"The poems of Halleck are written with great care and finish, and manifest the possession of a fine sense of harmony and of genial and elevated sentiments."
—ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA.
Born in Guilford, Conn., he was the closest friend of Drake, at whose death he wrote his best poem, which is given in this collection. "Marco Bozzaris" aroused great enthusiasm, which has now waned in favor of his simple lines, "On the Death of Joseph Rodman Drake."
MARCO BOZZAARIS
Marco Bozzaris (c. 1790-1823) was a prominent leader in the struggle for Greek liberty and won many victories from the Turks. During the night of August 20, 1823, the Greeks won a complete victory which was saddened by the loss of Bozzaris, who fell while leading his men to the final attack.
13. Suliote: a tribe of Turkish subjects of mixed Greek and Albanian blood, who steadily opposed Turkish rule and won for themselves a reputation for bravery. They fought for Grecian independence under Marco Bozzaris.
16-22. These lines refer to the military history of Greece. See Encyclopedia Britannica—article on Greece (Persian Wars subtitle) for account of the Persian invasion and battle of Plataea.
79. What land did Columbus see first? Where did he from? Why then is he called a Genoese?
107. pilgrim-circled: visited by pilgrims as are shrines.
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE (1791—1802)