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
attitude 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.