Which pierces so, that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.

FOOTNOTES:

[366-1] _Good_ was often used in Shakespeare's time as we use the word
_well_, to introduce a sentence.

[366-2] _Fall to't yarely_ means _get to work briskly_.

[366-3] Perhaps the line should read, "Blow till thou burst _thee_,
wind."

[366-4] If there is sea-room enough. The boatswain is not alarmed if he
can have room to handle his ship.

[366-5] We still say "play the man" when we wish to encourage any one to
be brave and manly.

[367-6] The word _time_ may be understood after _present_. The boatswain
infers that they cannot make peaceful weather of the present storm.

[367-7] _Hap_ means _happen_.

[367-8] The word _complexion_ here means _bent_ or _inclination_.
Gonzalo says the boatswain is born to be hung; he cannot be drowned.

[367-9] The boatswain finds he has not sea-room enough so he calls upon
the sailors to take down the topmast and to bring the ship as close into
the wind as possible and hold her there with the main sail.

[367-10] This sentence means _they are noisier than the tempest and the
commands of our officers_.

[368-11] Gonzalo still thinks the boatswain was born to be hanged, and
warrants that he will not be drowned.

[368-12] The boatswain is still trying to bring her to the wind, so she
may get out to sea. The _courses_ are the largest lower sails.

[368-13] _Merely_, here, means _entirely_ or _absolutely_.

[368-14] _Glut_ means _swallow_.

[369-15] These are all plants that grow in England, and were to
Shakespeare the familiar signs of barren ground.

[369-16] _The wills above be done_ means _the will of the Powers above
be done_. Gonzalo interests us from the start by his rather humorous
view of everything.

[369-1] _Welkin_ means _sky_.

[369-2] _Brave_ means _fine_.

[369-3] _Or e'er_ means _before_ or _sooner than_.

[370-4] _Fraughting_ means _freighting_. The human souls were the
freight of the ship.

[370-5] _Amazement_ means _anguish_ and _deep distress_ rather than
astonishment.

[370-6] In the time of Shakespeare it was not considered inelegant
English to use two forms of the comparative and superlative degrees.
_More better_, _most best_ are good examples.

[370-7] _Meddle_ means _mix_. Miranda says she never thought of knowing
more about herself or her father.

[370-8] Prosp