Aenied 2; Line 370-430

• The Trojans interpret the serpents’ attack as an omen that they must appease Minerva, so they wheel the Horse into the city of Troy.

• Night falls, and while the city sleeps, Sinon opens the Horse’s belly.

• The warriors emerge, kill the Trojan guards, and open the gates of the city to the rest of their forces. 

• Meanwhile, Hector, the fallen leader of the Trojan army, appears to Aeneas in a dream and informs him that the city has been infiltrated. 

• Climbing to his roof, Aeneas sees fighting everywhere and Troy in flames. 

• He runs for arms and then heads for the heart of the city, joined by a few of his men.

First with a great crowd of Danaans accompanying Androgeas presents himself to us, believing, unaware, that we are allied ranks and he address us with friendly words: “Hurry, men! For what idleness is delaying you so late? Others are plundering and carrying burned Troy; are you now going for the first time from the tall ships?”

Androgeas believes that the Greeks are Trojans and have just arrived from the ships.

He said, and immediately (for reassuring enough replies were not given) he understood that he had fallen into the middle of the enemy. He was dazed and drawing backwards he restrained his foot together with his voice.

Just as somebody who has crushed the unexpected snake in the rough thorns stepping on the ground, and suddenly alarmed he flees from it raising its wrath and puffing up its deep blue neck; not differently Androgeas was going backwards trembling at the sight.

Simile - Androgeas is being careful and the Greeks are compared to snakes

We attack and surround them with thick weapons, we slay them here and there ignorant of the place and seized by terror; Fortune breaths favourably upon our first effort.

‘primo’ - ominous tone and ironic as later the Greeks’ effort becomes unsuccessful

And here exulting in success and passions Coroebus says, “Oh comrades, where first Fortune shows the road of safety and where her right hand shows itself, let us follow: let us change our shields and put on the emblem of the Danaans.

The emblems distinguish the Greeks and Trojans; Greeks are pretending to be Trojan

Deceit or courage, who would ask when it comes to an enemy? They will give us weapons.” Having spoken in this way he puts on the hairy helmet of Androgeas and the beautiful emblem of the shield and fits to his side the Greek sword.

‘ipsi’ - Pronoun - sort of dark humour as the Greeks won’t willingly hand their weapons over; only do so when they are killed

Rhipeus does this, Dymas himself does this and all the young men do this happily; each one arms himself with fresh spoils.

‘hoc… hoc’ - Anaphora - sense of urgency

We go on mingled with the Danaans guided by the a divinity not our own, and having come together we joined many battles through the blind night, and we send down many of the Danaans to Orcus.

‘haud numine nostro’ - ominous tone
‘Orco’ - The Greeks are being sent to the underworld

Some scatter to the ships and they seek trustworthy shores with speed; another part of them with disgraceful terror they climb again the huge horse and hide in the known womb.

‘ingentum…equum’ - Hyperbaton - reflects the confusion

“Alas, it is not right for anyone to rely on the gods against their will! Look at the maiden Cassandra Virgin of Troy was being dragged with streaming hair from the temple and from the sanctuary of Minerva, lifting to heaven her blazing eyes in vain, her eyes, for bonds were confining her tender palms.

‘Priameïa virgo’ - Lofty way to name her and Ironic as she was raped by Ajax.
Religious symbolism shows how the Greeks violated someone as sacrilegious as her.
‘lumina’ Repetition - creates emotional effect

Inflamed Coroebus could not bear this sight, and threw himself doomed to die into the middle of the crowd. We all followed and attacked with thick weapons.

Here at first from the high roof of the sanctuary we are overwhelmed by the weapons of our own and a very wretched slaughter arises from the appearance of our weapons and from the confusion of the Greek crest.

There is confusion and they are killing their own because of the disguised Greeks.

Then the Danaans with a moan and anger at rescued maiden and gathered from every side they attack, most fierce Ajax and the 2 sons of Atreus and the whole army of the Dolopians.

‘Atridae’ - patrynomic
‘Aiax’ - He is hated by Minerva as he raped Cassandra in front of her statue

Just as sometimes with a hurricane burst forth diverse winds clash, West and South and happy East wind with his horses; the forest groaned and foaming Nereus rages with his trident and stirs the seas from their lowest depth.

‘stridunt silvae’ - Sibilance - sinister tone
Nereus is an old sea god.