Comp. also _Lyc._ 170, "with _new-spangled_ ore." 'Sheen' is here used
as a noun, as in line 893; also in _Hymn Nat._ 145, "throned in
celestial _sheen_": _Epitaph on M. of W._ 73, "clad in radiant _sheen_."
The word occurs in Spenser as an adjective also: comp. "her dainty corse
so fair and _sheen_," _F. Q._ ii. 1. 10. In the line "By fountain clear
or spangled starlight _sheen_" (_M. N. D._ ii. l. 29) it is doubtful
whether the word is a noun or an adjective. Milton uses the adjective
_sheeny_ (_Death of Fair Infant_, 48).
1004. ~Celestial Cupid~. The ordinary view of Cupid is given in the note
to line 445; here he is the lover of Psyche (the human soul) to whom he
is united after she has been purified by a life of trial and misfortune.
The myth of Cupid and Psyche is as follows: Cupid was in love with
Psyche, but warned her that she must not seek to know who he was.
Yielding to curiosity, however, she drew near to him with a lamp while
he was asleep. A drop of the hot oil falling on him, he awoke, and fled
from her. She now wandered from place to place, persecuted by Venus; but
after great sorrow, during which she was secretly supported by Cupid,
she became immortal and was united to him for ever. In this story Psyche
represents the human soul (Gk. ψυχή), which is disciplined and purified
by earthly misfortune and so fitted for the enjoyment of true happiness
in heaven. Further, in Milton's Allegory it is only the soul so purified
that is capable of knowing true love: in his _Apology for Smectymnuus_
he calls it that Love "whose charming cup is only virtue," and whose
"first and chiefest office ... begins and ends in the soul, producing
those happy twins of her divine generation, Knowledge and Virtue." To
this high and mystical love Milton again alludes in _Epitaphium Damonis_:
"In other part, the expansive vault above,
And there too, even there the god of love;
With quiver armed he mounts, his torch displays
A vivid light, his gem-tipt arrows blaze,
Around his bright and fiery eyes he rolls,
Nor aims at vulgar minds or little souls,
Nor deigns one look below, but aiming high
Sends every arrow to the lofty sky;
Hence forms divine, and minds immortal, learn
The power of Cupid, and enamoured burn."
_Cowper's translation._
1007. ~among~: preposition governing 'gods.'
1008. ~make~: subjunctive after 'till.' Its nominative is 'consent.'
1010. ~blissful~, blest. _Bliss_ is cognate with _bless_ and _blithe_.
Comp. "the _blest_ kingdoms meek of joy and love," _Lyc._ 177. ~are to be
born~. There seems to be here a confusion of constructions between the
subjunctive co-ordinate with _make_ and the indicative dependent in
meaning on "Jove hath sworn" in the following line.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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