[I.] 'The Lavinian shore,' the coast of Italy near Lavinium, an old town in Latium. See also [stanzas xxxv. and xxxvi.]
[III.] Carthage was a Phoenician colony, and Tyre was the leading Phoenician city.
Samos was an island in the Archipelago near the coast of Asia Minor. There was a famous temple on it, dedicated to Juno, who was supposed to take a special interest in the island.
[V.] 'The choice of Paris' refers to the Greek story that once when the gods were feasting, 'Discord' threw a golden apple on the table as a prize for the fairest. Juno, Minerva and Venus each claimed it, but the Trojan prince Paris, who was made judge, gave it to Venus. Ganymede was a beautiful Trojan boy who was carried off to Olympus to be Jove's cup-bearer.
[VI.] Ajax, son of Oileus, desecrated Minerva's temple at Troy. (Cf. [Book II. stanza liv.])