One of the meanings of κόμη is "the luminous tail of a comet;" and Suidas mentions from the LXX, καὶ ἕσπερον τὸν ἀστέρα ἐπὶ _κόμης_ αὐτοῦ ἄξεις αὐτον] (Job xxxviii. 32.). See Scott and Liddell's _Lexicon_ at the words Κόμη, and Πώγων and Πωγωνίας, which latter words are used in reference to the _beard_ of a comet. Gray must now speak for himself. He says in a note: "The image was taken from a well-known picture of Raphael, representing the Supreme Being in the Vision of Ezekiel. There are two of these paintings, both believed originals, one at Florence, the other at Paris." And Mr. Mason adds, in a note to his edition of Gray, vol. i. p. 75. Lond. 1807: "Moses breaking the Tables of the Law, by Parmegiano, was a figure which Mr. Gray used to say came still nearer to his meaning than the picture of Raphael." I cannot help thinking that Cowley too was not forgotten. Speaking of the angel Gabriel, he says: "An harmless flaming _meteor_ shone for _haire_, And fell adown his shoulders with loose care." Indeed, I must give the entire passage, however fantastic or unconnected with my purpose; for the last four lines, which describe the angel's _wings_, appear beyond measure dreamy and beautiful: "When Gabriel (no blest spirit more kind or fair) Bodies and cloathes himself with thicken'd air, All like a comely youth in life's fresh bloom; Rare workmanship, and wrought by heavenly loom! He took for skin a cloud most soft and bright, That ere the mid day sun pierc'd through with light: Upon his cheeks a lively blush he spread, Wash't from the morning's beauties deepest red. An harmless flaming meteor shone for haire And fell adown his shoulders with loose care. He cuts out a silk mantle from the skies, Where the most sprightly azure pleas'd the eyes. This he with starry vapours spangles all, Took in their prime ere they grow ripe and fall. Of a new rainbow ere it fret or fade, The choicest piece took out, a scarf is made. _Small streaming clouds he does for wings display_, _Not virtuous lovers' sighs more soft than they_. _These he gilds o'er with the sun's richest rays_, _Caught gliding o'er pure streams on which he plays._" _Davideis_, lib. ii. ad finem. Again, in a verse which was inserted in the _Elegy_ as it originally stood (and the subsequent rejection of which we must ever grieve over, as it almost surpasses any verse of the entire poem; and besides would have saved it from the imputation of having been written as a heathen poet would have written it), the words "sacred calm" occur, which are not unfrequent in Cowley: "Hark how the _sacred calm_ that breathes around Bids every fierce tumultuous passion cease; In still small accents whispering from the ground, A grateful earnest of eternal peace."-- _Gray._