AYNE (1791--1802)

Born in New York, he graduated from Union College and later went on the
stage. He was appointed U.S. Consul to Tunis, where he died. He is now
best remembered by "home Sweet Home" from one of his operas.

EDGAR ALLAN POE (1809-1849)

"Small as the quantity of his true verse is, it more sustains his
peculiar genius in American eyes than does his prose; and this is because
it is so unique. He stands absolutely alone as a poet, with none like
him."
--GEORGE E. WOODBURY

Born in Boston, he spent most of his literary years in New York. His
parents, both actors, died when he was still a little child, and he was
adopted by Mr. Allan, who educated him in Europe. He served as literary
editor and hack writer for several journals and finally died in poverty.

TO HELEN

"To Helen" is said to have been written in 1823, when Poe was only
fourteen years old. It refers to Mrs. Jane Stith Stanard, the mother of
one of his school friends, whose death was a terrible blow to the
sensitive lad. This loss was the cause of numerous poems of sorrow for
death and permanently influenced his work.

2. Nicean: Nicaea, the modern Iznik in Turkey, was anciently a Greek
province.

2. Nicean barks: the Greek ships that bore the wanderer, Ulysses, from
Phaeacia to his home. Read "The Wanderings of Ulysses" in Gayley's
Classic Myths, Chapter XXVII.

7. hyacinth: like Hyacinthus, the fabled favorite of Apollo; hence
lovely, beautiful.

8. Naiad: a nymph presiding over fountains, lakes, brooks, and wells.

14. Psyche, a beautiful maiden beloved of Cupid, whose adventure with
the lamp is told in all classical mythologies.

ISRAFEL

Israfel, according to the Koran, is the angel with the sweetest voice
among God's creatures. He will blow the trump on the day of
resurrection.

2. The idea that Israfel's lute was more than human is taken from
Moore's "Lalla Rookh," although these very words do not occur there. The
reference will be found in the last hundred lines of the poem.

12. levin: lightning.

26. Houri: one of the beautiful girls who, according to the Moslem
faith, are to be companions of the faithful in paradise.

LENORE

13. Peccavimus: we have sinned.

20. Avaunt: Begone! Away!

26. Paean: song of joy or triumph.

THE COLISEUM

10. Eld: antiquity.

14. See Matthew 26: 36-56.

16. The Chaldxans were the world's greatest