Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/443

 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS

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��Page 156, line 261. The glass of Galileo.

The telescope was still of sufficiently recent invention to be an object of wonder.

Page 156, line 272. Gazed.

Gazed at.

Page 156, line 272. Phcenix. . . that sole bird.

Only one specimen of this fabulous bird was supposed to e_xist at any given time. After 500 years of life it flew to the temple of the sun at Heliopolis (not Thebes, as Milton states) to die. From its ashes sprang its successor.

Page 156, line 274. Sky-tinctured grain.

Grain has two meanings, of which only one has survived in common use. One refers to texture, as the grain of wood, one to color, as in the phrase " dyed in grain," which originally meant dyed in the durable dark-red of the coc- cus insect (Latin granum, grain or seed, in ap- plication to the seed-like bodies of this insect). For further discussion, see Lectures on the English Language, by George P. Marsh. It is sible to say which use Milton intends.

��Page 157, line 341. Alcinous.

King of Phsacia (perhaps modern Corcyra), to which Odysseus came in his wanderings.

Page 157, line 345. Meaths.

Greek fteflu, drink ; English, mead.

Page 157, line 349. Unfumed.

Unexhaled.

Page 157, line 396. No fear lest dinner cool.

The prosaic suggestion jars curiously.

Page 158, lines 415-426.

Milton is here rehearsing certain theories of the scholastic philosophy, derived from Cicero's De Natura Deorum and other sources.

Page 158, line 438. What redounds.

What is superfluous.

Page 159, lines 488-89. Discursive or intui- tive.

Discursive reason is that which arrives at its conclusion by comparison and reflection, intui- tive reason is immediate insight ; the first proper to man, the second to angelic beings.

Page 160, line 577.

Here, as Professor Masson observes, we have the true chronological beginning of the poem. This method of causing previous events to be narrated during a lull in the action, is a con- vention of the epic form.

Page 160, line 578. These heavens.

The ten circum-terrestrial spheres, not the Empyrean, or Heaven of Heavens, where the angels abode.

Page 160, line 583. Heaven's great year.

Some immense cycle, corresponding to the earthly year ; perhaps Milton had in mind Plato's " great year of the Heavens," measured by a complete revolution of all the spheres from a given relation to each other until they again assumed the same relation.

Page 161, line 671. His next subordinate. After his fall known as Beelzebub. Page 161, lines 688-89. Where we possess the quarters of the North.

In Isaiah xiv. 12, 13, Lucifer is represented as saying, " I will sit upon the mount of the con-

��gregation, in the sides of the north." From this a tradition arose that Lucifer possessed the north part of Heaven as his peculiar domain.

Page 163, line 799. Much less for this.

Warburton explains these words by making "for this" refer to the preceding phrase "in- troduce law and edict." The meaning then be- comes, "much less for the end of introducing law and edict on us, can any one presume to be our Lord." At best the passage is puzzling and obscure.

Page 164. BOOK VI.

Page 164, line 19. In procinct.

In readiness. Latin procingere, to gird in front, as a soldier draws tight his belt before action.

Page 165, line 62. Quadrate.

Either square or cube, as the celestial armies were not subject to the physical laws which reign on earth.

Page 165, line 84. With boastful argument por- trayed.

Emblazoned with boastful mottoes or devices.

Page 165, line 93. Hosting.

Mustering.

Page 166, line 113. Explores.

Not in open speech, but in silent musing.

Page 166. line 115. Realty.

Some editors have changed this word to "lealty." No change is necessary; "realty" is from the Italian "reale," which sometimes means " loyal."

Page 169, lines 318-19. Not need repeat, as not of power, at once.

I. e. a stroke such as would not need immedi- ate repetition because of its being unpowerful.

Page 169, line 326. Shared.

Cut open.

Page 169, line 329. Griding.

Smiting ; Old English "gird," to strike.

Page 169, line 381. And from just. ..

From a just cause.

Page 170, line 429. Of future.

In future.

Page 171, line 514. Adusted.

From Latin "adurere," to scorch.

Page 171, line 518. Found.

Forge.

Page 172, line 541. Sad.

Used in the old sense, sober or earnest.

Page 172, line 544. Borne even or high.

On a level with the breast or above the head.

Page 172, line 553. Impaled.

Fenced in.

Page 172, line 555. At interview.

Gazing at each other ; no idea of speech is intended.

Page 172, line 581. Amused.

At muse, musing.

Page 172, line 605. Tire. Volley ; cf. French tirer, to shoot. Page "173, lines 623-24. Amused them all and stumbled many.

Cf. line 581, note. Both amused and stum- bled are used in a double sense.

Page 174, line 698. Dangerous to the main. Dangerous to the whole creation.

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