40 498. Idalian mount. Idalium, a town in Cyprus sacred to Venus; here, as often, confused with Mount Ida.
40 498. Citheron. Cythera, not Citheron, is the island near which Venus rose from the sea, and a famous seat of her worship. Cithaeron is a mountain in Boeotia sacred to Zeus.
41 505. Medea's charms. Medea, daughter of Aetes, king of Colchis, was a famous sorceress of antiquity. She aided Jason to get the golden fleece, and fled with him. Deserted by him, she subsequently became involved with Theseus and Hercules, eventually going to Asia. From her sprung the Medes.
41 505. Circean feasts. A mythical sorceress, who feasted mariners landed on her shores, and by charmed drinks changed them to swine. Ulysses spent a year with her, and frustrated her arts.
41 515. bare below the breast. Bare from the shoulders to a point below the breasts.
41534. scurf. Scaly matter on the surface,—scum.
42 536. knares. Knots on, a tree; an archaism.
42 544. bent. A declivity or slope.
42 558. tun. A huge cask for holding wine, ale, etc.
43 590. overlaid. Lain upon by the nurse to smother it.