were keepers of the palace (xii. 1).

101-110 These lines are a graceful allusion to St. Cyr, and to Mme. de
Maintenon herself. See Introd. section III.

105 profanes, here, as in l. 155, is an especially apt word, since it
suggests not only the seclusion in which these maidens live within the
palace, but also the difference between their religion and that of the
court.

108 me cherchant moi-même, "seeking [communion with] myself."

114 A fine antithesis. Cf. Oedipus Rex, l. l: Kudmou tou palai nia
trophe. 120 (Heading) Endroit or _lieu_ is the general word for a
"place" or "spot." _Place_ is the place to which a thing belongs.

123 De tous côtes and de toutes parts (l. 148) = both "on all sides"
and "from all sides."

126 jusques. See App. I, Metre. The "_s_" is due to the tendency of
adverbial words to assume a final "s." Cf. _sans_ from _sine_, _alors_
from _ad illam horam_.

132 déplorable, a fine etymological use of the word; now only used in
the derived meaning "sad" or "wretched."

139 ta douleur retracée = _le recit de ta douleur_. This is a Latin
construction of frequent occurrence in this play. Cf. _post urbem
conditam_ = "after the founding of the city." The past participle
qualifying the noun takes the place of our abstract substantive.