[138]. whose: refers to 'valleys'; the swart star: understood by editors
to mean the dog-star Sirius. But it may mean, and I think it does, the day-star, the sun. See [v. 168]; 'diurnal star.'—P. L., x. 1069; swart: used causatively; sparely looks: i.e. by reason of the shades.
[139]. quaint enamelled eyes: flowers of curious structure and of variegated glossy colors (?); the words are more enjoyable than distinctly intelligible; in the 'P. L.,' ix. 529, it is said of the serpent:
'oft he bowed
His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck, fawning.'
Here 'enamelled' appears to mean variegated and glossy; so in Arcades:
'O'er the smooth enamelled green.'
[141]. purple: an imperative, to be construed with 'throw.'
[142]. rathe: early, soon; the old positive form of 'rather,' sooner. Tennyson uses the word in his 'In Memoriam,' c. ix. 2, 'The men of rathe and riper years'; and in 'Lancelot and Elaine,' 339, 'Till rathe she rose,' etc.; that forsaken dies: forsaken by the sun.
[153]. with false surmise: i.e. that we have the body of Lycidas with us.