Question

What is the best summary of the following lines from 'Old Ironside'? 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-

1) The deck of Old Ironside was once covered in blood from fallen heroes and the defeated enemy.
2) The deck of Old Ironside was once a place of victory and defeat, but now it will never experience those emotions again.
3) The deck of Old Ironside was once a battleground, but now it is a peaceful and empty space.
4) The deck of Old Ironside was once a place of triumph and surrender, but now it is abandoned and forgotten.

Answer 1

The deck of Old Ironsides was once a place of victory and defeat, symbolized by the blood of heroes and enemies, but now it will no longer experience such events, representing an end to its storied past.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best summary of the lines from 'Old Ironsides' is that the deck was once a site of triumph and surrender, but will no longer witness such events. The lines suggest a past filled with heroism and defeat, marked by the blood of both heroes and foes. However, the future for Old Ironsides is devoid of these battles, indicating a sense of abandonment and the end of a significant era.