To Carlo Dati. (Familiar Letters, No. X.)

P. 83. tomb of Damon: i.e. of Carolo Diodati.

P. 83. that poem: ‘Epitaphium Damonis.’

On His Blindness

P. 84. 1. spent: extinguished.

P. 84. 2. Ere half my days: i.e. are spent; Milton was about forty-four years old when his ‘light’ was fully ‘spent.’

P. 85. 8. fondly: foolishly; prevent: to come before, anticipate, forestall.

P. 85. 12. thousands: i.e. of ‘spiritual creatures.’ See ‘P. L.,’ iv. 677.

P. 85. 14. They also serve: i.e. as Verity explains, those other angels too, who, etc.