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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book II Chapter 5: Sinon is found | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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But, lo! with hands fast bound behind, a youth [Note 1] by clamorous Dardan shepherds haled along, was brought before our king, [Note 2] -- to this sole end a self - surrendered captive, that he might, although a nameless stranger, cunningly deliver to the Greek the gates of Troy. His firm-set mind flinched not from either goal, -- success in crime, or on swift death to fall. The thronging Trojan youth made haste his way from every side, all eager to see close their captive's face, and clout with emulous scorn. Hear now what Greek deception is, and learn from one dark wickedness the whole. For he, a mark for every eye, defenceless, dazed, stood staring at our Phrygian hosts, and cried: Woe worth the day! What ocean or what shore will have me now? What desperate path remains for miserable me? Now have I lost all foothold with the Greeks, and o'er my head Troy's furious sons call bloody vengeance down. Such groans and anguish turned all rage away and stayed our lifted hands. We bade him tell his birth, his errand, and from whence might be such hope of mercy for a foe in chains. Then fearing us no more, this speech he dared: |
57-76 Ecce, manus iuuenem interea post terga reuinctum pastores magno ad regem clamore trahebant Dardanidae, qui se ignotum uenientibus ultro, hoc ipsum ut strueret Troiamque aperiret Achiuis, obtulerat, fidens animi atque in utrumque paratus, seu uersare dolos seu certae occumbere morti. undique uisendi studio Troiana iuuentus circumfusa ruit certantque inludere capto. accipe nunc Danaum insidias et crimine ab uno disce omnis. namque ut conspectu in medio turbatus, inermis constitit atque oculis Phrygia agmina circumspexit, 'heu, quae nunc tellus,' inquit, 'quae me aequora possunt accipere? aut quid iam misero mihi denique restat, cui neque apud Danaos usquam locus, et super ipsi Dardanidae infensi poenas cum sanguine poscunt?' quo gemitu conuersi animi compressus et omnis impetus. hortamur fari quo sanguine cretus, quidue ferat; memoret quae sit fiducia capto. |