[1346]. stoutness: firm refusal.
[1369]. the sentence holds: the sentence, 'outward acts defile not,' holds good, where outward force constrains.
[1375]. which: represents what precedes, 'If I obey . . . set God behind.'
[1377]. dispense with: pardon. 'Milton here probably had in view the story of Naaman the Syrian, begging a dispensation of this sort from Elisha, which he seemingly grants him.' See 2 Kings v. 18, 19.—Thyer.
[1397]. as: used after 'such' to introduce a result, instead of 'that,' as in present English; not uncommon in Shakespeare, Bacon, and other writers of the time and later.
[1399]. to try: to test.
[1408]. Yet this be sure: looks back to 'I am content to go.'
[1418-1422]. Lords are lordliest: 'in this passage may be detected a reference to England in Milton's time.'—Masson.
[1435]. that Spirit that first rushed on thee: 'a young lion roared against him. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid.'—Judges xiv. 5, 6.
[1450]. I had no will: i.e. to go thither.