100 domestiques = "officers of the household." The "Rest of the Book of Esther" gives their names, Gabatha and Tharra, and states that they were keepers of the palace (xii. 1).
101-110 These lines are a graceful allusion to St. Cyr, and to Mme. de Maintenon herself. See Introd. section III.
105 profanes, here, as in l. 155, is an especially apt word, since it suggests not only the seclusion in which these maidens live within the palace, but also the difference between their religion and that of the court.
108 me cherchant moi-même, "seeking [communion with] myself."
114 A fine antithesis. Cf. Oedipus Rex, l. l: Kudmou tou palai nia trophe. 120 (Heading) Endroit or lieu is the general word for a "place" or "spot." Place is the place to which a thing belongs.
123 De tous côtes and de toutes parts (l. 148) = both "on all sides" and "from all sides."
126 jusques. See App. I, Metre. The "s" is due to the tendency of adverbial words to assume a final "s." Cf. sans from sine, alors from ad illam horam.
132 déplorable, a fine etymological use of the word; now only used in the derived meaning "sad" or "wretched."
139 ta douleur retracée = le recit de ta douleur. This is a Latin construction of frequent occurrence in this play. Cf. post urbem conditam = "after the founding of the city." The past participle qualifying the noun takes the place of our abstract substantive.
140 n'occupe. Pas is omitted after si whenever the affirmative idea is predominant. Tr.: "unless."