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Chapter uncertain
Complete historical editorial footnotes. These notes retain the original edition’s wording; individual note authors are unspecified.
English translation and editorial credits: Sydney Thelwall.
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The expression, “sinners against their own souls,” in Num. xvi. 38—where, however, the LXX. have a very different version—may be compared with this; as likewise Prov. viii. 36.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-4 · Original source
By nature rebels ’gainst themselves; and hurts
Whether the above be the sense of this most obscure triplet I will not presume to determine. It is at least (I hope) intelligible sense. But that the reader may judge for himself whether he can offer any better, I subjoin the lines, which form a sentence alone, and therefore can be judged of without their context:— “Tempore sed certo Deus omnia prospectulatus, Judicat injustos, patiens ubi criminis ætas Cessandi spatium vis nulla coëgerit iræ.”
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-5 · Original source
35 The space for waiting.
“Mensa;” but perhaps “mensæ” may be suggested—“the sacred pledges of the board.”
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-9 · Original source
The sacred pledges on his board, and quits
“Dispungit,” which is the only verb in the sentence, and refers both to pia pignora and to amicos. I use “quit” in the sense in which we speak of “quitting a debtor,” i.e., giving him his full due; but the two lines are very hard, and present (as in the case of those before quoted) a jumble of words without grammar; “pia pignora mensa Officiisque probis studio dispungit amicos;” which may be somewhat more literally rendered than in our text, thus: “he zealously discharges” (i.e., fulfils) “his sacred pledges” (i.e., the promised hospitality which he had offered them) “with (a generous) board, and discharges” (i.e., fulfils his obligations to) “his friends with honourable courtesies.”
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-10 · Original source
The sacred pledges on his board, and quits
i.e., Lot’s race or family, which had come from “Ur of the Chaldees.” See Gen. xi. 26, 27, 28.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-14 · Original source
The race Chaldæan, and the righteous house
“Simul exoritur sol.” But both the LXX. and the Eng. ver. say the sun was risen when Lot entered the city.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-17 · Original source
Is rising, the last sun, which glowing bears
So Oehler and Migne. But perhaps we may alter the pointing slightly, and read:— “Down pours a novel shower, sulphur mixt With blazing flames: the ether seethes: the air Crackles with liquid exust.”
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-18 · Original source
145 With sulphur mixt with blazing flames: the air
The story of Phaëthon and his fate is told in Ov., Met., ii. 1–399, which may be compared with the present piece. His two sisters were transformed into white poplars, according to some; alders, according to others. See Virg., Æn., x. 190 sqq., Ec., vi. 62 sqq. His half-brother (Cycnus or Cygnus) was turned into a swan: and the scene of these transformations is laid by Ovid on the banks of the Eridanus (the Po). But the fable is variously told; and it has been suggested that the groundwork of it is to be found rather in the still-standing of the sun recorded in Joshua.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-19 · Original source
Whose note old age makes mellow!
I have hazarded the bold conjecture—which I see others (Pamelius at all events) had hazarded before me—that “feritas” is used by our author as ="fertilitas.” The word, of course, is very incorrectly formed etymologically; but etymology is not our author’s forte apparently. It will also be seen that there is seemingly a gap at this point, or else some enormous mistake, in the mss. An attempt has been made (see Migne) to correct it, but not a very satisfactory one. For the common reading, which gives two lines, “Occidit illa prior feritas, quam prospiciens Loth Nullus arat frustra piceas fuligine glebas,” which are evidently entirely unconnected with one another, it is proposed to read, “Occidit illa prior feritas, quam prospiciens Loth, Deseruisse pii fertur commercia fratris. Nullas arat,” etc. This use of “fratris” in a wide sense may be justified from Gen. xiii. 8 (to which passage, with its immediate context, there seems to be a reference, whether we adopt the proposed correction or no), and similar passages in Holy Writ. But the transition is still abrupt to the “nullus arat,” etc.; and I prefer to leave the passage as it is, without attempting to supply the hiatus.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-21 · Original source
180 Is all that old fertility which Lot,
This seems to be the sense, but the Latin is somewhat strange: “mors est maris illa quieti,” i.e., illa (quies) maris quieti mors est. The opening lines of “Jonah” (above) should be compared with this passage and its context.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-23 · Original source
Is death!—a sea which no wave animates
“Pressum” (Oehler); “pretium” (Migne): “it will yield a prize, namely, that,” etc.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-25 · Original source
215 And will, when pressed, for guerdon large, ensure
“Divinos;” i.e., apparently “superhuman,” as everything heavenly is.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-7 · Original source
Divine, accosts them unsolicited,
Altera =alterna. But the statement differs from Gen. xix. 4.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-11 · Original source
55 Had brought repose: alternate dawn had chased
“Istam juventam,” i.e., the two “juvenes” (ver. 31) within.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-12 · Original source
Enkindle you to violate this youth!
“Fas” =ὅσιον, morally right; distinct from “jus” or “licitum.”
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-13 · Original source
If youthful vigour holds it right to waste
I use “preventing” in its now unusual sense of “anticipating the arrival of.”
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-15 · Original source
Preventing Sodom’s penalties!” And eke
i.e., as she had been before in the case of Eve. See Gen. iii. 1 sqq.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-20 · Original source
His wife (ah me, for woman! even then
This use of “easely” as a dissyllable is justifiable from Spenser.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-22 · Original source
Promise themselves full easely to the eye
“De cælo jura tueri;” possibly “to look for laws from heaven.”
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-28 · Original source
230 To reverence heaven-sanctioned rights, and lift
See Gen. ix. 21, 22; x. 8–17.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-2 · Original source
The rain-clouds’ proper baldric.
Of hospitality—bread and salt, etc.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-8 · Original source
The sacred pledges on his board, and quits
Σηγώρ in the LXX., “Zoar” in Eng. ver.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-16 · Original source
Segor. Lot enters Segor while the sun
Inque picem dat terræ hærere marinam.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-24 · Original source
205 Into a pitch marine. At season due
Oehler’s pointing is disregarded.
Editorial footnote · A Strain of Sodom, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-27 · Original source
God’s fear have quite forsaken, will them teach