Aenied 2; Line 195-227

• Greeks have been besieging Troy for 10 years so they decide to trick the Trojans

• They build large wooden horse, with soldiers inside, and others in Tenedos

• Sinon lies to the Trojans that the Greeks have fled and Minerva has left the horse as a gift

• He fled because he was chose as human sacrifice

By such tricks and by the skill of Sinons lying the story was believed, and [we were] captured by tricks and forced tears, we whom neither the son of Tydeus nor Achilles of Larissa, nor ten years nor thousand ships conquered.

Patronymic - refers to Diomedes (Greek Hero)
The Trojans who weren’t overpowered by great forces, were tricked by the Greek, Sinon.

At this point another greater thing and more terrible by far is thrust upon us wretched ones and disturbs our unforeseeing hearts.

‘miseris’ - proleptic - they soon will be wretched
Alliteration of ‘m’
The Trojans don’t realise that they have found themselves in an unfortunate situation.

Laocoon, the priest drawn by a lot for Neptune, was sacrificing a huge bull at the ceremonial altars.

‘ingentem’ - suggests importance of sacrifice
Laocoon is performing a sacrifice to determine what the Trojans should do about the Horse.

But look the twin snake from Tenedos through the peaceful depths (I shudder recalling it) with vast coils they skim over the sea and the head towards the shore together; their chests raised amid the surges and their blood-red crests rise above the waves; the remaining parts skim over the sea behind and winds the vast backs with coils.

‘gemini…angues’ - Hyperbaton - creates suspense
Gets more detailed as the snakes approach closer
Foreshadowing - attack of the Greek from Tenedos (island SW of Troy)

A sound occurs with the sea foaming; and now they were reaching the fields and tinged in their blazing eyes with blood and fire they were licking their hissing mouths with quivering tongues.

Sibilance - sinister mimicking the hissing
‘sibila … ora’ - Chiasmus - brings focus to the snakes licking; creating fear

We scatter pale at the sight. They with certain advance make for Laocoon; and first of all each serpent having encircled them enfolds the small bodies of his 2 sons and devours the wretched limbs with a bite;

Primary Position - highlights them scattering
‘parva duorum corpora natorum’ - Synchesis - reflects tangling of the boys’ limbs
‘agmine’ - Military word - foreshadowing Greek arrival

Then himself coming to help and carrying weapons, they seize and bind with huge coils; and now having encircled his middle twice, having put their scaly backs around his neck, they tower above with their heads and with their high necks.

Primary Position - swiftness and finality of the serpents’ action contrast the frantic nature of Laocoon
‘et iam’ - 2 monosyllables - emphasises the finality
‘superant’ - Double meaning - either ‘vanquish’ or ‘tower over’

He struggles to burst the knots with his hands, drenched on his headband with blood and with dark venom, at the same time he raises terrible shouts to the stars, just like the bellowing when a wandering bull has fled the alter and has shaken the ill-aimed axe from its neck.

‘tenere’ - Contrasts the snakes purposeful approach to Laocoon’s futile attempt to break free from the snakes
Simile - ironic as the priest of Neptune is being killed by the sea; sacrificial death
‘vittas’ - Headband is significant as it was worn by priest and sacrifice; now priest is the sacrifice
‘mugitus’ - the bellowing of a victim portended disaster
‘ad sidera’ - Hyperbole - exaggerates his pain

But the twin serpents by slithering escape to the highest shrines and they seek the citadel of savage Tritonia, and under the feet of the goddess and under the circle of her shield they conceal themselves.

‘at’ - Conjunction - transfers our attention to the snakes from Laocoon’s death
‘Tritonidis arcem’ - This refers to Minerva as savage as she is a war goddess that is a formidable divine opponent of the Trojans.
Imagery - The snakes are being protected by Minerva