• The eyes of Argus, whom Mercury lulled asleep by telling him the story of Syrinx, and then put to death. Ovid, Metamorphoses , I , Dryden’s Tr. :⁠— “While Hermes piped, and sung, and told his tale, The keeper’s winking eyes began to fail, And drowsy slumber on the lids to creep; Till all the watchman was at length asleep. Then soon the god his voice and song supprest, And with his powerful rod confirmed his rest; Without delay his crooked falchion drew, And at one fatal stroke the keeper slew.” ↩
• The Transfiguration. The passage in the Song of Solomon 2:3, “As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons,” is interpreted as referring to Christ; and Dante here calls the Transfiguration the blossoming of that tree. ↩
• Matthew 17:5:⁠— “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and, behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said. Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” ↩
• Matilda. ↩