Finny Prey
Finny, adj, "Provided with or having fins; finned." The 'Finny Prey' refers to fish, which are also caught with a hair-like line, reiterating the comparison of beauty as a deadly trap.
"finny, adj.1." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Sprindges
Variant of 'springe', "A snare for catching small game, esp. birds."
"springe, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
purpled Main,
Main, n. "Short for main sea n.; the open sea."
"main, n.1." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
thrid
i.e. thread
"thread, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Alom-Stypticks
A 'styptic' is a kind of medicine used to contract organic tissue (for example, to stop a cut bleeding), frequently made out of 'alum', a type of mineral salt.
"styptic, adj. and n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/192368
"alum, n.1." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/5869
Pomatums
"An ointment for the skin or hair; = pomade"
"pomatum, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Bodkin’s
Bodkin, n. "A needle-like instrument with a blunt knobbed point, having a large (as well as a small) eye, for drawing tape or cord through a hem, loops, etc."
"bodkin, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Furbelo
Variant spelling of 'Furbelow', "A piece of stuff pleated and puckered on a gown or petticoat; a flounce; the pleated border of a petticoat or gown."
"furbelow, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Flounce
"‘An ornamental appendage to the skirt of a lady's dress, consisting of a strip gathered and sewed on by its upper edge around the skirt, and left hanging and waving.’ (Welsh)"
"flounce, n.2." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Dies
Variant spelling of "dyes"
"dye, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Tincture
"A colouring matter, dye, pigment; spec. a dye used as a cosmetic."
"tincture, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Zephyrs
"The west wind, esp. as personified, or the god of the west wind."
"zephyr, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Busk
"A strip of wood, whalebone, steel, or other rigid material attached vertically to the front section of a corset so as to stiffen and support it."
"busk, n.3." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Phaebus
Variant spelling of Phoebus, a common name for Apollo, god of the sun.
"Phoebus, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Man’s Imperial Race
Given that Anne was on the throne, this may speak to a masculine anxiety about man's position of power.
"Queen Anne, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Crispissa
"Crispissa", from 'crisp', has charge of the two precise curls of hair.
Momentilla
"Momentilla", from 'moment', has charge of the pocket-watch.
Zephyretta’s
The nymphs' names are invented, each derived from a word related to the object entrusted to it. "Zephyretta", from 'Zephyr', has care of the breeze-producing fan.
Brillante
"Brillante", from 'brilliant', is entrusted with the earrings.
Forget her Pray’rs, or miss a Masquerade,
Again placing spiritual matters on a par with earthly ones. (interpretive note)
Etherial
"Of or relating to heaven, God, or the gods; heavenly, celestial."
"ethereal, adj. and n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2015. Web. 30 November 2015.
lucid
"Bright, shining, luminous, resplendent." (OED)
they shine on all alike.
Her indifference is depicted as a virtue, in contrast to the later moment when "an Earthly Lover lurking in her heart" indicates that she's not as virtuous as this line indicated, and therefore loses her the protection of the spirits. (interpretive note)
sparkling Cross she wore, Which Jews might kiss, and Infidels adore.
Using the cross as a non-denominational decoration might refer to the breakdown of Catholic solidarity that these 'petty squabbles' might cause. (interpretive/thematic note)
Ixion fix’d, the Wretch shall feel 〈◊〉 giddy Motion of the whirling Mill,
Compares being trapped in the grinder of a coffee mill to the mythological figure Ixion, who was fixed to a fire wheel spinning in the air of the underworld forever.
Let the perfume lose potency of smell
A stay or stiffening strip for a corset.
Then truly, you did bring that Lady to me just now
This exchange reminds me of the lines in Rochester's Satyr: "Nor can weak truth your reputation save: / The knaves will all agree to call you knave."
she’l come to you in a mask
The theme of masks again-- and clearly Margery has learned to lie well, if for nothing but fear of her husband.
I tell you no woman can be forced.
Sounds a lot like the modern "she was asking for it" rhetoric, or even (since we discussed the reversal of male and female in the "only wants sex" stereotype), the modern rhetoric that men can't be raped because they always want sex anyway.
the Bull’s-head, the Rams- head, and the Stags-head, Dear—
All horned animals
They act adultery with their own wives,
Not sure what this means
Is still a tax on that unhappy trade
What trade does he mean here?
Who, swollen with selfish vanity, devise False freedoms, holy cheats, and formal lies Over their fellow slaves to tyrannize.
This is one of the ten triplets (is that the proper word for three rhyming lines, as couplets is to a pair?) in the poem, and the reason why Rochester not only disagrees with but hates traditional mores. If they make slaves of everyone, and his philosophy is to be a libertine (from "liber"=free), than someone not only slave to mores but who oppresses other slaves must be the most loathsome of humanity.
You’ll be undone.
What's the effect of this two-foot line? Simple shock value for how drastically it differs from the five-foot norm?
play upon the square
Is this a reference to a specific game, or is it an archaic phrasing using "square" in the sense of "fair, upfront"?
wisdom, power, and glory
This seems like a Christian reference-- perhaps to the cry of the Cherubim in Revelations 7:12, "Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!" (ESV version)
Inhumanly
I think this is one of Rochester's themes-- that man is inhumane, that is, utterly incapable of living up to the ideals humans supposedly pride themselves on.
Look next if human nature makes amends
i.e., does human nature make up for its failure at pleasure with the benefits of morality? (given what we know of Rochester's perspective on morality, I think we can guess what he's about to say...)
Meres
Was Meres a contemporary politician?
bur
"bur" is usually a prickly, clinging seedpod, in my experience, which doesn't make sense to me in context; can someone explain its use here, or was "but" supposed to be the word?
To keep ’em more in vigor, not to kill.
Given how Rochester died, his reason did not succeed well at this task.
I own right reason, which I would obey:
"I own right reason" = I acknowledge/respect the right kind of reason, by contrast to "false reason"
thinks like an ass.
Odd, when he's said a beast's life and mind are preferable to a humans, that he still uses a beast metaphor to describe how foolish humans can be.
Where action ceases, thought’s impertinent.
As in, as soon as the thoughts no longer lead to action, those thoughts are useless. Why is he using the term impertinent, which has the connotation of being out-of-line with an authority figure?
This made a whimsical philosopher 90 Before the spacious world, his tub prefer,
Might this be referring to the story of Archimedes, whose discovery of principles of water-displacement was purportedly discovered in his bathtub (wherefrom he leapt in excitement, neglecting to grab a towel before dashing out the door to tell everyone)
‘Tis this exalted power, whose business lies In nonsense and impossibilities,
This reminds me of the Academy of Lagado in Gulliver's Travels (Gulliver's given a tour where people are seriously studying things that are blatantly ridiculous and pointless).
bedlams
a bedlam is an insane asylum; Rochester's saying you'd have to be a lunatic to go to an institutions for learning (anything).
But your grand indiscretion
The indiscretion is to condemn reason as well as wit; the latter the arguer is eager to condemn, but the former, to defend.
some formal band and beard
Not sure what this phrase means-- "band and beard"?
The pleasure past, a threatening doubt remains That frights th’ enjoyer with succeeding pains.
Comparing the possibility of treason (social and/or political?) from someone of wit to that of venereal disease from a prostitute.
Aiming to know that world he should enjoy.
This could basically be the thesis of the poem: knowledge is useless, pleasure is our purpose.
as cheats their bubbles catch, And made him venture to be made a wretch.
is this a reference to card sharks ("venture (money) to be made a wretch (beaten at cards and have his money taken")?
ignis fatuus
"fatuus" is also the word from which the English "fatuous" comes from, with the meaning of "useless, silly". Legend paints the will-o'-the-wisp as something which misleads travelers by leading them into swamps and away from solid ground (think Frodo and the candles of corpses in the Return of the King), which is the metaphor Rochester is continuing for how reason 'guides' people through life.
prodigious
Prodigious seems to mean "strange, weird" rather than "massive, big", although depending on when the latter, newer meaning appeared, using it in both senses would be in keeping with Rochester-- though not with the tone of the poem.