[Page 77], l. 3, 4.
Too late to weather now Morea’s land,
And drifting fast on Athen’s rocky strand.
To weather a shore is to pass to windward of it, which at this time was prevented by the violence of the gale. Drift is that motion and direction, by which a vessel is forced to leeward sideways, when she is unable any longer to carry sail; or, at least, is restrained to such a portion of sail, as may be necessary to keep her sufficiently inclined to one side, that she may not be dismasted by her violent labouring produced by the turbulence of the sea.
[Page 77], l. 10.
And try beneath it the sidelong in the sea.
To try, is to lay the ship with her side nearly in the direction of the wind and sea, with her head somewhat inclined to windward; the helm being fastened close to the lee-side, or in the sea language, hard a-lee, to retain her in that position. See a further illustration in the last note of this Canto.
[Page 77], l. 12.
Topping lift, knittle, throt.
A tackle, or assemblage of pullies, which tops the upper end of the mizen-yard. This line, and the six following, describe the operation of reefing and balancing the mizen. The knittle is a short line used to reef the sails by the bottom. The throt is that part of the mizen-yard which is close to the mast.