第8章

Andwhensheputherhorsetowardtheknight，Struckatherwithhiswhip，andshereturn\'dIndignanttotheQueen；whereatGeraintExclaiming，\'SurelyIwilllearnthename，\' Madesharplytothedwarf，andask\'ditofhim，Whoanswer\'dasbefore；andwhenthePrinceHadputhishorseinmotiontowardtheknight，Struckathimwithhiswhip，andcuthischeek。 ThePrince\'sbloodspirteduponthescarf，Dyeingit；andhisquick，instinctivehandCaughtatthehilt，astoabolishhim: Buthe，fromhisexceedingmanfulnessAndpurenobilityoftemperament，Wrothtobewrothatsuchaworm，refrain\'dFromev\'naword。\" Theself-restraintofGeraint，whodoesnotslaythedwarf，\"FromhisexceedingmanfulnessAndpurenobilityoftemperament，\" mayappear\"toopolite，\"andtoomuchinaccordwiththestillundiscoveredideaof\"leadingsweetlives。\"However，theuninventedideadoesoccurintheWelshoriginal:\"ThenGeraintputhishanduponthehiltofhissword，buthetookcounselwithhimself，andconsideredthatitwouldbenovengeanceforhimtoslaythedwarf，\" whilehealsoreflectsthathewouldbe\"attackedunarmedbythearmedknight。\"PerhapsTennysonmaybeblamedforomittingthisobviousmotiveforself-restraint。Geraintthereforefollowstheknightinhopeoffindingarms，andarrivesatthetownallbusywithpreparationsforthetournamentofthesparrow-hawk。Thiswasachallengesparrow-hawk:theknighthadwonittwice，andifhewonitthriceitwouldbehistokeep。Therest，inthetale，isexactlyfollowedintheIdyll。GeraintisentertainedbytheruinedYniol。 Theyouthbearsthe\"costrel\"fullof\"goodpurchasedmead\"(theruinedEarlnotbrewingforhimself)，andEnidcarriesthemanchetbreadinherveil，\"old，andbeginningtobewornout。\"AllTennyson\'sownisthebeautifulpassage- \"Andwhilehewaitedinthecastlecourt，ThevoiceofEnid，Yniol\'sdaughter，rangClearthro\'theopencasementofthehall，Singing；andasthesweetvoiceofabird，Heardbythelanderinalonelyisle，MoveshimtothinkwhatkindofbirditisThatsingssodelicatelyclear，andmakeConjectureoftheplumageandtheform； SothesweetvoiceofEnidmovedGeraint； AndmadehimlikeamanabroadatmornWhenfirsttheliquidnotebelovedofmenComesflyingovermanyawindywaveToBritain，andinAprilsuddenlyBreaksfromacoppicegemm\'dwithgreenandred，Andhesuspendshisconversewithafriend，Oritmaybethelabourofhishands，Tothinkorsay，\'Thereisthenightingale\'； SofareditwithGeraint，whothoughtandsaid，\'Here，byGod\'sgrace，istheonevoiceforme。\'\" Yniolfranklyadmitsinthetalethathewasinthewronginthequarrelwithhisnephew。Thepoet，however，giveshimtheright，asisnatural。ThecombatisexactlyfollowedintheIdyll，asisGeraint\'sinsistenceincarryinghisbridetoCourtinherfadedsilks。Geraint，however，leavesCourtwithEnid，notbecauseofthescandalaboutLancelot，buttodohisdutyinhisowncountry。Hebecomesindolentanduxorious，andEniddeploreshisweakness，andawakeshissuspicions，thus:- Andonemorninginthesummertimetheywereupontheircouch，andGeraintlayupontheedgeofit。AndEnidwaswithoutsleepintheapartmentwhichhadwindowsofglass。Andthesunshoneuponthecouch。Andtheclotheshadslippedfromoffhisarmsandhisbreast，andhewasasleep。Thenshegazeduponthemarvellousbeautyofhisappearance，andshesaid，\"Alas，andamIthecausethatthesearmsandthisbreasthavelosttheirgloryandthewarlikefamewhichtheyoncesorichlyenjoyed!\"Andasshesaidthis，thetearsdroppedfromhereyes，andtheyfelluponhisbreast。Andthetearssheshed，andthewordsshehadspoken，awokehim；andanotherthingcontributedtoawakenhim，andthatwastheideathatitwasnotinthinkingofhimthatshespokethus，butthatitwasbecauseshelovedsomeothermanmorethanhim，andthatshewishedforothersociety，andthereuponGeraintwastroubledinhismind，andhecalledhissquire；andwhenhecametohim，\"Goquickly，\"saidhe，\"andpreparemyhorseandmyarms，andmakethemready。Anddothouarise，\"saidhetoEnid，\"andapparelthyself；andcausethyhorsetobeaccoutred，andclothetheeintheworstriding-dressthatthouhastinthypossession。Andevilbetideme，\"saidhe，\"ifthoureturnesthereuntilthouknowestwhetherIhavelostmystrengthsocompletelyasthoudidstsay。Andifitbeso，itwillthenbeeasyfortheetoseekthesocietythoudidstwishforofhimofwhomthouwastthinking。\"Soshearose，andclothedherselfinhermeanestgarments。\"Iknownothing，Lord，\"saidshe，\"ofthymeaning。\" \"Neitherwiltthouknowatthistime，\"saidhe。 \"Atlast，itchancedthatonasummermorn(Theysleepingeachbyeither)thenewsunBeatthro\'theblindlesscasementoftheroom，Andheatedthestrongwarriorinhisdreams； Who，moving，castthecoverletaside，Andbaredtheknottedcolumnofhisthroat，Themassivesquareofhisheroicbreast，Andarmsonwhichthestandingmusclesloped，Asslopesawildbrooko\'eralittlestone，Runningtoovehementlytobreakuponit。 AndEnidwokeandsatbesidethecouch，Admiringhim，andthoughtwithinherself，Wasevermansograndlymadeashe？ Then，likeashadow，pastthepeople\'stalkAndaccusationofuxoriousnessAcrosshermind，andbowingoverhim，Lowtoherownheartpiteouslyshesaid: \'Onoblebreastandall-puissantarms，AmIthecause，IthepoorcausethatmenReproachyou，sayingallyourforceisgone？ IAMthecause，becauseIdarenotspeakAndtellhimwhatIthinkandwhattheysay。 AndyetIhatethatheshouldlingerhere； Icannotlovemylordandnothisname。 FarlieferhadIgirdhisharnessonhim，Andridewithhimtobattleandstandby，AndwatchhismightfulhandstrikinggreatblowsAtcaitiffsandatwrongersoftheworld。 FarbetterwereIlaidinthedarkearth，Nothearinganymorehisnoblevoice，Nottobefoldedmoreinthesedeararms，Anddarken\'dfromthehighlightinhiseyes，Thanthatmylordthro\'meshouldsuffershame。 AmIsobold，andcouldIsostandby，Andseemydearlordwoundedinthestrife，Ormaybepiercedtodeathbeforemineeyes，AndyetnotdaretotellhimwhatIthink，Andhowmenslurhim，sayingallhisforceIsmeltedintomereeffeminacy？ Ome，IfearthatIamnotruewife。\' Halfinwardly，halfaudiblyshespoke，AndthestrongpassioninhermadeherweepTruetearsuponhisbroadandnakedbreast，Andtheseawokehim，andbygreatmischanceHeheardbutfragmentsofherlaterwords，Andthatshefear\'dshewasnotatruewife。 Andthenhethought，\'Inspiteofallmycare，Forallmypains，poorman，forallmypains，Sheisnotfaithfultome，andIseeherWeepingforsomegayknightinArthur\'shall。\' Thentho\'helovedandreverencedhertoomuchTodreamshecouldbeguiltyoffoulact，Rightthro\'hismanfulbreastdartedthepangThatmakesaman，inthesweetfaceofherWhomhelovesmost，lonelyandmiserable。 Atthishehurl\'dhishugelimbsoutofbed，Andshookhisdrowsysquireawakeandcried，\'Mychargerandherpalfrey\'；thentoher，\'Iwillrideforthintothewilderness； Fortho\'itseemsmyspursareyettowin，Ihavenotfall\'nsolowassomewouldwish。 Andthou，putonthyworstandmeanestdressAndridewithme。\'AndEnidask\'d，amazed，\'IfEniderrs，letEnidlearnherfault。\' Buthe，\'Ichargethee，asknot，butobey。\' Thenshebethoughtherofafadedsilk，Afadedmantleandafadedveil，Andmovingtowardacedarncabinet，WhereinshekeptthemfoldedreverentlyWithsprigsofsummerlaidbetweenthefolds，Shetookthem，andarray\'dherselftherein，RememberingwhenfirsthecameonherDrestinthatdress，andhowhelovedherinit，Andallherfoolishfearsaboutthedress，Andallhisjourneytoher，ashimselfHadtoldher，andtheircomingtothecourt。\" Tennyson\'s\"Armsonwhichthestandingmusclesloped，Asslopesawildbrooko\'eralittlestone，Runningtoovehementlytobreakuponit，\" issuggestedperhapsbyTheocritus——\"Themusclesonhisbrawnyarmsstoodoutlikeroundedrocksthatthewintertorrenthasrolledandwornsmooth，inthegreatswirlingstream\"(Idyllxxii。) Thesecondpartofthepoemfollowstheoriginallessclosely。ThusLimours，inthetale，isnotanoldsuitorofEnid；Edyrndoesnotappeartotherescue；certaincruelgames，veiledinamagicmist，occurinthetale，andareomittedbythepoet；\"Gwyffertpetit，socalledbytheFranks，whomtheCymrycalltheLittleKing，\"inthetale，isnotacharacterintheIdyll，and，generally，thegrossCelticexaggerationsofGeraint\'sfeatsaretoneddownbyTennyson。 Inotherrespects，aswhenGerainteatsthemowers\'dinner，thetalesuppliesthematerials。Butitdoesnotdwelltenderlyonthereconciliation。Thetaleismoreorlessintheveinof\"patientGrizel，\"andhewhotolditismoreconcernedwiththefightingthanwithamorisredintegratio，andthesufferingsofEnid。TheIdyllisenrichedwithmanybeautifulpicturesfromnature，suchasthis:- \"ButattheflashandmotionofthemanTheyvanish\'dpanic-stricken，likeashoalOfdartingfish，thatonasummermornAdownthecrystaldykesatCamelotComeslippingo\'ertheirshadowsonthesand，ButifamanwhostandsuponthebrinkButliftashininghandagainstthesun，ThereisnotleftthetwinkleofafinBetwixtthecressyisletswhiteinflower； So，scaredbutatthemotionoftheman，FledallthebooncompanionsoftheEarl，Andlefthimlyinginthepublicway。\" InBalinandBalanTennysondisplaysgreatconstructivepower，andremarkableskillinmouldingthemostrecalcitrantmaterials。BalinorBalyn，accordingtoMrRhys，istheBelinusofGeoffreyofMonmouth，\"whosenamerepresentstheCelticdivinitydescribedinLatinasApolloBelenusorBelinus。\"{14}InGeoffrey，Belinus，euphemerised，orreducedfromgodtohero，hasabrother，Brennius，theCelticBran，KingofBritainfromCaithnesstotheHumber。 BelinusdrivesBranintoexile。\"ThusitisseenthatBelinusorBalynwas，mythologicallyspeaking，thenaturalenemy\"(asApolloBelinus，theradiantgod)\"ofthedarkdivinityBranorBalan。\" Ifthisviewbecorrect，thetwobrothersanswertothegoodandbadprinciplesofmythslikethatoftheHuronIouskehatheSun，andAnatensictheMoon，orratherTaouiscaraandIouskeha，thehostilebrothers，BlackandWhite。{15}Thesemythicalbrethrenare，inMalory，twoknightsofNorthumberland，BalinthewildandBalan。 TheiradventuresaremixedupwithahostileLadyoftheLake，whomBalinslaysinArthur\'spresence，withaswordwhichnonebutBalincandrawfromsheath；andwithanevilblack-facedknightGarlon，invisibleatwill，whomBalinslaysinthecastleoftheknight\'sbrother，KingPellam。PursuedfromroomtoroombyPellam，BalinfindshimselfinachamberfullofrelicsofJosephofArimathea。 Thereheseizesaspear，theveryspearwithwhichtheRomansoldierpiercedthesideoftheCrucified，andwoundsPellam。Thecastlefallsinruins\"throughthatdolorousstroke。\"Pellambecomesthemaimedking，whocanonlybehealedbytheHolyGrail。ApparentlyCelticmythsofobscureantiquityhavebeenadaptedinFrance，andinterwovenwithfablesaboutJosephofArimatheaandChristianmysteries。Itisnotpossibleheretogointothecomplicatedlearningofthesubject。InMalory，Balin，afterdealingthedolorousstroke，borrowsastrangeshieldfromaknight，and，thusaccoutred，meetshisbrotherBalan，whodoesnotrecognisehim。Theyfight，bothdieandareburiedinonetomb，andGalahadlaterachievestheadventureofwinningBalin\'ssword。\"ThusendeththetaleofBalynandofBalan，twobrethrenborninNorthumberland，goodknights，\"saysMalory，simply，andunconsciousofthestrangemythologicalmedleyunderthecoatarmourofromance。 Thematerials，then，seemedconfusedandobdurate，butTennysonworksthemintothecourseofthefatalloveofLancelotandGuinevere，andintothespiritualtextureoftheIdylls。BalinhasbeenexpelledfromCourtforthewildnessthatgiveshimhisname，BalinleSauvage。Hehadbuffetedasquireinhall。HeandBalanawaitallchallengersbesideawell。Arthurencountersanddismountsthem。 Balindevoteshimselftoself-conquest。ThencomestidingsthatPellam，ofoldleaguedwithLotagainstArthur，hastakentoreligion，collectsrelics，claimsdescentfromJosephofArimathea，andownsthesacredspearthatpiercedthesideofChrist。ButGarloniswithhim，theknightinvisible，whoappearstocomefromanIrishsource，oratleasthasaparallelinIrishlegend。ThisGarlonhasanunknightlywayofkillingmenbyviewlessblowsfromtherear。BalangoestoencounterGarlon。Balinremains，learningcourtesy，modellinghimselfonLancelot，andgainingleavetobearGuinevere\'sCrownMatrimonialforhiscognisance，——which，ofcourse，Balandoesnotknow，- \"Asgoldenearnestofabetterlife。\" ButBalinseesreasontothinkthatLancelotandGuinevereloveeventoowell。 \"Thenchanced，onemorning，thatSirBalinsatClose-bower\'dinthatgardennighthehall。 Awalkofrosesranfromdoortodoor； Awalkofliliescrostittothebower: AnddownthatrangeofrosesthegreatQueenCamewithslowsteps，themorningonherface； AndallinshadowfromthecounterdoorSirLancelotastomeether，thenatonce，Asifhesawnot，glancedaside，andpacedThelongwhitewalkofliliestowardthebower。 Follow\'dtheQueen；SirBalinheardher\'Prince，ArtthousolittleloyaltothyQueen，AspasswithoutgoodmorrowtothyQueen？\' TowhomSirLancelotwithhiseyesonearth，\'FainwouldIstillbeloyaltotheQueen。\' \'Yeaso，\'shesaid，\'butsotopassmeby- Soloyalscarceisloyaltothyself，Whomallmenratethekingofcourtesy。 Letbe:yestand，fairlord，asinadream。\' ThenLancelotwithhishandamongtheflowers，\'Yea——foradream。LastnightmethoughtIsawThatmaidenSaintwhostandswithlilyinhandInyondershrine。Allroundherprestthedark，AndallthelightuponhersilverfaceFlow\'dfromthespirituallilythatsheheld。 Lo!theseheremblemsdrewmineeyes——away: Forsee，howperfect-pure!AslightaflushAshardlytintstheblossomofthequinceWouldmartheircharmofstainlessmaidenhood。\' \'Sweetertome，\'shesaid，\'thisgardenroseDeep-huedandmany-foldedsweeterstillThewild-woodhyacinthandthebloomofMay。 Prince，wehaveridd\'nbeforeamongtheflowersInthosefairdays——notallascoolasthese，Tho\'season-earlier。Artthousad？orsick？ OurnobleKingwillsendtheehisownleech- Sick？orforanymatteranger\'datme？\' ThenLancelotliftedhislargeeyes；theydweltDeep-trancedonhers，andcouldnotfall:herhueChangedathisgaze:soturningsidebysideTheypast，andBalinstartedfromhisbower。 \'Queen？subject？butIseenotwhatIsee。 Damselandlover？hearnotwhatIhear。 Myfatherhathbegottenmeinhiswrath。 Isufferfromthethingsbeforeme，know，Learnnothing；amnotworthytobeknight； Achurl，aclown!\'andinhimgloomongloomDeepen\'d:hesharplycaughthislanceandshield，Norstay\'dtocravepermissionoftheKing，But，madforstrangeadventure，dash\'daway。\" Balinis\"disillusioned，\"hisfaithintheIdealisshakenifnotshattered。Heridesatadventure。Arrivingatthehalf-ruinedcastleofPellam，thatdubiousdevotee，hehearsGarloninsultGuinevere，butrestrainshimself。Nextday，againinsultedforbearing\"thecrownscandalous\"onhisshield，hestrikesGarlondown，ispursued，seizesthesacredspear，andescapes。Vivienmeetshiminthewoods，dropsscandalinhisears，andsomaddenshimthathedefaceshisshieldwiththecrownofGuinevere。Hersong，andherwords，\"ThisfireofHeaven，Thisoldsun-worship，boy，willriseagain，Andbeatthecrosstoearth，andbreaktheKingAndallhisTable，\" mightbeforcedintoanallegoryoftherevivedprideoflife，attheRenaissanceandafter。ThemaddenedyellsofBalinstriketheearofBalan，whothinkshehasmetthefoulknightGarlon，that\"TramplesonthegoodlyshieldtoshowHisloathingofourOrderandtheQueen。\" Theyfight，fatallywound，andfinallyrecogniseeachother:BalantryingtorestoreBalin\'sfaithinGuinevere，whoismerelyslanderedbyGarlonandVivien。Balinacknowledgesthathiswildnesshasbeentheircommonbane，andtheydie，\"eitherlockedineither\'sarms。\" ThereisnothinginMalory，norinanyothersource，sofarasIamaware，whichsuggestedtoTennysontheclouofthesituation——theuseofGuinevere\'scrownasacognisancebyBalin。ThisdeviceenablesthepoettoweavetheratherconfusedandunintelligibleadventuresofBalinandBalanintothescheme，andtomakeitastageintheprogressofhisfable。ThatBalinwasrecklessandwildMalorybearswitness，buthisendeavourstoconquerhimselfandreachtheidealsetbyLancelotareTennyson\'saddition，withallthetragedyofBalin\'sdisenchantmentanddespair。ThestrangefantastichouseofPellam，fullofthemostsacredthings，\"InwhichhescarcecouldspytheChristforSaints，\" yetshelteringthehumanfiendGarlon，issuppliedbyMalory，whosepredecessorsprobablyblendedmorethanonemythoftheoldCymryintotheromance，washedoverwithChristiancolouring。AsMalorytellsthispartofthetaleitisperhapsmorestrangeandeffectivethanintheIdyll。TheintroductionofVivienintothisadventureiswhollyduetoTennyson:herappearancehereleadsuptohertriumphinthepoemwhichfollows，MerlinandVivien。 ThenatureandoriginofMerlinaresomethingofamystery。HintsandrumoursofMerlin，asofArthur，streamfromhillandgraveasfarnorthasTweedside。Ifhewasahistoricalperson，mythsofmagicmightcrystalliseroundhim，asroundVirgilinItaly。TheprocesswouldbetheeasierinacountrywherethepracticesofDruidrystilllingered，andrevivedaftertheretreatoftheRomans。 ThemediaevalromancersinventedalegendthatMerlinwasavirgin- bornchildofSatan。InTennysonhemaybeguessedtorepresentthefabledesotericloreofoldreligions，withtheirvaguepantheisms，andsuchmagicasthetapasofBrahmaniclegends。Heiswisewithariddlingevasivewisdom:thebuilderofCamelot，theprophet，ashadowofDruidryclingingtotheChristianking。Hiswisdomcannotavailhim:ifhebeholds\"hisownmischancewithaglassycountenance，\"hecannotavoidhisshapenfate。HebecomesassottedofVivien，andgoesopen-eyedtohisdoom。 Theenchantress，Vivien，isoneofthatdubiouscompanyofLadiesoftheLake，nowfriendly，nowtreacherous。ProbablytheseladiesarethefairiesofpopularCeltictradition，takenupintothemoreelaboratepoetryofCymricliteratureandmediaevalromance。MrRhystracesVivien，orNimue，orNyneue，back，throughaseriesofpalaeographicchangesanderrors，toRhiannon，wifeofPwyll，akindofladyofthelakehethinks，buttheidentificationisnotverysatisfactory。Vivieniscertainly\"oneofthedamselsofthelake\" inMalory，andthedamselsofthelakeseemtobelakefairies，withalltheirbeguilementsandstrangeunstableloves。\"AndalwaysMerlinlayabouttheladytohavehermaidenhood，andshewaseverpassingwearyofhim，andfainwouldhavebeendeliveredofhim，forshewasafraidofhimbecausehewasadevil\'sson……SobyhersubtleworkingshemadeMerlintogounderthatstonetoletherwitofthemarvelsthere，butshewroughtsothereforhimthathecameneveroutforallthecrafthecoulddo。AndsoshedepartedandleftMerlin。\"ThesympathyofMaloryisnotwiththeenchanter。IntheIdylls，asfinallypublished，Vivienisbornonabattlefieldofdeath，withanatureperverted，andaninstinctivehatredofthegood。WhereforesheleavestheCourtofKingMarktomakemischiefinCamelot。Sheis，infact，theidealminx，acharacternotelsewheretreatedbyTennyson:- \"Shehatedalltheknights，andheardinthoughtTheirlavishcommentwhenhernamewasnamed。 Foronce，whenArthurwalkingallalone，VextatarumourissuedfromherselfOfsomecorruptioncreptamonghisknights，Hadmether，Vivien，beinggreetedfair，WouldfainhavewroughtuponhiscloudymoodWithreverenteyesmock-loyal，shakenvoice，Andflutter\'dadoration，andatlastWithdarksweethintsofsomewhoprizedhimmoreThanwhoshouldprizehimmost；atwhichtheKingHadgazeduponherblanklyandgoneby: Butonehadwatch\'d，andhadnotheldhispeace: ItmadethelaughterofanafternoonThatVivienshouldattempttheblamelessKing。 Andafterthat，shesetherselftogainHim，themostfamousmanofallthosetimes，Merlin，whoknewtherangeofalltheirarts，HadbuilttheKinghishavens，ships，andhalls，WasalsoBard，andknewthestarryheavens； Thepeoplecall\'dhimWizard；whomatfirstSheplay\'daboutwithslightandsprightlytalk，Andvividsmiles，andfaintly-venom\'dpointsOfslander，glancinghereandgrazingthere； Andyieldingtohiskindliermoods，theSeerWouldwatchheratherpetulance，andplay，Ev\'nwhentheyseem\'dunloveable，andlaughAsthosethatwatchakitten；thushegrewTolerantofwhathehalfdisdain\'d，andshe，Perceivingthatshewasbuthalfdisdain\'d，Begantobreakhersportswithgraverfits，Turnredorpale，wouldoftenwhentheymetSighfully，orall-silentgazeuponhimWithsuchafixtdevotion，thattheoldman，Tho\'doubtful，felttheflattery，andattimesWouldflatterhisownwishinageforlove，Andhalfbelievehertrue:forthusattimesHewaver\'d；butthatotherclungtohim，Fixtinherwill，andsotheseasonswent。\" Vivienismodernenough——ifanytypeofcharacterismodern:atalleventsthereisnosuchBlancheAmoryofagirlintheoldlegendsandromances。IntheseMerlinfatiguestheladybyhislove；shelearnshisarts，andgetsridofhimasshecan。HisforebodingsintheIdyllcontainamagnificentimage:- \"Therelaysheallherlengthandkiss\'dhisfeet，Asifindeepestreverenceandinlove。