[81] P. 50, l. 22. Cromwell.—Cromwell died in 1658 of a fever, and not of the gravel. The Restoration took place in 1660, and this fragment was written about that date.
[82] P. 50, l. 28. The three hosts.—Charles I was beheaded in 1649; Queen Christina of Sweden abdicated in 1654; Jean Casimir, King of Poland, was deposed in 1656.
[83] P. 50, l. 32. Macrobius.—A Latin writer of the fifth century. He was a Neo-Platonist in philosophy. One of his works is entitled Saturnalia.
[84] P. 51, l. 5. The great and the humble, etc.—See Montaigne, Essais, ii, 12.
[85] P. 53, l. 5. Miton.—A man of fashion in Paris known to Pascal.
[86] P. 53, l. 15. Deus absconditus.—Is. xiv, 15.
[87] P. 60, l. 26. Fascinatio nugacitatis.—Book of Wisdom iv, 12.
[88] P. 61, l. 10. Memoria hospitis, etc.—Book of Wisdom v, 15.
[89] P. 62, l. 5. Instability.—Compare Montaigne, Essais, iii, 12.
[90] P. 66, l. 19. Foolishness, stultitium.—I Cor. i, 18.