Vergil's Aeneid Book II Lines 201-249

Question 1

Laocoon, ductus Neptunō sorte sacerdōs, sollemnēs taurum ingentem mactābat ad arās.

Answer 1

Laocoon, chosen by lot as priest for Neptune, was sacrificing a huge bull near the solemn altars.

Question 2

Ecce autem geminī ā Tenedō tranquilla per alta (horrescō referens) immensīs orbibus anguēs

Answer 2

Behold, moreover, twin snakes from Tenedos across the tranquil seas (I shudder while relating) with immense coils

Question 3

incumbunt pelagō pariterque ad litora tendunt;

Answer 3

they lie on the sea and side by side they stretch to the shore;

Question 4

pectora quorum inter fluctūs arrecta iubaeque sanguineae superant undās,

Answer 4

whose breasts raised between the waves and crests bloodied overcome the waves,

Question 5

pars cetera pontum pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga.

Answer 5

the remaining part skims the sea behind and winds huge backs in a coil.

Question 6

Fit sonitus spumante salō;

Answer 6

A sound is made by the foaming salt;

Question 7

iamque arva tenebant ardentesque oculōs suffectī sanguine et ignī sibila lambebant linguīs vibrantibus ora.

Answer 7

and now they hold the fields and their burning eyes suffused with blood and fire they lick their hissing mouths with vibrating tongues.

Question 8

Diffugimus visū exsangues.

Answer 8

We flee pale by the sight.

Question 9

Illī agmine certō Laocoonta petunt;

Answer 9

those (snakes) in a certain line seek Laocoon;

Question 10

et primum parva duorum corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque implicat et miserōs morsū depascitur artūs;

Answer 10

and soon each snake embracing entwines the small bodies of the two boys and feeds upon the miserable limbs with a bite;

Question 11

post ipsum auxiliō subeuntem ac tela ferentem corripiunt spirīsque ligant ingentibus;

Answer 11

afterwards they seize he himself approaching with help and carrying weapons and bind (him) with huge spirals;

Question 12

et iam bis medium amplexī, bis collō squāmea circum terga datī superant capite et cervicibus altīs.

Answer 12

and now twice embracing (his) middle, twice on his neck they placed around their scaly backs and overcome with their heads and high necks.

Question 13

Ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos perfusus saniē vittās atrōque venenō,

Answer 13

That man at the same time stretches to tear apart the knots with his hands, his bands being soaked by blood and dark venom,

Question 14

clamorēs simul horrendōs ad sidera tollit:

Answer 14

at the same time he lifts horrible shouts to the stars:

Question 15

qualis mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram taurus et incertam excussit cervice securim.

Answer 15

such as the roar, when a wounded bull flees the altar and has shaken off from its neck the ill-aimed axe.

Question 16

At geminī lapsū delubra ad summa draconēs effugiunt saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem,

Answer 16

But the twin snakes flee to the highest shrines by gliding and seek the citadel of the cruel Minerva,

Question 17

sub pedibusque deae clipeīque sub orbe teguntur.

Answer 17

under the feet of the goddess and under the circle of the shield they are hidden.

Question 18

Tum verō tremefacta novus per pectora cunctīs insinuat pavor,

Answer 18

Then truly a new fear winds through our alarmed hearts,

Question 19

et scelus expendisse merentem Laocoonta ferunt,

Answer 19

and they say Laocoon deserving has atoned for the crime,

Question 20

sacrum quī cuspide robur laeserit et tergō sceleratam intorserit hastam.

Answer 20

he who struck the sacred oak with his spear point and hurled his wicked spear at the back.

Question 21

Ducendum ad sedes simulacrum orandaque divae numina conclamant.

Answer 21

They shout that the image must be led to their homes and the divine will of the goddess must be prayed for.

Question 22

Dividimus murōs et moenia pandimus urbis.

Answer 22

We divide the walls and we open the fortifications of the city.

Question 23

Accingunt omnes operī pedibusque rotarum subiciunt lapsūs, et stuppea vincula collō intendunt:

Answer 23

All equip for the work and place rolling wheels under the feet, and they stretch hemp chains on the neck:

Question 24

scandit fatalis machina murōs feta armīs.

Answer 24

the fateful machine climbs the walls teeming with arms.

Question 25

Puerī circum innuptaeque puellae sacra canunt funemque manū contingere gaudent;

Answer 25

the boys and unwed girls around sing sacred (songs) and rejoice to touch the rope with their hands;

Question 26

illa subit mediaeque minans inlabitur urbī.

Answer 26

that approaches and threatening glides to the middle of the city.

Question 27

O patria, O divum domus Ilium et incluta bellō moenia Dardanidum!

Answer 27

O fatherland, O Ilium, home of the gods and the walls of Troy renowned in war!

Question 28

quater ipsō in limine portae substitit atque uterō sonitum quater arma dedēre;

Answer 28

Four times on the entrance itself of the gate it stopped and four times the arms gave a sound from the belly;

Question 29

instamus tamen immemores caecīque furōre et monstrum infelīx sacratā sistimus arce.

Answer 29

We press on, however, unmindful and blind with fury and we stop the unfortunate monster in the sacred citadel.

Question 30

Tunc etiam fatīs aperit Cassandra futurīs ora deī iussū non umquam credita Teucrīs.

Answer 30

Then also Cassandra opens her mouth to the future fates by the order of the god (Apollo) not ever believed by the Trojans.

Question 31

Nos delubra deum miserī, quibus ultimus esset ille diēs, festā velamus fronde per urbem.

Answer 31

We miserable, for whom that day would be the last, we veil the shrines of the gods with festive leaf across the city.