Journeys Through Bookland Volume Viii Part 49

[396-12] _Eye_ here means _tint_ or _shade_.

[397-13] We would now say _for_ instead of _to_.

[397-14] Tunis is near the supposed site of Carthage. The story of Dido and aeneas is told in Virgil's _aeneid_.

[397-15] One of the stories of the G.o.d Mercury is that he gave to Amphion, King of Thebes, a magic harp upon which the king played and so charmed the stones that they sprang into place to make the walls of his city.

[398-16] The meaning of _stomach_ in this line is _appet.i.te_ or _desire_. Alonso says they crowd their words into his ears when his feelings do not relish such nonsense.

[398-17] _Rate_ means _estimation_.

[398-18] _His_ is used for _its_ and refers to _sh.o.r.e_.

[398-19] For _as_, read _as if_.

[399-20] _Who_ is used for _which_. This is but another ill.u.s.tration of the changes that have taken place in the use of words since Shakespeare's time.

[399-21] Sebastian tells the King that he alone is responsible for the loss. Even his daughter weighed her wish to be obedient against her loathing of the match.

[399-22] _Dearest_ here means the same as _heaviest_ or _worst_.

[399-23] _Chirurgeon_ is the old word for _surgeon_. Antonio says, "And in the most surgeon-like manner."

[400-24] Gonzalo says, literally. "When you are sad, we all share your sorrow."

[400-25] "Had I the colonizing" is what Gonzalo means. Antonio makes it appear that Gonzalo was speaking of _planting_ the island.

[400-26] _Succession_ means _inheritance_, as a son _succeeds_ to his father's property.

[400-27] _Bourn_ means _brook_, hence _boundary_, as of land.

[400-28] _Tilth_ means _tillage_ or _cultivation_, as of land.

[401-29] He probably means any _engine of war_.

[401-30] _Foison_ means _plenty_ of grain or fruits.

[401-31] The _Golden Age_ is that period of the world's history when there was no sin, sorrow or suffering, and when all mankind was so good that there was no need of government of any sort. The Greeks, especially, but other peoples to some extent, have mythical tales of such a time.

[401-32] _Sensible_ is here used for _sensitive_.

[401-33] Gonzalo admits that in witty talk he is nothing in comparison to Antonio and Sebastian.

[401-34] A blow with the _flat_ of a sword is harmless: so is Gonzalo's wit.

[402-35] We would say _should_ instead of _would_ in this case.

[402-36] When they used to hunt birds in the night, they called it _bat-fowling_. Sometimes at night they took a light into the woods, and while one of the hunters held a net in front of the light, the others would beat the bushes round about. Some of the frightened birds would fly directly at the light and become entangled in the net.

[402-37] _Adventure_ here means _put in peril_.

[402-38] Ariel is at work again, and in carrying out the plans of Prospero, he causes some to fall asleep that the others may plot.

[402-39] _Omit_ here means _neglect_. Sebastian suggests that it will be better for Alonso to go to sleep while he can. He has reasons for wishing the King asleep.

[403-40] Alonso grows more sleepy under Ariel's influence, and in these words alludes to what Sebastian has just said--"It is a wondrous heavy offer of sleep."

[404-41] _They_ refers to the other men.

[404-42] Probably we must understand Antonio to mean, "What might you be!" In this way Antonio begins to tempt Sebastian, whom he finds ready to listen.

[404-43] _Speaks_ means _proclaims_.

[404-44] Antonio says in effect, "You close your eyes when you are awake. You are blind to your opportunity."

[404-45] "If _you_ heed me."

[404-46] Antonio means, "Which if you do, you shall be three times as great as you are now."

[405-47] By _I am standing water_, Sebastian means that he is like the ocean standing between tides, ready to ebb or flow. That is, he is ready to accept suggestions from Antonio.

[405-48] Antonio says in effect, "The more you ridicule the purpose I suggest, the more you welcome it."

[405-49] _Ebbing men_, that is, _men whose fortunes are at a low ebb_.

[405-50] _Matter_ means _something of great importance_.

[405-51] "It is difficult or painful for you to say what you think."

While both have about the same idea in their minds, neither is quite willing to speak of it openly. It is too cruel and murderous a thought.

[405-52] Francisco.

[405-53] That is, "this lord who remembers little of the favors done him, and will be remembered no better."

[405-54] _Earth'd_ means _buried_.

[406-55] A _wink_ here means _the least distance_.

[406-56] It is difficult to say just what _But doubt discovery there_ means. Antonio says, "But out of your certainty that Ferdinand is drowned, you have a great hope, a hope so high that ambition cannot see anything greater."

[406-57] This means _ten leagues farther away than a man can travel in his life_.

[406-58] _Can have no note_ means _can receive no word_.

[406-59] This clause means _unless the sun carried the mail_.

[406-60] _Though some were cast up again._

[406-61] This sentence means, _you and I can manage what is to come_.