An eagle builds its aerie or nest upon a crag or
inaccessible height above ordinary birds. The simile here begun before
the eagle is mentioned, and the minstrel's thoughts are spoken of as born
in the aerie of his brain, high above his companions.

20. One of the finest pictures of the singing of a minstrel before his
lord is found in Scott's "Waverly."

21. fletcher: arrow-maker.

31. The work of Fate cannot be done by a reed which is proverbially weak
or by a stick which is cut cross-grained and hence will split easily.
She does not take her arrow at random from all the poor and weak weapons
which life offers, but she chooses carefully.

35. sapwood: the new wood next the bark, which is not yet hardened.

37. Much of the value of an arrow lies in its being properly feathered.
So when Fate chooses, she removes all valueless feathers which will
hinder success.

40. In these ways her aim Would be injured.

43. butt's: target's.

52. frothy: trivial.

64. Leif, the son of Eric, near the end of the tenth century went from
Greenland to Norway and was converted to Christianity. About 1000 he
sailed southward and landed at what is perhaps now Newfoundland, then
went on to some part of the New England coast and there spent the winter.

61. The coming of Leif Ericson with his brave ship to Vinland was the
first happening in the story of America.

61. rune: a character in the ancient alphabet.

FLOWERS

"Flowers" is another very early poem, but it was included by Lowell in
his first volume, "A Year's Life," in 1841. Compare this idea of a poet's
duty and opportunity with that of other American writers.

12. Look up Matthew 13: 3-9.

18. Condensed expression; for some of that seed shall surely fall in
such ground that it shall bloom forever.

THE SHEPHERD OF KING ADMETUS

16. viceroy: ruler in place of the king.

44. Apollo, while he was still young, killed one of the Cyclops of Zeus
and Zeus condemned him to serve a mortal Man as a shepherd. He served
Admetus, as is here described, and secured many special favors for him
from the gods.

COMMEMORATION ODE

3. The men who fought for the cause they loved expressed their love in
the forming of a squadron instead of a poem, and wrote their praise of
battle in fighting-lines instead of tetrameters.

17. guerdon: reward.

36. A creed without defenders is lifeless. When to belief in a cause is
added action in its behalf, the cr