| Nec requievit enim, donec, Calchante ministro— | uch hope of mercy for a foe in chains. |
|
| NaN |
| Quidve moror, si omnis uno ordine habetis Achivos | “O King! I will confess, whate'er befall |
|
| idque audire sat est? Iamdudum sumite poenas | the whole unvarnished truth. I will not hide |
|
| hoc Ithacus velit, et magno mercentur Atridae. | my Grecian birth. Yea, thus will I begin. |
|
| Tum vero ardemus scitari et quaerere causas | For Fortune has brought wretched Sinon low; |
|
| ignari scelerum tantorum artisque Pelasgae. | but never shall her cruelty impair |
|
| Prosequitur pavitans, et ficto pectore fatur: | his honor and his truth. Perchance the name |
|
| Saepe fugam Danai Troia cupiere relicta | of Palamedes, Belus' glorious son |
|
| moliri, et longo fessi discedere bello; | has come by rumor to your listening ears; |
|
| fecissentque utinam! Saepe illos aspera ponti | whom by false witness and conspiracy |
|
| interclusit hiemps, et terruit Auster euntis. | because his counsel was not for this war |
|
| Praecipue, cum iam hic trabibus contextus acernis | the Greeks condemned, though guiltless, to his death |
|
| staret equus, toto sonuerunt aethere nimbi. | and now make much lament for him they slew. |
|
| Suspensi Eurypylum scitantem oracula Phoebi | I, his companion, of his kith and kin |
|
| mittimus, isque adytis haec tristia dicta reportat: | ent hither by my humble sire's command |
|
| Sanguine placastis ventos et virgine caesa | followed his arms and fortunes from my youth. |
|
| cum primum Iliacas, Danai, venistis ad oras; | Long as his throne endured, and while he throve |
|
| sanguine quaerendi reditus, animaque litandum | in conclave with his kingly peers, we twain |
|
| Argolica. | ome name and lustre bore; but afterward |
|
| obstipuere animi, gelidusque per ima cucurrit | because that cheat Ulysses envied him |
|
| ossa tremor, cui fata parent, quem poscat Apollo. | (Ye know the deed), he from this world withdrew |
|
| Hic Ithacus vatem magno Calchanta tumultu | and I in gloom and tribulation sore |
|
| protrahit in medios; quae sint ea numina divom | lived miserably on, lamenting loud |
|
| flagitat; et mihi iam multi crudele canebant | my lost friend's blameless fall. A fool was I |
|
| artificis scelus, et taciti ventura videbant. | that kept not these lips closed; but I had vowed |
|
| Bis quinos silet ille dies, tectusque recusat | that if a conqueror home to Greece I came |
|
| prodere voce sua quemquam aut opponere morti. | I would avenge. Such words moved wrath, and were |
|
| Vix tandem, magnis Ithaci clamoribus actus | the first shock of my ruin; from that hour |
|
| composito rumpit vocem, et me destinat arae. | Ulysses whispered slander and alarm; |
|
| Adsensere omnes, et, quae sibi quisque timebat | breathed doubt and malice into all men's ears |
|
| unius in miseri exitium conversa tulere. | and darkly plotted how to strike his blow. |
|
| Iamque dies infanda aderat; mihi sacra parari | Nor rest had he, till Calchas, as his tool,- |
|
| et salsae fruges, et circum tempora vittae: | but why unfold this useless, cruel story? |
|
| eripui, fateor, leto me, et vincula rupi | Why make delay? Ye count all sons of Greece |
|
| limosoque lacu per noctem obscurus in ulva | arrayed as one; and to have heard thus far |
|
| delitui, dum vela darent, si forte dedissent. | uffices you. Take now your ripe revenge! |
|
| Nec mihi iam patriam antiquam spes ulla videndi | Ulysses smiles and Atreus' royal sons |
|
| NaN |
| quos illi fors et poenas ob nostra reposcent | We ply him then with passionate appeal |
|
| effugia, et culpam hanc miserorum morte piabunt. | and question all his cause: of guilt so dire |
|
| Quod te per superos et conscia numina veri | or such Greek guile we harbored not the thought. |
|
| per si qua est quae restet adhuc mortalibus usquam | So on he prates, with well-feigned grief and fear |
|
| intemerata fides, oro, miserere laborum | and from his Iying heart thus told his tale: |
|
| tantorum, miserere animi non digna ferentis. | “Full oft the Greeks had fain achieved their flight |
|
| His lacrimis vitam damus, et miserescimus ultro. | and raised the Trojan siege, and sailed away |
|
| Ipse viro primus manicas atque arta levari | war-wearied quite. O, would it had been so! |
|
| vincla iubet Priamus, dictisque ita fatur amicis: | Full oft the wintry tumult of the seas |
|
| Quisquis es, amissos hinc iam obliviscere Graios; | did wall them round, and many a swollen storm |
|
| noster eris, mihique haec edissere vera roganti: | their embarcation stayed. But chiefly when |
|
| Quo molem hanc immanis equi statuere? Quis auctor? | all fitly built of beams of maple fair |
|
| Quidve petunt? Quae religio, aut quae machina belli? | this horse stood forth,— what thunders filled the skies! |
|
| Dixerat. Ille, dolis instructus et arte Pelasga | With anxious fears we sent Eurypylus |
|
| sustulit exutas vinclis ad sidera palmas: | to ask Apollo's word; and from the shrine |
|
| Vos, aeterni ignes, et non violabile vestrum | he brings the sorrowful commandment home: |
|
| testor numen ait vos arae ensesque nefandi | ‘By flowing blood and by a virgin slain |
|
| quos fugi, vittaeque deum, quas hostia gessi: | the wild winds were appeased, when first ye came |
|
| fas mihi Graiorum sacrata resolvere iura | ye sons of Greece, to Ilium 's distant shore. |
|
| fas odisse viros, atque omnia ferre sub auras | Through blood ye must return. Let some Greek life |
|
| si qua tegunt; teneor patriae nec legibus ullis. | your expiation be.’ The popular ear |
|
| Tu modo promissis maneas, servataque serves | the saying caught, all spirits were dimmed o'er; |
|
| Troia fidem, si vera feram, si magna rependam. | cold doubt and horror through each bosom ran |
|
| Omnis spes Danaum et coepti fiducia belli | asking what fate would do, and on what wretch |
|
| Palladis auxiliis semper stetit. Impius ex quo | Apollo's choice would fall. Ulysses, then |
|
| Tydides sed enim scelerumque inventor Ulixes | amid the people's tumult and acclaim |
|
| fatale adgressi sacrato avellere templo | thrust Calchas forth, some prophecy to tell |
|
| Palladium, caesis summae custodibus arcis | to all the throng: he asked him o'er and o'er |
|
| corripuere sacram effigiem, manibusque cruentis | what Heaven desired. Already not a few |
|
| virgineas ausi divae contingere vittas; | foretold the murderous plot, and silently |
|
| ex illo fluere ac retro sublapsa referri | watched the dark doom upon my life impend. |
|
| spes Danaum, fractae vires, aversa deae mens. | Twice five long days the seer his lips did seal |
|
| Nec dubiis ea signa dedit Tritonia monstris. | and hid himself, refusing to bring forth |
|
| Vix positum castris simulacrum, arsere coruscae | His word of guile, and name what wretch should die. |
|
| luminibus flammae arrectis, salsusque per artus | At last, reluctant, and all loudly urged |
|
| sudor iit, terque ipsa solo—mirabile dictu— | By false Ulysses, he fulfils their plot |
|
| emicuit, parmamque ferens hastamque trementem. | and, lifting up his voice oracular |
|
| Extemplo temptanda fuga canit aequora Calchas | points out myself the victim to be slain. |
|
| nec posse Argolicis exscindi Pergama telis | Nor did one voice oppose. The mortal stroke |
|
| omina ni repetant Argis, numenque reducant | horribly hanging o'er each coward head |
|
| quod pelago et curvis secum avexere carinis. | was changed to one man's ruin, and their hearts |
|
| Et nunc, quod patrias vento petiere Mycenas | endured it well. Soon rose th' accursed morn; |
|
| arma deosque parant comites, pelagoque remenso | the bloody ritual was ready; salt |
|
| improvisi aderunt: ita digerit omina Calchas. | was sprinkled on the sacred loaf; my brows |
|
| Hanc pro Palladio moniti, pro numine laeso | were bound with fillets for the offering. |
|
| effigiem statuere, nefas quae triste piaret. | But I escaped that death—yes! I deny not! |
|
| Hanc tamen immensam Calchas attollere molem | I cast my fetters off, and darkling lay |
|
| roboribus textis caeloque educere iussit | concealed all night in lake-side sedge and mire |
|
| ne recipi portis, aut duci in moenia possit | awaiting their departure, if perchance |
|
| neu populum antiqua sub religione tueri. | they should in truth set sail. But nevermore |
|
| Nam si vestra manus violasset dona Minervae | hall my dear, native country greet these eyes. |
|
| tum magnum exitium (quod di prius omen in ipsum | No more my father or my tender babes |
|
| convertant!) Priami imperio Phrygibusque futurum; | hall I behold. Nay, haply their own lives |
|
| sin manibus vestris vestram ascendisset in urbem | are forfeit, when my foemen take revenge |
|
| ultro Asiam magno Pelopea ad moenia bello | for my escape, and slay those helpless ones |
|
| venturam, et nostros ea fata manere nepotes. | in expiation of my guilty deed. |
|
| Talibus insidiis periurique arte Sinonis | O, by yon powers in heaven which witness truth |
|
| credita res, captique dolis lacrimisque coactis | by aught in this dark world remaining now |
|
| quos neque Tydides, nec Larisaeus Achilles | of spotless human faith and innocence |
|
| non anni domuere decem, non mille carinae. | I do implore thee look with pitying eye |
|
| Ecce, manus iuvenem interea post terga revinctum | thus hailed the people: “O unhappy men! |
|
| pastores magno ad regem clamore trahebant | What madness this? Who deems our foemen fled? |
|
| Dardanidae, qui se ignotum venientibus ultro | Think ye the gifts of Greece can lack for guile? |
|
| hoc ipsum ut strueret Troiamque aperiret Achivis | Have ye not known Ulysses? The Achaean |
|
| obtulerat, fidens animi atque in utrumque paratus | hides, caged in yonder beams; or this is reared |
|
| seu versare dolos, seu certae occumbere morti. | for engin'ry on our proud battlements |
|
| Undique visendi studio Troiana iuventus | to spy upon our roof-tops, or descend |
|
| circumfusa ruit, certantque inludere capto. | in ruin on the city. 'T is a snare. |
|
| Accipe nunc Danaum insidias, et crimine ab uno | Trust not this horse, O Troy, whate'er it bode! |
|
| disce omnes. | I fear the Greeks, though gift on gift they bear.” |
|
| Namque ut conspectu in medio turbatus, inermis | So saying, he whirled with ponderous javelin |
|
| constitit atque oculis Phrygia agmina circumspexit: | a sturdy stroke straight at the rounded side |
|
| Heu, quae nunc tellus inquit quae me aequora possunt | of the great, jointed beast. A tremor struck |
|
| accipere? Aut quid iam misero mihi denique restat | its towering form, and through the cavernous womb |
|
| cui neque apud Danaos usquam locus, et super ipsi | rolled loud, reverberate rumbling, deep and long. |
|
| Dardanidae infensi poenas cum sanguine poscunt? | If heaven's decree, if our own wills, that hour |
|
| Quo gemitu conversi animi, compressus et omnis | had not been fixed on woe, his spear had brought |
|
| impetus. Hortamur fari; quo sanguine cretus | a bloody slaughter on our ambushed foe |
|
| quidve ferat, memoret, quae sit fiducia capto. | and Troy were standing on the earth this day! |
|
| NaN |
| Cuncta equidem tibi, Rex, fuerit quodcumque, fatebor | But, lo! with hands fast bound behind, a youth |
|
| vera, inquit; neque me Argolica de gente negabo: | by clamorous Dardan shepherds haled along |
|
| hoc primum; nec, si miserum Fortuna Sinonem | was brought before our king,—to this sole end |
|
| finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque improba finget. | a self-surrendered captive, that he might |
|
| Fando aliquod si forte tuas pervenit ad auris | although a nameless stranger, cunningly |
|
| Belidae nomen Palamedis et incluta fama | deliver to the Greek the gates of Troy . |
|
| gloria, quem falsa sub proditione Pelasgi | His firm-set mind flinched not from either goal,— |
|
| insontem infando indicio, quia bella vetabat | uccess in crime, or on swift death to fall. |
|
| demisere neci, nunc cassum lumine lugent. | The thronging Trojan youth made haste his way |
|
| Illi me comitem et consanguinitate propinquum | from every side, all eager to see close |
|
| pauper in arma pater primis huc misit ab annis | their captive's face, and clout with emulous scorn. |
|
| dum stabat regno incolumis regumque vigebat | Hear now what Greek deception is, and learn |
|
| consiliis, et nos aliquod nomenque decusque | from one dark wickedness the whole. For he |
|
| gessimus. Invidia postquam pellacis Ulixi— | a mark for every eye, defenceless, dazed |
|
| haud ignota loquor—superis concessit ab oris | tood staring at our Phrygian hosts, and cried: |
|
| adflictus vitam in tenebris luctuque trahebam | “Woe worth the day! What ocean or what shore |
|
| et casum insontis mecum indignabar amici. | will have me now? What desperate path remains |
|
| Nec tacui demens, et me, fors si qua tulisset | for miserable me? Now have I lost |
|
| si patrios umquam remeassem victor ad Argos | all foothold with the Greeks, and o'er my head |
|
| promisi ultorem, et verbis odia aspera movi. | Troy 's furious sons call bloody vengeance down.” |
|
| Hinc mihi prima mali labes, hinc semper Ulixes | Such groans and anguish turned all rage away |
|
| criminibus terrere novis, hinc spargere voces | and stayed our lifted hands. We bade him tell |
|
| in volgum ambiguas, et quaerere conscius arma. | his birth, his errand, and from whence might be |
|
