XV. NÉÈRE.

L. 1.... _Mais_... This beginning shows that the piece is only a fragment. For this comparison see Ovid, _Heroid._ vii. 1, 2.

L. 7. _Sébéthus_. The river Sebetus runs through Campania. It is often mentioned by Sannazaro in his elegies, from which Chénier has borrowed the idea.

Ll. 9, 10. _moi, celle qui te plus, moi, celle qui t'aimai._ In this instance the agreement of the verbs with _moi_ is condemned by modern grammarians. It would occur in the older language, and Bossuet himself has said, speaking of God, 'Je suis celui qui suis' (Lat. _sum qui sum_, Eng. 'I am that am,' Wyclif, _Ex._ iii. 14). See Littré, s.v. 'celui,' Rem. 4.

L. 16. A reminiscence of Catullus, lxiv. 117 ff.

L. 19. _l'astre pur des deux frères d'Hélène._ It is the 'fratres Helenae, lucida sidera' of Horace (_Od._ i. 3), namely Castor and Pollux. The constellation was said to be propitious to seafarers.

L. 21. _Pæstum._ A town in Lucania famous for its roses. See Virgil, _Georg._ iv. 118, 119.

L. 29. _du sein de la mer._ _Il._ i. 359-361. Thetis 'instantly appeared up from the grey sea like a cloud.'--CHAPMAN.

L. 30. _comme un songe._ In the _Odyssey_ (xi. 207) the soul of Ulysses' mother vanishes (like a dream). Also _Aen._ vi. 702.