328. Swound: The antiquated form of swoon.
332, 333. Interpret the lines. Did the poet have in mind the spiritual armor described in Ephesians vi, 11-17?
336. Hangbird: The oriole, so called from its hanging nest; one of Lowell's most beloved "garden acquaintances" at Elmwood. In a letter he says: "They build a pendulous nest, and so flash in the sun that our literal rustics call them fire hang-birds." See the description in Under the Willows beginning:
"My oriole, my glance of summer fire."
See also the charming prose description in My Garden Acquaintance.
338. Summer's long siege at last is o'er: The return to this figure rounds out the story and serves to give unity to the plan of the poem. The siege is successful, summer has conquered and entered the castle, warming and lighting its cold, cheerless interior.
342, 343. Is Lowell expressing here his own convictions about ideal democracy?