[952.] jigs, lively dances.
[958.] Back, shepherds, back! On the rising of the curtain, the stage is occupied by peasants engaged in a merry dance. Soon after the attendant Spirit enters with the above words. Enough your play, i.e. we have had enough of your dancing, which must now give way to ‘other trippings.’
[959.] sunshine holiday. Comp. L’Alleg. 98, where the same expression is used. There is a close resemblance between the language of this song and lines 91-99 of L’Allegro. Milton’s own spelling of ‘holiday’ is ‘holyday,’ which shows the origin of the word. The accent in such compounds (comp. blue-bell, blackbird, etc.) falls on the adjective: it is only in this way that the ear can tell whether the compound forms (e.g. hóliday) or the separate words (e.g. hóly dáy) are being used.
[960.] Here be: see [note], l. 12. without duck or nod: words used to describe the ungraceful dancing and awkward courtesy of the country people.
[961.] trippings ... lighter toes ... court guise: words used to describe the graceful movements of the Lady and her brothers: comp. L’Alleg. 33: “trip it, as you go, On the light fantastic toe.” Trod (or trodden), past participle of tread: ‘to tread a measure’ is a common expression, meaning ‘to dance.’ ‘Court guise,’ i.e. courtly mien; guise is a doublet of wise = way, e.g. ‘in this wise,’ ‘likewise,’ ‘otherwise.’ In such pairs of words as guise and wise, guard and ward, guile and wile, the forms in gu have come into English through the French.
[963.] Mercury (the Greek Hermes) was the herald of the gods, and as such was represented as having winged ankles (Gk. πτηνοπέδιλος): his name is here used as a synonym both for agility and refinement.
[964.] mincing Dryades. The Dryades are wood-nymphs (Gk. δρῦς, a tree), here represented as mincing, i.e. tripping with short steps, unlike the clumsy striding of the country people. Comp. Merch. of V. iii. 4. 67: “turn two mincing steps Into a manly stride.” Applied to a person’s gait (or speech), the word now implies affectation.
[965.] lawns ... leas. On ‘lawn,’ see [note], l. 568: a ‘lea’ is a meadow.
[966.] This song is sung by Lawes while presenting the three young persons to the Earl and Countess of Bridgewater.