II. 199 to 224

Aeneid II.199-224

199
“Hīc aliud maius miserīs multōque tremendum
alliteration

“Here something greater and terrible by much more is presented to the miserable [ones]
200
obicitur magis atque imprōvida pectora turbat.


and it disturbs unforseeing hearts.
201
Lāocoōn, ductus Neptūnō sorte sacerdōs,


Laocoon, priest for Neptune chosen by lot,
202
sollemnēs taurum ingentem mactābat ad aras.
chiasmus
/framing

was sacrificing a huge bull at the solemn altars.
203
Ecce autem geminī ā Tenedō tranquilla per alta—


Behold however twins from Tenedos through the tranquil depths –
204
horrēscō referēns!—immēnsīs orbibus anguēs


I shudder recalling [it]! – the snakes with immense coils loom over
205
incumbunt pelagō pariterque ad lītora tendunt;


the sea and side by side head to the shores;
206
pectora quōrum inter flūctūs arrēcta iubaeque


the upright chests of which among the waves and the bloody crests
207
sanguineae superant undās, pars cētera pontum


overtake the waves, the remaining part behind skims the sea and curves
208
pōne legit sinuatque immēnsa volūmine terga.


the immense backs in a coil.
209
Fit sonitus spūmante salō; iamque arva tenēbant
synecdoche

The sound is made with/in the frothing salt [sea]; and now they were holding the fields
210
ārdentēsque oculōs suffectī sanguine et ignī


and suffused with respect to their burning eyes with blood and fire
211
sībila lambēbant linguīs vibrantibus ōra.


they were licking their hissing mouths with [their] vibrating tongues.
212
Diffugimus vīsū exsanguēs. Illī agmine certō


We scattered bloodless by the sight. These [snakes] in a fixed battle line
213
Lāocoonta petunt; et prīmum parva duōrum
synchesis

seek Laocoon; and first the serpent having embraced
214
corpora nātōrum serpēns amplexus uterque


the small bodies of the two sons entwines both
215
implicat et miserōs morsū dēpāscitur artūs;


and it devours the miserable limbs with a bite;
216
post ipsum auxiliō subeuntem ac tēla ferentem


afterwards they snatch he himself coming as help and bringing weapons
217
corripiunt spīrīsque ligant ingentibus; et iam


and they bind [him] with huge coils; and now
218
bis medium amplexī, bis collō squāmea circum
anaphora/
tmesis

having embraced twice [his] middle, twice having encircled [their] scaly backs
219
terga datī, superant capite et cervīcibus altīs.


around [his] neck, they tower over [him] with head(s) and high necks.
220
Ille simul manibus tendit dīvellere nōdōs


That guy at the same time tries to tear apart with [his] hands the knots,
221
perfūsus saniē vittās ātrōque venēnō,


soaked with respect to his headbands with blood and black poison,
222
clāmōrēs simul horrendōs ad sīdera tollit—


at the same time he raises horrible shouts to the stars-
223
quālēs mūgītūs, fūgit cum saucius āram


just like the bellows, when the wounded bull has fled the altar
224
taurus et incertam excussit cervīce secūrim.


and has shaken off the uncertain ax from [its] neck.