[530. Charactered in the face.] The noun character Milton pronounces with accent on the first syllable, as does Shakespeare. Probably he also agrees with Shakespeare in pronouncing the verb with the accent on the second syllable, as this verse suggests.
[531. crofts.] The word is still in use in England, meaning a small farm.
[540. by then the chewing flocks:] by the time when, etc.
[547. To meditate my rural minstrelsy:] to play on my shepherd-pipe and to sing. To meditate the muse is a standard expression of the pastoral poets. See [Lycidas 66].
[552.] What do we know was the cause of this unusual stop of sudden silence?
[553-554.] The cessation of the din gave to the steeds of sleep, and to people who were trying to sleep, relief from annoyance.
[557-560.] Be sure you understand the figure.
[560. Still,] in its very frequent sense, always.
[562. Under the ribs of Death:] in a skeleton.
[575. such two;] describing them.