y_
to the evening and the dawn. See Par. Lost IV 598, Lycidas 187.

189. Like a sad votarist in palmer's weed. The votarist is one who has
made a vow. In this case he goes on a pilgrimage, carrying a palm branch,
and wearing the pilgrim garb.

203. the tumult of loud mirth was rife. As to the meaning of _rife_
compare Sam. Ag. 866 and Par. Lost I 650.

204. Yet nought but single darkness do I find. The darkness is unbroken
by any ray of light.

210. may startle well, but not astound. _Astound_ is a strong word. See
Par. Lost I 281.

212. a strong siding champion: a champion who sides with the virtuous
mind.

222. her silver lining. Note Milton's avoidance of the possessive _its_.
In all his verse he uses _its_ but three times.

231. Within thy airy shell. The _airy shell_ in which Echo lives must be
the "hollow round" of the atmosphere. Compare Hymn on the Nativity
100-103.

232. The Meander is the river of Asia Minor, famous for its windings.

233-237. The mention of the nightingale and Narcissus in this passage
suggests that it may be a reminiscence of the chorus in the Oedipus
Coloneus,--"Of this land of goodly steeds, O stranger."

237. Echo's passion for the beautiful Narcissus was not requited, and she
pined away till she became a mere voice, which she could not utter till
she was spoken to.

241. Daughter of the Sphere: daughter of the air, which forms a hollow
sphere about the earth.

243. And give resounding grace to all Heaven's harmonies: by echoing back
the music of the spheres.

249-252. Even darkness smiled, as if acknowledging itself agreeably
caressed by the strains of the lady's song.

251. At every fall. _Fall_, as a musical term, is "a sinking down or
lowering of the note or voice; cadence" (New Eng. Dict.).

253. the Sirens dwelt on an island near Sicily, and by their sweet song
allured mariners to destruction. See Odyssey XII.

254. the Naiades were nymphs attendant on Circe and the Sirens.

257. And lap it in Elysium. Compare L'Allegro 136.

257-259. Scylla and Charybdis were dangerous rocks and whirlpools on
opposite sides of the strait of Messina. They were personified as cruel
sea-monsters.

260. Yet they: Circe and the Sirens.

267. Unless the goddess. Supply _thou art_.

273. extreme shift: a pressing necessity of devising some expedient.

289. Were they of manly prime or youthful bloom? Were they in the prime
of adult manhood, or in the bloom of youth?

277-290.