[675.] that Nepenthes, etc. The allusion is explained by the following lines of the Odyssey: “Then Helen, daughter of Zeus, turned to new thoughts. Presently she cast a drug into the wine whereof they drank, a drug to lull all pain and anger, and bring forgetfulness of every sorrow. Whoso should drink a draught thereof, when it is mingled in the bowl, on that day he would let no tear fall down his cheeks, not though his father and his mother died ... Medicines of such virtue and so helpful had the daughter of Zeus, which Polydamna, the wife of Thon, had given her, a woman of Egypt, where earth the grain-giver yields herbs in greatest plenty, many that are healing in the cup, and many baneful” (Butcher and Lang’s translation, iv. 219-230). ‘Nepenthes,’ a Greek adj. = sorrow-dispelling (νη, privative; πένθος, grief). It is here used by Milton as the name of an opiate and it is now occasionally used as a general name for drugs that relieve pain.
[677.] Is of such power, etc.: see [note], l. 155. The construction is, ‘That Nepenthes is not of such power to stir up joy as this (julep is, nor is it) so friendly to life (nor) so cool to thirst.’
[679.] Why ... to yourself. Comp. Shakespeare, Son. i. 8, “Thyself thy foe, to thy sweet self too cruel.”
[680.] ‘Nature gave you your beautiful person to be held in trust on certain conditions, of which the most obligatory is that the body should have refreshment after toil, ease after pain. Yet this very condition you disregard, and deal harshly with yourself by refusing my proferred glass at a time when you are in need of food and rest.’ Comp. Shakespeare, Son. iv. “Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend Upon thyself thy beauty’s legacy,” etc.
[685.] unexempt condition, i.e. a condition binding on all and at all times, a law of human nature.
[687.] mortal frailty, i.e. weak mortals: abstract for concrete.
[688.] That. The antecedent of this relative is you, l. [682]. See [note], l. 2.
[689.] timely, seasonable. So ‘timeless’ = unseasonable (Scott’s Marmion, iii. 223, “gambol rude and timeless joke”): comp. Son. ii. 8, “timely-happy spirits”; and l. [970].
[693.] Was this ... abode? The verb is singular, because ‘cottage’ and ‘safe abode’ convey one idea: see Comus’s words, l. [320]. Notice also that the past tense is used as referring to the past act of telling.
[694.] aspects: accent on final syllable.