the star-spangled banner(星条旗)-第2章
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Fort McHenry on the west； retreat was inevitable。
Taking advantage of the darkness； a little after midnight sixteen British
frigates； with bomb…ketches and barges； moved up within close range。 At
one o'clock they suddenly opened a tremendous and destructive fire upon
the fort。 Five hundred bombs fell within the ramparts； many more burst
over them。
The crisis of the fight came when； in the darkness； a rocket ship and
five barges attempted to pass up the north channel to the city。 They were
not perceived until the British； thinking themselves safe and the ruse
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successful； gave a derisive cheer at the fort under whose guns they had
passed。 In avoiding Fort McHenry； however； they had fallen under the
guns of the fort at the Lazaretto； on the opposite side of the channel。
This fort； opening fire； so crippled the daring vessels that some of them
had to be towed out in their hasty retreat。
From midnight till morning Key could know nothing of the fortunes of
the fight。 At such close quarters a dense smoke enveloped both the ships
and the fort； and added to the blackness of the night。
After the failure to ascend the north branch of the Patapsco； the firing
slackened。 Now and then a sullen and spiteful gun shot its flame from
the side of a British vessel。 Key； pacing the deck of the cartel ship； to
which he had been transferred； could not guess the cause of this。 The
slackened fire might mean the success of the land attack； in which case it
would not have been necessary to waste any more powder on the fort。
Again； it might be that the infernal rain of shells had dismantled the little
fort itself； and the enemy was only keeping up a precautionary fire until
daylight enabled him to take possession。
The long hours were nearly unbearable。 Key had seen the fate of
Washington； and anticipated the fate of Baltimore。
At seven the suspense was unrelaxed。 The firing from the fleet
ceased。 The large ships loomed indistinct and silent in the mist。 To the
west lay the silent fort； the white vapor heavy upon it。 With eager eyes
Key watched the distant shore； till in a rift over the fort he dimly discerned
the flag still proudly defiant。 In that supreme moment was written 〃The
Star…Spangled Banner。〃
The British ships slowly dropped down to North Point。 Dr。 Beanes
went home to Upper Marlborough； very thankful as he saw the yard…arm
of the Surprise melt out of sight； unburdened。
Of all national airs； it breathes the purest patriotism。 Those of
England； Russia； and Austria are based upon a sentimental loyalty long
outgrown by this agrarian and practical age。 The 〃Marseillaise〃 is a
stirring call to arms； and upholds only the worstthe passionate military
side of a nation's character。 〃The Star…Spangled Banner；〃 while it is
animated； patriotic； defiant； neither cringes nor boasts； it is as national in
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its spirit as it is adequate in the expression of that spirit。 Believing； then；
that Key's poem will be the national air of succeeding generations of
Americans； the facsimile of the original draft is here reproduced by the
kindness of Mrs。 Edward Shippen； a granddaughter of that Judge
Nicholson who took the first copy of the poem to the 〃American〃 office；
and had it set up in broad…sheet form by Samuel Sands； a printer's
apprentice of twelve。 He was alone in the office； all the men having gone
to the defense of the city。 It is written in Key's hand。 The changes
made in drafting the copy will be seen at once； the principal one being that
Key started to write 〃They have washed out in blood their foul footsteps'
pollution；〃 and changed it for 〃Their blood has washed out their foul
footsteps' pollution。〃 In the second stanza； also； the dash after 〃'T is the
star…spangled banner〃 makes the change more abrupt； the line more
spirited； and the burst of feeling more intense； than the usual semicolon。
The other variations are unimportant。 Some of them were made in 1840；
when Key wrote out several copies for his friends。
The song； in its broad…sheet form； was soon sung in all the camps
around the city。 When the Baltimore theater； closed during the attack；
was reopened； Mr。 Hardinge； one of the actors； was announced to sing 〃a
new song by a gentleman of Maryland。〃 The same modest title of
authorship prefaces the song in the 〃American。〃 From Baltimore the air
was carried south； and was played by one of the regimental bands at the
battle of New Orleans。
The tune of 〃Anacreon in Heaven〃 has been objected to as 〃foreign〃；
but in truth it is an estray； and Key's and the American people's by
adoption。 It is at least American enough now to be known to every
school…boy； to have preceded Burr to New Orleans； and Fremont to the
Pacific； to have been the inspiration of the soldiers of three wars； and to
have cheered the hearts of American sailors in peril of enemies on the sea
from Algiers to Apia Harbor。 If the cheering of the Calliope by the crew
of the Trenton binds closer together the citizens of the two English…
speaking nations； should its companion scene； no less thrilling； be
forgottenwhen the Trenton bore down upon the stranded Vandalia to her
almost certain destruction； and the encouraging cheer of the flag…ship was
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answered by a response； faint； uncertain； and despairing？
Almost at once； as the last cheer died away：
Darkness hid the ships。 As those on shore listened for the crash；
another sound came up from the deep。 It was a wild burst of music in
defiance of the storm。 The Trenton's band was playing 〃The Star…
Spangled Banner。〃 The feelings of the Americans on the beach were
indescribable。 Men who on that awful day had exhausted every means of
rendering some assistance to their comrades now seemed inspired to
greater efforts。 They dashed at the surf like wild creatures； but they were
powerless。
No； it is too late to divorce words and music。
The song is generally accorded its deserved honor； the man who wrote
it has been allowed to remain in unmerited obscurity。 The Pacific coast
alone； in one of the most beautiful of personal monuments；* has
acknowledged his service to his countrya service which will terminate
only with that country's life； for he who gives a nation its popular air；
enfeoffs posterity with an inalienable gift。 Yet Key was the close
personal friend of Jackson； Taney；who was his brother… in…lawJohn
Ra
