Aeneid 2.57–76

Aen. 2.57Ecce, manūs iuvenem intereā post terga revīnctum
pāstōrēs magnō ad rēgem clāmōre trahēbant
Dardanidae, quī sē ignōtum venientibus ultrō,
60hoc ipsum ut strueret Troiamque aperīret Achīvīs,
obtulerat, fīdēns animī atque in utrumque parātus,
seu versāre dolōs, seu certae occumbere mortī.

See, meanwhile, Trojan shepherds were dragging to the king, with a great outcry, a young man with his hands tied behind his back, who had of his own accord thrown himself, a stranger, in the way of those coming, to bring about this very thing and to open Troy to the Greeks; he was confident in spirit and ready for either outcome, either to work his trickery or to meet certain death.

Note. Ecce: 'look', bringing in the new scene. manūs … revīnctum: 'tied (as to) his hands', accusative of respect. Dardanidae: 'Dardanian (Trojan)' shepherds. hoc ipsum ut strueret: 'to contrive this very thing', i.e. to be captured. fīdēns animī: 'confident in spirit', animī a locative-like genitive. in utrumque parātus: 'ready for either outcome', explained by seu … seu.

Aen. 2.63Undique vīsendī studiō Trōiāna iuventūs
circumfūsa ruit, certantque inlūdere captō.

From all sides the young men of Troy pour around him in their eagerness to see him, and compete in mocking the captive.

Note. vīsendī studiō: 'in their eagerness to see', gerund in the genitive. certant … inlūdere: 'they compete in mocking'. captō: dative with inlūdere.

Aen. 2.65Accipe nunc Danaum īnsidiās, et crīmine ab ūnō
disce omnēs.

Now hear the treachery of the Greeks, and from one crime learn them all.

Note. Aeneas speaks to Dido directly again. crīmine ab ūnō disce omnēs: 'from one crime learn (what) they all (are like)': a sharp generalisation about the Greeks.

Aen. 2.67Namque ut cōnspectū in mediō turbātus, inermis
cōnstitit atque oculīs Phrygia agmina circumspexit:
Heu, quae nunc tellūs inquit quae mē aequora possunt
70accipere?

For as he stood in full view, troubled and unarmed, and looked round at the Phrygian ranks, he said: 'Alas, what land now, what seas can receive me?

Note. ut … cōnstitit: 'when he stood'. Phrygia agmina: 'the Phrygian (Trojan) ranks'. quae … tellūs … quae … aequora: interrogative adjectives. Sinon's opening is a carefully staged lament.

Aen. 2.70Aut quid iam miserō mihi dēnique restat,
cui neque apud Danaōs usquam locus, et super ipsī
Dardanidae īnfēnsī poenās cum sanguine poscunt?

Or what is left at last for me in my misery, who have no place anywhere among the Greeks, and the Trojans themselves, hostile besides, demand my punishment in blood?'

Note. cui … locus (est): 'I who have no place'; cui is a dative of possession referring to mihi. super: adverb, 'besides'. poenās … poscunt: 'demand punishment'.

Aen. 2.73Quō gemitū conversī animī, compressus et omnis
impetus.

At this lament our feelings were changed and all violence checked.

Note. Quō gemitū: connecting relative, 'by this lament'. conversī (sunt) animī, compressus (est) … impetus: supply the auxiliaries.

Aen. 2.74Hortāmur fārī;

We urge him to speak;

Note. Hortāmur fārī: 'we urge (him) to speak'; fārī is the infinitive of the deponent for.

Aen. 2.74quō sanguine crētus,
75quidve ferat, memoret, quae sit fīdūcia captō.

to tell us from what blood he was born, or what news he brings, and what he relies on, now he is a prisoner.

Note. Three indirect questions depend on memoret: quō sanguine crētus (sit), 'from what blood he was born', quid ferat, 'what (news) he brings', quae sit fīdūcia captō, 'what confidence (he has), as a prisoner'. memoret is a jussive subjunctive in reported speech: 'he should tell'.