Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes is a
Latin phrase from
Aeneid (II, 49), written by
Virgil between 29 and 19 BC. It has been paraphrased in English as the
proverb "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts". Its literal meaning is "I fear the
Danaans [Greeks], even those bearing gifts" or "even when they bear gifts". Most printed versions of the text have the variant
ferentis instead of
ferentes.