30. Only in a moment of great emotion (rapture) should the poet revise a poem which was penned when his heart was on fire with the idea of the poem. 38. limn: describe vividly. 54. By this test where would you place Bryant himself? Did he do what he here advises? In what poems do you see evidences of such a method? Compare your idea of him with Lowell's estimate in "A Fable for Critics," ll. 35-56. ABRAHAM LINCOLN In connection with this poem the following stanza from "The Battle-Field" seems very appropriate: "Truth, crushed to Earth, shill rise again; The eternal years of God are hers; But Error, wounded, writhes with pain, And dies among his worshippers." The American people certainly felt that Truth was Brushed to Earth with Lincoln's death, but believed that it would triumph. FRANCIS SCOTT KEY (1780-1843) Born in Maryland, he graduated from St. John's College, Md., and practiced law in Frederick City, Md. He was district attorney for the District of Columbia during the War of 1812 and while imprisoned by the British on board the ship Minden, Sept. 13, 1814, he witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry and wrote this national anthem. THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER 30. Why is this mentioned as our motto? JOSEPH RODMAN DRAKE (1795-1820) The "Culprit Fay" is so much better than American poetry had previously been that one is at first disposed to speak of it enthusiastically. An obvious comparison puts it in true perspective. Drake's life happened nearly to coincide with that of Keats.... Amid the full fervor of European experience Keats produced immortal work; Drake, whose whole life was passed amid the national inexperience of New York, produced only pretty fancies." --BARRETT WENDELL. Born in New York, he practiced medicine there. He died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-five, and left behind him manuscript verses which were later published by his daughter. "The Culprit Fay," from which selections are here given, is generally considered one of the best productions of early American literature. THE AMERICAN FLAG 6. milky baldric: the white band supposed by the ancients to circle the earth and called the zodiac. He may here mean the Milky Way as part of this band. 46. careering: rushing swiftly. 47. bellied: rounded, filled out by the gale. 56. welkin: sky. THE CULPRIT FAY 25. ising-stars: particles of mica. 30. minim: smallest. What objection may be made to this word? 37. Ouphe: elf or goblin. 45. behest: command. 78. shandy: resembling a shell or a scale. 94. oozy: muddy. 107. colen-bell: coined by Drake, probably the columbine. 114. nightshade: a flower also called henbane or belladonna. dern: drear. 119. thrids: threads, makes his way through. 160. prong: probably a prawn; used in this sense only in this one passage. 165. quarl: jelly fish.