[11.] Jet. This word comes, through the French, from Gagai, a town in Lycia, where the mineral was first obtained.
[14.] Two angel forms. In the first ed. "two beauteous forms," which Mitford prefers to the present reading, "as the images of angel and genii interfere with each other, and bring different associations to the mind."
[16.] Tyrian hue. Explained by the "purple" in next line; an allusion to the famous Tyrian dye of the ancients. Cf. Pope, Windsor Forest, 142: "with fins of Tyrian dye."
[17.] Cf. Virgil, Geo. iv. 274:
| "Aureus ipse; sed in foliis, quae plurima circum Funduntur, violae sublucet purpura nigrae." |
See also Pope, Windsor Forest, 332: "His shining horns diffus'd a golden glow;" Temple of Fame, 253: "And lucid amber casts a golden gleam."
[24.] In the 1st ed. "What cat's a foe to fish?" and in the next line, "with eyes intent."
[31.] Eight times. Alluding to the proverbial "nine lives" of the cat.
[34.] No dolphin came. An allusion to the story of Arion, who when thrown overboard by the sailors for the sake of his wealth was borne safely to land by a dolphin.