FOREST POEMS

14

Fearing nothing, he rushes into the shadows and is not harmed by the heat;

He despises the winter frost.

Unmindful even of his dinner, he is buffeted by wind and rain,

And he is hardened by these very hardships.

Wherever he hurries, he seems to enter a duel,

Fearing even the whispers of the oak tree.

The poet suggests the hunter is so hyper-aware that the slightest sound of leaves seems like a threat. Imagine a light rumor of war reaching his ears,

Moving the bolt of his heart:

Soon fear comes forth; his face turns pale with various colors,

And his whole body begins to sweat.

His swift horse carries him away like a pale statue

From the threatening spear.

A serious matter differs from a game; Diana differs from Mars,

And the leafy grove differs from the battlefield.

"Latonia" is Diana, the goddess of the hunt. "Mars" is the god of war. The poet argues that hunting is merely a "game" compared to the "serious matter" of real combat. The terrible trumpet, blowing its deadly clouds,

Terrifies the smaller pipe.

The "pipe" refers to the simple rustic flute or whistle used by hunters and shepherds, which cannot compete with the thunderous war trumpet.

IX.

That every strongest soldier was first a hunter.

If I remember correctly, the student of great CHIRON,

And the noble ABAS,

Chiron was the wise centaur who tutored legendary heroes. Abas was a mythical king of Argos known for his prowess.

Are praised for their hunting spears.

The one who overthrew Troy from its foundation and dragged Hector with his chariot

Is said to have loved the forest

This refers to Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior of the Trojan War, who was raised in the wilderness by Chiron.

And the cliff of the old Thessalian.

Panopes, powerful in war, and the very strong right hand of LAUSUS,

Having ambushed wild beasts,

Panopes and Lausus are characters from Virgil's Aeneid, noted for their youthful strength and skill.

Used to rejoice in drawing the bow.

Finally, who are more ready for the weapons of the enemy than the CENTAURS?

This spirited race agrees

With the star of Cynthia.

The Centaurs were half-man, half-horse creatures. Cynthia is another name for Diana, the moon goddess, indicating the Centaurs were devoted to the hunt. Their weapons are rough oaks. When some are seen clashing,

MARS himself, fearing, might wish

Gradivus is an ancient Roman title for Mars, the god of war.

To be protected by his shield.

When trees are thrown, their eyes are fixed; and together,

With their jaws shaken excessively,

Their molars fall out.

The poet describes the raw, violent strength of the Centaurs, suggesting their "hunting" practice with uprooted trees is so intense it would intimidate the god of war himself.