Succumbs to long infection, and despair, And vulture passions flying close behind, Await the moment to assail and tear; And when at length the winged wanderers stoop, Were prouder than more dazzling fame unblest; Whose splendour from the black abyss is flung, While the scorch'd mountain, from whose burning breast A temporary torturing flame is wrung, Shines for a night of terror, then repels Its fire back to the hell from whence it The hell which in its entrails ever dwells. sprung, 3 VOL. VII. NOTES TO CANTO III. Note 1, page 29, line 2. Conquerors on foreign shores, and the far wave, etc. Alexander of Parma, Spinola, Pescara, Eugene of Savoy, Monte cucco. Note 2, page 29, line 3. Discoverers of new worlds, which take their name; etc. Columbus, Americus Vespusius, Sebastian Cabot. Note 3, page 30, line 4. He who once enters in a tyrant's hall etc. A verse from the Greek tragedians, with which Pompey took leave of Cornelia, on entering the boat in which he was slain. Note 4, page 30, line 6. And the first day which sees the chain inthral etc. The verse and sentiment are taken from Homer. Note 5, page 30, line 24. And he, their prince, shall rank among my peers, etc. THE PROPHECY OF DANTE. CANTO IV. MANY are poets who have never penn'd Their inspiration, and perchance the best: They felt, and loved, and died, but would not lend Of passion, and their frailties link'd to fame, From overfeeling good or ill; and aim |