Britain is in a war / power struggle with Fate

Who is Britain? The people? The government?

Definition (n): a specific time of day dedicated to prayer, the ninth canonical hour being dedicated to God the Son. Originated with the Catholic tradition. 'Vesper' means 'evening' in Latin and was used to describe the time of evening prayers. The specific phrase 'vesper's nine' is unique to Coleridge's poem and means that the Albatross perched for nine days (or through nine vespers). KF

Definition (n): archaic form of 'corpse'

Definition (adv): by necessity, inevitably

Definition (adj): dry, withered KF

Definition (n): a clump of ivy KF

Definition (adj): devilish KF

Definition (adj): causing great horror or fear KF

Definition (adj): unquenched, unsatisfied

Defintion (v): to change the course of a boat or ship by turning its head into the wind

A phrase unique to this poem suggesting chaos, confusion, and impending defeat.

Definition (n): a fathom is a distance (depth) of 6 feet, thus nine fathoms would be 54 feet

Defintion (adj): uprisen, risen; (v): rose

Defintion (n): brave, chivalrous men

Definition: (v) to know (from the Scottish / Northern English); as a noun (n): one's range of knowledge or sight KF

Definition (v): to affirm or assert KF

Definition (n): a shouted greeting; literally a 'hello' KF

Definition (n): a band of musical performers and entertainers sometimes known as minstrels KF

Definition (n): a large seabird KF

Definition (n): An archaic term for 'swoon' or 'faint; also a mild oath or exclamation as is used in Shakespeare's Hamlet -- 'swounds' meaning 'God's wounds' KF

Definition (n): a church KF

Definition (n): a foolish or crazed person KF

Definition (n): someone who works on a boat or ship; a sailor KF

She is at one with nature and the earth.

The effects of time and aging

A deep sleep or trance.

Possible metaphor for his love, the focus of the poem. Or, it could be referring to his own spirit.