month_, &c. August.

Ver. 453.--_Diriges_, dirges. The office for the dead received this
name from the antiphon with which the first nocturne in the mattens
commenced, taken from Psalm v. 8, "Dirige, Domine Deus meus, in
conspectu tuo viam meam." Way's _Promptorium Parvulorum._ C.

Ver. 519.--_Scarse can a bishoprick_, &c. This is probably an allusion
to the frequent alienations of the lands and manors of bishoprics in
Elizabeth's time. TODD.

Ver. 562.--_The ordinarie._ An ordinary is a judge having jurisdiction
in ecclesiastical matters. In England, it is usually the bishop of the
diocese. H.

Ver. 623, 624.--The Queen was so much pleased with the results of the
Portugal expedition of 1589, that she honored the commanders, and Sir
Walter Raleigh among the rest, with a gold chain. C.

Ver. 717.--_The brave courtier_, &c. This description is perhaps
intended for Sir Philip Sidney. C.

Ver. 893.--Had-ywist. That is, _had I wist! had I known_ that it would
end so! a proverbial expression for late repentance consequent on
disappointment. C.

Ver. 901.--_To have thy Princes grace, yet want her Peeres._ Elizabeth
was said to have granted Spenser a pension which Burghley intercepted,
and to have ordered him a gratuity which her minister neglected to pay.
C.

Ver. 913.--_Himselfe will a daw trie._ So the old copy: the reading
should probably be _himselfe a daw will trie_, prove or find himself by
experience to be a daw or fool. C.

Ver. 1189.--_Of men of armes,_ &c. This passage certainly provokes an
application to Lord Burghley, and was probably intended for him. C.

* * * * *

RUINES OF ROME:

BY BELLAY*

[* Joachim du Bellay, a French poet of considerable reputation in his
day, died in 1560. These sonnets are translated from _Le Premier Livre
des Antiquez de Rome_. Further on we have the Visions of Bellay,
translated from the _Songes_ of the same author. The best that can be
said of these sonnets seems to be, that they are not inferior to the
original. C.]

I.

Ye heavenly spirites, whose ashie cinders lie
Under deep ruines, with huge walls opprest,
But not your praise, the which shall never die
Through your faire verses, ne in ashes rest;
If so be shrilling voyce of wight alive
May reach from hence to depth of darkest hell,
Then let those deep abysses open rive,
That ye may understand my shreiking yell!
Thrice having seene under the heavens veale
Your toombs devot