Tension piece of writing

When first i engaged in this work, i resolved to leave neither words nor things unexamined, and myself with a prospect of the hours which i should revel away in feasts of literature . . –preface to a dictionary of the english language, samuel johnson what is the connotation of the word revel in this passage?

Based on how the stage directions are used in this excerpt from act 1 scene 1 of richard iii what was likely the main purpose of providing stage directions in drama

Which pair of words has similar denotation but different connotations?