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