[136. Lap me in soft Lydian airs.] The three chief modes, or moods, of Greek music were the Lydian, which was soft and pathetic; the Dorian, especially adapted to war (see Par. Lost 550); and the Phrygian, which was bold and vehement.
[138. the meeting soul.] The soul, in its eagerness, goes forth to meet and welcome the music.
[139.] The word bout seems to point at a piece of music somewhat in the nature of a round, or catch.
[145. That Orpheus’ self may heave his head.] Even Orpheus, who in his life “drew trees, stones, and floods” by the power of his music, and who now reposes in Elysium, would lift his head to listen to the strains that L’Allegro would fain hear.
[149.] Orpheus, with his music, had succeeded in obtaining from Pluto only a conditional release of his wife Eurydice. He was not to look back upon her till he was quite clear of Pluto’s domains. He failed to make good the condition, and so again lost his Eurydice.
Il Penseroso.
[3. How little you bested.] The verb bested means to avail, to be of service. It is not the same word that we find in Isaiah VIII 21, “hardly bestead and hungry.”
[6. fond] here has its primitive meaning, foolish. Understand possess in the sense in which it is used in the Bible,—“possessed with devils.”
[10.] Make two syllables of Morpheus.
[12.] Note that while he invoked Mirth in L’Allegro under her Greek name Euphrosyne, the poet finds no corresponding Greek designation for Melancholy. To us Melancholy seems a name unhappily chosen. But see how Milton applies it in [line 62 below], and in [Comus 546]. To him the word evidently connotes pensive meditation rather than gloomy depression.