[17.] The palace learnt to rise.  Beside palaces, there are in Italy many noted buildings which the poet must have seen.  Among these are St. Peter’s in Rome, the cathedral in Milan, and St. Mark’s in Venice.

[18.] Again the long-fallen column, etc.  When architecture began to flourish anew in Italy, early in the Middle Ages, many of the columns used were taken from the ruins of buildings erected during the days of the Roman Empire.

[19.] The canvas glowed.  Giotto, born about 1266, was one of the first of the Italian painters who gained distinction.  Later came Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian, and many others.  Michelangelo (1475-1564) was sculptor, architect, and writer, as well as painter.  Benvenuto Cellini, born in 1500, was noted as goldsmith, sculptor, and writer.

[20.] More unsteady than the southern gale, etc.  The discovery of America and the opening of a route to India by the way of the Cape of Good Hope, seriously affected the commerce of the Italian seaports.

[21.] Plethoric ill, ill caused by excess.

[22.] Caesars.  The name Caesar was assumed by all the Roman emperors. Kaiser and tsar, or csar, come from the word.

[23.] A churlish soil.  Nearly three-quarters of the soil of Switzerland is productive. [Transcriber’s note:  the word “productive” may be incorrect, given Switzerland’s mountainous terrain, but it is what was printed in the original book.]

[24.] The soldier and his sword.  In former times the Swiss frequently served as soldiers in different European countries as a means of earning a living.  Many monarchs had Swiss guards for their personal safety.

[25.] Sees no contiguous palace.  The peasant now sees hotels, if not palaces.  The Swiss hotels, like the Swiss roads, are among the best in the world.

[26.] Bred in ignorance and toil.  Switzerland has at present, beside lower schools, seven institutions of higher learning, five of which are universities.

[27.] Savage, savage beast.  Few of these can be found in Switzerland now.

[28.] With many a tale, etc.  Possibly the poet alludes to his own experiences.

[29.] Such are the charms, etc.  In this and the following lines the poet paints a picture that has not for centuries been true of the Swiss a people.  Their principal cities have long been centers of refinement and of intellectual activity.

[30.] Gestic lore, the art of dancing.

[31.] Thus idly busy, etc.  The French peasant has always been noted for his industry and economy.  This picture was drawn before the French revolution, when the lower classes were miserably poor and the nobles reckless in their extravagance.  France has now a remarkable system of public instruction and many large institutions of higher learning.  In matters where taste is concerned she still leads the world.