[585.] safely, confidently. period, sentence.
[586.] for me, i.e. for my part, so far as I am concerned: see [note, l. 602].
[588.] Which erring men call Chance. ‘Erring’ belongs to the predicate; “which men erroneously call Chance.” Comp. Pope, Essay on Man:
“All nature is but art, unknown to thee;
All chance, direction, which thou canst not see.”
[588.] this I hold firm. ‘This’ is explained by the next line: “this belief, namely, that Virtue may be assailed, etc., I hold firmly.”
[590.] enthralled, enslaved. Comp. l. [1022].
[591.] which ... harm, which the Evil Power intended to be most harmful.
[595-7.] Gathered like scum, etc. According to one editor, this image is “taken from the conjectures of astronomers concerning the dark spots which from time to time appear on the surface of the sun’s body and after a while disappear again; which they suppose to be the scum of that fiery matter which first breeds it, and then breaks through and consumes it.”
[598.] pillared firmament. The firmament (Lat. firmus, firm or solid) is here regarded as the roof of the earth and supported on pillars. The ancients believed the stars to be fixed in the solid firmament: comp. Par. Reg. iv. 55; also Wint. Tale, ii. l. 100, “If I mistake In those foundations which I build upon, The centre is not big enough to bear A schoolboy’s top.”
[602.] for, as regards. let ... girt, though he be surrounded.