9. Mimes: actors, who in this case are men; mankind.

13. vast formless things: doubtless the Fates (consult Gayley's

"Classic Myths"); at any rate beings who exercise the same powers.

15. condor wings. The condor is a great vulture of South

America; the word here suggests the Fates preying on human happiness,

health, and life.

18. Phantom: happiness, or perhaps any object of human desire

or ambition.

Selections from Poe · 第 101 / 155 题