649 la foudre, because the king can strike as suddenly and irresistibly
as the thunderbolt.

653 étincelle, lit. "sparkles," but here: "flashes."

654 The Parsees, in Asia, worship fire to this day. The king here
invokes his gods, the sun and stars.

656 peine is never "physical pain."

661 se pouvoir is only used impersonally, = "to be possible."

676 en. See App. V, ii. C.--_Astres ennemis_ is in accordance with the
astrological superstitions of the time.

678 respectable, in its full etymological sense of "worthy of respect."

681 interêt, see l. 57, N.

686 veut = "bids."

690 entre, here "above."

692 grâce devant vos yeux = "favor in your sight."

693 fûtes, in the past definite, expresses that he may have been
favorable to her in the past, in a period of time _that has come to an
end_, implying "even though he be so no more." See App. II, ii. B. b.