129. zealous. Full of religious zeal.
133-8. Referring to the commercial prosperity of Italian cities during the fifteenth century.
136. long-fallen. Since the days of ancient Rome.
138. The quarry was filled with marble from which statues of human forms were chiselled.
142. unmann’d. Without men.
143-4. Certain diseases were supposed to arise from a superabundance (plethora) of blood. So ills arose out of the prosperity of Italy.
with fruitless skill. All the skill mentioned in lines 134-8 brought no real results. It could not save Italy.
149-50. The modern processions are bloodless, that is, they do not celebrate real victories. The chariots are made of pasteboard for mere show.
151. piety and love. Religious processions, which were often made the means of furthering love intrigues.
157. succeeding. Following.