[619.] a certain shepherd lad. This is supposed to refer to Charles Diodati, Milton’s dearest friend, to whom he addressed his 1st and 6th elegies, and after whose death he wrote the touching poem Epitaphium Damonis, in which he alludes to his friend’s medical and botanical skill:
“There thou shalt cull me simples, and shalt teach
Thy friend the name and healing powers of each.”
(Cowper’s translation.)
[620.] Of small regard to see to: in colloquial English, ‘not much to look at.’ This is an old idiom: comp. Greek καλὸς ἰδεῖν: see English Bible, “goodly to look to,” i. Sam. xvi. 12; Ezek. xxiii. 15; Jer. xlvii. 3.
[621.] virtuous, of healing power: see [note], l. 165. Comp. Il Pens. 113, “the virtuous ring and glass.”
[623.] beg me sing: see [note], l. 304.
[625.] ecstasy: see [note], l. 261. The Greek ekstasis = standing out of one’s self.
[626.] scrip, wallet.
[627.] simples, medicinal herbs. ‘Simple’ (Lat. simplicem, ‘one-fold,’ ‘not compound’) was used of a single ingredient in a medicine; hence its popular use in the sense of ‘herb’ or ‘drug.’
[630.] me, i.e. for me: the ethic dative.