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
which vanishes from their sight.
- 1. By'larkin: a mild form of the oath "by our Lady"
- 3. forth-right 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