v. 107. Of will.] “What Piccarda asserts of Constance, that she retained her affection to the monastic life, is said absolutely and without relation to circumstances; and that which I affirm is spoken of the will conditionally and respectively: so that our apparent difference is without any disagreement.” v. 119. That truth.] The light of divine truth. CANTO V v. 43. Two things.] The one, the substance of the vow; the other, the compact, or form of it. v. 48. It was enjoin’d the Israelites.] See Lev. e. xii, and xxvii. v. 56. Either key.] Purgatory, Canto IX. 108. v. 86. That region.] As some explain it, the east, according to others the equinoctial line. v. 124. This sphere.] The planet Mercury, which, being nearest to the sun, is oftenest hidden by that luminary CANTO VI v. 1. After that Constantine the eagle turn’d.] Constantine, in transferring the seat of empire from Rome to Byzantium, carried the eagle, the Imperial ensign, from the west to the east. Aeneas, on the contrary had moved along with the sun’s course, when he passed from Troy to Italy. v. 5. A hundred years twice told and more.] The Emperor Constantine entered Byzantium in 324, and Justinian began his reign in 527. v. 6. At Europe’s extreme point.] Constantinople being situated at the extreme of Europe, and on the borders of Asia, near those mountains in the neighbourhood of Troy, from whence the first founders of Rome had emigrated. v. 13. To clear th’ incumber’d laws.] The code of laws was abridged and reformed by Justinian. v. 15. Christ’s nature merely human.] Justinian is said to have been a follower of the heretical Opinions held by Eutyches,” who taught that in Christ there was but one nature, viz. that of the incarnate word.” Maclaine’s Mosheim, t. ii. Cent. v. p. ii. c. v. 13. v. 16. Agapete.] Agapetus, Bishop of Rome, whose Scheda Regia, addressed to the Emperor Justinian, procured him a place among the wisest and most judicious writers of this century.” Ibid. Cent. vi. p. ii c. ii. 8. v. 33. Who pretend its power.] The Ghibellines. v. 33. And who oppose ] The Guelphs. v. 34. Pallas died.] See Virgil, Aen. 1. X. v. 39. The rival three.] The Horatii and Curiatii. v. 41. Down.] “From the rape of the Sabine women to the violation of Lucretia.” v. 47. Quintius.] Quintius Cincinnatus. E Cincinnato dall’ inculta chioma. Petrarca. v. 50. Arab hordes.] The Arabians seem to be put for the barbarians in general. v. 54. That hill.] The city of Fesulae, which was sacked by the Romans after the defeat of Cataline. v. 56. Near the hour.] Near the time of our Saviour’s birth. v. 59. What then it wrought.] In the following fifteen lines the Poet has comprised the exploits of Julius Caesar. v. 75. In its next bearer’s gripe.] With Augustus Caesar.