3–4 An allusion to the supposed Muslim belief that Allah wrote every man’s fate in signs upon his forehead.

8 lift lifted

10 mainly entirely

11 Atlas’ burden Atlas the Titan bore the heavens upon his shoulders.
pitch shoulders

12 pearl i.e. his head

15–17 Whose … throne The glowing spheres of his eyes contain a constellation of stars and planets favourable to his gaining the throne.

21 in folds when furrowed

24 Achilles the greatest Greek warrior in the Trojan war

26 wanton unrestrained

27 sinewy ed. (snowy O1)

29–30 In … Tamburlaine Each separate part of him is perfectly proportioned, as he himself is, to subdue the world.

31 terms of life vivid terms

37 pinch critical situation

41 compass range

42 port entrance

42–4 Cosroe compares his brother’s body to a besieged town, his heart, the seat of his life, to the palace.

55 Durst dared

63 river Araris probably the Araxes, which flows into the Caspian Sea

65 Parthia a kingdom south-east of the Caspian