NOTES. Note 1, page 3. Unmindful of the crown that Virtue gives. The stress is upon this fact; for, though it may not be a fault in itself to "Strive to keep up a frail and feverish being," yet it certainly is to strive to keep it up "unmindful," &c.-Newton. 2 P. 3. To lay their just hands on that golden key. Of St. Peter. Cf. Lycidas, ver. 110. 3 P. 4. That, like to rich and various gems. Cf. "Richard II." Act II. Sc. 1, where John of Gaunt speaks of England as 66 'this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea." P. 6. Roving the Celtic and Iberian fields.-i. e. France and Spain. 5 P. 8. These my sky robes spun out of Iris' woof. Cf. "Paradise Lost," xi. 244. 6 P. 10. Pacing toward the other goal.See Ps. xix. 5. 7 P. 12. Dark-veiled Cotytto! The goddess of immodesty, formerly worshipped at Athens with nocturnal rites. 8 P. 18. Within thy airy shell. The margin of Milton's MS. gives "cell." See Newton. 9 P. 20. Scylla wept.-See "Paradise Lost," ii. 260, 1019. 10 P. 24. Swinkt.-Tired, from swink, to toil or labour. 11 P. 28. Bosky. Woody. 12 P. 29. That wont'st.Art accustomed. 13 P. 38. So dear to Heaven is saintly chastity. Spenser, "Faerie Queene," iii. 8, 29 : "See how the Heavens, of voluntary grace, And sovereign favour towards chastity, Do succour send to her distressed case: So much high God doth innocence embrace."-Thyer. 14 P. 38. The unpolluted temple of the mind.]—Cf. John ii. 21. 15 P. 38. And turns it by degrees to the soul's essence. Milton here somewhat betrays his materialist tendency. 16 P. 39. How charming is divine philosophy! This alludes more particularly to the philosophy of Plato, who went by the surname of divine. 17 P. 42. Thyrsis? whose artful strains have oft delayed. An elegant compliment to the musical abilities of Mr. Henry Lawes, a celebrated musician of the time, and who probably sustained the two parts of the Genius of the Wood and the Attendant Spirit. See Newton. 18 P. 42. To tell thee sadly.]-Soberly, truly. 19 P. 44. Within the navel.]-Depth, middle. 20 P. 45. Charactered in the face. Both Spenser and Shakspeare use this word with the same accent as Milton has done here. 21 P. 46. Of knot-grass dew-besprent. Besprent, i. e. sprinkled. "Knot-grass" is mentioned in "Midsummer Night's Dream," III. 7. |