"Ancient form
Thro' which the spirit breathes no more."
73. The tide of the ocean in its flow and ebb is under the influence of the moon. To get the sense of the metaphor, "fickle" must be read with "Fortune"—unless, perchance, we like Juliet regard the moon as the "inconstant moon."
81. To protect one's self everyone connives against everyone else. Compare Sir Launfal, I. 11. Instead of climbing Sinais we "cringe and plot."
82. Compare Sir Launfal, I. 26. The whole passage, II. 76-87, is a distant echo of the second and third stanzas of Sir Launfal.
83-85. Puppets: The puppets are the pasteboard actors in the Punch and Judy show, operated by unseen wires.
84. An echo of Macbeth, V, 5:
"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more."
97. Elder than the Day: Elder than the first Day. "And God called the light Day," etc. (Genesis i, 5.) We may have light from the divine fountains.
110-114. In shaping this elaborate battle metaphor, one can easily believe the poet to have had in mind some fierce mountain struggle during the war, such as the battle of Lookout Mountain.
111. Creeds: Here used in the broad sense of convictions, principles, beliefs.