CANTO XXX
v. 1. Six thousand miles.] He compares the vanishing of the vision to the fading away of the stars at dawn, when it is noon-day six thousand miles off, and the shadow, formed by the earth over the part of it inhabited by the Poet, is about to disappear.
v. 13. Engirt.] “ ppearing to be encompassed by these angelic bands, which are in reality encompassed by it.”
v. 18. This turn.] Questa vice. Hence perhaps Milton, P. L. b. viii. 491. This turn hath made amends.
v. 39. Forth.] From the ninth sphere to the empyrean, which is more light.
v. 44. Either mighty host.] Of angels, that remained faithful, and of beatified souls, the latter in that form which they will have at the last day. v. 61. Light flowing.] “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Rev. cxxii. I.
—underneath a bright sea flow’d Of jasper, or of liquid pearl. Milton, P. L. b. iii. 518.
v. 80. Shadowy of the truth.]
Son di lor vero ombriferi prefazii.
So Mr. Coleridge, in his Religious Musings, v. 406.
Life is a vision shadowy of truth.
v. 88. —the eves Of mine eyelids.] Thus Shakespeare calls the eyelids “penthouse lids.” Macbeth, a, 1. s, 3.
v. 108. As some cliff.]
A lake
That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown’d
Her crystal mirror holds.
Milton, P. L. b. iv. 263.
v. 118. My view with ease.]
Far and wide his eye commands
For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, But all sunshine.
Milton, P. l. b. iii. 616.
v. 135. Of the great Harry.] The Emperor Henry VII, who died in 1313.
v. 141. He.] Pope Clement V. See Canto XXVII. 53.
v. 145. Alagna’s priest.] Pope Boniface VIII. Hell, Canto XIX.
79.