NOTES TO CANTO XII. Note 1, page 14, stanza xix. Gives, with Greek truth, the good old Greek the lie. See Mitford's Greece. "Grecia Verax." His great pleasure consists in praising tyrants, abusing Plutarch, spelling oddly, and writing quaintly; and what is strange after all, his is the best Modern History of Greece in any language, and he is perhaps the best of all modern historians whatsoever. Having named his sins, it is but fair to state his virtues→→ learning, labour, research, wrath, and partiality. I call the latter virtues in a writer, because they make him write in earnest. Note 2, page 23, stanza xxxvii. A hazy widower turned of forty's sure. This line may puzzle the commentators more than the present generation. Note 3, page 41, stanza lxxiii. Like Russians rushing from hot baths to snows. The Russians, as is well known, run out from their hot baths to plunge into the Neva; a pleasant practical antithesis, which it seems does them no harm. Note 4, page 46, stanza lxxxii. The world to gaze upon those northern lights. For a description and print of this inhabitant of the Polar Region and native country of the Aurora Boreales, see Parry's Voyage in search of a North-West Passage. Note 5, page 48, stanza lxxxvi. As Philip's son proposed to do with Athos. A sculptor projected to hew Mount Athos into a statue of Alexander, with a city in one hand, and I believe a river in his pocket, with various other similar devices. But Alexander's gone, and Athos remains, I trust ere long to look over a nation of free men. DON JUA N. CANTO XIII. I. I NOW mean to be serious ;-it is time, Since laughter now-a-days is deemed too serious. A jest at Vice by Virtue's called a crime, And critically held as deleterious: Besides, the sad's a source of the sublime, Although when long a little apt to weary us; And therefore shall my lay soar high and solemn As an old temple dwindled to a column. |