Page 129. Asolo.
It is interesting to note the choice of scene for Pippa Passes in view of the dedicatory letter of Browning's latest volume Asolando. In a letter written on his first journey to Italy he speaks of "delicious Asolo."
Page 137.
Kate? The Cornaro doubtless, who renounced
The crown of Cyprus to be lady here
At Asolo.
Caterina Cornaro, the daughter of a wealthy and noble citizen of Venice, was born in 1454. In 1471 she married the king of Cyprus. He died the next year and for seven years Caterina was nominal queen, but Venice compelled her at the end of that time to resign, and gave her for residence Castle Asolo.
Page 138. Bluphocks.
The curious Biblical scholia on this character is Browning's own. It is said that the name was simply another way of spelling Blue Fox, a slang-phrase for the Edinburgh Review.
Page 168. The Laboratory.