the stories of the god Mercury is that he gave to
Amphion, King of Thebes, a magic harp upon which the king played and so
charmed the stones that they sprang into place to make the walls of his
city.

[398-16] The meaning of _stomach_ in this line is _appetite_ or
_desire_. Alonso says they crowd their words into his ears when his
feelings do not relish such nonsense.

[398-17] _Rate_ means _estimation_.

[398-18] _His_ is used for _its_ and refers to _shore_.

[398-19] For _as_, read _as if_.

[399-20] _Who_ is used for _which_. This is but another illustration of
the changes that have taken place in the use of words since
Shakespeare's time.

[399-21] Sebastian tells the King that he alone is responsible for the
loss. Even his daughter weighed her wish to be obedient against her
loathing of the match.

[399-22] _Dearest_ here means the same as _heaviest_ or _worst_.

[399-23] _Chirurgeon_ is the old word for _surgeon_. Antonio says, "And
in the most surgeon-like manner."

[400-24] Gonzalo says, literally. "When you are sad, we all share your
sorrow."

[400-25] "Had I the colonizing" is what Gonzalo means. Antonio makes it
appear that Gonzalo was speaking of _planting_ the island.

[400-26] _Succession_ means _inheritance_, as a son _succeeds_ to his
father's property.

[400-27] _Bourn_ means _brook_, hence _boundary_, as of land.

[400-28] _Tilth_ means _tillage_ or _cultivation_, as of land.

[401-29] He probably means any _engine of war_.

[401-30] _Foison_ means _plenty_ of grain or fruits.

[401-31] The _Golden Age_ is that period of the world's history when
there was no sin, sorrow or suffering, and when all mankind was so good
that there was no need of government of any sort. The Greeks,
especially, but other peoples to some extent, have mythical tales of
such a time.

[401-32] _Sensible_ is here used for _sensitive_.

[401-33] Gonzalo admits that in witty talk he is nothing in comparison
to Antonio and Sebastian.

[401-34] A blow with the _flat_ of a sword is harmless: so is Gonzalo's
wit.

[402-35] We would say _should_ instead of _would_ in this case.

[402-36] When they used to hunt birds in the night, they called it
_bat-fowling_. Sometimes at night they took a light into the woods, and
while one of the hunters held a net in front of the light, the others
would beat the bushes round about. Some of the frightened birds would
fly directly at the light and become entangled in the n