P. [40]. English letter to a friend: this letter of which there are two undated drafts in Milton's handwriting in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, must have been written in 1632 or 1633. In the second draft (which is given in the text), Milton is content, for the first few sentences, with simply correcting the language of the first; but in the remaining portion he throws the first draft all but entirely aside, and rewrites the same meaning more at large in a series of new sentences. Evidently he took pains with the letter.—Masson.
P. [41]. tale of Latmus: i.e. of Endymion's sleeping upon Mount Latmus, and of his being visited by Selene (the moon).
P. 42. [5]. Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth: i.e. he appears younger than he really is. In his Second Defence, he says, 'though I am more than forty years old, there is scarcely any one to whom I do not appear ten years younger than I am.'
P. 42. [8]. timely-happy: happy, or fortunate, in the matter of inward ripeness.
P. 42. [10]. it: 'inward ripeness.'
P. [42]. it shall be still: Milton very early regarded himself as dedicated to the performance of some great work for which he had to make adequate preparation, in the way of building himself up; even: equal, in proportion to, in conformity with.
P. [43]. Your true and unfeigned friend, etc.: see penultimate sentence of the passage given, p. [65], from 'The Reason of Church Government urged against Prelaty.'
To Alexander Gill, Jr. (Familiar Letters, No. V.)
P. [43]. this ode: Psalm cxiv.