Provide a grammatically correct English prose summary of this series of rhymed c

Question

Provide a grammatically correct English prose summary of this series of rhymed couplets from a famous translation of classical Latin literature. In these poetic lines (rhymed couplets) a Trojan hero relates an episode from the Trojan War. It concerns the famous Trojan horse by which the Greek forces were able to enter and conquer the city of Troy and destroy its people.

"By destiny compell'd, and in despair,
The Greeks grew weary of the tedious war,
And by Minerva's aid a fabric rear'd,
Which like a steed of monstrous height appear'd:
The sides were plank'd with pine; they feign'd it made
For their return, and this the vow they paid.
Thus they pretend, but in the hollow side
Selected numbers of their soldiers hide:
With inward arms the dire machine they load,
And iron bowels stuff the dark abode.
In sight of Troy lies Tenedos, an isle
(While Fortune did on Priam's empire smile)
Renown'd for wealth; but, since, a faithless bay,
Where ships expos'd to wind and weather lay.
There was their fleet conceal'd. We thought, for Greece
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 sev'ral chiefs they show'd;
Here Phoenix, here Achilles, made abode;
Here join'd the battles; there the navy rode.
Part on the pile their wond'ring eyes employ:
The pile by Pallas rais'd to ruin Troy.
Thymoetes first ('t is 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 designed,
Or to the wat'ry deep; at least to bore
The hollow sides, and hidden frauds explore.

Explanation / Answer

One day, a light bulb goes off in the brain of wily Odysseus. Odysseus, who's known for being crafty, goes to Agamemnon and the rest of the Greek commanders with a sneaky plan. He's like, "O.K. guys, what we need to do is build this really massive wooden horse." "I don't get how that helps," says some dumb Greek. "Shut your pie-hole and let me finish," says Odysseus. Continuing on, Odysseus tells them, "Most of us will pretend like we've given up and sail our fleet over behind the island of Tenedos." "Greeks never run away," shouts the same dumb Greek. "I said 'pretend,' idiot. Now can it!" says Odysseus. "About thirty of us will hide inside the horse. The Trojans will think it's some kind of gift and haul it into their city. Then when they're all asleep, we'll sneak out, open the gates for everybody else, and totally kill everybody in the city." The Greeks think this is a pretty sweet plan, and they all get busy putting it into motion. They commission an artist named Epeius to oversee the building of the giant wooden horse, and he does a bang-up job. Odysseus and a bunch of other dudes climb into the horse, while everybody else sails away and hides. The only Greek left outside of the horse is Sinon, whom Odysseus appoints to help sell the deception. Eventually, the Trojans peek over their walls and are deliriously happy to see that the Greeks are gone. They come out of the city to check out the lay of the land, and they see the big crazy horse. The Trojans start debating about whether they should take it inside the city, or just destroy it. A priest named Laocoön is totally for destroying it, famously saying that he's "afraid of Greeks, even those bearing gifts." The priest takes a spear and hits it against the horse. A big booming echo resounds from the horse, and everybody knows it's hollow. The Trojans are just about ready to go with Laocoön's advice and destroy the thing, when some Trojan soldiers bring in Sinon. The Greek soldier tells the Trojans that Odysseus was trying to offer him as human sacrifice, so he ran away and hid in the marsh. Sinon tells them he totally hates his fellow countrymen, and begs the Trojans to have mercy on him. "Al lright," say the Trojans. "But what's up with this big crazy horse?" Sinon tells them that the Greeks made it as an offering to Athena, who was really mad at Odysseus for stealing her statue from her temple in Troy. They made it super big, because their seer Calchas declared if the Trojans were able to haul it into their city, then all the Greeks would be destroyed. He also says that if the Trojans destroy the thing, then the Trojans will be destroyed. Laocoön is still majorly suspicious and tells his fellow Trojans not to listen to Sinon. Just then the god Poseidon sends two giant sea serpents who gobble up Laocoön and his two sons. The Trojans are all like, "Well, looks like the gods don't like Laocoön very much. We'd better do the opposite of what he says and haul this big old horse into the city.

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