Canto XXIII
BALDOMERO ESPARTERO (1792-1879). A celebrated Spanish general who fought against Don Carlos on the side of Maria Christina. He was later given the title of Duke of Vittoria.
EMILIA GALOTTI. This refers to the heroine of Lessing’s drama of the same name, in which old Odoardo Galotti slays his daughter in order to protect her from dishonour. The theme is derived from the story of Virginia and Tarquin.
“NO ROSE WOULD HE PLUCK, ETC.” Lessing’s drama closes thus: “Odoardo: ‘God! what have I done!’ Emilia: ‘Thou hast merely plucked a rose ere the storm reft it of its petals.’”