Virgil Translation Flashcards
1
Q
- Primus ibi ante omnes magna comitante caterva
- Laocoon ardens summa decurrit ab arce,
- Et procul ‘o miseri, quae tanta insania, cives?
A
- There, first in front of all, with a great crowd in attendance,
- Laocoon, blazing, ran down from the top of the citadel
- And from afar he called: ‘oh miserable citizens, what is this so great a madness?
2
Q
- Creditis avectos hostes? Aut ulla putatis
- Dona carere dolis Danaum? Sic notus Ulixes?
A
- Do you believe the enemies have sailed away? Or do you think
- Any gifts from the Greeks lack treachery? Is Ulysses known to you in this way?
3
Q
- Aut hoc inclusi ligno occultantur Achivi,
- Aut haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros,
- Inspectura domos venturaque desuper urbi,
- Aut aliquis latet error; equo ne credite Teucri.
A
- And the Greeks are hidden away, hidden in this timber
- And this device was constructed up against our walls
- To come and spy on the homes of our city from above
- Or some other threat lies hidden: do not trust the horse, Trojans.
4
Q
- Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.’
A
- Whatever it is, I fear Greeks, even when they are bringing gifts.’
5
Q
- Sic fatus ualidis ingentem viribus hastam
- In latus inque feri curvam compagibus alvum
- Contorsit.
A
- Having spoken in this way with a strong force
- He launched a huge spear into the side and into the belly of the beast
- Curved with joints.
6
Q
- Stetit illa tremens, uteroque recusso
- Insonuere cavae gemitumque dedere cavernae.
A
- That beast stood trembling and in the reverberating womb
- The hollow cavities gave out and surrendered a groan.
7
Q
- Et, si fata deum, si mens non laeva fuisset,
- Impulerat ferro Argolicas foedare latebras,
- Troiaque nunc staret, Priamique arx alta maneres.
A
- And if the utterances of the gods, if our minds had not been unfavourable,
- Had compelled us to defile the Greek hiding place with our swords.
- Troy would now be standing, and you, high citadel of Priam would still remain.
8
Q
- Ecce, manus iuvenem interea post terga revinctum
- Pastores magno ad regem clamore trahebant
- Dardanidae, qui se ignotum venientibus ultro
- Hoc ipsum ut strueret Troiamque aperiret Achivis
A
57-60. Look, meanwhile with a great shout, Trojan herdsmen were dragging to the King a young man with his hands tied behind his back, who of his own accord had presented himself unknown to them as they approached, so that he might accomplish this very purpose and lay Troy open to the Greeks
9
Q
- Obtulerat, fidens animi atque in utrumque paratus,
- Seu versare dolos seu certae occumbere morti.
A
- Trusting in his courage and ready for either outcome,
- Whether to accomplish his treachery or to fall to certain death.
10
Q
- Undique visendi studio Troiana iuventus
- Circumfusa ruit certantque inludere capto.
A
- And on all sides in their eagerness to see, the youth of Troy
- Pouring round, rush and compete to mock the captive.
11
Q
- Accipe nunc Danaum insidias et crimine ab uno
- Disce omnes.
A
- Now hear about the Greek plots and learn about them all
- From one wrong doing.
12
Q
- Namque ut conspectu in medio turbatus, inermis
- Constitit atque oculis Phrygia agmina circumspexit,
A
67/68. For indeed, as he stopped in full view perturbed and unharmed and he looked around with his eyes at the ranks of Trojans
13
Q
- ‘Heu, quae nunc tellus,’ inquit ‘quae me aequora possunt
- Accipere?
A
- ‘Alas, what lands now, what sees can
- Accept me?
14
Q
- Aut quid iam misero mihi denique restart,
- Cui neque apud Danaos usquam locus, et super ipsi
- Dardanidae infensi poenas cum sanguine poscunt?’
A
- Or what finally lies in store for me now wretched as I am,
- For whom there is no place anywhere among the Greeks
71/72. And what is more the Trojans themselves hostile, are demanding punishment with my blood?
15
Q
- Quo gemitu conversi animi compressus et omnis
- Impetus. Hortamur fari quo sanguine cretus,
- Quidve ferat; memoret quae sit fiducia capto.
A
73/74. Our minds were changed by this lament and all our attacks restrained
74. We implored him to tell us from what family line he came,
75. Or what news he was bringing; to tell what trust there might be for a captive.
16
Q
- [illa haec deposita tandem formidine fatur:]
A
- [at last with his fear put aside, he spoke these words:]
17
Q
- ‘Cuncta equidem tibi, rex, fuerit quodcumque, fatebor
- Vera.’ Inquit; ‘neque me Argolica de gente negabo.
A
77/78. ‘Indeed King, I shall tell you everything truly whatever will come of it
78. I shall not deny that I am of Greek heritage.
18
Q
- Hoc primum; nec, si miserum Fortuna Sionem
- Finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque improba finget.
A
79/80. This comes first. If fortune had made Sinon miserable
80. Even she, cruel as she is will not make me false and a liar.
19
Q
- Fando aliquod si forte tuas pervenit ad aures
- Belidae nomen Palamedis et incluta fama
- Gloria, quem falsa sub proditione Pelasgi
- Insontem infando indicio, quia bella vetabat,
A
81-84. If by chance the name of Palamedes, son of Bellus and his glory, famous in legend has come to your ears in the telling, whom innocent, the Greeks, under a false charge with an infamous accusation because he opposed the wars,
20
Q
- Demisere neci, nunc cassum lumine lugent:
- Illi me comitem et consanguinitate propinquum
- Pauper in arma pater primis huc misit ab annis.
A
- Sent to his death, now deprived of life, they mourn him:
86/87. My poverished father sent me to war from earliest manhood as a companion to that man as I was close to him by blood.
21
Q
- Dum stabat regno incolumis regumque vigebat
- Conciliis, et nos aliquod nomenque decusque
- Gessimus.
A
88/89. While he stood unchallenged in his kingship and was strong in the councils of the Kings
89/90. I also carried some standing and honour.
22
Q
- Invidia postquam pellacis Ulixi
- (Haud ignota loquor) superis concessit ab oris,
A
90/91. Afterwards, with the jealousy of the deceitful Ulysses (you know what I’m talking about) he withdrew from the word above.
23
Q
- Adflictus vitam in tenebris luctuque trahebam
- Et casam insontis mecum indignabar amici.
A
- Afflicted, I dragged my life out in darkness and mourning
- And resented within myself the fate of my innocent friend.
24
Q
- Nec tacui demens et me, fors si qua tulisset,
- Si patrios umquam remeassem victor ad Argos,
- Promisi ultorem et verbis odia aspera movi.
A
94-96. In my madness I did not keep quiet and I promised myself that if fate offered me any chance, if I ever went back as victor to my fatherland of Argos, I would be his avenger and by my words I stirred a harsh hatred.
25
97. Hinc mihi prima mali labes, hinc semper Ulixes
98. Criminibus terrere novis, hinc spargere voces
99. In vulgum ambiguas et quaerere conscius arma.
97. From this point the first stain of evil was upon me, from
97/98. This point Ulysses always terrified me with new accusations,
98/99. From this point he spread suspicious rumours within the mob and knowingly plotted violence.
26
100. Nec requievit enim, donec Calchante ministro -
100. For he didn’t rest until, with Calchas as his attendant -
27
101. Sed quid ego haec autem nequiquam ingrata revoluo,
102. Quidue moror? Si omnis uno ordine habetis Achivos,
103. Idque audire sat est, iamdudum sumite poenas:
101. But why am I recounting these unpleasant things in vain,
102. Why do I bother? If you consider all the Greeks as one,
103. You will have heard enough, exact your punishment without delay:
28
104. Hoc Ithacus velit et magno mercentur Atridae.’
104. This is what the Ithacan would want and the sons of Atreas would pay clearly for.’
29
105. Tum vero ardemus scitari et quaerere causas,
106. Ignari scelerum tantorum artisque Pelasgae.
107. Prosequitur pavitans et ficto pectore fatur:
105. Then indeed we burn to ask and seek the cause,
106. Not understanding such wickedness and the Greek trickery.
107. Trembling, he continued and with his emotions composed, he spoke:
30
108. ‘Saepe fugam Danai Troia cupiere relicta
109. Moliri et longo fessi discedere bello;
110. Fecissentque utinam!
108/109. Often the Greeks wished to leave Troy behind and accomplish their escape and exhausted by the long war to leave
110. And would that they had done it!
31
110. Saepe illos aspera ponti
111. Interclusit hiems et terruit Auster euntes.
110/111. Often a harsh storm on the sea cut them off and the Southerly wind scared them as they set out.
32
112. Praecipue cum iam hic trabibus contextus acernis
113. Staret equus, toto sonuerunt aethere nimbi.
112/113. Especially since this horse formed from maple beams was already standing, clouds resounded across the whole sky.
33
114. Suspensi Eurypylum scitatum oracula Phoebi
115. Mittimus, isque adytis haec tristia dicta reportat:
114/115. Doubtful, we sent Eurypylus to ask the oracle of Apollo
115. And he reported these sad words from the shrine:
34
116. “Sanguine placastis ventos et virgine caesa,
117. Cum primum Iliacas, Danai, venistis ad oras;
118. Sanguine quaerendi reditus animaque litandum
119. Argolica”
116. “You placated the winds with blood and with a slaughtered maiden
117. When first you came to Trojan shores, Greeks
118/119. Your return is to be sought with blood and you must seek the favour of the gods with a Greek life”
35
119. Vulgi quae uox ut venit ad aures,
120. Obstipuere animi gelidusque per ima cucurrit
121. Ossa tremor, cui fata parent, quem poscat Apollo.
119. When this speech came to the ears of the mob,
120-121. Their hearts were astonished and an icy shiver ran through their inner-most bones,
121. For whom were the fates making preparations, whom was Apollo demanding.
36
122. Hic Ithacus vatem magno Calchanta tumultu
123. Protrahit in medios; quae sint ea numina divum
124. Flagitat
122/123. At this point the Ithacan dragged Calchas the prophet into the middle of the crowd with a great uproar;
123/124. He demanded what was the will of the gods.
37
124. Et mihi iam multi crudele canebant
125. Artificis scelus, et taciti ventura videbant.
124/125. And already many were predicting the cruel wickedness of this schemer against me,
125. And silently were seeing what would come.
38
126. Bis quinos silet ille dies tectusque recusat
127. Prodere voce sua quemquam aut opponere morti.
126/127. For ten days that man was silent and hidden away, he refused to betray anyone with his voice and to sentence them to death.
39
128. Vix tandem, magnis Ithaci clamoribus actus,
129. Composito rumpit vocem et me destinat arae.
128. At last, just about, moved by great shouts from the Ithacan
129. He broke his silence by pre-arrangement and destined me for the altar.
40
130. Adsensere omnes et, quae sibi quisque timebat,
131. Unius in miseri exitium conversa tulere.
130. Everyone approved and, what each had feared for himself
131. They could bear when exchanged for the death of a single poor man.
41
132. Iamque dies infanda aderat; mihi sacra parari
133. Et salsae fruges et circum tempora vittae.
132. And now the unspeakable day arrived; sacrificial items were prepared for me
133. And salted grains and woollen bands for around my head.
42
134. Eripui, fateor, leto me et vincula rupi,
135. Limosque lacu per noctem obscurus in ulva
136. Delitui dum vela darent, si forte dedissent.
134. I snatched myself, I confess, away from death and I burst my bonds,
135. And I lay hidden in darkness through the night in the swamp-grass by a slimy lake,
136. Until they set sail, if indeed they did set sail.
43
137. Nec mihi iam patriam antiquam spes ulla videndi
138. Nec dulces natos exoptatumque parentem,
139. Quos illi fors et poenas ob nostra reposcent
140. Effugia, et culpam hanc miserorum morte piabunt.
137. Neither was there any hope for me to see my old fatherland
138. Nor my sweet children and the father I longed for,
139/140. Maybe even the Greeks will demand them back as punishment for my flight,
140. And expiate this guilt for the death of those wretched ones.
44
141. Quod te per superos et conscia numina veri,
142. Per si qua est quae restet adhuc mortalibus usquam
143. Intemerata fides, oro, miserere laborum
144. Tantorum, miserere animi non digna ferentis.’
141. By the gods and the divine powers knowing of truth,
142/143. By whatever honour still remains, untainted anywhere among men,
143/144. I beg you, pity such great toils, its my soul which bears undeserved sorrows.
45
145. His lacrimis vitam damus et miserescimus ultro.
145. In response to these tears and on our own initiative, we gave him his life and began to pity him.
46
146. Ipse viro primus manicas atque arta levari
147. Vincla iubet Priamus dictisque ita fatur amicis:
146/147. Priam himself was first to order the manacles and tight chains to be removed from the man and spoke thus with kindly words:
47
148. ‘Quisquis es, amissos hinc iam obliviscere Graios
149. (Noster eris) mihique haec edissere vera roganti:
148. ‘Whoever you are, from now on forget the lost Greeks
149. (You will be one of us) and tell me truly as I ask these things:
48
150. Quo molem hanc immanis equi statuere? Quis auctor?
151. Quidve petunt? Quae religio? Aut quae machina belli?’
150. ‘For what purpose have they built this mass of an enormous horse? Who thought it up?
151. Or what are they after? What is this act of duty to the gods? Or what device of war is it?’
49
152. Dixerat. Ille dolis instructus et arte Pelasga
153. Sustulit exutas vinclis ad sidera palmas:
152. He had said. That man trained in tricks and the Greek art
153. Lifted his hands stripped of their chains to the stars:
50
154. ‘Vos, aeterni ignes, et non violabile vestrum
155. Testor numen,’ ait, ‘vos arae ensesque nefandi,
156. Quos fugi, vittaeque deum, quas hostia gessi:
154-156. ‘I call to witness’ he said ‘you eternal fires and your inviolable divine power and you altars and wicked swords which I have fled,
156. And the garlands of the gods, which I wore as a sacrifice:
51
157. Fas mihi Graiorum sacrata resolvere iura,
158. Fas odisse viros atque omnia ferre sub auras,
159. Si qua tegunt, teneor patriae nec legibus ullis.
157. May it be lawful for me to break the sacred oaths of the Greeks,
158/159. Lawful to hate the men and to bring everything out into the open if they are hiding anything, I am bound by no laws of my fatherland.
52
160. Tu modo promissis maneas servataque serves
161. Troia fidem, si vera feram, si magna rependam.
160/161. You, Troy, if I tell the truth, if I repay you greatly, keep to your promises, protect your good faith, having been protected yourself.
