HIS BRIGHT DEAW-BURNING BLADE, his bright blade flashing with the
"holy water dew" in which it had been hardened (l.
"holy water dew" in which it had been hardened (l.
Spenser - Faerie Queene - 1
BATH, in Somersetshire, a town famous from the earliest times for its
medicinal baths. SPAU, a town in Belgium noted for its healthful waters,
now a generic name for German watering-places.
269. CEPHISE, the river Cephissus in Boeotia whose waters possessed the
power of bleaching the fleece of sheep. Cf. _Isaiah_, i, 18. HEBRUS, a
river in Thrace, here mentioned because it awaked to music the head and
lyre of the dead Orpheus, as he floated down its stream. Ovid's
_Metamorphoses_, xi, 50.
295. TO MOVE, moving. This is a French idiom.
300. AS EAGLE FRESH OUT OF THE OCEAN WAVE, etc. There was an ancient
belief, that once in ten years the eagle would soar into the empyrean, and
plunging thence into the sea, would molt his plumage and renew his youth
with a fresh supply of feathers.
312.
HIS BRIGHT DEAW-BURNING BLADE, his bright blade flashing with the
"holy water dew" in which it had been hardened (l. 317).
322. NE MOLTEN METTALL IN HIS BLOOD EMBREW, i. e. nor sword bathe itself in
his (the dragon's) blood.
335. WITH SHARPE INTENDED STING, with sharp, outstretched sting.
366. THE GRIPED GAGE, the pledge (shield) seized (by the dragon).
386. MISSED NOT HIS MINISHT MIGHT, felt not the loss of its diminished
strength; i. e. though cut off, the paw still held to the shield.
xliv. In comparing the fire-spewing dragon to a volcano, Spenser follows
Vergil's _AEneid_, iii, 571, and Tasso's _Jerusalem Delivered_, iv, 8.
medicinal baths. SPAU, a town in Belgium noted for its healthful waters,
now a generic name for German watering-places.
269. CEPHISE, the river Cephissus in Boeotia whose waters possessed the
power of bleaching the fleece of sheep. Cf. _Isaiah_, i, 18. HEBRUS, a
river in Thrace, here mentioned because it awaked to music the head and
lyre of the dead Orpheus, as he floated down its stream. Ovid's
_Metamorphoses_, xi, 50.
295. TO MOVE, moving. This is a French idiom.
300. AS EAGLE FRESH OUT OF THE OCEAN WAVE, etc. There was an ancient
belief, that once in ten years the eagle would soar into the empyrean, and
plunging thence into the sea, would molt his plumage and renew his youth
with a fresh supply of feathers.
312.
HIS BRIGHT DEAW-BURNING BLADE, his bright blade flashing with the
"holy water dew" in which it had been hardened (l. 317).
322. NE MOLTEN METTALL IN HIS BLOOD EMBREW, i. e. nor sword bathe itself in
his (the dragon's) blood.
335. WITH SHARPE INTENDED STING, with sharp, outstretched sting.
366. THE GRIPED GAGE, the pledge (shield) seized (by the dragon).
386. MISSED NOT HIS MINISHT MIGHT, felt not the loss of its diminished
strength; i. e. though cut off, the paw still held to the shield.
xliv. In comparing the fire-spewing dragon to a volcano, Spenser follows
Vergil's _AEneid_, iii, 571, and Tasso's _Jerusalem Delivered_, iv, 8.
