Amongst the enthron'a Gods on fainted feats. opes the palace of eternity: pure With neceffary to the juftness of the 11. Amongst the enthron'd Gods on thought, sainted feats. ) So this verse Beyond the written date of mor- well as in all his editions: and yet ftands in Milton's Manuscript as tal change. I cannot but prefer the reading of By the written date is meant Scrip- Mr. Fenton's edition, tare, in which is recorded the a Amongst th' enthroned Gods on bridged date of mortal life. sainted seats. Warburton. I am ftill inclind to think that this line is better omitted. For though seems to be said in allusion to Pe 1 3. - that golden key, &c] This it may not be a fault in itself to ter's golden key, mencion'd likewise Strive to keep up a frail and fe- in Lycidas 110. verifh being, Two maffy keys he bore of meyet it certainly is fo to strive to tals twain, keep it up (The golden opes, the iron shuts a main) Unmindful of the crown that virtue gives : And this verse, which was first written That foowi &c, afterwards and he could not have added alter'a, the crown that virtue gives That opes the palace of eternity, After this mortal change Mr. Pope has transferr'd with a If he had faid just before little alteration into one of his SaBeyond the written date of more tirs, speaking of Virtue, tal change: Her priestess Muse forbids the and therefore I cannot but think good to die, that he blotted out this line not And opes the temple of eternity. without reason. 18. But 28. the 20 With the rank vapors of this fin-worn mold. task. Neptune besides the fway falt flood, and each ebbing stream, his tributary Gods A 30 18. But to my task &c. ] These reason, no verb following the nofour lines were thus in the Manu- minative case, Neptune. script before they were alter'd. 22. That like to rich and various gems inlay But to my business now. Neptune, The unadorned bofom of the deep, ] whose sway The first hint of this beautiful palOf every falt flood, and each sage seems to have been taken from ebbing stream, Shakespear's Rich. II. Act 2. Sc. 1. Took in by lot 'twixt high and where John of Gaunt calls this nether Jove iland by the same sort of metaThe rule and title of each sea-girt phor, ile. this little world, This precious stone set in the filver And they were alter'd with great Jean A noble Peer of mickle trust and power 35 From 40 28. the best of all the main,] Milton might justly enough fay So alter'd in the Manuscript from this, fince Comus is a deity of his - the best of all bis empire. own making : but the fame alle gory has been introduc'd by most 43. And liften why, for I will of the principal epic poets under tell you now other personages. Such are HoWhat never yet was heard &c ] mer's Circe, Ariosto's Alcina, TafHorace Od. III. I. 2. fo's Armida, and Spenser's Acrasia. Favete linguis: carmina non From old or modern bard, in hall prius or bower. Audita Alluding to the ancient custom of Virginibus puerisque canto. poets repeating their own verses at Richardson. public entertainments: Thyer. 45. From From old or modern bard, in hall or bower. 45 Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape 50 Whom 45. From old or modern bard, ) It 53. And downward fell into a was at first in the Manuscript, groveling fwine] Pope's expres fion is much fuperior, By old or modern bard Not more amazement seisid on 46. Bacchus, that firft &c] Tho' Circe's guefts he builds his fable on claffic mytho To see themselves fall endlong logy, yet his materials of magic into beafts. Warburton. have more the air of inchantments in the Gothic romances. 54. This Nymph that gaz'd upon Warburton. &c] Milton by his use of the word in this place seems to favour the 48. After the Tuscan mariners trans- opinion of Minfhew and those. ety. formid,] They were changed mologists, who derive to gaxe from by Bacchus into thips and dolphins, the Greek ayasoudt. the story of which metamorphofis the reader may fee in Ovid. Met. 57. Much like his father, but bis LII. Fab. S. mother more,] This is said, be cause 68. their human count 'nance, .62. And in thick paelter of black Tb' express resemblance of the Gods,] Joades ] In Milton's Ma. The same thought is again very Whom therefore she brought up, and Comus nam'd, 60 65 To quench the drouth of Phæbus, which as they taste, (For most do taste through fond intemp’rate thirst) Soon as the potion works, their human count'nance, Th’express resemblance of the Gods, is chang'd Into some brutish form of wolf, or bear, 70 Or cause Milton's Comus like Homer's nuscript it is soade : and covent was Circe represents all sensual plea- written first, then shelter. fures, and Bacchus in the Heathen 63. Excels bis motber at ber mighty mythology only prefides over that art,] In the Trinity Manuof drinking. Thyer. fcript he had first written potent art, 58. Whom therefore be brought which are Shakespear's words and up, and Comus nam’d, ] This better. Warburton. line was at first in the Manu- 65. His orient liquor] That is of fcript, an extreme bright and vivid color, Which therefore the brought up, Warburton. and nam'd him Comus. 67.- through fond —] So alter'd in the Manuscript from 60.--the Celtic and Iberian fields,] through weak intemperate thirst. France and Spain. Thyer. finely |