Aeneid 2.250–267

Aen. 2.250Vertitur intereā caelum et ruit ōceanō nox,
involvēns umbrā magnā terramque polumque
Myrmidonumque dolōs;

Meanwhile the sky turns, and night rushes up from Ocean, wrapping in its great shadow earth and sky and the tricks of the Myrmidons;

Note. Vertitur … caelum: the sky was imagined as a revolving sphere; as it turns, night rises 'from Ocean' in the east. Myrmidonum … dolōs: 'the tricks of the Myrmidons', i.e. of the Greeks.

Aen. 2.252fūsī per moenia Teucrī
conticuēre, sopor fessōs complectitur artūs:
et iam Argīva phalanx īnstrūctīs nāvibus ībat
255ā Tenedō tacitae per amīca silentia lūnae
lītora nōta petēns, flammās cum rēgia puppis
extulerat, fātīsque deum dēfēnsus inīquīs
inclūsōs uterō Danaōs et pīnea fūrtim
laxat claustra Sinōn.

the Trojans, scattered along the walls, fell silent; sleep enfolds their weary limbs: and now the Argive fleet in its ordered ships was setting out from Tenedos through the friendly silence of the quiet moon, making for the familiar shore, when the royal ship had raised the fire signal; and Sinon, protected by the unjust fates of the gods, secretly lets out the Greeks shut in the belly and opens the pine bolts.

Note. fūsī: 'scattered, sprawled'. Argīva phalanx: 'the Argive host'. tacitae per amīca silentia lūnae: a famous line, 'through the friendly silences of the quiet moon'. flammās cum rēgia puppis extulerat: 'when the royal ship had raised the fire signal', an inverted cum clause carrying the main event. dēfēnsus: 'protected'. laxat claustra: 'loosens the bolts'.

Aen. 2.259Illōs patefactus ad aurās
260reddit equus, laetīque cavō sē rōbore prōmunt
Thessandrus Sthenelusque ducēs, et dīrus Ulixēs,
dēmissum lāpsī per fūnem, Acamāsque, Thoāsque,
Pēlīdēsque Neoptolemus, prīmusque Machāōn,
et Menelāus, et ipse dolī fabricātor Epēos.

The horse, opened up, returns them to the air, and they come out gladly from the hollow timber: the leaders Thessandrus and Sthenelus and dread Ulysses, sliding down the lowered rope, and Acamas and Thoas and Neoptolemus son of Peleus' line, and Machaon first, and Menelaus, and Epeos himself, the maker of the trick.

Note. Illōs … reddit: 'gives them back'. A catalogue of heroes: Pēlīdēs Neoptolemus is Achilles' son; Epēos built the horse. The -que … -que linking is epic in style.

Aen. 2.265Invādunt urbem somnō vīnōque sepultam;

They burst into a city buried in sleep and wine;

Note. somnō vīnōque sepultam: 'buried in sleep and wine', a vivid metaphor.

Aen. 2.266caeduntur vigilēs, portīsque patentibus omnīs
accipiunt sociōs atque agmina cōnscia iungunt.

the sentries are cut down, and through the open gates they let in all their comrades and join the bands that share the plot.

Note. patentibus: 'open', present participle of pateō. agmina cōnscia: 'the bands that share the plot'.