[414-20] This alludes to an old proverb, “He that would eat with the devil must use a long spoon.”

[414-21] Siege here means seat.

[414-22] A moon-calf was any shapeless monster; supposed to be made so through the influence of the moon.

[415-23] The superstitious Trinculo is still a little afraid that Stephano may be a ghost.

[415-24] Constant here means settled, from his recent experiences in the sea.

[415-25] The word an may be omitted from before if without altering the meaning. Caliban fears the men may be evil spirits, but thinks Stephano must be a god.

[415-26] Sack is an old-fashioned intoxicating drink. A butt is a big cask holding about two hogsheads.

[416-27] All these things the fanciful used to think they could see in the face of the moon.

[416-28] This probably means that Caliban had taken a long hearty draught at the bottle.

[417-29] Pig-nuts were probably ground-nuts, the small bulbous growths on the roots of certain vines.