241. _That fault I take not on me_: 'with an occult reference, perhaps, to the conduct of those in power in England after Cromwell's death, when Milton still argued vehemently against the restoration of the Stuarts.'—_Masson._
247. _ambition_: used literally, going about in the service of some object, canvassing. Lat. _ambitio_.
258. _on some conditions_: Judges xv. 11-13.
263. _a trivial weapon_: the jawbone of an ass. Judges xv. 15.
268-276. _But what more oft_: a plain reference to the state of England, and to Milton's own position there, after the Restoration.—_Masson._
271. _strenuous_: ardently maintained. Newton quotes a similar sentiment from the oration of Æmilius Lepidus, the consul, to the Roman people, against Sulla: 'Annuite legibus impositis; accipite otium cum servitio;'—but for myself—'potior visa est periculosa libertas quieto servitio.'
282. _how ingrateful Ephraim_: Judges xi. 15-27.
287-289. _sore battle_: the battle fought by Jephthah with Ephraim. Judges xii. 4-6.
297, 298. _For of such doctrine_: 'Observe the peculiar effect of contempt given to the passage by the rapid rhythm and the sudden introduction of a rhyme in these two lines.'—_Masson._
305. _They ravel more, still less resolved_: they become more confused, and ever less disentangled.
327. _careful step_: 'careful' is used subjectively; a step indicating that Manoa was full of care, deeply concerned. Chaucer so uses 'dredeful':
'With dredeful foot thanne stalketh Palamoun.'
333. _uncouth_: literally, unknown; strange, with the idea of the disagreeable.
334. _gloried_: a participial form derived from the noun.
343. _Angels'_: I have followed Keightley in making 'Angels' a genitive.
345. _Duelled_: it was an individual fight on the part of Samson.
354. _as_: that; this use of 'as' after 'so' and 'such' is not uncommon in Shakespeare and Bacon, and the later literature.
'I feel such sharp dissension in my breast, Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear, As I am sick with working of my thoughts.'
373. _Appoint_: 'Do not you arrange or direct the disposition of heavenly things.'—_Keightley._
394. _my capital secret_: a play on the word 'capital' is, no doubt, designed; chief secret and the secret of his strength depending upon his hair.