[109.] "It was the common belief of the Welsh nation that King Arthur was still alive in Fairyland, and would return again to reign over Britain" (Gray).
In the MS. this line and the next read thus:
| "From Cambria's thousand hills a thousand strains Triumphant tell aloud, another Arthur reigns." |
[110.] "Both Merlin and Taliessin had prophesied that the Welsh should regain their sovereignty over this island; which seemed to be accomplished in the house of Tudor" (Gray).
[111.] Many a baron bold. Cf. L'Allegro, 119: "throngs of knights and barons bold."
The reading in the MS. is,
| "Youthful knights, and barons bold, With dazzling helm, and horrent spear." |
[112.] Their starry fronts. Cf. Milton, Ode on the Passion, 18: "His starry front;" Statius, Theb. 613: "Heu! ubi siderei vultus."
[115.] A form divine. Elizabeth. Wakefield quotes Spenser's eulogy of the queen, Shep. Kal. Apr.:
| "Tell me, have ye seene her angelick face, Like Phoebe fayre? Her heavenly haveour, her princely grace, Can you well compare? The Redde rose medled with the White yfere, In either cheeke depeincten lively chere; Her modest eye, Her Majestie, Where have you seene the like but there?" |