This poem was written in 1844. The discussion over the annexation of Texas was absorbing public attention. The anti-slavery party opposed annexation, believing that it would strengthen the slave-holding interests, and for the same reason the South was urging the scheme.
Lowell wrote several very strong anti-slavery poems at this time, _To W.L. Garrison_, _Wendell Phillips_, _On the Death of C.T. Torrey_, and others, which attracted attention to him as a new and powerful ally of the reform party. "These poems," says George William Curtis, "especially that on _The Present Crisis,_ have a Tyrtaean resonance, a stately rhetorical rhythm, that make their dignity of thought, their intense feeling, and picturesque imagery, superbly effective in recitation. They sang themselves on every anti-slavery platform."
While the poem was inspired by the political struggle of the time, which Lowell regarded as a crisis in the history of our national honor and progress, its chief strength is due to the fact that its lofty sentiment is universal in its appeal, and not applicable merely to temporal and local conditions.
17. Round the earth"s electric circle, etc.: This prophetic figure was doubtless suggested by the first telegraph line, which Samuel F.B.
Morse had just erected between Baltimore and Washington.
37. The Word: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with G.o.d, and the Word was G.o.d." (_John_ i, 1.)
44. Delphic cave: The oracle at Delphi was the most famous and authoritative among the Greeks. The priestess who voiced the answers of the G.o.d was seated in a natural fissure in the rocks.
46. Cyclops: The Cyclopes were brutish giants with one eye who lived in caverns and fed on human flesh, if the opportunity offered. Lowell is recalling in these lines the adventure of Ulysses with the Cyclops, in the ninth book of Homer"s _Odyssey_.
64. Credo: Latin, I believe: the first word in the Latin version of the Apostles" Creed, hence used for _creed_.
_THE COURTIN"_
This poem first appeared as "a short fragment of a pastoral," in the introduction to the First Series of the _Biglow Papers_. It is said to have been composed merely to fill a blank page, but its popularity was so great that Lowell expanded it to twice its original length, and finally printed it as a kind of introduction to the Second Series of the _Biglow Papers_. It first appeared, however, in its expanded form in a charitable publication, _Autograph Leaves of Our Country"s Authors_, reproduced in facsimile from the original ma.n.u.script.
"This bucolic idyl," says Stedman, "is without a counterpart; no richer juice can be pressed from the wild grape of the Yankee soil."
Greenslet thinks that this poem is "perhaps the most nearly perfect of his poems."
17. Crooknecks: Crookneck squashes.
19. Ole queen"s-arm: The old musket brought from the Concord fight in 1775.
32. To draw a straight furrow when plowing is regarded as evidence of a skilful farmer.
36. All is: The truth is, "all there is about it."
37. Long o" her: Along of her, on account of her.
40. South slope: The slope of a hill facing south catches the spring sunshine.
43. Ole Hunderd: Old Hundred is one of the most familiar of the old hymn tunes.
58. Somewhat doubtful as to the sequel.
94. Bay o" Fundy: The Bay of Fundy is remarkable for its high and violent tides, owing to the peculiar conformation of its banks.
96. Was cried: The "bans" were cried, the announcement of the engagement in the church, according to the custom of that day.
_THE COMMEMORATION ODE_
The poem was dedicated "To the ever sweet and shining memory of the ninety-three sons of Harvard College who have died for their country in the war of nationality." The text of the poem is here given as Lowell first published it in 1865. He afterward made a few verbal changes, and added one new strophe after the eighth. There is a special interest in studying the ode in the form in which it came rushing from the poet"s brain.
1-14. The deeds of the poet are weak and trivial compared with the deeds of heroes. They live their high ideals and die for them. Yet the gentle words of the poet may sometimes save unusual lives from that oblivion to which all common lives are destined.
5. Robin"s-leaf: An allusion to the ballad of the _Babes in the Wood._
9. Squadron-strophes: The term _strophe_ originally was applied to a metrical form that was repeated in a certain established way, like the _strophe_ and _antistrophe_ of the Greek ode, as sung by a divided chorus; it is now applied to any stanza form. The poem of heroism is a "battle-ode," whose successive stanzas are marching squadrons, whose verses are lines of blazing guns, and whose melody is the strenuous music of "trump and drum."
13. Lethe"s dreamless ooze: Lethe is the river of oblivion in Hades; its slimy depths of forgetfulness are not even disturbed by dreams.
14. Unventurous throng: The vast majority of commonplace beings who neither achieve nor attempt deeds of "high emprise."
16. Wisest Scholars: Many students who had returned from the war were in the audience, welcomed back by their revered mother, their Alma Mater.
20. Peddling: Engaging in small, trifling interests. Lowell"s att.i.tude toward science is that of Wordsworth, when he speaks of the dry-souled scientist as one who is all eyes and no heart, "One that would peep and botanize Upon his mother"s grave."
21. The pseudo-science of astrology, seeking to tell commonplace fortunes by the stars.
25-26. Clear fame: Compare Milton"s _Lycidas:_
"Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise To scorn delights and live laborious days."
32. Half-virtues: Is Lowell disparaging the virtues of peace and home in comparison with the heroic virtues of war? Or are these "half-virtues" contrasted with the loftier virtue, the devotion to Truth?
34. That stern device: The seal of Harvard College, chosen by its early founders, bears the device of a shield with the word _Ve-ri-tas_ (truth) upon three open books.
46. Sad faith: Deep, serious faith, or there may be a slight touch of irony in the word, with a glance at the gloomy faith of early puritanism and its "lifeless creed" (l. 62).
62. Lifeless creed: Compare Tennyson"s:
"Ancient form Thro" which the spirit breathes no more."
73. The tide of the ocean in its flow and ebb is under the influence of the moon. To get the sense of the metaphor, "fickle" must be read with "Fortune"--unless, perchance, we like Juliet regard the moon as the "inconstant moon."
81. To protect one"s self everyone connives against everyone else.
Compare _Sir Launfal_, I. 11. Instead of climbing Sinais we "cringe and plot."
82. Compare _Sir Launfal_, I. 26. The whole pa.s.sage, II. 76-87, is a distant echo of the second and third stanzas of _Sir Launfal_.
83-85. Puppets: The puppets are the pasteboard actors in the Punch and Judy show, operated by unseen wires.
84. An echo of _Macbeth_, V, 5:
"Life"s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more."
97. Elder than the Day: Elder than the first Day. "And G.o.d called the light Day," etc. (_Genesis_ i, 5.) We may have light from the divine fountains.