Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/451

 SUPPLEMENTARY LATIN AND GREEK POEMS

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��To be taken in an active sense, i. e. tending to destroy or render abortive the growths of nature.

Page 276, line 427. Amice.

Properly a linen cloth worn by a priest during mass, but here used in the general sense of " robe " or "habit."

Page 276, line 457. The main.

The entire universe, or macrocosm, contrasted with man, the microcosm (less universe).

Page 276, line 463. And seem to point.

We must understand either, "at whose head they seem to point," or " and seem to be point- ing out or prophesying something."

Page 278. lines 563-56*.

The reference is to one of the twelve heroic " labors " of Hercules.

Page 278, line 572. Theban monster.

The Sphinx, whose riddle was solved by CEdi- pus.

Page 278, line 605. Debel.

Beat down in war.

Page 279, line 624. Abaddon.

The "fiend of the bottomless pit," here put for Hell itself.

Page 279, lines 626-632. He all unarmed, shall chase thee.

Milton applies to the final " binding of Satan," or expulsion of the satanic influences from the world, the phraseology of the miracle by which Christ afterward cured the man " tormented by a devil."

Page 281. SAMSON AGONISTES.

Page 294, lines 28, 29. And from some great act, etc.

This clause is best construed with "as- cended," and as correlative with "from off the altar."

Page 294, line 38. Lower than bondslave.

A contracted expression, due perhaps to the fact that the intervention of the concrete word "beast" has obscured the speaker's recollec- tion of the abstract word " strength."

Page 295, line 144. Foreskins.

Uncircumcised Philistines.

Page 295, line 147. Azza.

An alternative form of Gaza.

Page 295, line 148. Hebron, seat of giants.

I. e. of the descendants of Anak.

Page 295, line 150. Whom the Gentiles feign.

I. e. Atlas, the mythical supporter of the world.

Page 296, line 181. Eshtaol and Zora.

Places on the sea-coast between Joppa and Gaza. The "camp of Dan," where Samson grew up, was " between Zorah and Eshtaol."

Page 297, lines 278-;289.

Judges viii. 4-9; xii. 1-6.

Page 297, lines 321-325. Unclean, unchaste, etc.

Dalila, being a heathen woman, is unclean, under the Mosaic law, and is to be held so in spite of reason, which sees no moral force in the judgment ; her unchastity, which was subse- quent to her marriage, Samson could not fore- see, hence that forms no part of his venal stain in marrying her.

��Page 298, line 349. What not in man deceiva- ble.

What is there in man which is not deceivable.

Page 300, lines 499-501.

The allusion is probably to Tantalus, punished for revealing the secrets of Zeus.

Page 301, line 624. Apprehensive tenderest j)arts.

The apprehending mind, with its delicate or- ganization.

Page 302, lines 715-718.

Ships of Tarshish, in Cilicia, bound for the isles of Greece and for Cadiz, laden with the spices and silks of the East.

Page 306, lines 988-990.

For the story of Jael and Sisera, see Judges, chapters iv. and v.

Page 306, line 1020. Paranymph.

The bridegroom's companion on the wedding day.

Page 307, line 1080. Og, or Anak and the Emims old.

Giants of the early Hebrew mythology: Og, king of Bashan ; Anak, father of the giant race of the Anakim ; the Emims, "a people great and many and tall," defeated by Chedorlaomer in battle at Kiriathaim.

Page 308, lines 1120-21.

Brigandine, shirt of mail ; habergeon, neck and shoulder piece ; vant brass (vant brace), arm-piece ; greves, leg-pieces. Of Goliath it is said, " The staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron."

Page 309, line 1242. Astaroth.

The Phoenician goddess of the moon.

Page 315, line 1619. Cataphracts.

Greek icaTa</)paicToi, protected, a term applied to cavalry when both horse and rider were heavily armed.

Page 316, line 1713. Caphtor.

The island of Crete, from which the Philis- tines were supposed to have come.

��II. SUPPLEMENTARY LATIN AND GREEK POEMS

FROM THE ELEGIARUM LIBER APOLOGUS DE RUSTICO ET HERO

RUSTICUS ex malo sapidissima poma quotannis

Legit, et urbano lecta dedit Domino : Hie, incredibili fructus dulcedine captus,

Malum ipsam in proprias transtulit areolas. Hactenus ilia ferax, sed longo debilis aevo,

Mota solo assueto, protiniis aret iners. Quod tandem ut patuit Domino, spe lusus inani,

Damnavit celeres in sua damna manus ; Atque ait, " Heu quanto satius fuit ilia Co- loni

(Parva licet) grato dona tnlisse animo ; Possem ego avaritiam frsenare, gulamque vora- cem:

Nunc periere mihi et foetus et ipse parens."

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