, to the storm, the strangers on the
island and to his plans for the future. Miranda is not inattentive--she
is fascinated by the story--but her father attributes his own wandering
thoughts to her.

[375-32] Tired of ruling behind a screen, for that is what Prospero
really was. Antonio planned to remove his brother and become absolute
Duke of Milan.

[375-33] Shakespeare omits the word _for_ before _me_.

[376-34] _So dry he was for sway_, might now be written as _so thirsty
he was for power_.

[376-35] Prospero bewails the fate of his principality, Milan.

[376-36] The meaning of the last seven lines is that Antonio thought
Prospero incapable of ruling, offered to pay the King of Naples an
annual tribute, to do him homage and to make Milan subject to Naples.

[376-37] _In lieu_ now means _instead of_, but Shakespeare uses it in
the sense of _in return for_.

[376-38] _Presently_ means _immediately_.

[376-39] _Practice_ means _plot_ or _stratagem_.

[376-40] The six lines mean that one midnight, suited to such a plot, a
treacherous army having been levied, Antonio opened the gates of Milan,
and in the dead of darkness hurried away Prospero and the crying
Miranda.

[377-41] In this place _hint_ means _theme_ or _subject_.

[377-42] _Upon's_ is _upon us_.

[377-43] _Impertinent_ in this connection means _out of place_.

[377-44] _Wench_ means _girl_, and at the time of Shakespeare was a term
of affection, like _dear girl_.

[377-45] _In few_ may be read as _in a few words_, that is, _to make the
story brief_.

[377-46] _Hoist us_ means _hoisted us_, that is _left us_.

[378-47] _Degg'd_ means _sprinkled_.

[378-48] Shakespeare, as was the custom in those days, often used the
word _stomach_ for _courage_; an _undergoing stomach_ is a _lasting
courage_.

[378-49] _Steaded_ means _aided_. We might say, _which have since stood
us in good stead_.

[378-50] Readers of Shakespeare dispute about the meaning of this
sentence. We might imagine Prospero to say half to himself "Now _I
arise_;" that is, "My turn has come."

[378-51] _Made thee more profit_, that is, _have made you to profit
more_, have taught you to better advantage.

[379-52] The _zenith_ is the _highest point_.

[379-53] Prospero means that if he acts now his fortunes will rise to
their highest point, but that if he waits, he will lose his opportunity.

[379-54] Prospero, by his magic, throws his daughter into a deep sleep
so that he