Question

The phrase "watches of the night" usually refers to the rounds made by a guard. what does the phrase mean in line 1?

Answer 1

The phrase "watches of the night" has long been used since at least the book of common prayer from 1662. The number of hours in a day is usually divided by 3 or 4 and a guard is assigned in each division. The phrase means that the guard is kept awake during the night time.