[8] It is questioned whether ‘densa ferarum Tecta rapit silvas’ refers to scouring the woods for game, water, &c., or to stripping them for fuel. ‘Rapit’ in the latter case would be parallel to “rapiunt incensa feruntque Pergama” 2. 374, in the former to “campum sonipes rapit” Stat. Theb. 5. 3. Heyne objects to the latter interpretation that in that case ‘densa ferarum tecta’ would be mere bombast. But the parallel which he himself quotes, v. 179 below “Itur in antiquam silvam, stabula alta ferarum,” makes for the view which he censures. Wild beasts are mentioned there, though the object of going to the woods is not to take game but to hew timber, so that there seems no reason why they should not be mentioned here, though the object is only to get fuel. In the one passage we hear of “stabula alta,” as our attention is meant to be drawn to the size of the trees: in the other of ‘tecta densa,’ as we are meant (so it may be urged) to think of the thickness of the foliage. “Lignatio” was a common military occupation, and is naturally classed with “aquatio.” If we suppose the pursuit of game to be meant, we may compare Aeneas' deerslaying 1. 184 foll. ‘Inventa monstrat’ = “invenit et monstrat.”
