l. [70]. amort, deadened, dull. Cf. Taming of the Shrew, iv. iii. 36, 'What sweeting! all amort.'
l. [71]. See [note] on St. Agnes, p. 224.
l. [77]. Buttress'd from moonlight. A picture of the castle and of the night, as well as of Porphyro's position.
[Page 88]. ll. [82 seq.] Compare the situation of these lovers with that of Romeo and Juliet.
l. [90]. beldame, old woman. Shakespeare generally uses the word in an uncomplimentary sense—'hag'—but it is not so used here. The word is used by Spenser in its derivative sense, 'Fair lady,' Faerie Queene, ii. 43.
[Page 89]. l. [110]. Brushing . . . plume. This line both adds to our picture of Porphyro and vividly brings before us the character of the place he was entering—unsuited to the splendid cavalier.
l. [113]. Pale, lattic'd, chill. Cf. l. 12, [note].
l. [115]. by the holy loom, on which the nuns spin. See l. [71] and [note] on St. Agnes, p. 224.
[Page 90]. l. [120]. Thou must . . . sieve. Supposed to be one of the commonest signs of supernatural power. Cf. Macbeth, i. iii. 8.
l. [133]. brook, check. An incorrect use of the word, which really means bear or permit.