could have been defended by a right hand, it would have been defended even by this one, Troy entrusts her sacred items and her Penates to you; take these as companions of your fates, seek great walls for these which you will set up finally with the sea having been wandered over.’ Thus he speaks and brings with his hands the fillets and powerful Vesta and the eternal fire form the innermost shrines.
(268) It was the time in which first rest begins for weary mortals and by gift of the gods most pleasingly winds. Behold, in dreams most sad Hector seemed to me to be present before my eyes and to pour our great tears, snatched by the two-horse chariot as once (he was), and black with bloody dust and pierced through his swelling feet (by) thongs—ah me, such as he was so much was he changed from that Hector who returns clothed in the spoils of Achilles or having thrown Phrygian fires at the ships of the Danaans!—bearing a dirty beard and hair stiff with blood and those very many wounds which he received around the paternal walls. Weeping, voluntarily he himself seemed to address the man and to bring out sad voices: o light of Dardania, o most faithful hope of the Teucrians, what such great delays have held (you)? From what shores, awaited Hector, do you come? How weary do we behold you after many deaths of your people, after changing labors of the men and city! What unworthy cause befouled your calm face (lit. faces)? Or why do I see these wounds? That man (responds) nothing, and does not delay over me asking empty things, but gravely leading groans from his deepest chest says, ‘Alas, flee, one born from a goddess, and snatch yourself from these flames. The enemy has the walls; Troy rushes from her high summit. Enough has been given to the fatherland and to Priam: if Pergama could have been defended by a right hand, it would have been defended even by this one, Troy entrusts her sacred items and her Penates to you; take these as companions of your fates, seek great walls for these which you will set up finally with the sea having been wandered over.’ Thus he speaks and brings with his hands the fillets and powerful Vesta and the eternal fire form the innermost shrines.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Aeneid 2.199-249
Here something greater and much more to be trembled at is presented to the wretched and disturbs unforeseeing hearts. Laocoon, priest of Neptune, chosen by lot, was sacrificing a huge bull at the traditional altars. But look! twin snakes with huge coils—I shudder in recalling—press upon the sea from Tenedos through the tranquil deep and the strive equally for the shore; whose raised chests and bloody crests tower over the waves, part skims over the sea in the rear and winds backs immense with the roll. A sound arises from the salty foam; and now they make for the fields and, suffused with blood and fire in respect to their burning eyes, they lick hissing mouths with vibrating tongues. We flee, bloodless at the sight. Those in a certain battle line seek Laocoon; and first having embraced the little bodies of his two sons, each serpent enfolds and feeds upon their wretched limbs with a bite; afterwards they seize and with huge coils bind him coming up with aid and bearing spears; and now having embraced twice around the middle, having put scaly backs twice around his neck, they tower over with their head(s) and high necks. That one at the same time struggles to rip away the knots with his hands, drenched at his fillets with bloody gore and black venom, at the same time he lifts terrible shouts to the stars—like bellowing(s) when a wounded bull flees the altar and has shaken the unsure axe from its neck. But the twin dragons with a slip flee to the high shrines and seek the citadel of savage Tritona, protected under the feet of the goddess and under the orb of her shield.
(228) Then a new fear winds its way into trembling hearts, and they say Laocoon, deserving, paid for his crime, who harmed the sacred oak with the spear-point and hurled the criminal spear into its back. They shout that the image must be lead into the shrines and the powers of the goddess must be entreated. We divide the walls and open the fortifications of the city. All gird themselves for the work and put the slipping of wheels under the feet, and stretch flaxen ropes to the neck; the deadly machine climbs the walls, pregnant with weapons. Boys and unwed girls sing sacred (songs) around it and rejoice to touch the rope with a hand; that (machine) steals in and threatening slips into the middle of the city. O fatherland, o home of the gods, Ilium, and walls of the Dardanians, famous in war! Four times it stuck on the very threshold of the gate and four times the weapons gave a sound in the belly; yet we press on, heedless and blind with madness, and we set the unhappy monster upon the sacred citadel. Then even Cassandra opens her mouth(s) to future fates, by the order of the god never believed by the Teucrians. We, wretched ones, for whom that day was the last, veil the shrines of the gods with festive foliage throughout the city.
(228) Then a new fear winds its way into trembling hearts, and they say Laocoon, deserving, paid for his crime, who harmed the sacred oak with the spear-point and hurled the criminal spear into its back. They shout that the image must be lead into the shrines and the powers of the goddess must be entreated. We divide the walls and open the fortifications of the city. All gird themselves for the work and put the slipping of wheels under the feet, and stretch flaxen ropes to the neck; the deadly machine climbs the walls, pregnant with weapons. Boys and unwed girls sing sacred (songs) around it and rejoice to touch the rope with a hand; that (machine) steals in and threatening slips into the middle of the city. O fatherland, o home of the gods, Ilium, and walls of the Dardanians, famous in war! Four times it stuck on the very threshold of the gate and four times the weapons gave a sound in the belly; yet we press on, heedless and blind with madness, and we set the unhappy monster upon the sacred citadel. Then even Cassandra opens her mouth(s) to future fates, by the order of the god never believed by the Teucrians. We, wretched ones, for whom that day was the last, veil the shrines of the gods with festive foliage throughout the city.
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