The Tempest The Tempest Commentary The Cast

Notes on The Tempest

ACT III
SCENE 3.

The king and his court are weary and despondent. As Prospero watches from a viewpoint
above the action, they are tormented by the appearance of a feast that vanishes from their sight.

1. By'r lakin
a mild form of the oath "by our Lady"
3. forth-rights and meanders
straight paths and winding ways
5. attach'd
seized
6. dulling
exhaustion
7. Even
right
7. it
i.e. hope
8. flatterer
deceiver
10. frustrate
useless (stress the first syllable)
12. repulse
setback
15 now ... travail
now that they are fatigued with their efforts
20. keepers
guardian angels
21. living drollery
live entertainment
25. what ... credit
anything else that's believable
26. travellers ... lie
Traveller's tales are considered notoriously false
30. certes
certainly
32. gentle-kind
well-bred