第10章

BehappyinthyfairQueenasIinmine。\' AndTristramroundthegallerymadehishorseCaracole；thenbow\'dhishomage，bluntlysaying，\'Fairdamsels，eachtohimwhoworshipseachSoleQueenofBeautyandoflove，beholdThisdaymyQueenofBeautyisnothere。\' Andmostoftheseweremute，someanger\'d，oneMurmuring，\'Allcourtesyisdead，\'andone，\'ThegloryofourRoundTableisnomore。\' Thenfellthickrain，plumedrooptandmantleclung，Andpettishcriesawoke，andthewandayWentgloomingdowninwetandweariness: ButunderherblackbrowsaswarthyoneLaugh\'dshrilly，crying，\'Praisethepatientsaints，OuronewhitedayofInnocencehathpast，Tho\'somewhatdraggledattheskirt。Sobeit。 Thesnowdroponly，floweringthro\'theyear，WouldmaketheworldasblankasWinter-tide。 Come——letusgladdentheirsadeyes，ourQueen\'sAndLancelot\'s，atthisnight\'ssolemnityWithallthekindliercoloursofthefield。\'\" Arthur\'slastvictoryoverarobberknightisingloriouslysqualid:- \"Heended:Arthurknewthevoice；thefaceWellnighwashelmet-hidden，andthenameWentwanderingsomewheredarklinginhismind。 AndArthurdeign\'dnotuseofwordorsword，Butletthedrunkard，ashestretch\'dfromhorseTostrikehim，overbalancinghisbulk，DownfromthecausewayheavilytotheswampFall，asthecrestofsomeslow-archingwave，Heardindeadnightalongthattable-shore，Dropsflat，andafterthegreatwatersbreakWhiteningforhalfaleague，andthinthemselves，Faroversandsmarbledwithmoonandcloud，Fromlessandlesstonothing；thushefellHead-heavy；thentheknights，whowatch\'dhim，roar\'dAndshoutedandleaptdownuponthefall\'n； Theretrampledouthisfacefrombeingknown，Andsankhisheadinmire，andslimedthemselves: NorheardtheKingfortheirowncries，butsprangThro\'opendoors，andswordingrightandleftMen，women，ontheirsoddenfaces，hurl\'dThetablesoverandthewines，andslewTillalltheraftersrangwithwoman-yells，Andallthepavementstream\'dwithmassacre: Then，echoingyellwithyell，theyfiredthetower，Whichhalfthatautumnnight，liketheliveNorth，Red-pulsingupthro\'AliothandAlcor，Madeallaboveit，andahundredmeresAboutit，asthewaterMoabsawComeroundbytheEast，andoutbeyondthemflush\'dThelonglowdune，andlazy-plungingsea。\" GuinevereisoneofthegreatestoftheIdylls。MalorymakesLancelotmoresympathetic；hisfight，unarmed，inGuinevere\'schamber，againstthefelonknights，isoneofhismostspiritedscenes。Tennysonomitsthis，andomitsalltheunpardonablebehaviourofArthurasnarratedinMalory。CriticshaveusuallycondemnedthelastpartingofGuinevereandArthur，becausetheKingdothpreachtoomuchtoanunhappywomanwhohasnoreply。ThepositionofArthurisnoteasilyredeemable:itisdifficulttoconceivethatanoblenaturecouldbe，orshouldbe，blindsolong。 HedoesrehabilitatehisQueeninherownself-respect，perhaps，byassuringherthathelovesherstill:- \"LetnomandreambutthatIlovetheestill。\" Hadhesaidthatonelineandnomore，wemighthavelovedhimbetter。IntheIdyllswehavenotMalory\'slastmeetingofLancelotandGuinevere，oneofthescenesinwhichthewanderingcompositeromanceendsasnoblyastheIliad。 ThePassingofArthur，exceptforanewintroductorypassageofgreatbeautyandappropriateness，istheMorted\'Arthur，firstpublishedin1842:- \"Soalldaylongthenoiseofbattleroll\'dAmongthemountainsbythewintersea。\" Theyearhasrunitscourse，spring，summer，gloomyautumn，anddiesinthemistofArthur\'slastwintrybattleinthewest- \"Andthenewsunrose，bringingthenewyear。\" Thesplendidandsombreprocessionhaspassed，leavingustomuseastohowfarthepoethasfulfilledhisownideal。Therecouldbenonewepic:hegaveachainofheroicIdylls。Anepictherecouldnotbe，fortheIliadandOdysseyhaveeachaunityoftheme，anarrativecompressedintoafewdaysintheformer，inthelatterintofortydaysoftime。ThetragedyofArthur\'sreigncouldnotsobecondensed；andTennysonchosetheonlyfeasibleplan。Hehasleftawork，notabsolutelyperfect，indeed，butsuchasheconceived，aftermanytentativeessays，andsuchashedesiredtoachieve。HisfamemaynotrestchieflyontheIdylls，buttheyformoneofthefairestjewelsinthecrownthatshineswithunnumberedgems，eachwithitsownglory。 CHAPTERVIII——ENOCHARDEN。THEDRAMAS。 ThesuccessofthefirstvolumeoftheIdyllsrecompensedthepoetfortheslingsandarrowsthatgaveMaudahostilewelcome。HisnextpublicationwasthebeautifulTithonus，afitpendanttotheUlysses，andcomposedaboutthesamedate(1833-35)。\"Aquarterofacenturyago，\"Tennysondatesit，writingin1860totheDukeofArgyll。Hehadfounditwhen\"ferretingamongmyoldbooks，\"hesaid，insearchofsomethingforThackeray，whowasestablishingtheCornhillMagazine。Whatmustthewealthofthepoethavebeen，who，possessingTithonusinhisportfolio，didnottakethetroubletoinsertitinthevolumesof1842!NobodyknowshowmanypoemsofTennyson\'sneverevensawpenandink，beingcomposedunwritten，andforgotten。AtthistimewefindhimrecommendingMrBrowning\'sMenandWomentotheDuke，who，likemanyTennysonians，doesnotseemtohavebeenareadyconverttohisgreatcontemporary。TheDukeandDuchessurgedtheLaureatetoattemptthetopicoftheHolyGrail，buthewasnotinthemood。IndeedthevisionoftheGrailintheearlySirGalahadisdoubtlesshappierthantheallegoricalhandlingofathemesoobscure，remote，anddifficult，intheIdylls。HewrotehisBoadicea，apiecemagnificentinitself，butofdifficultpopularaccess，owingtothemetricalexperiment。 Intheautumnof1860herevisitedCornwallwithF。T。Palgrave，MrValPrinsep，andMrHolmanHunt。Theywalkedintherain，sawTintagelandtheScillyIsles，andwerefetedbyanenthusiasticcaptainofalittleriversteamer，whowasmoreinterestedin\"MrTinmanandMrPancake\"thantheCelticboatmanofArdtornish。ThewinterwaspassedatFarringford，andtheNorthernFarmerwaswrittenthere，aLincolnshirereminiscence，intheFebruaryof1861。InautumnthePyreneeswerevisitedbyTennysonincompanywithArthurCloughandMrDakynsofCliftonCollege。AtCauteretzinAugust，andamongmemoriesoftheoldtourwithArthurHallam，waswrittenAllalongtheValley。Theways，however，inAuvergnewere\"foul，\"andthediet\"unhappy。\"ThededicationoftheIdyllswaswrittenonthedeathofthePrinceConsortinDecember，andinJanuary1862theOdefortheopeningofanexhibition。Thepoetwasbusywithhis\"Fisherman，\"EnochArden。Thevolumewaspublishedin1864，andLordTennysonsaysithasbeen，nexttoInMemoriam，themostpopularofhisfather\'sworks。Onewouldhaveexpectedtheonevolumecontainingthepoemsupto1842toholdthatplace。Thenewbook，however，mainlydealtwithEnglish，contemporary，anddomesticthemes——\"thepoetryoftheaffections。\"Anoldwoman，adistrictvisitorreported，regardedEnochArdenas\"morebeautiful\"thantheothertractswhichwerereadtoher。Itisindeedatenderandtouchingtale，basedonafolk-storywhichTennysonfoundcurrentinBrittanyaswellasinEngland。Noristheunseenandunknownlandscapeofthetropicislelesshappilycreatedbythepoet\'simaginationthanthefamiliarEnglishcliffsandhazelcopses:- \"Themountainwoodedtothepeak，thelawnsAndwindinggladeshighuplikewaystoHeaven，Theslendercoco\'sdroopingcrownofplumes，Thelightningflashofinsectandofbird，ThelustreofthelongconvolvulusesThatcoil\'daroundthestatelystems，andranEv\'ntothelimitoftheland，theglowsAndgloriesofthebroadbeltoftheworld，Allthesehesaw；butwhathefainhadseenHecouldnotsee，thekindlyhumanface，Noreverhearakindlyvoice，butheardThemyriadshriekofwheelingocean-fowl，Theleague-longrollerthunderingonthereef，Themovingwhisperofhugetreesthatbranch\'dAndblossom\'dinthezenith，orthesweepOfsomeprecipitousrivulettothewave，Asdowntheshoreheranged，oralldaylongSatoftenintheseaward-gazinggorge，Ashipwreck\'dsailor，waitingforasail: Nosailfromdaytoday，buteverydayThesunrisebrokenintoscarletshaftsAmongthepalmsandfernsandprecipices； Theblazeuponthewaterstotheeast； Theblazeuponhisislandoverhead； Theblazeuponthewaterstothewest； ThenthegreatstarsthatglobedthemselvesinHeaven，Thehollower-bellowingocean，andagainThescarletshaftsofsunrise——butnosail。\" Aylmer\'sFieldsomewhatrecallstheburdenofMaud，thecurseofpurse-proudwealth，butistoogloomytobeafairspecimenofTennyson\'sart。InSeaDreams(firstpublishedin1860)theawfulvisionofcrumblingfaithsissomewhatoutofharmonywithitsenvironment:- \"ButroundtheNorth，alight，Abelt，itseem\'d，ofluminousvapour，lay，AndeverinitalowmusicalnoteSwell\'dupanddied；and，asitswell\'d，aridgeOfbreakerissuedfromthebelt，andstillGrewwiththegrowingnote，andwhenthenoteHadreach\'dathunderousfulness，onthosecliffsBroke，mixtwithawfullight(thesameasthatLivingwithinthebelt)wherebyshesawThatallthoselinesofcliffswerecliffsnomore，Buthugecathedralfrontsofeveryage，Grave，florid，stern，asfaraseyecouldsee，Oneafterone:andthenthegreatridgedrew，Lesseningtothelesseningmusic，back，Andpastintothebeltandswell\'dagainSlowlytomusic:everwhenitbrokeThestatues，kingorsaintorfounderfell； ThenfromthegapsandchasmsofruinleftCamemenandwomenindarkclustersround，Somecrying，\'Setthemup!theyshallnotfall!\' Andothers，\'Letthemlie，fortheyhavefall\'n。\' Andstilltheystroveandwrangled:andshegrievedInherstrangedream，sheknewnotwhy，tofindTheirwildestwailingsneveroutoftuneWiththatsweetnote；andeverastheirshrieksRanhighestupthegamut，thatgreatwaveReturning，whilenonemark\'dit，onthecrowdBroke，mixtwithawfullight，andshow\'dtheireyesGlaring，andpassionatelooks，andsweptawayThemenoffleshandblood，andmenofstone，Tothewastedeepstogether。 \'ThenIfixtMywistfuleyesontwofairimages，Bothcrown\'dwithstarsandhighamongthestars，- TheVirginMotherstandingwithherchildHighupononeofthosedarkminster-fronts- Tillshebegantototter，andthechildClungtothemother，andsentoutacryWhichmixtwithlittleMargaret\'s，andIwoke，Andmydreamawedme:——well——butwhataredreams？\" ThepassageisratherfittedforadespairingmoodofArthur，intheIdylls，thanforthewifeofthecityclerkruinedbyapiousrogue。 TheLucretius，laterpublished，isbeyondpraiseasamasterlystudyofthegreatRomansceptic，whoseheartisateternaloddswithhisEpicureancreed。Nascentmadness，orfeverofthebraindruggedbytheblunderinglovephiltre，isnotmorecunninglytreatedinthemadscenesofMaud。NoprosecommentaryontheDeRerumNatura，howeverlongandlearned，conveyssoclearlyasthisconcisestudyinversethesenseofmagnificentmingledruininthemindandpoemoftheRoman。 The\"ExperimentsinQuantity\"were，perhaps，suggestedbyMrMatthewArnold\'sLecturesontheTranslatingofHomer。MrArnoldbelievedinatranslationintoEnglishhexameters。Hisnegativecriticismofothertranslatorsandtranslationswasamusingandinstructive:hehadaneasygametoplaywiththeYankee-doodlemetreofF。W。 Newman，theponderousblankverseofCowper，thetrippingandclippingcoupletsofPope，theElizabethanfantasiesofChapman。ButMrArnold\'shexameterswereneithermusicalnorrapid:theyonlyexhibitedanewformoffailure。AsthePrinceofAbyssiniasaidtohistutor，\"Enough；youhaveconvincedmethatnomancanbeapoet，\" soMrArnoldwentsomewaytoprovethatnomancantranslateHomer。 TennysonhadthelowestopinionofhexametersasanEnglishmetreforseriouspurposes。 \"Theselamehexametersthestrong-wing\'dmusicofHomer!\" LordTennysonsays，\"GermanhexametershedislikedevenmorethanEnglish。\"Indeedthereisnotmuchroomforpreference。Tennyson\'sAlcaics(Milton)wereintendedtofollowtheGreekratherthantheHoratianmodel，andresulted，atallevents，inapoemworthyofthe\"mighty-mouth\'dinventorofharmonies。\"ThespecimenoftheIliadinblankverse，beautifulasitis，doesnot，somehow，reproducethemusicofHomer。ItisentirelyTennysonian，asin\"Roll\'dtherichvapourfarintotheheaven。\" Thereader，inthatoneline，recognisesthevoiceandtrickoftheEnglishpoet，andisfarawayfromtheChian:- \"AswheninheaventhestarsaboutthemoonLookbeautiful，whenallthewindsarelaid，Andeveryheightcomesout，andjuttingpeakAndvalley，andtheimmeasurableheavensBreakopentotheirhighest，andallthestarsShine，andtheShepherdgladdensinhisheart: SomanyafirebetweentheshipsandstreamOfXanthusblazedbeforethetowersofTroy，Athousandontheplain；andclosebyeachSatfiftyintheblazeofburningfire； Andeatinghoarygrainandpulsethesteeds，Fixtbytheircars，waitedthegoldendawn。\" Thisisexcellent，ispoetry，escapestheconceitsofPope(whonever\"wrotewithhiseyeontheobject\")，butispureTennyson。Wehavenotyet，probablywenevershallhave，anadequaterenderingoftheIliadintoverse，andprosetranslationsdonotpretendtobeadequate。WhenparentsanddominieshaveabolishedthestudyofGreek，something，itseems，willhavebeenlosttotheworld，—— somethingwhichevenTennysoncouldnotrestoreinEnglish。Hethoughtblankversetheproperequivalent；butitisnoequivalent Oneevenprefershisownprose:- NordidParislingerinhisloftyhalls，butwhenhehadgirtonhisgorgeousarmour，allofvariedbronze，thenherushedthro\'thecity，gloryinginhisairyfeet。Andaswhenastall-kepthorse，thatisbarley-fedatthemanger，breakethhistether，anddasheththro\'theplain，spurningit，beingwonttobathehimselfinthefair-runningriver，rioting，andrearethhishead，andhismanefliethbackoneithershoulder，andhegloriethinhisbeauty，andhiskneesbearhimatthegalloptothehauntsandmeadowsofthemares；soranthesonofPriam，Paris，fromtheheightofPergamus，allinarms，glitteringlikethesun，laughingforlight-heartedness，andhisswiftfeetbarehim。 InFebruary1865TennysonlostthemotherwhoseportraithedrewinIsabel，——\"athingenskiedandsainted。\" Intheautumnof1865theTennysonswentonaContinentaltour，andvisitedWaterloo，Weimar，andDresden；inSeptembertheyentertainedEmmaI。，QueenoftheSandwichIslands。Themonthspassedquietlyathomeorintown。ThepoethadwrittenhisLucretius，and，topleaseSirGeorgeGrove，wroteTheSongoftheWrens，formusic。TennysonhadnotthatpositiveaversiontomusicwhichmarkedDrJohnson，VictorHugo，TheophileGautier，andsomeotherpoets。Nay，helikedBeethoven，whichplaceshimhigherinthemusicalscalethanScott，whodidnotriseaboveaBorderliltoraJacobiteditty。TheWrensongs，entitledTheWindow，wereprivatelyprintedbySirIvorGuestin1867，weresettomusicbySirArthurSullivan，andpublishedbyStrahaninDecember1870。\"Apuppet，\"Tennysoncalledthesong-book，\"whoseonlymeritis，perhaps，thatitcandancetoMrSullivan\'sinstrument。Iamsorrythatmypuppetshouldhavetodanceatallinthedarkshadowofthesedays\"(thesiegeofParis)，\"butthemusicisnowcompleted，andIamboundbymypromise。\"Theversesaredescribedas\"partlyintheoldstyle，\"butthetrueoldstyleoftheElizabethanandcavalierdaysislost。 Inthesummerof1867theTennysonsmovedtoafarmhousenearHaslemere，atthattimenotacentreofliteraryLondoners。\"Sandysoilandheather-scentedair\"alluredthem，andtheresultwasthepurchaseofland，andthebuildingofAldworth，MrKnowlesbeingthearchitect。InautumnTennysonvisitedLymeRegis，and，likeallothertravellersthither，madeapilgrimagetotheCobb，sacredtoLouisaMusgrove。ThepoetnowbeganthestudyofHebrew，havingamindtotranslatetheBookofJob，avisionunfulfilled。In1868hethoughtofpublishinghisboyishpiece，TheLover\'sTale，butdelayed。Ananonymouslyeditedpiracyofthisandotherpoemswasperpetratedin1875，limited，atleastnominally，tofiftycopies。 InJulyLongfellowvisitedTennyson。\"TheLongfellowsandhetalkedmuchofspiritualism，forhewasgreatlyinterestedinthatsubject，buthesuspendedhisjudgment，andthoughtthat，ifinsuchmanifestationsthereisanything，\'Pucks，notthespiritsofdeadmen，revealthemselves。\'\"ThiswasSouthey\'ssuggestion，asregardsthecelebrateddisturbancesinthehouseoftheWesleys。\"Witmighthavemuchtosay，wisdom，little，\"saidSamWesley。ProbablythetalkaboutDavidDunglasHome，the\"medium\"theninvogue，ledtothediscussionof\"spiritualism。\"WedonothearthatTennysoneverhadthecuriositytoseeHome，whomMrBrowningsofirmlydetested。 InSeptemberTheHolyGrailwasbegun:itwasfinished\"inaboutaweek。Itcamelikeabreathofinspiration。\"Thesubjecthadformanyyearsbeenturnedaboutinthepoet\'smind，which，ofcourse，wasbusyintheseyearsofapparentinactivity。Atthistime(August1868)Tennysonlefthisoldpublishers，theMoxons，forMrStrahan，whoenduredtill1872。ThenhewassucceededbyMessrsH。S。King& Co。，whogaveplace(1879)toMessrsKeganPaul&Co。，whilein1884 MessrsMacmillanbecame，andcontinuetobe，thepublishers。Afewpieces，exceptLucretius(Macmillan\'sMagazine，May1868) unimportant，appearedinserials。 Veryearlyin1869TheComingofArthurwascomposed，whileTennysonwasreadingBrowning\'sTheRingandtheBook。Heandhisgreatcontemporarywereontermsofaffectionatefriendship，thoughTennyson，perhaps，appreciatedlessofBrowningthanBrowningofTennyson。Meanwhile\"OldFitz\"keptupafireofunsympatheticgrowlsatBrowningandallhisworks。\"Ihavebeentryinginvaintoreadit\"(TheRingandtheBook)，\"andyettheAthenaeumtellsmeitiswonderfullyfine。\"FitzGerald\'splyhadbeentakenlongago；hewantedverbalmusicinpoetry(noexorbitantdesire)，while，inBrowning，carminadesunt。Perhaps，too，apersonalfeeling，asifBrowningwasTennyson\'srival，affectedthejudgmentoftheauthorofOmarKhayyam。Wemayalmostcallhim\"theauthor。\" TheHolyGrail，withthesmallerpoems，suchasLucretius，waspublishedattheendof1869。FitzGeraldappearstohavepreferredTheNorthernFarmer，\"thesubstantialrough-spunnatureIknew，\"toallthevisionaryknightsintheairyQuest。Tocompare\"——\" (obviouslyBrowning)withTennyson，was\"tocompareanoldJew\'scuriosityshopwiththePhidianMarbles。\"Tennyson\'spoems\"beingcleartothebottomaswellasbeautiful，donotseemtocockneyeyessodeepasmuddywaters。\" InNovember1870TheLastTournamentwasbegun；itwasfinishedinMay1871。ConceivablythevulgarscandalsofthelastdaysoftheFrenchImperialregimemayhaveinfluencedTennyson\'spictureofthecorruptionofArthur\'sCourt；buttheEmpiredidnotbegin，liketheRoundTable，withaspirationsaftertheIdeal。IntheautumnoftheyearTennysonentertained，andwasentertainedby，MrHuxley。Intheirideasaboutultimatethingstwomencouldnotvarymorewidely，buteachdelightedintheother\'ssociety。Inthespringof1872 TennysonvisitedParisandtheruinsoftheLouvre。HereadVictorHugo，andAlfreddeMusset，whosecomediesheadmired。Thelittlethatwehearofhisopinionoftheothergreatpoetrunstothiseffect，\"VictorHugoisanunequalgenius，sometimessublime；heremindsonethatthereisbutonestepbetweenthesublimeandtheridiculous，\"buttheexamplebywhichTennysonillustratedthiswasderivedfromoneofthepoet\'snovels。Inthesewemeetnotonlythesublimeandtheridiculous，butpassageswhichleaveusinsomeperplexityastotheirtruecategory。OnewouldhaveexpectedHugo\'slyricstobeTennyson\'sfavourites，butonlyGastibelzaismentionedinthatcharacter。AtthistimeTennysonwasvexedby\"ArtwithpoisonoushoneystolenfromFrance，\" aphrasewhichcannotapplytoHugo。MeanwhileGarethwasbeingwritten，andtheknight\'ssongforTheComingofArthur。GarethandLynette，withminorpieces，appearedin1872。BalinandBalanwascomposedlater，toleaduptoVivien，towhich，perhaps，BalinandBalanwasintroductionsufficienthaditbeentheearlierwritten。 ButtheIdyllshavealreadybeendiscussedasarrangedinsequence。 ThecompletionoftheIdylls，withthepatrioticepilogue，wasfollowedbytheofferofabaronetcy。Tennysonpreferredthatheandhiswife\"shouldremainplainMrandMrs，\"though\"IhopethatIhavetoomuchoftheold-worldloyaltynottowearmylady\'sfavoursagainstallcomers，shouldyouthinkthatitwouldbemoreagreeabletoherMajestythatIshoulddoso。\" TheIdyllsended，Tennysonin1874begantocontemplateadrama，choosingthetopic，perhapsneitherpopularnorinanAristoteliansensetragic，ofMaryTudor。Thisplaywaspublished，andputonthestagebySirHenryIrvingin1875。Haroldfollowedin1876，TheCupin1881(attheLyceum)，ThePromiseofMay(attheGlobe)in1882，Becketin1884，withTheForestersin1892。ItseemsbesttoconsiderallthedramaticperiodofTennyson\'swork，aperiodreachedsostrangelylateinhiscareer，inthesequenceofthePlays。ThetaskisonefromwhichIshrink，asconsciousofentireignoranceofthestageandoflackofenthusiasmforthedrama。Greatdramaticauthorshave，almostinvariably，hadlongpracticalknowledgeofthescenesandofwhatisbehindthem。Shakespeareandhiscontemporaries，Moliereandhiscontemporaries，hadlivedtheirlivesontheboardsandinthefoyer，actorsthemselves，orindailytouchwithactorsandactresses。Inthepresentdaysuccessfulplaywrightsappeartolivemuchintheworldoftheplayers。Theyhavepracticalknowledgeoftheconventionsandconditionswhichthestageimposes。 NeitherBrowningnorMrSwinburne(totakegreatnames)hashad，itseems，muchofthispracticalanddailyexperience；theirdramashavebeenactedbutrarely，ifatall，andmanyexamplesprovethatneitherpoeticalgeniusnorthegeniusforprosefictioncanenablementoproduceplayswhichholdtheirownontheboards。Thismaybethefaultofpublictaste，orpartlyofpublictaste，partlyofdefectinpracticalknowledgeonthesideoftheauthors。Ofthestage，bywayofpractice，Tennysonhadknownnexttonothing，yethisdramaswerewrittentobeacted，andactedsomeofthemwere。 \"Forhimself，hewasaware，\"sayshisbiographer，\"thathewantedintimateknowledgeofthemechanicaldetailsnecessaryforthemodernstage，althoughinearlyandmiddlelifehehadbeenaconstantplaygoer，andwouldkeenlyfollowtheactionofaplay，criticisingthecharacterisation，incidents，sceniceffects，situations，language，anddramaticpoints。\"Hewasquitepreparedtobe\"edited\" foractingpurposesbytheplayers。MissMaryAndersonsaysthat\"hewasreadytosacrificeevenhisMOSTbeautifullinesforthesakeofarealdramaticeffect。\" Thisprovedunusualcommon-senseinapoet。Moderntimesandmannersarenotoriouslyunfavourabletotheseriousdrama。IntheageoftheGreektragedians，asinthedaysof\"ElizaandourJames，\"readingwasnotverycommon，andlifewasmuchmorepassedinpublicthanamongourselves，whenpeoplegototheplayforlightrecreation，ortobeshocked。SovariouswasthegeniusofTennyson，thathadhedevotedhimselfearlytothestage，andhadhebeenbackedbyamanagerwiththeenterpriseandintelligenceofSirHenryIrving，itisimpossibletosayhowmuchhemighthavedonetorestoretheseriousdrama。Butwecannotregretthathewasoccupiedinhisprimewithotherthings，norcanweexpecttofindhisnoblestandmostenduringworkinthedramaticexperimentsofhislatestyears。 Itisnotablethat，inhisopinion，\"theconditionsofthedramaticartaremuchmorecomplexthantheywere。\"Forexample，wehave\"thestarsystem，\"whichtendstoallotwhatis，orwas，technicallystyled\"thefat，\"tooneortwopopularplayers。Now，apoetlikeTennysonwillinevitablydistributelargequantitiesofwhatismostexcellenttomanycharacters，andtheconsequentdifficultiesmaybeappreciatedbystudentsofourfallennature。Thepoetaddedthattobeafirst-ratehistoricalplaywrightmeansmuchmoreworkthanformerly，seeingthat\"exacthistory\"hastakenthepartofthe\"chancechronicle。\" Thisisamisfortune。ThedramasoftheAtticstage，withoneortwoexceptions，arebasedonmythandlegend，notonhistory，andeveninthePersae，groundedoncontemporaryevents，AEschylusintroducedtheghostofDarius，notvouchedforby\"exacthistory。\"LetusconceiveShakespearewritingMacbethinanageof\"exacthistory。\"Hardlyanyoftheplaywouldbeleft。FleanceandBanquomustgo。Duncanbecomesayoungman，andfarfrom\"gracious。\"Macbethappearsasthedefenderofthelegitimistprince，Lulach，againstDuncan，ausurper。 LadyMacbethisapatterntohersex，andherlordisaclementandsagaciousruler。Thewitchesareruledoutofthepiece。 DifficultiesariseabouttheEnglishaidtoMalcolm。History，infact，declinestobedramatic。Libertiesmustbetaken。InhisplaysoftheMaryStuartcycle，MrSwinburnetelescopestheaffairofDarnleyintothatofChastelard，whichwasmuchearlier。HemakesMaryBeaton(inlovewithChastelard)akindofavengingfate，whowillneverleavetheQueentillherheadfallsatFotheringay； though，infact，afteraflirtationwithRandolph，MaryBeatonmarriedOgilvyofBoyne(reallyinlovewithLadyBothwell)，andnotoneofthefourMarieswasatFotheringay。Anartistoughttobeallowedtofollowlegend，ofitsessencedramatic，ortomanipulatehistoryashepleases。Ourmodernscrupulosityispedantic。ButTennysonreadalonglistofbooksforhisQueenMary，thoughitdoesnotappearthathemadeoriginalresearchesinMSS。Theselaboursoccupied1874and1875。YetitwouldbefoolishtocriticisehisQueenMaryasifwewerecriticising\"exacthistory。\"\"Theplay\'sthething。\" Thepoetthoughtthat\"BloodyMary\"\"hadbeenharshlyjudgedbytheverdictofpopulartradition。\"Sohavemostcharacterstowhompopulardislikeaffixesthepopularepithet——\"BloodyClaverse，\" \"BloodyMackenzie，\"\"BloodyBalfour。\"MaryhadthecourageoftheTudors。She\"edifiedallaroundherbyhercheerfulness，herpiety，andherresignationtothewillofProvidence，\"inherlastdays(Lingard)。Camdencallsher\"aqueenneverpraisedenoughforthepurityofhermorals，hercharitytothepoor\"(shepractisedasadistrictvisitor)，\"andherliberalitytothenoblesandtheclergy。\" Shewas\"pious，merciful，pure，andevertobepraised，ifweoverlookhererroneousopinionsinreligion，\"saysGodwin。Shehadbeengrievouslywrongedfromheryouthupwards。InElizabethshehadasisterandarival，aconstantintrigueragainsther，andakinswomanfarfromamiable。Despite\"thekindnessandattentionofPhilip\"(Lingard)，affairsofStatedemandedhisabsencefromEngland。Thedisappointmentastoherexpectedchildwascruel。Sheknewthatshehadbecomeunpopular，andshecouldnotlookforthesuccessofherChurch，towhichshewassincerelyattached。M。 AugusteFilonthoughtthatQueenMarymightsecuredramaticrankforTennyson，\"ifagreatactressarosewhoconceivedapassionforthepartofMary。\"Butthatwasnottobeexpected。Marywasmiddle- aged，plain，andinaspectnowterrible，nowrueful。Nogreatactresswillthrowherselfwithpassionintosuchanungratefulpart。 \"Throughoutallhistory，\"Tennysonsaid，\"therewasnothingmoremournfulthanthefinaltragedyofthiswoman。\"MOURNFULitis，butnottragic。Thereisnothinggrandattheclose，aswhenMaryStuartconquersdeathandevilfame，redeemingherselfbyhercourageandhercalm，andextendingoverunborngenerationsthatwitcherywhichherenemiesdreadedmorethananarmywithbanners。 Moreover，populartraditioncanneverforgivethefiresofSmithfield。ItwasMaryTudor\'smisfortunethatshehadthepowertoexecute，onagreatscale，thatfacultyofpersecutiontothedeathforwhichherPresbyterianandotherProtestantopponentspinedinvain。MrFroudesaysofher，\"ForthefirstandlasttimethetrueUltramontanespiritwasdominantinEngland，thegenuineconvictionthat，astheorthodoxprophetsandsovereignsofIsraelslewtheworshippersofBaal，sowereCatholicrulerscalledupon，astheirfirstduty，toextirpatehereticsastheenemiesofGodandman。\" ThatwaspreciselythespiritofKnoxandotherPresbyteriandenouncersofdeathagainst\"Idolaters\"(Catholics)。ButtheScottishpreacherswerealwaysthwarted:Maryandheradvisershadtheirway，as，earlier，Latimerhadpreachedagainstsufferersatthestake。Tothestake，whichhefearedsogreatly，Cranmerhadsentpersonsnotofhisownfleetingshadeoftheologicalopinion。ThesemenhadburnedAnabaptists，butallthatislightlyforgottenbyProtestantopinion。UnderMary(whoevermayhavebeenprimarilyresponsible)CranmerandLatimerweretreatedastheyhadtreatedothers。Moreover，sometwohundredpoormenandwomenhaddaredthefierydeath。Thepersecutionwasonascaleneverforgivenorforgotten，sinceMarybegancerdonibusessetimenda。Marywasnotessentiallyinclement。DespiteRenard，theagentoftheEmperor，shesparedthatlordoffluffandfeather，Courtenay，andshesparedElizabeth。LadyJaneshecouldnotsave，thegirlwhowasaqueenbygraceofGodandofherownroyalnature。ButMarywillneverbepardonedbyEngland。\"Fewmenorwomenhavelivedlesscapableofdoingknowinglyawrongthing，\"saysMrFroude，agreatadmirerofTennyson\'splay。Yet，takingMrFroude\'sownview，Mary\'sabjectandsuperannuatedpassionforPhilip；herecstasiesduringhersupposedpregnancy；\"theforlornhourswhenshewouldsitonthegroundwithherkneesdrawntoherface，\"withallher\"symptomsofhystericalderangement，leavelittleroom，aswethinkofher，forotherfeelingsthanpity。\"Unfortunately，feelingsofpityforapersonsodistraught，sosourlytreatedbyfortune，donotsufficefortragedy。 WhenwecontemplateAntigoneorOEdipus，itisnotwithasentimentofpitystrugglingagainstabhorrence。 Forthesereasonstheplaydoesnotseemtohaveagooddramaticsubject。TheunityisgivenbyMaryherselfandherfortunes，andthesearescarcelydramatic。HistorypreventstheintroductionofPhiliptillthesecondsceneofthethirdact。Hisentranceismanque；hemerelyaccompaniesCardinalPole，whotakescommandofthescene，andPhilipdoesnotgetinawordtillafteralongconversationbetweentheQueenandtheCardinal。PreviouslyPhiliphadonlycrossedthestageinaprocession，yetwhenhedoesappearheisbereftofprominence。Theinterestasregardshimisindicated，inActI。scenev。，byMary\'skissinghisminiature。Herblightedloveforhimisonemainmotiveofthetragedy，buthisownpartappearstoosubordinateintheplayaspublished。Theinterestisscatteredamongthevastcrowdofcharacters；andMrR。H。Huttonremarkedatthetimethathe\"remainssomethingofacold，cruel，andsensualshadow。\"WearemoreinterestedinWyatt，Cranmer，Gardiner，andothers；oratleasttheirpartsaremoreinteresting。Yetinnocasedoestheinterestofanycharacter，exceptofMaryandElizabeth，remaincontinuousthroughouttheplay。Tennysonhimselfthoughtthat\"therealdifficultyofthedramaistogivesufficientrelieftoitsintensesadness……NothinglessthantheholycalmofthemeekandpenitentCranmercanbeadequateartisticrelief。\" Butnotmuchreliefcanbedrawnfromamanabouttobeburnedalive，andhistorydoesnottemptustokeensympathywiththerecantingarchbishop，atleastifweagreewithMacaulayratherthanwithFroude。 Iventuretothinkthathistoricaltradition，asusual，offeredabettermotivethanexacthistory。Followingtradition，weseeinMaryacloudofhatefulgloom，fromwhichEnglandescapesintothegloriousdawnof\"theGospellight，\"andofElizabeth，whomightbemadeatriumphantlysympatheticcharacter。Thatisthenaturalandpopularcoursewhichthedramamighttake。ButTennyson\'shistoryisalmostcriticalandscientific。Pointsofdifficultanddebatedevidence(astoElizabeth\'spartinWyatt\'srebellion)arediscussed。 Thereisnocontestofdayanddarkness，ofTruthandError。ThecharactersareinthatperplexedconditionaboutcreedswhichwastheiractualstateafterthepoliticalandsocialandreligiouschaosproducedbyHenryVIII。GardinerisaCatholic，butnotanUltramontane；LordWilliamHowardisaCatholic，butnotafanatic； wefindatruculentAnabaptist，orSocialist，andacitizenwhoseprideishismoderation。ThenativeuncriticaltendencyofthedramaistothrowuphatsandhallooforElizabethandanopenBible。Inplaceofthis，Cecildeliversawell-consideredanalysisofthecharacterofElizabeth\"Eliz。GodguidemelestIlosetheway。 [ExitElizabeth。 Cecil。Manypointsweather\'d，manyperilousones，Atlastaharbouropens；butthereinSunkrocks——theyneedfinesteering——muchitisTobenormad，norbigot——haveamind- NorletPriests\'talk，ordreamofworldstobe，Miscolourthingsabouther——suddentouchesForhim，orhim——sunkrocks；nopassionatefaith- But——ifletbe——balanceandcompromise； Brave，wary，sanetotheheartofher——aTudorSchool\'dbytheshadowofdeath——aBoleyn，too，GlancingacrosstheTudor——notsowell。\" Thisisexcellentashistoricalcriticism，inthefavourablesense； butthedrama，byitsnature，demandssomethingnotcriticalbuttriumphantandone-sided。ThecharacterofElizabethisoneofthebestintheplay，ashersoliloquy(ActIII。scenev。)isoneofthefinestofthespeeches。Weseehercourage，hercoquetry，herdissimulation，herarrogance。ButwhilethisisthetrueElizabeth，itisnottheidealisedElizabethwhomEnglishloyaltycreated，livedfor，anddiedfor。MrFroudewrote，\"Youhavegivenusthegreatestofallyourworks，\"anopinionwhichtheworldcanneveraccept。 \"YouhavereclaimedonemoresectionofEnglishHistoryfromthewilderness，andgivenitaforminwhichitwillbefixedforever。 NoonesinceShakespearehasdonethat。\"ButMrFroudehaddoneit，andTennyson\'sreadingof\"thesection\"ismainlythatofMrFroude。 MrGladstonefoundthatCranmerandGardiner\"arestillinaconsiderabledegreemysteriestome。\"AmysteryCranmermustremain。 Perhapsthe\"crowds\"and\"Voices\"arenottheleastexcellentofthecharacters，Tennyson\'shumourfindinganopportunityinthem，andinJoanandTib。HisidylliccharmspeaksinthewordsofLadyClarencetothefeveredQueen；andthereisdramaticgeniusinherreply:- \"Mary。Whatisthestrangethinghappiness？Sitdownhere: Tellmethinehappiesthour。 LadyClarence。Iwill，ifthatMaymakeyourGraceforgetyourselfalittle。 ThererunsashallowbrookacrossourfieldFortwentymiles，wheretheblackcrowfliesfive，AnddothsoboundandbabbleallthewayAsifitselfwerehappy。ItwasMay-time，AndIwaswalkingwiththemanIloved。 Ilovedhim，butIthoughtIwasnotloved。 Andbothweresilent，lettingthewildbrookSpeakforus——tillhestoop\'dandgather\'doneFromoutabedofthickforget-me-nots，Look\'dhardandsweetatme，andgaveitme。 Itookit，tho\'IdidnotknowItookit，Andputitinmybosom，andallatonceIfelthisarmsaboutme，andhislips- Mary。OGod!Ihavebeentooslack，tooslack； ThereareHotGospellersevenamongourguards- Nobleswedarednottouch。WehavebutburntThehereticpriest，workmen，andwomenandchildren。 Wet，famine，ague，fever，storm，wreck，wrath，- Wehavesoplay\'dthecoward；butbyGod\'sgrace，We\'llfollowPhilip\'sleading，andsetupTheHolyOfficehere——garnerthewheat，Andburnthetareswithunquenchablefire!\" Theconclusion，intheactingedition，printedintheBiography，appearstobeanimprovementonthatinthetextasoriginallypublished。Unhappyasthedramaessentiallyis，thewelcomewhichMrBrowninggavebothtothepublishedworkandtotheactedplay——\"acompletesuccess\":\"conception，execution，thewholeandtheparts，Iseenowheretheshadowofafault\"——offers\"relief\"inactualhumannature。\"Heisthegreatest-brainedpoetinEngland，\"Tennysonsaid，onalateroccasion。\"Violetsfade，hehasgivenmeacrownofgold。\" BeforewritingHarold(1876)thepoet\"studiedmanyrecentplays，\" andre-readAEschylusandSophocles。ForhistoryhewenttotheBayeuxtapestry，theRomandeRou，LordLytton，andFreeman。