Their sails were hoisted, and our fears release.

The Trojans, coop’d within their walls so long,

Unbar their gates, and issue in a throng,

Like swarming bees, and with delight survey

The camp deserted, where the Grecians lay:

The quarters of the several chiefs they show’d—

Here Phoenix, here Achilles made abode;

Here join’d the battles; there the navy rode.

Part on the pile their wandering eyes employ—

The pile by Pallas rais’d to ruin Troy.

Thymoetes first (’tis doubtful whether hir’d,

Or so the Trojan destiny requir’d)

Mov’d that the ramparts might be broken down,

To lodge the monster fabric in the town.

But Capys, and the rest of sounder mind,

The fatal present to the flames design’d,

Or to the watery deep; at least to bore

The hollow sides, and hidden frauds explore.

The giddy vulgar, as their fancies guide,

With noise say nothing, and in parts divide.

Laocoön, follow’d by a numerous crowd,

Ran from the fort, and cried, from far, aloud:

‘O wretched countrymen! what fury reigns?

What more than madness has possess’d your brains?

Think you the Grecians from your coasts are gone?

And are Ulysses’ arts no better known?

This hollow fabric either must inclose,

Within its blind recess, our secret foes;

Or ’tis an engine rais’d above the town,

To’ o’erlook the walls, and then to batter down.

Somewhat is sure design’d by fraud or force—

Trust not their presents, nor admit the horse.’

Thus having said, against the steed he threw

His forceful spear, which, hissing as it flew,

Pierc’d through the yielding planks of jointed wood,

And trembling in the hollow belly stood.

The sides, transpierc’d, return a rattling sound;

And groans of Greeks inclos’d come issuing through the wound.

And, had not heaven the fall of Troy design’d,

Or had not men been fated to be blind, mind:

Enough was said and done, to’ inspire a better

Then had our lances pierc’d the treacherous wood,

And Ilian tow’rs and Priam’s empire stood.

Meantime, with shouts, the Trojan shepherds bring

A captive Greek in bands, before the king—

Taken, to take—who made himself their prey,

To’ impose on their belief, and Troy betray;

Fix’d on his aim, and obstinately bent

To die undaunted, or to circumvent.

About the captive, tides of Trojans flow;

All press to see, and some insult the foe.

Now hear how well the Greeks their wiles disguis’d:

Behold a nation in a man compris’d.

Trembling the miscreant stood: unarm’d and bound,

He star’d, and roll’d his haggard eyes around;

Then said, ‘Alas! what earth remains, what sea

Is open to receive unhappy me?

What fate a wretched fugitive attends,

Scorn’d by my foes, abandon’d by my friends!’

He said, and sigh’d, and cast a rueful eye:

Our pity kindles, and our passions die.