He spake no dream;1 for, as his words had end, Our Saviour, lifting up his eyes, beheld, In ample space under the broadest shade, 340 345 350 Than Ganymed" or Hylas; distant more 355 1 He spake no dream,—referring to the dream recorded at 1. 264, &c. 2 In pastry built,-hinting at the gigantic size of some of the performances in this department of art at the tables of the great in the seventeenth century. The reader may guess at this by the joke of the Duke of Buckingham, who served up, in the shape of a pie, Geoffrey Hudson (afterwards King James's dwarf) when eight years old. 3 Gris-amber-steamed,-flavoured with the steam of melted ambergris. This substance is now well ascertained to be indurated fecal matter discharged by the spermaceti whale. When heated it gives out a fragrant odour; on which account it was used, in the unscrupulous cookery of a ruder age, to flavour dressed dishes. The name means gray amber, from its resemblance, in some respects, to amber proper. + Exquisitest name,-as the ancient Romans gave the name of "Jupiter's brain" to a rare and esteemed fish; or, as the modern Italians name their choice wines from the tears of the Saviour, or the milk of the Virgin Mary. Pontus, the Black sea; Lucrine bay,-on the west coast of Italy, near Naples; from which, as well as from the coast of Africa, were procured many choice species of fish. 5 Diverted,-in its original sense, "turned aside, perverted, seduced." 6 Ganymed,—a beautiful youth, taken up to heaven to act as cup-bearer to Jupiter. Hylas,—a youth who attended Hercules on the Argonautic expedition. 1 Diana,-goddess of the chase, attended by a retinue of nymphs. Naiades,-water-nymphs. Amalthea's horn,-cornu-copiæ, or horn of plenty. Amalthea, a naiad, who nourished Jupiter, in his infancy, with the milk of a goat, the horn of which afterwards became the horn of plenty. Hes With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn, Of fairy damsels, met in the forest wide Lancelot, or Pelleas, or Pellenore. And all the while harmonious airs were heard Of chiming strings, or charming pipes; and winds 360 Of gentlest gale Arabian odours3 fanned From their soft wings, and Flora's earliest smells.4- 365 Such was the splendour; and the Tempter now His invitation earnestly renewed: "What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat? "These are not fruits forbidden; no interdict "Defends the touching of these viands pure: 370 "Their taste no knowledge works, at least of evil; "But life preserves, destroys life's enemy, "Hunger, with sweet restorative delight. "All these are Spirits of air, and woods, and springs, "Thy gentle ministers,-who come to pay 375 "Thee homage, and acknowledge thee their Lord. "What doubtst thou, Son of God? sit down, and eat." To whom thus Jesus temperately replied: "Saidst thou not that to all things I had right? "And who withholds my power that right to use? 380 "Shall I receive by gift, what of my own, perides, properly, the daughters of Hesperus; here, the islands called after their name. See Paradise Lost, b. iii. L. 568, and b. iv. 1. 250, 605. 1 Knights of Logres, or of Lyones, &c.-Logres,-an old name for England. Lyones,-an old name for Cornwall. Sir Lancelot, Pelleas, and Pellenore,-persons in the old romance of "The Lyf of King Arthur." 2 Chiming," sounding in harmony:" Charming,-used in a similar sense, "uttering harmonious sounds." See b. iv. 1. 257. 3 Arabian odours,-Arabia Felix being famed for the growth of odoriferous plants. See Paradise Lost, b. iv. 1. 162, 163. ▲ Flora's earliest smells,-Flora, goddess of flowers; Paradise Lost, b. v. 1. 16. Milton being an early riser, delighted to describe the attractions of the morning. See Paradise Lost, b. ix. 1. 192-200; L'Allegro, 1. 41, &c. ; Lycidas, 1. 25, &c. 5 What doubts,-what for "why," as the Latin "quid." 6 Defends,-forbids; in the French sense, as in Paradise Lost, b. xi. 1. 86; b. xii. 1. 207. "Whose offspring on the throne of Judah sat "So many ages, and shall yet regain "That seat, and reign in Israel without end. 440 Among the Heathen, (for throughout the world "To me is not unknown what hath been done "Worthy of memorial,) canst thou not remember Quintius,1 Fabricius, Curius, Regulus? "Who could do mighty things, and could contemn 66 May also, in this poverty, as soon "Accomplish what they did, perhaps, and more? "Extol not riches then, the toil of fools,3 445 450 1 Quintius,-surnamed Cincinnatus, was twice called from the plough to be consul and dictator of Rome. After he had achieved triumphant success for the arms of the republic, he rejected the offer of lands and wealth, and retired to his humble rural life. Fabricius,-a Roman consul, who rejected large offers from Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, made with the view of inducing him to desert his country and enter into his service. Curius,— surnamed Dentatus, a contemporary of Fabricius, and equally renowned for simplicity of character and frugality. After being thrice consul, and serving his country in various wars, he retired to his small farm, which he cultivated with his own hands. He refused all share in the immense booty which he gained; and rejected a costly present offered to him by the Samnites, telling them that he preferred ruling over those who possessed gold, to possessing it himself. Regulus,-another favourite Roman patriot, who, after distinguished success in war against the Carthaginians in Africa, was at length made prisoner, and kept in captivity for five years. At the end of that time, the Carthaginians having sustained a defeat from another Roman general, sent an embassy to Rome to sue for peace, and allowed Regulus to accompany it, on condition that he should return to his captivity if their proposals were declined. Regulus exerted all his influence to dissuade his countrymen from peace, or even from consenting to an exchange of prisoners. He fulfilled his promise of returning to Carthage, where, as he had expected, he was put to death with the most barbarous tortures. 2 Could contemn riches, though offered from the hand of kings.-It has been suggested that, in penning these lines, Milton may have remembered some of his beloved English republicans,-those names of men so poor, who could do mighty things; or may even have thought of his own case, in refusing the offer of the appointment of Latin Secretary to Charles II., which is said to have been made to him. 3 Extol not riches then,-the toil of fools, &c.-Thyer justly observes, that the conclusion of our Saviour's reply to Satan, embodying so many just and noble thoughts, and virtuous sentiments, expressed with solemn gra |