§2.80finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque improba finget.
she [Fortune] has fashioned [me miserable], yet she will not, shameless, fashion me empty and a liar too.
§2.81Fando aliquod si forte tuas pervenit ad auris §2.82Belidae nomen Palamedis et incluta fama §2.83gloria, quem falsa sub proditione Pelasgi §2.84insontem infando indicio, quia bella vetabat, §2.85demisere neci, nunc cassum lumine lugent.
If by chance any report has reached your ears of the name of Palamedes, son of Belus, and his famous renown in glorious rumor, whom under a false charge of treason the Pelasgians, though innocent, on unspeakable evidence, because he forbade the wars, sent down to death, and now that he is bereft of light they mourn him.
§2.86Illi me comitem et consanguinitate propinquum §2.87pauper in arma pater primis huc misit ab annis, §2.88dum stabat regno incolumis regumque vigebat §2.89consiliis, et nos aliquod nomenque decusque §2.90gessimus.
To him as a companion and near relation by blood, my poor father sent me here in arms from my earliest years, while he remained secure in his kingdom and flourished in the councils of the kings; we too bore some name and honor.
Invidia postquam pellacis Ulixi— §2.91haud ignota loquor—superis concessit ab oris, §2.92adflictus vitam in tenebris luctuque trahebam, §2.93et casum insontis mecum indignabar amici.
After, by the envy of deceitful Ulysses— I speak of things not unknown—he departed from the upper shores, broken, I dragged out my life in darkness and grief, and in secret resented the fate of my innocent friend.
§2.94Nec tacui demens, et me, fors si qua tulisset, §2.95si patrios umquam remeassem victor ad Argos, §2.96promisi ultorem, et verbis odia aspera movi.
Nor did I keep silent, madman that I was, and, if any chance should bring it, if ever I had returned as a victor to my native Argos, I promised myself as an avenger, and by my words I stirred up bitter hatred.
§2.97Hinc mihi prima mali labes, hinc semper Ulixes §2.98criminibus terrere novis, hinc spargere voces §2.99in volgum ambiguas, et quaerere conscius arma.
Hence was the first slip of ruin for me, hence Ulysses always began to terrify me with new charges, hence to scatter ambiguous rumors among the crowd, and, conscious of his guilt, to seek means to ruin me.
§2.100Nec requievit enim, donec, Calchante ministro— §2.101sed quid ego haec autem nequiquam ingrata revolvo?
Nor indeed did he rest until, with Calchas as his helper— but why do I turn over these ungrateful things in vain?
§2.102Quidve moror, si omnis uno ordine habetis Achivos, §2.103idque audire sat est? Iamdudum sumite poenas, §2.104hoc Ithacus velit, et magno mercentur Atridae. §2.105Tum vero ardemus scitari et quaerere causas, §2.106ignari scelerum tantorum artisque Pelasgae.
Or why do I delay you, if you hold all Achaians in one class, and to hear that is enough? Take your vengeance at once; this the Ithacan would wish, and the sons of Atreus would buy at a great price." Then indeed we burn to inquire and ask the causes, ignorant of such great crimes and Pelasgian art.
§2.107Prosequitur pavitans, et ficto pectore fatur: §2.108Saepe fugam Danai Troia cupiere relicta §2.109moliri, et longo fessi discedere bello; §2.110fecissentque utinam! Saepe illos aspera ponti
He proceeds, trembling, and speaks from a false heart: "Often the Greeks desired to attempt flight, leaving Troy behind, and to depart, weary of the long war; and would that they had done so!
§2.111interclusit hiemps, et terruit Auster euntis.
Often the harsh storm of the sea blocked them, and the South wind terrified them as they were going.
§2.112Praecipue, cum iam hic trabibus contextus acernis §2.113staret equus, toto sonuerunt aethere nimbi.
Especially, when now this horse built of maple beams stood here, storm-clouds resounded through all the sky.
§2.114Suspensi Eurypylum scitantem oracula Phoebi §2.115mittimus, isque adytis haec tristia dicta reportat: §2.116Sanguine placastis ventos et virgine caesa, §2.117cum primum Iliacas, Danai, venistis ad oras; §2.118sanguine quaerendi reditus, animaque litandum §2.119Argolica. Volgi quae vox ut venit ad auris, §2.120obstipuere animi, gelidusque per ima cucurrit §2.121ossa tremor, cui fata parent, quem poscat Apollo.
In suspense, we send Eurypylus to consult the oracle of Phoebus, and he brings back these grim words from the shrine: 'With blood and a slain virgin you appeased the winds, when first, O Greeks, you came to the Trojan shores; with blood must your return be sought, and propitiation made with an Argive life.' When this voice came to the ears of the crowd, their minds were dazed, and a cold shudder ran through the marrow of their bones, wondering for whom the fates were preparing this, whom Apollo was demanding.
§2.122Hic Ithacus vatem magno Calchanta tumultu §2.123protrahit in medios; quae sint ea numina divom, §2.124flagitat;
Here the Ithacan with great tumult drags the prophet Calchas into their midst; he demands to know what these wishes of the gods are.
et mihi iam multi crudele canebant §2.125artificis scelus, et taciti ventura videbant.
And already many were foretelling to me the cruel crime of the schemer, and in silence foresaw what was to come.
§2.126Bis quinos silet ille dies, tectusque recusat §2.127prodere voce sua quemquam aut opponere morti.
Twice five days he is silent, and hidden refuses to betray anyone with his voice or expose them to death.
§2.128Vix tandem, magnis Ithaci clamoribus actus, §2.129composito rumpit vocem, et me destinat arae.
Scarcely at last, driven by the loud cries of the Ithacan, by agreement he breaks his silence, and dooms me to the altar.
§2.130Adsensere omnes, et, quae sibi quisque timebat, §2.131unius in miseri exitium conversa tulere.
All assented, and what each feared for himself, they bore when turned to the destruction of one miserable wretch.
§2.132Iamque dies infanda aderat; mihi sacra parari, §2.133et salsae fruges, et circum tempora vittae: §2.134eripui, fateor, leto me, et vincula rupi, §2.135limosoque lacu per noctem obscurus in ulva §2.136delitui, dum vela darent, si forte dedissent.
And now the unspeakable day was at hand; for me the sacred rites were being prepared, and the salted grains, and the headbands around my temples: I snatched myself from death, I confess, and broke my bonds, and in a muddy swamp through the night, hidden in the sedge, I lay concealed, until they should set sail, if by chance they had sailed.
§2.137Nec mihi iam patriam antiquam spes ulla videndi, §2.138nec dulcis natos exoptatumque parentem; §2.139quos illi fors et poenas ob nostra reposcent §2.140effugia, et culpam hanc miserorum morte piabunt.
Nor have I now any hope of seeing my ancient fatherland, nor my sweet children and my longed-for parent; from whom they will perhaps demand punishment because of my escape, and expiate this guilt by the death of those miserable ones.
§2.141Quod te per superos et conscia numina veri, §2.142per si qua est quae restet adhuc mortalibus usquam §2.143intemerata fides, oro, miserere laborum §2.144tantorum, miserere animi non digna ferentis. §2.145His lacrimis vitam damus, et miserescimus ultro.
Wherefore, I entreat you by the gods above and the powers conscious of truth, by whatever unstained faith there is that may still remain anywhere to mortals, pity such great troubles, pity a mind bearing unworthy things." To these tears we grant his life, and pity him besides.
§2.146Ipse viro primus manicas atque arta levari §2.147vincla iubet Priamus, dictisque ita fatur amicis: §2.148Quisquis es, amissos hinc iam obliviscere Graios; §2.149noster eris, mihique haec edissere vera roganti: §2.150Quo molem hanc immanis equi statuere? Quis auctor?
Priamus himself first orders the handcuffs and tight bonds to be removed from the man, and speaks thus with friendly words: "Whoever you are, from now on forget the Greeks you have lost; you shall be ours, and explain to me truly these things I ask: Why did they set up this mass of a monstrous horse? Who was the author?
Or what do they seek? What religious offering is it, or what engine of war?" He had spoken.
Ille, dolis instructus et arte Pelasga, §2.153sustulit exutas vinclis ad sidera palmas: §2.154Vos, aeterni ignes, et non violabile vestrum §2.155testor numen
ait
vos arae ensesque nefandi, §2.156quos fugi, vittaeque deum, quas hostia gessi:
The other, instructed in deceits and Pelasgian art, lifted his hands, freed from the bonds, toward the stars: "You, eternal fires, and your inviolable divinity I call to witness," he said, "you, altars and unspeakable swords, which I fled, and headbands of the gods, which I wore as a victim: