[374-25] But in this sense means except.
[374-26] This is a difficult clause to understand. What Prospero means is probably that his studies would have exceeded all popular estimate in value, but that they (if they had not) kept him so retired from public life. Prospero sees the mistake he made, but cannot give up the idea that his studies were valuable.
[375-27] Sans is a French word that means without.
[375-28] By falsing it means by falsifying it or forging it.
[375-29] Shakespeare omits the word as before to. Antonio made so great a sinner of his memory unto truth as to credit his own lie.
[375-30] Out of the substitution may be understood to mean because of his being my substitute.
[375-31] Prospero’s tale is not clearly told. He is evidently thinking of other things, and his sentences are often imperfect. His mind wanders to the things he intends doing, 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.