all said to denote the different conditions of men who are snared by vice, and the whale is interpreted as a fallacious appearance, which is often mistaken for real happiness.
Born with Morgana.
Stanza xxxviii. line 3.
For an account of this fairy, see the Innamorato, where she plays a very conspicuous part.
Was never yet beheld a stranger band, &c.
Stanza lxi. line 1.
The captain of this strange crew is Indolence, the source of all evils. His various followers, so fantastically and precisely painted, are evidently various vices distinguished by peculiarities which have not been, and perhaps cannot now be, satisfactorily explained. Eriphila, who afterwards appears, is Avarice, who guards the path that leads to pleasure. By the beautiful damsels who employ Rogero to defeat, and not to slay her, and who rescue him from the deformed rabble, against whom he was contending, is signified, we are told, that though a generous disposition will resist foul and undisguised vice, it often yields readily to temptation, which is masqued under fairer appearances.
All are arrayed in green, and garlands wear.
Stanza lxxii. line 5.
Here again colour is significant: green was the symbol of fickleness, as blue was the characteristic of constancy.
END OF VOL. I.
