[7] An echo from Henry VI., part ii., act ii., se. iii.:—
Mine eyes arc full of tears, my heart of grief.
[8] Œnone was the daughter of the River-God Kebren.
[9] For the myth here referred to see Ovid, Heroides, xvi., 179-80:—
Ilion aspicies, firmataque turribus altis Moenia,
Phoeboeae; structa canore lyrae.
It was probably an application of the Theban legend of Amphion, and arose from the association of Apollo with Poseidon in founding Troy.
A fabric huge Rose like an exhalation,
(Milton’s Paradise Lost, i., 710-11.)
Cf. Gareth and Lynette, 254-7.
[10] The river Simois, so often referred to in the Iliad, had its origin in Mount Cotylus, and passing by Ilion joined the Scamander below the city.
[11] Cf. the σύνοφρυς κόρα (the maid of the meeting brows) of Theocritus, Id., viii., 72. This was considered a great beauty among the Greeks, Romans and Orientals. Ovid, Ars. Amat., iii., 201, speaks of women effecting this by art: “Arte, supercilii confinia nuda repletis”.
[12] The whole of this gorgeous passage is taken, with one or two additions and alterations in the names of the flowers, from Iliad, xiv., 347-52, with a reminiscence no doubt of Milton, Paradise Lost, iv., 695-702.
[13] The “angry cheek” is a fine touch.
[14] This fine sentiment is, of course, a commonplace among ancient philosophers, but it may be interesting to put beside it a passage from Cicero, De Finibus, ii., 14, 45: “Honestum id intelligimus quod tale est ut, detractâ omni utilitate, sine ullis præmiis fructibusve per se ipsum possit jure laudari”. We are to understand by the truly honourable that which, setting aside all consideration of utility, may be rightly praised in itself, exclusive of any prospect of reward or compensation.
[15] This passage is very obscurely expressed, but the general meaning is clear: “Until endurance grow sinewed with action, and the full-grown will, circled through all experiences grow or become law, be identified with law, and commeasure perfect freedom”. The true moral ideal is to bring the will into absolute harmony with law, so that virtuous action becomes an instinct, the will no longer rebelling against the law, “service” being in very truth “perfect freedom”.
[16] The Paphos referred to is the old Paphos which was sacred to Aphrodite; it was on the south-west extremity of Cyprus.