Question

To whom do you think Holmes is referring when he says "the harpies of the shore" at the end of the second stanza? Why would he call them that?

Excerpt: Old Ironsides
by Oliver Wendell Holmes

Ay, tear her tattered ensign1 down! Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see That banner in the sky;
Beneath it rung the battle shout, And burst the cannon's roar; The meteor of the ocean air Shall sweep the clouds no more!

Her deck, once red with heroes' blood, Where knelt the vanquished foe,
When winds were hurrying o'er the flood And waves were white below,
No more shall feel the victor's tread, Or know the conquered knee;
The harpies2 of the shore shall pluck The eagle of the sea!

Answer 1

Holmes talks about how the glory of the ship is that the "harpies of the shore" (greedy business men) will take the ship and use its scraps for profit. His meaning here is that the country is less safe without Old Ironsides patrolling the coast. The use of the word harpies shows that the motives of these people are not necessarily good and just, but rather selfish.

Hope this helps! :)