[68.] With this line ends the long, loose sentence that began with line 37. We now come to a full stop, and with line 69 begin a new sentence.
[70. the landskip.] A word of late origin in English, of unsettled spelling in Milton’s day.
[71. Russet lawns.] In Milton, lawn means field or pasture. See [Lycidas 25].
[77.] In this line the subject, mine eye, is resumed.
[80. The cynosure of neighboring eyes.] In the constellation Cynosure, usually called the Lesser Bear, is the pole-star, to which very many eyes are directed.
[81.] A new “pleasure” is introduced, with a new grammatical subject.
[83. Where Corydon and Thyrsis met.] The proper names in lines 83-88 add to the poem a pleasing touch of pastoral simplicity and cheerfulness. They are taken from the common stock of names, which, originally devised by the Greek idyllists for their shepherds and shepherdesses, have by the pastoral poets of all subsequent ages been appropriated to their special use. Corydon and Thyrsis stand for farm-laborers, Phyllis and Thestylis for their wives or housekeepers. The day of L’Allegro has now advanced to dinner-time. Phyllis has been preparing the frugal meal, as we could surmise from the smoking chimney. As soon as the dinner is over the women go out to work with the men in the harvest field.
[87. bower] means simply dwelling.
[90.] In the tanned haycock we see the hay dried and browned by the sun.
[91.] The scene changes and brings yet another “pleasure.” secure delight is delight without care, sine cura. See Samson Agonistes 55.