Notes on Milton's Nativity Ode. 341 



112. cherubim. According to the classification of Pseudo-Dio- 

 nysius the Areopagite (4 th or 5 th century) the angels are divided 

 inte nine orders, of which the seraphim are the first, and the cher- 

 ubim the second. The Bible, on the other hand, nowhere identifies 

 these with angels. For Milton's picture of a cherub as an angel, 

 see P.L. 3. 636 ff. 



113. seraphim. Cf. P.L. 2. 512; So/. Mus. 10. 



1 14. wings displayed. Cf. Sannazaro, Part. Virg. 1 . 107 : ' ingentes 

 explicat alas.' 



J 15. harping. Milton seems to have in view Rev. 14. 2. 

 loud. Cf. Ps. 33. 2, 3; 98. 4, 5. 

 solemn. Cf. Ps. 92. 3; Sol. Mus. 8. 

 116. unexpressive. Inexpressible, as in Lye. 176; Shakespeare, 

 A.Y.L. 3. 2. 10. 



At this point there seems to be no singing, but only harping. 

 Is it because the notes are instrumental, and not vocal, that they 

 are ' unexpressive ' here ? Such an explanation, however, would not 

 fit the passage in Lycidas. 



119. Of old. Perhaps a reminiscence of Ps. 102. 25: ' Of old 

 hast thou laid the foundation of the earth.' 



The sons of morning sung. JoId 38. 7 : ' When the morning 

 stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.' Cf. 

 note on host, 21, and P.L. 7. 557 ff. (253 fi"., 275). 



constellations. Such constellations are mentioned in verses 

 31, 32 of this same chapter, and in Job 9. 9; iVmos 5. 8. The word 

 'constellations' is once used in the Bible: Isa. 13. 10. 



122. A parallel to this is P.L. 7. 242 : 



And Earth, self-balanced, on her centre hung, 

 which seems to be indebted to Ovid, Met. 1. 13—14: 



Pendebat in aere tellus 

 Ponderibus librata suis. 



hinges. Perhaps the North and South Poles, as the extremi- 

 ties of the earth's axis. Cf. Lat. cardo. 



123. foundations. Job 38. 4 : Where wast thou when I laid the 

 foundations of the earth ? Cf. P.L. 6. 869-870 : 



Fate had cast too deep 

 Her dark foundations ; 



and Ad Patreui 47 (quoted by Verity) : ' positi late fundamina Mundi.' 

 cast. Used for the ponebam of JoId 38. 4. Cf. Ps. 104. 5 ; 

 Isa 51. 13, 16; Zech. 12. 1. 



