All the words in italics are adjectives. Decide to which class each
adjective belongs.
Note in this exercise the compound words used as adjectives, as:
_earth-born_, _self-made_, _new-lit_, _blood-rusted_. Look up the
meaning of these adjectives and see if you can use other adjectives in
their places and keep the same meaning. Note the use of _fellest_.
Slavery, _the earth-born_ Cyclops, _fellest_ of _the giant_ brood,
Sons of _brutish_ Force and Darkness, who have drenched _the_ earth
with blood,
_Famished_ in his _self-made_ desert, _blinded_ by our _purer_ day,
Gropes in yet _unblasted_ regions for his _miserable_ prey;--
Shall we guide his _gory_ fingers where our _helpless_ children play?
They have rights who dare maintain them; we are traitors to our sires,
_Smothering_ in their _holy_ ashes Freedom's _new-lit_ altar-fires;
Shall we make their creed our jailer? Shall we, in our haste to slay,
From the tombs of _the old_ prophets steal _the funeral_ lamps away
To light up _the_ martyr-fagots round _the_ prophets of to-day?
_New_ occasions teach _new_ duties; Time makes _ancient_ good,
_uncouth_;
They must upward still, and onward, who would keep _abreast_ of
Truth;
Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! We ourselves must Pilgrims be,
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through _the desperate winter_
sea,
Nor attempt _the_ Future's portal with _the_ Past's _blood-rusted_
key.
--_Lowell_.