Some of the Sicilian kings were so great tyrants, that the name is become proverbial. The brazen bull is a known story of Phalaris, one of those tyrants, who, when Perillus, a famous artist, had presented him with a bull of that metal hollowed within, which, when the condemned person was inclosed in it, would render the sound of a bull's roaring, caused the workman to make the first experiment,—docuitque suum mugire juvencum.
Note VI.
The wretch, who, sitting at his plenteous board,
Looked up, and viewed on high the pointed sword.—P. [233].
He alludes to the story of Damocles, a flatterer of one of those Sicilian tyrants, namely Dionysius. Damocles had infinitely extolled the happiness of kings: Dionysius, to convince him of the contrary, invited him to a feast, and clothed him in purple; but caused a sword, with the point downward, to be hung over his head by a silken twine; which, when he perceived, he could eat nothing of the delicates that were set before him.
Note VII.
Thou in the Stoic-porch, severely bred.—P. [233].
The Stoics taught their philosophy under a porticus, to secure their scholars from the weather. Zeno was the chief of that sect.
Note VIII.
Where on the walls, by Polygnotus' hand,
The conquered Medians in trunk-breeches stand.—P. [233].
Polygnotus, a famous painter, who drew the pictures of the Medes and Persians, conquered by Miltiades, Themistocles, and other Athenian captains, on the walls of the portico, in their natural habits.