The Hollows round His eager Eyes — Old Italic

The Hollows round His eager Eyes 1
Were Pages where to read
Pathetic Histories-although
Himself had not complained.
Biography to All who passed 5
Of Unobtrusive Pain
Except for the italic Face
Endured, unhelped-unknown.
(F.1071/J.955)
[1] Hollows:: meaningless things.
[2] Pages:: pages of an old Bible (hinted in line 7).
[3] Histories:: a book about past events.
[4] not complained:: he cannot complain in reading Bible.
[5] All who passed:: the people in Bible.
[7] italic:: related to the Latin version of the Bible called Old Italic, or Vetus Itala.
[8] Endured, unhelped, unkknown:: responses of this reader.

The Vulgate.-This was an ancient Latin version of the Septuagint and Greek New Testament, made in the early part of the 2nd century, and called the Vetus Itala, or Old Italic, but its author is unknown. ─ An Analysis and Summary of Old Testament History (1853)

The old Italic Version, or Vetus Itala, is the name usually given to that translation of the sacred Scriptures into the Latin language, which was generally used until the time of St. Jerome, being distinguished for its clearness and fidelity among the many versions then existing. ─ A Church Dictionary (1859)