NOTES ON THE THIRD CANTO.

[Page 106], l. 3, 4.

While round before th’ enlarging wind it falls,

‘Square fore and aft the yards,’ the master calls.

The wind is said to enlarge, when it veers from the side towards the stern. To square the yards is, in this place, to haul them directly across the ship’s length.

[Page 106], l. 7.

So, steady! meet her!

Steady! is an order to steer the ship according to the line on which she then advances, without deviating to the right or left.

The left side of a ship is called port in steering, that the helmsmen may not mistake larboard for starboard. In all large ships, the tiller, (or long bar of timber, that is fixed horizontally to the upper end of the rudder), is guided by a wheel, which acts upon it with the powers of a crane or windlass.

[Page 108], l. 3.

Poop, bow.

Poop, from the Latin word puppis, is the hindmost and highest deck of a ship. The bow is the rounding part of a ship’s side forward, beginning at the place where the planks arch inwards, and terminating where they close at the stem or prow.

[Page 108], l. 19.

... when past the beam it flies.

On the beam, implies any distance from the ship on a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel: thus, if the ship steers northward, any object lying east, or west, is said to be on her starboard or larboard beam.

[Page 123], l. 20.

... still they dread her broaching-to.

The great difficulty of steering the ship at this time before the wind, is occasioned by its striking her on the quarter, when she makes the least angle on either side; which often forces her stern round, and brings her broadside to the wind and sea: this is an effect of the same cause which is explained in the last note of the second Canto.

[Page 127], l. 18, 19.

... the faithful stay

Drags the main top-mast by the cap away:

The main top-mast stay comes to the fore-mast head, and consequently depends upon the fore-mast as its support. The cap is a strong thick block of wood, used to confine the upper and lower masts together, as the one is raised at the head of the other. The principal caps of a ship are those of the lower masts.

[Page 129], l. 18.

For every wave now smites the quivering yard.

The sea at this time ran so high, that it was impossible to descend from the mast-head without being washed overboard.

[Page 140], l. 6.

All thoughts of happiness on earth are vain!

“... sed scilicet ultima semper

Expectanda dies homini; dicique beatus

Ante obitum nemo supremaque funera debet.”

FINIS.

Printed by C. Whittingham, Chiswick.