today; see III, 27ff, below. This couplet recalls Virgil’s
description of the classical underworld as translated
by Dryden (Aeneis, VI, 890–1):
The love of horses which they had, alive,
And care of chariots, after death survive.
59 termagant scold.
60 Salamander a kind of lizard, once thought to be able
to live in fire.
73 spark an elegant fashionable young man.
85 garters, stars, and coronets worn by the nobility.
89 bidden blush achieved by means of rouge.
94 impertinence a trifle.
96 treat an entertainment of food and drink.
101 sword-knot a ribbon tied to the hilt of a sword.
115 Shock refers to a breed of dog; a lap-dog.
121 And now, unveiled For discussion of this passage see
Critical commentary, p. 233.
125 glass the mirror.
144 keener lightnings induced by belladonna.
148 Betty a generic name for a maid.
Canto II
25 springes snares for catching small game.
35 Phoebus epithet of Apollo, the sun god.
45 granted half his prayer an epic motif. Compare Virgil
in Dryden’s translation:
Apollo heard and granting half his prayer
Shuffled in winds the rest, and tossed in empty
air.
(XI, 1195)
64 glittering textures gossamers formerly supposed to be
the product of sunburnt dew, not spiders.
84 painted bow rainbow.
97 wash a medical or cosmetic lotion.
100 flounce ‘an ornamental appendage to the skirt of a
lady’s dress’ (OED).