Et studiis noti, Lydorum sanguinis ambo. r by the learned, ibid. 693. In another, from N. Heinsius, dated 1647, he is called "amicissimum "mihi juvenem," iii. 193. Again, ibil. 806, 820, 826, 827. In another from the same, dated 1652, "Scribit ad me Datus Florentiæ " in Mediceo codice extare, &c." ibid. 294. He corresponds with J. Vossius in 1647, ibid. 573. Vossius, and others, wish him to publish Doni's book of Inscriptions, ibid. 574. seq. Spanheim, in 1661, writes to N. Heinsius to introduce him to Carlo Dati and other learned men at Florence, ibid. 817. In a Letter from N. Heinsius, dated 1676, "Mors repentina Caroli Dati quanto mærore me confecerit, vix est ut verbis exprimatur. "Ne nunc quidem, cum virum cogito, a lacrymis temperare possum &c." vol. iv. 409. See also vol. v. 577, 578. In a Letter to Christina Queen of Sweden, dated 1652, from Florence, N. Heinsius sends her an Italian epigram by Dati, much applauded, on her late accident, ibid. 757. Again, from the same to the same, 1652, “ Habes et "hic Caroli Dati Epigramma "Etruscum. Est autem ille, "quod et alia monui occasione, magni inter Florentinos Poetas "nominis; laudes tuas singulari "parat poemate." Ibid. 758. See also p. 744, 742, 472. He was celebrated for his skill in Roman antiquities. A Dissertation is addressed to him from Octavio Falconeri, concerning an inscribed Roman brick taken from the rub 140 bish of an ancient Roman structure, destroyed for rebuilding the Portico of the Pantheon, 1661. Grævii Roman. Antiquit. iv. 1483. Mr. Brand accidentally discovered on a book-stall a manuscript which he purchased, entitled, La Tina, by Antonio Malatesti not yet enumerated among Milton's Italian friends. [A. Malatesti is mentioned by Milton in a letter to Carlo Dati, Epist. Fam. x. Todd.] It is dedicated by the author to John Milton while at Florence. Mr. Brand gave it to Mr Hollis, who, in 1758, sent it together with Milton's works, both in poetry and prose, and his Life by Toland, to the academy della Crusca. The first piece would have been a greater curiosity in England. 138.-Lydorum sanguinis ambo.] Of the most ancient Tuscan families. The Lydians brought a colony into Italy, whence came the Tuscans. On this origin of the Tuscans from the Lydians, Horace founds the claim of the Tuscan Maecenas to a high and illustrious ancestry. Sat. i. vi. 1. Non quia, Mæcenas, Lydorum, quic quid Etruscos Incoluit fines, nemo generosior est te. See also Propert. iii. ix. 1. It is for this reason, Virgil says, Æn. ii. 782. -Ubi Lydius arva Inter opima virum leni fluit agmine Lydian, that is Tuscan and Tuscany is washed by the Tyber. 140. Hæc mihi tum læto dictabat roscida luna, Dum solus teneros claudebam cratibus hodos. 145 Heus bone numquid agis? nisi te quid forte retardat, 150 Quasque habet ista palus herbas, artesque medentum. Ah pereant herbæ, pereant artesque medentum, Gramina, postquam ipsi nil profecere magistro. The Crates are the wattled cotes in Comus, v. 345. 149. Aut ad aquas Colni, aut ubi jugera Cassibelauni?] The river Colne flows through Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, in Milton's neighbourhood. Our author's father's house and lands at Horton near Colnbrook, were held under the Earl of Bridgewater, before whom Comus was acted at Ludlow-Castle. Milton's mother is buried in the chancel of Horton church, with this Inscription on a flat stone over the grave. "Heare lyeth "the body of Sara Milton the "wife of John Milton, who died "the 3d of April, 1637." In every virtuous plant, and healing herb, That spreads her verdant leaf to th morning ray: He lov'd me well, and oft would beg me sing, And in requital ope his leathern scrip, And shew me simples of a thousand names, Telling their strange and vigorous faculties, &c. See note on El. vi. 90. Ipse etiam, nam nescio quid mihi grande sonabat 155 160 Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni. Ipse ego Dardanias Rutupina per æquora puppes Dicam, et Pandrasidos regnum vetus Inogeniæ, Brennumque Arviragumque duces, priscumque Belinum, Et tandem Armoricos Britonum sub lege colonos; 165 155. He hints his design of quitting pastoral, and the lighter kinds of poetry, to write an epic poem. This, it appears by what follows, was to be on some part of the ancient British story. 162. Ipse ego Dardanias, &c.] The landing of the Trojans in England under Brutus. Rhutupium is a part of the Kentish coast. Brutus married Inogen, the eldest daughter of Pandrasus a Grecian king; from whose bondage Brutus had delivered his countrymen the Trojans. Brennus and Belinus were the sons of Molutius Dunwallo, by some writers called the first king of Britain. The two sons carried their victorious arms into Gaul and Italy. Arviragus, or Arvirage, the son of Cunobelin, conquered the Roman general Claudius. He is said to have founded Dover castle. 165. Et tandem Armoricos Britonum sub lege colonos ;] Armorica, or Brittany in France, was peopled by the Britons when they fled from the Saxons. 166. Tum gravidam Arturo, &c.] Iogerne was the wife of Gorloise prince of Cornwall. Merlin transformed Uther Pendragon into Gorlois; by which artifice Uther had access to the bed of logerne, and begat King Arthur. This was in Tintagel castle in Cornwall. See Geffr. Monm. viii. 19. The story is told by Selden on the Polyolbion, s. i. vol. ii. 674. Perhaps it will be said, that I am retailing much idle history. But this is such idle history as Milton would have clothed in the richest poetry. 168. O mihi, &c.] I have corrected the pointing. "And O, "if I should have long life to "execute these designs, you, my Tu procul annosa pendebis fistula pinu, Multum oblita mihi; aut patriis mutata Camœnis 170 175 Si me flava comas legat Usa, et potor Alauni, Vorticibusque frequens Abra, et nemus omne Treantæ, "rural pipe, shall be hung up "forgotten on yonder ancient "pine: you are now employed "in Latin strains, but you shall "soon be exchanged for English 66 poetry. Will you then sound "in rude British tones?-Yes"We cannot excel in all things. "I shall be sufficiently contented "to be celebrated at home for "English verse." Our author says in the Preface to Ch. Gov. b. ii. "Not caring to be once "named abroad, though perhaps "I could attain to that: but " content with these British "islands as my world." Prose Works, vol. i. 60. 171. Brittonicum] In lengthening the first syllable of this word, contrary to the usage of Virgil, Horace, &c. Milton is supported by Lucretius, vi. 1104. Symmons. 175. Si me flava comas legat Usa, et potor Alauni,] Usa is perhaps the Ouse in Buckinghamshire. But other rivers have that name, which signifies water in general. Alaunus is Alain in Dorsetshire, Alonde in Northumberland, and Camlan in Cornwall; and is also a Latin name for other rivers. 176. Vorticibusque frequens Abra,] So Ovid, of the river Evenus. Metam. ix. 106. And Tyber is "densus vortici"bus," Fast. vi. 502. Abra has been used as a Latin name for the Tweed, the Humber, and the Severn, from the British Abren, or Aber, a river's mouth. Of the three, I think the Humber, vorticibus frequens, is intended. Leland proves from some old monkish lines, that the Severn was originally called Abren; a name, which afterwards the Welch bards pretended to be derived from King Locrine's daughter Abrine, not Sabrine, drowned in that river. Comm. Cygn. Cant. vol. ix. p. 67. edit. 1744. In the Tragedy of Locrine, written about 1594, this lady is called Sabren. Suppl. Shakesp. vol. ii. p. 262. a. iv. s. 5. Yes, damsels, yes, Sabren shall surely die, &c. And it is added, that the river [Severn] into which she is thrown, was thence called Sabren. Sabren, through Safren, easily comes to Severn. See Comus, v. 826. seq. In the same play, Humber the Scythian king exclaims, p. 246. a. iv. s. 4. And gentle Aby take my troubled corse. Et Thamesis meus ante omnes, et fusca metallis Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni. 180 Hæc, et plura simul; tum quæ mihi pocula Mansus, 185 In medio rubri maris unda, et odoriferum ver, That is, the river Aby, which just before is called Abis. Ptolemy, enumerating our rivers that fall into the eastern sea, mentions Abi; but probably the true reading is Abri, which came from Aber. Aber might soon be corrupted into Humber. The derivation of the Humber from Humber, king of the Huns, is as fabulous, as that the name Severn was from Abrine or Sabrine. But if Humber, a king of the Huns, has any concern in this name, the best way is to reconcile matters, and associate both etymologies in Hun-Aber, or Humber. 176. —nemus omne Treanta,] The river Trent. In the next line, he calls Thamesis, meus, because he was born in London. 177. fusca metallis VOL. IV. The river Tamar in Cornwall, tinctured with tin-mines. 182. Mansus Chalcidicæ non ultima gloria ripa,] Manso celebrated in the last poem, and a Neapolitan. A people called the Chalcidici are said to have founded Naples. See the third Epigram on Leonora, v. 4. "Corpora "Chalcidico sacra dedisse rogo.' And Virgil's tenth Eclogue, Chalcidico versu, v. 50. And Æn. vi. 17. 183. Perhaps a poetical description of two real cups thus richly ornamented, which Milton received as presents from Manso at Naples. He had flattered himself with the happiness of shewing these tokens of the regard with which he had been treated in his travels, to Deodate, at his return. Or perhaps this is an allegorical description of some of Manso's favours. C C |