Aeneid Book 2, lines 370-400
by Virgil
On the night of Troy’s fall, Aeneas and the band he has gathered fall in for the first time with the enemy. Princess Casandra’s husband, Coroebus, suggests a trick to dupe the Greeks: it succeeds at first, but will have serious consequences later.
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Primus se, Danaum magna comitante caterva,
Androgeos offert nobis, socia agmina credens
inscius, atque ultro verbis compellat amicis:
“Festinate, viri: nam quae tam sera moratur
segnities? alii rapiunt incensa feruntque
Pergama; vos celsis nunc primum a navibus itis.”
dixit, et extemplo, neque enim responsa dabantur
fida satis, sensit medios delapsus in hostis.
Obstipuit, retroque pedem cum voce repressit:
inprovisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem
pressit humi nitens, trepidusque repente refugit
attollentem iras et caerula colla tumentem;
haud secus Androgeos visu tremefactus abibat.
Inruimus, densis et circumfundimur armis,
ignarosque loci passim et formidine captos
sternimus: adspirat primo fortuna labori.
atque hic successu exsultans animisque Coroebus,
“O socii, qua prima” inquit “fortuna salutis
monstrat iter, quoque ostendit se dextra, sequamur
mutemus clipeos, Danaumque insignia nobis
aptemus: dolus an virtus, quis in hoste requirat?
arma dabunt ipsi.” sic fatus, deinde comantem
Androgei galeam clipeique insigne decorum
induitur, laterique Argivum accommodat ensem.
hoc Rhipeus, hoc ipse Dymas omnisque iuventus
laeta facit; spoliis se quisque recentibus armat.
vadimus immixti Danais haud numine nostro,
multaque per caecam congressi proelia noctem
conserimus, multos Danaum demittimus Orco.
diffugiunt alii ad navis, et litora cursu
fida petunt: pars ingentem formidine turpi
scandunt rursus equum et nota conduntur in alvo.
“The first Greek we meet, a big troop with him, is Androgeos. Unsuspecting, thinking we are an allied force, he even speaks friendly words: ‘Hurry up, men, why such slowness and delay? Troy is in flames, others are taking and sacking it, and you are just coming from the high ships’, he says; and immediately, receiving no reassuring reply, realises he has fallen right in with enemies. He stops short, and falls back in silence. Like a man who, struggling through, treads on a glittering snake unseen on the ground among the rough thorns, and in sudden fear steps backas its anger kindles and it puffs up its blue neck, so Androgeos draws away, trembling at the sight. We rush them, hemming them in with weapons on all sides, and cut them down everywhere, unfamiliar as they are with their surroundings and gripped by fear. Fortune breathes on this, our first action; in high spirits and buoyed by success, Coroebus speaks: ‘Comrades, when fortune shows us a way to safety, and under the best of auspices , let us follow! Let’s switch shields, and gird on the emblems of the Greeks – why, when dealing with an enemy, make a distinction between stratagem and skill at arms? The enemy themselves will supply our weapons!’ And he dons Androgeos’s plumed helmet and his shield blazoned with his famous crest, and girds a Greek sword to his side. Elated, Rhipeus, Dymas and all of our warriors do the same, and every man equips himself from new-won trophies. Under this borrowed identity we advance, mingling with the Greeks, joining combat many times in the darkness of the night, and send down many to Hades. Some run for their ships, seeking the safety of the shore; some in shameful panic climb back up the mighty horse and hide in its familiar womb.”