Joseph Rodman Drake，1795—1820，was born in New York City.His father died when he was very young，and his early life was a struggle with poverty.He studied medicine，and took his degree when he was about twenty years old.From a child，he showed remarkable poetical powers，having made rhymes at the early age of five.Most of his published writings were produced during a period of less than two years.“The Culprit Fay”and the “American Flag”are best known.In disposition，Mr.Drake was gentle and kindly；and，on the occasion of his death，his intimate friend，Fitz-Greene Halleck，expressed his character in the wellknown couplet:
“None knew three but to love thee Nor named thee but to praise.”
When Freedom，from her mountain height，
Unfurled her standard to the air，
She tore the azure robe of night，
And set the stars of glory there:
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldric of the skies，
And striped its pure，celestial white
With streakings of the morning light；
Then，from his mansion in the sun，
She called her eagle bearer down，
And gave into his mighty hand
The symbol of her chosen land.
Majestic monarch of the cloud！
Who rear'st aloft thy regal form，
To hear the tempest trumpings loud，
And see the lightning lances driven，
When strive the warriors of the storm，
And rolls the thunder drum of heaven；——
Child of the sun！to thee 't is given
To guard the banner of the free，
To hover in the sulphur smoke，
To ward away the battle stroke，
And bid its blendings shine afar，
Like rainbows on the cloud of war，
The harbingers of victory！
Flag of the brave！thy folds shall fly，
The sign of hope and triumph high！
When speaks the signal trumpet tone，
And the long line comes gleaming on，
Ere yet the lifeblood，warm and wet，
Has dimmed the glistening bayonet，
Each soldier's eye shall brightly turn
To where thy sky-born glories burn，
And，as his springing steps advance，
Catch war and vengeance from the glance.
And when the cannon mouthings loud
Heave in wild wreaths the battle shroud，
And gory sabers rise and fall，
Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall，
Then shall thy meteor glances glow，
And cowering foes shall sink beneath
Each gallant arm，that strikes below
That lovely messenger of death.
Flag of the seas！on ocean's wave
Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave；
When death careering on the gale，
Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail，
And frighted waves rush wildly back，
Before the broadside's reeling rack，
Each dying wanderer of the sea
Shall look at once to heaven and thee，
And smile to see thy splendors fly
In triumph o'er his closing eye.
Flag of the free heart's hope and home，
By angel hands to valor given，
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome，
And all thy hues were born in heaven.
Forever float that standard sheet！
Where breathes the foe but falls before us，
With Freedom's soil beneath our feet，
And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us？
译文 TRANSLATION
约瑟夫·罗德曼·德雷克（1795—1820）生于纽约市。德雷克幼年丧父，少时生活贫苦。他学习医学，约二十岁时获得学位。孩提时代，德雷克就展现出杰出的诗才，五岁时就已开始写诗。他绝大部分发表的作品都是在不到两年的时间里创作完成的。《罪犯费伊》和这首《美利坚的旗帜》是他最好的两部作品。德雷克生性文雅、温和。在他去世时，他最亲密的朋友菲兹格里尼·哈勒克用下面这一著名的对句来描述他的个性：“人们对你只有爱，人们对你唯有敬。”
当自由从她的山巅，
迎风招展着她的旗帜。
她从夜的裙裾撕下一片蔚蓝，
她在旗上缀满熠熠的星辰。
她将一朵朵乳白的云的佩饰融入旗帜斑斓的色彩，
又将纯粹、空灵的白与晨光交织在一起，
她将神鹰从太阳的府邸唤出，
并将这自由乐土的象征放在它手中。
壮丽的云！
当风暴的武士在鏖战，
当天庭擂响雷的鼓声，
谁将你高高擎起，
去听暴雨雄壮的号角，
去看闪电掷下的戈矛，
太阳的孩子！
你引领自由的旗帜，
在硫的烟霭中盘旋，
在攻击中躲闪，
佑护它照亮远方。
如战云上的彩虹，
如胜利的先驱！
勇敢的旗帜，
希望和胜利的标志，
你在高飞翱翔！
当冲锋号吹响，
那道长线闪烁蜿蜒，
生命的血，温暖，湿润，
黯淡了闪亮的刺刀。
每位士兵的眼睛都那般明亮，
转向你在空中燃烧的地方。
当他健步向前，
从那一瞥中捕捉到的是战争与复仇。
当加农炮的轰鸣，
将尸布抛向野花丛，
血腥的剑起起落落，
像火焰射向午夜的柩衣，
你像流星照亮夜幕，
勇士击退了死的信使，
瑟缩的敌人仆倒在他的臂下。
海的旗帜，
在大洋上，破浪前进。
你的星辰照耀着勇士们。
当死亡乘着狂风袭来，
黑暗中，卷过鼓满的帆。
惊恐的波浪从船舷边，
狂野地溃退。
将死的海的游子，
望向天宇和你，
微笑地看你，
在他即将合上的眼前猎猎飞扬。
美利坚的旗帜，
你是自由心灵的希望与家园，
由天使的手将你赐予勇敢者，
你的星辰点亮了苍穹，
你的色彩诞生在天宇。
美利坚的旗帜永远飘扬！
我们脚下踏着自由的泥土，
我们头上飘扬着自由的旗帜，
敌寇除了倒下还能在哪里呼吸？
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