979. Broad fields, 8c.] Com 990. Cedarn alleys.] So in pare l. 4. Virgil has Aëris in Fuller's Holy and Profane State, campis latis.' Æn. vi. 888. i. 5: Sallats are made of eldern

981. All.]. Adverbial to the buds. The final n or en, in such preposition phrase following. words as oaken, golden, leathern,

984. Crisped.] With curled is probably the old genitive suffix, leaves.

denoting of.

Adonis oft reposes,
Waxing well of his deep wound
In slumber soft, and on the ground
Sadly sits the Assyrian queen:
But, far above in spangled sheen,
Celestial Cupid, her famed son, advanced,
Holds his dear Psyche sweet entranced,
After her wandering labours long,
Till free consent the gods among
Make her his eternal bride,
And from her fair unspotted side

1000

1005

the next.

993. Blow.] Here employed memoration days, one of lamencausatively, like descry in l. 141. tation followed by one of rejoicing:

995. Purfled.] Embroidered. The gardens feigned of revived From the Fr. pourfiler. So in Adonis' (Par. Lost, ix. 439) were Spenser's F. Q.

celebrated for their beauty and

fruitfulness; A goodly lady, clothed in scarlet red, Purfled with gold and pearl of rich Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens, assay.

I. ii. 13.

That one day bloomed, and fruitful were 997. If your ears be true.]

Shaksp. 1 King Henry VI. i. 6. The spirit here proceeding to Milton calls Venus the Assyrian refer to the love of Venus and Queen, because she was first Adonis, wishes to be listened to worshipped in Assyria. with chaste ears.

1004. Advanced.] A participle: 1000. Waxing well, &c.] The Cupid advanced far above, &c. beautiful youth Adonis, while 1005. Psyche.] The beautiful hunting in Lebanon, was wounded Psyche, after many severe trials to death by a boar, and was much imposed on her by Venus, who lamented by the goddess Venus. for a long time disapproved the He was supposed to be annually attachment that had been formed wounded, and again restored to between Cupid and Psyche, was life, and had therefore two com at last received into favour by the

y saugther elevs purviced attehands y and that the finest

that the finest of a lond

1020

goddess, and, with Jove's sanction, * It should have been remarked made one of heaven's divinities. under l. 58, that the name of this Her story was meant to repre- Masque is a Greek word, kwuos, sent the soul (which her name signifying revelry, or the presiding denotes) purified by earthly trials, genius of mirth; whence the coand disciplined for the enjoyment mus song of the Greeks called of heaven.

Comoedia or Comedy. 1012. Now my task, &c.] Now Ben Jonson in one of his that my task is ended by all Masques introduces Comus the things being smoothly settled. god of cheer'; and the same per

1015. Bowed welkin, &c.] The sonification occurs in his Forest, archod sky is here supposed to 3. In Massinger's City Madam, be so nearly approached, that its iv. 2, Tradewell says, The god bending is scarcely perceived. of pleasure, Master Luke, our

1020. The sphery chime.] The Comus, enters.' starry choir; the sounding spheres.