Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 48

[384-82] _Hests_ means _behests_ or _commands_.

[384-83] The witch confined Ariel _in_ a cloven pine tree.

[384-84] This line means _save for the son that was born here_.

[384-85] _Correspondent_ means _obedient_.

[385-86] _Miss_ means _spare_.

[385-87] _When_ was often used as an exclamation of impatience.

[386-88] Old meanings for _quaint_ are _artful, ingenious_.

[386-89] _Wicked dew_ probably means _poisonous dew_.

[386-90] Caliban, in cursing his master, alludes to the common belief of that time that a southwest wind was unwholesome.

[386-91] _Side st.i.tches_ are _st.i.tches_ or _pains_ in the side.

[386-92] _Urchins_ were troublesome _sprites_ or _fairies_.

[386-93] _Vast_ alludes to the middle hours of night when in the stillness and vacancy evil spirits can do their work.

[386-94] Just what Caliban means here is uncertain.

[387-95] _Sty_ here means _confine_, as in a sty.

[387-96] This clause means _did'st not, savage, know the meaning of thine own words_.

[387-97] _Rid_ means _destroy_.

[388-98] _Old_ here, as often in the writings of Shakespeare's time, is used merely to make stronger the meaning of the word that follows it.

[388-99] _Kiss'd the wild waves whist_ means _soothed the wild waves into peace_.

[389-100] Ferdinand was suffering, and Shakespeare used the word _pa.s.sion_ to express the idea as we use it in speaking of the Pa.s.sion of Christ.

[389-101] This line means _without suffering a change from the effects of the sea_.

[389-102] _Owes_ here means _possesses_.

[389-103] Prospero speaking to Miranda says, "Lift up your eyelids and tell me what you see yonder."

[389-104] In this connection _brave_ means _fine_ or _n.o.ble_.

[390-105] _Canker_ means _rust_ or _tarnish_. Prospero says, "Except for the fact that he's somewhat stained with grief, which tarnishes beauty, you might call him a goodly person."

[390-106] Miranda, it must be remembered, has never seen any other man than her father.

[390-107] Prospero sees his plan going on well and gives Ariel credit for it. Just what the plan is will soon become apparent.

[390-108] Ferdinand speaks somewhat aside when he sees the beautiful Miranda, and then directly addresses her. He is embarra.s.sed, calls her a G.o.ddess, asks her how he shall behave, calls her a wonder, but above all, wishes to know if she is mortal or not.

[390-109] The word _Miranda_ means _wonderful_

[390-110] "She speaks my language!"

[391-111] _A single thing_ means _a weak and companionless thing_.

[391-112] _Myself am Naples_ means _I am now the King of Naples_.

[391-113] Notice that this is the only mention of a son to Antonio, the usurping Duke of Milan.

[391-114] _Control_ means here _confute_, that is, _tell you differently_.

[391-115] Prospero notices the interest the two young people have taken in each other, and as this furthers his plan he feels more grateful to Ariel.

[391-116] What Prospero says is, "I fear that in claiming to be the King of Naples you have done some wrong to your character."

[392-117] Prospero wishes to test the love he sees in Ferdinand, and make him earn his prize. So he charges the young man with deceit and threatens him.

[392-118] _Fearful_ here means _timid_.

[393-119] _Ward_ is his position of defense to ward off a blow.

[393-120] _Nerves_ is here used for _muscles_ and _sinews_.

[394-1] This word means a ship--the _merchantman_.

[395-2] A _visitor_ in this sense is one who visits the sick to comfort them. Antonio and Sebastian are ridiculing Gonzalo for his efforts to cheer and console them.

[395-3] _Tell_ means _keep tally_. Sebastian means that the clock of Gonzalo's wit has struck one.

[395-4] _Dolour_ means _grief_ or _sadness_.

[395-5] Instead of _of he or Adrian_, we would say merely _he or Adrian_. Antonio offers to bet a good sum on which will speak first, Gonzalo or Adrian.

[395-6] Gonzalo.

[395-7] _A match_ means _I take the bet_.

[396-8] Sebastian has lost his bet, and he pays with a laugh.

[396-9] Adrian means _temperature_ when he says _temperance_.

[396-10] People often named their girls _Temperance_, _Prudence_, _Faith, etc._ It is to this fact that Antonio jokingly alludes.

[396-11] _Lush_ means _juicy_.