Quáque jaces, circum mulcebit lenè susurrans "Aura per humentes corpora fusa rosas. "Nec me (crede mihi) terrent Semelëia fata, "Nec Phaetonteo fumidus axis equo : " Cùm tu, Phœbe, tuo sapientiùs uteris igni ; "Huc ades, et gremio lumina pone meo." Sic Tellus lasciva suos suspirat amores; Matris in exemplum cætera turba ruunt: Insonuere novis lethalia cornua nervis, Ver. 89. mulcebit lenè susurrans 90 95 100 Aura per humentes corpora fusa rosas.] See Note on v. 69. And El. iii. 48. "Aura sub innumeris humida nata rosis." See also Par. Reg. B. ii. 363, where fragrant gales are introduced, as enhancing the voluptuousness of the enchanted banquet in the wilderness. T. WARTON. Nor should the description of Heaven in Par. Lost, B. v. 646, be omitted, where "roseat dews dispose to rest." TODD. Semelëia fata,] An echo to And in other See Ovid's Amor. iii. 3. Ver. 91. Ovid's Semeleia proles, Metam. v. 329, ix. 640. places. Semele's story is well known. 37. And Fast. vi. 485. T. WARTON. Ver. 93. More wisely than when you lent your chariot to Phaeton, and when I was consumed "by the excess of your heat." He alludes to the speech or complaint of Tellus, in the story of Phaeton. See Metam. ii. 272. And Note on v. 58. Not to insist particularly on the description of the person of Milton's Tellus, and the topicks of persuasion selected in her approaches and her speech, the general conception of her courtship of the sun is highly poetical. T. WARTON. 104 Jámque vel invictam tentat superâsse Dianam, Ver. 108. Puniceum redolet vestis odora crocum.] So, in L'Allegro, v. 124. "There let Hymen oft appear "In saffron robe." Hence we must explain B. and Fletcher, Woman's Prize, A. i. S. 2. vol. viii. p. 179. "Pardon me, yellow Hymen." The text has a reference to Ovid's Hymen, who is, latus amictu," Metam. x. 1. T. WARTON. "" croceo ve See Ben Jonson's King's Entertainment at Welbeck, edit. 1640, p. 275. "Here Stub the bridegroome presented himselfe, being apparelled in a yellow canvas doublet, &c. a Munmouth cap with a yellow feather, yellow stockings and shoes," &c.-Yet in the reign of James First we are thus informed, "That there is a national as well as a personal respect cannot be deny'd, and colours rather than other are vulgarly appropriated to special vses, as symbolical to them, so far forth as a kinde of superstition is growne vppon the auoyding, for you shal seldome see a bridegroome wed in yellow, or a forsaken louer walke in blew." Bolton's Elements of Armories, 1610, p. 131.-Beaumont and Fletcher have even "yellow-tressed Hymen," Bonduca, A. i. S. 1.-The text, "redolet vestis odora crocum," induces me to cite, from a very learned and entertaining work, the following passage. "Sir John Chardin, in his manuscript, tells us, that in the Indies thy are wont to moisten their clothes with SAFFRON, at marriages and other solemnities. This could only be done, I apprehend, on account of the fragrance of this plant, &c. The term moisten shows, it is Egreditúrque frequens, ad amœni gaudia veris, 110 Votum est cuique suum, votum est tamen omnibus unum, Ut sibi, quem cupiat, det Cytherea virum. Semicapérque deus, semideúsque caper. 115 120 125 not on account of the colour they use the saffron, for dry yellow clothes would answer that purpose; but for its perfume." Harmer's Comment. on Solomon's Song, 1768, Additions, No. 11. The text may also have a reference to Catullus's Cupid, Carm. lxix. "Fulgebat crocina candidus in tunicá." TODD. Ver. 119. cùm sera crepuscula surgunt,] See In Quint. Novembr. v. 54. And Ovid, Metam. i. 219. "Traherent cum sera crepuscula lucem." T. WARton. Ver. 122. Semicapérque deus, &c.] From Ovid, Fast. iv. 752. See also Metam. xiv. 515. “ Semicaper Pan." T. WARTON. Semideus is from Statius, Theb. vi. 110. "Semideúmque pecus." The turn of the whole line is from Ovid, Art. Am. II. 24. "Semibovémque virum, semivirúmque bovem." Atque aliquam cupidus prædatur Oreada Faunus, 130 135 140 Ver. 129. Jámque latet, &c.] Here is an elegant imitation both of Horace and Virgil. See Hor. Od. I. ix. 21. "Nunc et latentis proditor intimo "Gratus puellæ risus ab angulo." And Virgil, Ecl. iii. 64. "Malo me Galatea petit lasciva puella; "Et fugit ad salices, et se cupit ante videri." BowLe. Ver. 134. Nec vos arboreâ, dii, precor, ite domo.] Par. Lost, B. v. 137. "From under shady arborous roof." T. Warton. sensim tempora veris eant ;] See El. i. 48. And the Note. T. WARTON. Ver. 138. E ELEG. VI. Ad Carolum Deodatum ruri commorantem, Qui cum Idibus Decemb, scripsisset, et sua carmina excusari postulâsset si solito minùs essent bona, quòd inter lautitias, quibus erat ab amicis exceptus, haud satis felicem operam Musis dare se posse affirmabat, hoc habuit responsum. MITTO tibi sanam non pleno ventre salutem, Deliciasque refers, hiberni gaudia ruris, Haustáque per lepidos Gallica musta focos! 10 Ver. 12. Haustáque per lepidos Gallica musta focos!] See Sonnet to Laurence, ver. 10. "Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire "What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice "Of Attick taste, with wine," &c. Deodate had sent Milton a copy of verses, in which he described the festivities of Christmas. T. WARTON. |