"The vassals of his anger, when the scourge
Inexorable, and the torturing hour,
Calls us to penance."
5. _Adamantine chains_. Wakefield quotes Æschylus, _Prom. Vinct._
vi.: [Greek: Adamantinôn desmôn en arrêktois pedais]. Cf. Milton, _P.
L._ i. 48: "In adamantine chains and penal fire;" and Pope,
_Messiah_, 47: "In adamantine chains shall Death be bound."
7. _Purple tyrants_. Cf. Pope, _Two Choruses to Tragedy of Brutus_:
"Till some new tyrant lifts his purple hand." Wakefield cites Horace,
_Od._ i. 35, 12: "Purpurei metuunt tyranni."
8. _With pangs unfelt before_. Cf. Milton, _P. L._ ii. 703: "Strange
horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before."
9-12. Cf. Bacon, _Essays_, v. (ed. 1625): "Certainly, Vertue is like
pretious Odours, most fragrant when they are incensed [that is,
burned], or crushed:[1] For _Prosperity_ doth best discover Vice;[2]
But _Adversity_ doth best discover Vertue."
[Footnote 1: So in his _Apophthegms_, 253, Bacon says: "Mr. Bettenham
said: that virtuous men were like some herbs and spices, that give
not their sweet smell till they be broken or crushed."]
[Footnote 2: Cf. Shakespeare, _Julius Cæsar_, ii. 1: "It is the
bright day that brings forth the adder."]
Cf. also Thomson:
"If Misfortune comes, she brings along
The bravest virtues. And so many great
Illustrious spirits have convers'd with woe,
Have in her school been taught, as are enough
To consecrate distress, and make ambition
E'en wish the frown beyond the smile of fortune."
16. Cf. Virgil, _Æn._ i. 630: "Non ignara mali, miseris succurrere
disco."