Poliphilo's Strife of Love in a Dream

Because of this, I then began reasonably to suspect and believe I had arrived in the vast Hercynian ForestA legendary primeval forest mentioned by ancient Roman authors such as Julius Caesar and Tacitus; to a Renaissance reader, it symbolized a terrifying and impenetrable wilderness.. And there was nothing else there but the hiding places original: "latibuli" of harmful beasts, and the dens of noxious animals and savage creatures. And therefore, with the greatest terror, I feared being without any defense, and—without realizing it—being torn apart by a bristly and tusked Boaroriginal: "Apro.", like CharidemusA figure from Greek history or myth associated with being killed by a wild boar., or by a raging and hungry Aurochsoriginal: "Vro." An extinct species of large wild cattle that lived in Europe., or by a hissing serpent. I feared that howling, attacking wolves would miserably dismember and devour my flesh.

Terrified by these doubts, I resolved (condemning any further laziness) to linger there no longer, but to find an exit and escape the looming dangers, and to quicken my already hesitant and disordered steps. I frequently stumbled over large roots uncovered by the earth; wandering here and there, now to the right side and now to the left, sometimes moving backward and sometimes forward. Unknowing and not certain where I was traveling, I arrived in a woodland gladeoriginal: "Salto." and a thicketoriginal: "dumeto.", a thorny place where I was all scratched by the branches and by prickly plum-bushes, my face battered by unpalatable fruit. My gown was torn and caught by the pointed thistle-beds and other thorns, which slowed my attempted flight.

Beyond this, seeing no sign of helpful footprints nor any worn path, and being more than a little confused and doubtful, I hurried even more anxiously. Because of these swift steps, as well as the midday heatoriginal: "æsto." which made my body grow hot, I was entirely soaked with sweat, and the [cold] The page ends here with the catchword "fredo" (cold), suggesting the next page describes the sweat turning cold from fear.