P. [187]. a verse of Euripides: φθείρουσιν ἤθη χρήσθ' ὁμιλίαι κακαί, 'evil communications corrupt good manners'; found in the fragments of both Euripides and Menander.
P. [187]. Pareus: David Pareus, a German Calvinist theologian and biblical commentator, 1548-1622.
P. [187]. Dionysius the elder: known as 'the tyrant of Syracuse,' B.C. 431-367; repeatedly contended for the prize of tragedy at Athens.
P. [187]. Seneca (Lucius Annæus): Roman Stoic philosopher, B.C. 3?-65 A.D.
P. [187]. Gregory Nazianzen: saint; a Greek father of the Church, Bishop of Constantinople, about 328-389.
P. [188]. Martial: M. Valerius Martialis, Latin epigrammatic poet, 43-104 A.D. or later.
P. [188]. apolelymenon: 'a Greek word, ἀπολελυμένον, "loosed from," i.e. from the fetters of strophe, antistrophe, or epode; monostrophic (μονόστροφος) meaning literally "single stanzaed," i.e. a strophe without answering antistrophe. So allœostrophic (ἀλλοιόστροφος) signifies stanzas of irregular strophes, strophes not consisting of alternate strophe and antistrophe.'—John Churton Collins.
P. [188]. beyond the fifth act: 'Neve minor, neu sit quinto productior actu Fabula.'—Horace, Ars Poetica, 189.
P. [191]. Agonistes: one who contends as an athlete. 'The term is peculiarly appropriate to Samson, for he is the hero of the drama . . . and the catastrophe results from the exhibition of his strength in the public games of the Philistines.'—J. Churton Collins.
[2]. dark: blind.