第2章
CuriousandexquisiteexperimentinmetreisindicatedintheLeonineElegiacs，inClaribel，andseveralotherpoems。Qualitieswhichwerenotforlongtofindpublicexpression，speculativepowersbrooding，invariousmoods，onultimateandinsolublequestions，wereattestedbyTheMystic，andSupposedConfessionsofaSecond-rateSensitiveMindnotinUnitywithItself，anunluckytitleofaremarkableperformance。"Inthis，themostagitatedofallhispoems，wefindthesoulurgingonward"Thro"utterdarkafull-sail"dskiff，Unpilotedi"theechoingdanceOfreboantwhirlwinds；"
andtothequestion，"Whynotbelieve，then？"wehaveasanswerasimileofthesea，whichcannotslumberlikeamountaintarn，or"DrawdownintohisvexedpoolsAllthatblueheavenwhichhuesandpaves"
thetranquilinlandmere。"{3}
Thepoetlongsforthefaithofhisinfantdaysandofhismother-
"Thymilddeepeyesupraised，thatknewThebeautyandreposeoffaith，Andtheclearspiritshiningthro"。"
Thatfaithisalreadyshaken，andthelongstruggleforbeliefhasalreadybegun。
Tennyson，accordingtoMatthewArnold，wasnotunespritpuissant。
Otherandyoungercritics，whohaveattainedtoacock-certainmoodofnegation，areapttoblamehimbecause，infact，hedidnotfinallyagreewiththeiropinions。Ifamanisnecessarilyaweaklingorahypocritebecause，aftertryingallthings，heisnotanatheistoramaterialist，thenthereproachofinsincerityoroffeeblenessofmindmustrestuponTennyson。Butitismanifestthat，almostinboyhood，hehadalreadyfacedtheideaswhich，tooneofhischaracter，almostmeantdespair:hehadnotkepthiseyesclosed。Tohisextremelyself-satisfiedaccuserswemightanswer，inlinesfromthisearliestvolume(TheMystic):-
"Yescornhimwithanundiscerningscorn；
Yecannotreadthemarvelinhiseye，Thestillsereneabstraction。"
Hewouldbehold"Oneshadowinthemidstofagreatlight，Onereflexfrometernityontime，Onemightycountenanceofperfectcalm，Awfulwithmostinvariableeyes。"
Hismysticoftheseboyishyears-
"Oftenlyingbroadawake，andyetRemainingfromthebody，andapartInintellectandpowerandwill，hathheardTimeflowinginthemiddleofthenight，Andallthingscreepingtoadayofdoom。"
Inthispoem，neverrepublishedbytheauthor，isanattempttoexpressanexperiencewhichinlateryearshemorethanonceendeavouredtosetforthinarticulatespeech，anexperiencewhichwasdestinedtocolourhisfinialspeculationsonultimateproblemsofGodandofthesoul。Weshalllaterhavetodiscusstheopinionofaneminentcritic，MrFredericHarrison，thatTennyson"sideas，theological，evolutionary，andgenerallyspeculative，"followed，ratherthancreated，thecurrentideasofhistime。""Thetrainofthought"(inInMemoriam)，writesMrHarrison，"isessentiallythatwithwhichordinaryEnglishreadershadbeenmadefamiliarbyF。D。
Maurice，ProfessorJowett，DrMartineau，EcceHomo，Hypatia。"OftheseinfluencesonlyMaurice，andMauriceonlyorally，couldhavereachedtheauthorofTheMysticandtheSupposedConfessions。EcceHomo，Hypatia，MrJowett，wereallinthebosomofthefuturewhenInMemoriamwaswritten。Now，TheMysticandtheSupposedConfessionsarepriortoInMemoriam，earlierthan1830。YettheyalreadycontainthechiefspeculativetendenciesofInMemoriam；thegrowingdoubtscausedbyevolutionaryideas(thenfamiliartoTennyson，thoughnotto"ordinaryEnglishreaders")，thelongingforareturntochildlikefaith，andthemysticalexperienceswhichhelpedTennysontorecoverafaiththatabodewithhim。Inthesethingshewasoriginal。Evenasanundergraduatehewasnotfollowing"atrainofthoughtmadefamiliar"byauthorswhohadnotyetwrittenaline，andbybookswhichhadnotyetbeenpublished。
Somuch，then，ofthepoetthatwastobeandofthephilosopherexistedinthelittlevolumeoftheundergraduate。InTheMysticwenoticeaphrase，twowordslong，whichwaslatertobemadefamiliar，"Daughtersoftime，divinelytall，"reproducedinthepictureofHelen:-
"AdaughteroftheGods，divinelytall，Andmostdivinelyfair。"
Thereflectivepiecesarecertainlyofmoreinterestnow(thoughtheyseemtohavesatisfiedthepoetless)thanthegalleryofairyfairyLilians，Adelines，Rosalinds，andEleanores:-
"Daughtersofdreamsandofstories，"
like"Faustine，Fragoletta，Dolores，Felise，andYolande，andJuliette。"
Cambridge，whichhewassoontoleave，didnotsatisfythepoet。
OxforddidnotsatisfyGibbon，orlater，Shelley；andyoungmenofgeniusarenot，infact，usuallycontentwithuniversitieswhich，perhaps，aredoingtheirbest，butareneithergovernednorpopulatedbymindsofthehighestandmostoriginalclass。
"YouthatdoprofesstoteachAndteachusnothing，feedingnottheheart。"
Theuniversities，infact，teachagooddealofthatwhichcanbelearned，butthebestthingscannotbetaught。Theuniversitiesgivemenleisure，books，andcompanionship，tolearnforthemselves。Alltutorscannotbe，andatthattimefewdreamedofbeing，menlikeJowettandT。H。Green，Gamalielsatwhosefeetundergraduatessatwithenthusiasm，"didEAGERLYfrequent，"likeOmarKhayyam。InlateryearsTennysonfoundcloserrelationsbetweendonsandundergraduates，andrecordedhisaffectionforhisuniversity。Shehadsuppliedhimwithsuchcompanionshipasisrare，andpermittedhimto"catchtheblossomoftheflyingterms，"eveniftutorsandlecturerswerecreaturesofroutine，terriblementenfoncesdanslamatiere，likethesireofMadelonandCathos，thathonourablecitizen。
Tennysonjustmissed，bygoingdown，avisitofWordsworthtoCambridge。Theoldenthusiastofrevolutionwasjustifyingpassiveobedience:thirtyyearshadturnedthealmostJacobinintoanalmostJacobite。Suchisthetriumphoftime。Inthesummerof1830
Tennyson，withHallam，visitedthePyrenees。Thepurposewaspolitical——toaidsomeSpanishrebels。ThefruitisseeninOEnoneandMarianaintheSouth。
InMarch1831Tennysonlosthisfather。"Hesleptinthedeadman"sbed，earnestlydesiringtoseehisghost，butnoghostcame。""Yousee，"hesaid，"ghostsdonotgenerallycometoimaginativepeople；"
aremarkverytrue，thoughghostsareattributedto"imagination。"
Whatevercausesthesephantasms，itisnotthekindofphantasiawhichisconsciouslyexercisedbythepoet。Coleridgehadseenfartoomanyghoststobelieveinthem；andColeridgeandDonneapart，withthehallucinationsofGoetheandShelley，whometthemselves，whatpoeteverdid"seeaghost"？OnewhosawTennysonashewanderedaloneatthisperiodcalledhim"amysteriousbeing，seeminglyliftedhighaboveothermortals，andhavingapowerofintercoursewiththespiritworldnotgrantedtoothers。"Butitwastheworldofthepoet，notofthe"medium。"
TheTennysonsstayedonattheparsonageforsixyears。But，anticipatingtheirremoval，ArthurHallamin1831dealtinprophecyabouttheidentificationinthedistrictofplacesinhisfriend"spoems——"criticaftercriticwilltracethewanderingsofthebrook，"
as，——infact，criticaftercritichasdone。Tennysondisliked——these"localisers。"Thepoet"swalksweresharedbyArthurHallam，thenaffiancedtohissisterEmily。
CHAPTERII——POEMSOF1831-1833。
By1832mostofthepoemsofTennyson"ssecondvolumewerecirculatinginMS。amonghisfriends，andnopoeteverhadfriendsmoreencouraging。Perhapsbardsofto-daydonotfindaneagernessamongtheiracquaintanceforeffusionsinmanuscript，orinproof-
sheets。Thecharmedvolumeappearedattheendoftheyear(dated1833)，andHallamdenouncedas"infamous"Lockhart"sreviewintheQuarterly。Infamousornot，itisextremelydiverting。HowLockhartcouldmissthegreatandabundantpoetryremainsamarvel。TenyearslatertheScorpionrepented，andinvitedSterlingtoreviewanybookhepleased，forthepurposeofenablinghimtopraisethetwovolumesof1842，whichhedidgladly。Lockharthatedallaffectationand"preciosity，"ofwhichthenewbookwasnotdestitute。HehadbeenamongWordsworth"smostardentadmirerswhenWordsworthhadfew，butthememoriesofthewarwiththe"CockneySchool"clungtohim，thewarwithLeighHunt，andnowhegavehimselfuptosatire。ProbablyhethoughtthatthepoetwasamemberofaLondonclique。ThereisreallynoexcuseforLockhart，exceptthatheDIDrepent，thatmuchofhisbanterwasamusing，andthat，aboveall，hiscensureswereacceptedbythepoet，whoaltered，later，manypassagesofafineabsurditycriticisedbytheinfamousreviewer。Onecouldnamegreatprose-writers，historians，whoneveralteredthewondrouserrorstowhichtheirattentionwascalledbycritics。Prose-writershavebeenmoresensitivelyattachedtotheirglaringblundersinverifiablefactsthanwasthisverysensitivepoettohisoccasionallapsesintaste。
TheLadyofShalott，eveninitsearlyform，wasmorethanenoughtogiveassuranceofapoet。Ineffectitisevenmorepoetical，inamysteriousway，ifinfinitelylesshuman，thanthelatertreatmentofthesameorasimilarlegendinElaine。IthasthecharmofColeridge，andanallegoryofthefatalescapefromtheworldofdreamsandshadowsintothatofrealitiesmayhavebeenreallypresenttothemindoftheyoungpoet，awarethathewas"livinginphantasy。"Thealterationsareusuallyforthebetter。Thedaffodilisnotanaquaticplant，asthepoetseemstoassertinthefirstform-
"Theyellow-leavedwater-lily，Thegreensheatheddaffodilly，Trembleinthewaterchilly，RoundaboutShalott。"
Nobodycanprefertokeep"ThoughthesquallyeastwindkeenlyBlew，withfoldedarmsserenelyBythewaterstoodthequeenlyLadyofShalott。"
HoweverstoicaltheLadymayhavebeen，thereaderistooseriouslysympatheticwithherinevitablediscomfort-
"AllraimentedinsnowywhiteThatlooselyflew，"
asshewas。Theoriginalconclusionwasdistressing；weweredroppedfromtheairsofmysteriousromance:-
"Theycrossedthemselves，theirstarstheyblest，Knight，minstrel，abbot，squire，andguest；
Therelayaparchmentonherbreast，ThatpuzzledmorethanalltherestThewell-fedwitsatCamelot。"
Hithertowehavebeen"puzzled，"butaswiththesublimeincoherencesofadream。Nowwemeetwell-fedwits，whosay，"Blessmystars!"asperhapsweshouldalsohavedoneinthecircumstances——adeadladyarriving，inaverycoldeastwind，aloneinaboat，for"herbloodwasfrozenslowly，"aswasnatural，grantingtheweatherandthelady"sairycostume。Itiscertainlymatterofsurprisethattheyoungpoet"svisionbrokeupinthishumorousmanner。And，afterall，itislesssurprisingthattheScorpion，findingsuchmatterinanewlittlebookbyanewyoungman，wasmoresensitivetotheabsurditythantotheromance。ButnoloverofpoetryshouldhavebeenblindtothealmostflawlessexcellenceofMarianaintheSouth，inspiredbythelandscapeoftheProvencaltourwithArthurHallam。
InconsequenceofLockhart"scensures，orindeferencetothematurertasteofthepoet，TheMiller"sDaughterwasgreatlyalteredbefore1842。Itisoneoftheearliest，ifnottheveryearliest，ofTennyson"sdomesticEnglishidylls，poemswithconspicuousbeauties，butnotwithoutsacrificestothatMuseofthehomeaffectionsonwhomSirBarnesNewcomedeliveredhisfamouslecture。Theseventhstanzaperhapshardlydeservedtobealtered，asitis，soastobringin"minnows"where"fish"hadbeenthereading，andwhere"trout"wouldbestrecallanEnglishchalkstream。Totheanglertherisingtrout，whichleftthepoetcold，isatleastaswelcomeasthe"reflexofabeauteousform。""Everywomanseemsanangelatthewater-side，"said"thatgoodoldangler，nowwithGod，"ThomasToddStoddart，andso"thelongandlistlessboy"foundittobe。Itisnowonderthatthemotherwas"SLOWLYbroughttoyieldconsenttomydesire。"Thedomesticaffections，infact，donotadaptthemselvessowelltopoetryasthepassion，uniqueinTennyson，ofFatima。Thecriticswhohuntforparallelsorplagiarismswillnote-
"OLove，Ofire!oncehedrewWithonelongkissmywholesoulthro"
Mylips，"
andwillobserveMrBrowning"s"OncehekissedMysouloutinafierymist。"
AstoOEnone，thesceneryofthatearliestoftheclassicalidyllsisborrowedfromthePyreneesandthetourwithHallam。"ItispossiblethatthepoemmayhavebeensuggestedbyBeattie"sJudgmentofParis，"saysMrCollins；itisalsopossiblethatthetalewhich"QuintusCalaberSomewhatlazilyhandledofold"
mayhavereachedTennyson"smindfromanolderwriterthanBeattie。
HeisatleastaslikelytohavebeenfamiliarwithGreekmythaswiththelamented"Minstrel。"Theformof1833，greatlyalteredin1842，containedsuchunluckyphrasesas"cedarshadowy，"and"snowycoloured，""marblecold，""violet-eyed"——easyspoilsofcriticism。ThealterationswhichconvertedabeautifulbutfaultyintoabeautifulandflawlesspoemperhapsobscurethesignificanceofOEnone"s"Iwillnotdiealone，"whichintheearliervolumedirectlyreferstotheforeseenendofallasnarratedinTennyson"slatepiece，TheDeathofOEnone。ThewholepoembringstomindtheglowinghuesofTitianandthefamousHomericlinesonthedivinewedlockofZeusandHera。
TheallegoryormoralofThePalaceofArtdoesnotneedexplanation。
Notmanyofthepoemsowemoretorevision。TheearlystanzaaboutIsaiah，withfierceEzekiel，and"EasternConfutzee，"didundeniablyremindthereader，asLockhartsaid，ofTheGrovesofBlarney。
"Withstatuesgracingthatnobleplacein，Allhaythengoddessesmostrare，Petrarch，Plato，andNebuchadnezzar，Allstandingnakedintheopenair。"
IntheearlyversiontheSoul，beingtoomuch"uptodate，"
"Litwhitestreamsofdazzlinggas，"
likeSirWalterScottatAbbotsford。
"Thusherintense，untolddelight，Indeeporvividcolour，smell，andsound，Wasflattereddayandnight。"
LockhartwasnotfondofSirWalter"sexperimentsingas，the"smell"
gavehimno"deep，untolddelight，"andhis"infamousreview"wasbiassedbythesecircumstances。
Thevolumeof1833wasinnothingmoreremarkablethaninitsproofofthemany-sidednessoftheauthor。Heofferedmediaevalromance，andclassicalperfectiontouchedwiththeromanticspirit，anddomesticidyll，ofwhichTheMayQueenisprobablythemostpopularexample。The"mysteriousbeing，"conversantwith"thespiritualworld，"mighthavebeenexpectedtodisdaintopicswellwithintherangeofElizaCook。Hedidnotdespisebutelevatedthem，andtherebydidmoretointroducehimselftothewideEnglishpublicthanhecouldhavedonebyacenturyofFatimasorLotos-Eaters。Ontheotherhand，atastemorefastidious，ormoreperverse，willscarcelybesatisfiedwithpathoswhichinprocessoftimehascometoseem"obvious。"ThepathosofearlydeathintheprimeofbeautyislessobviousinHomer，whereAchillesistobethevictim，orinthelamentsoftheAnthology，whereweonlyknowthatthedeadbrideormaidenwasfair；butthepoorMayQueenisofhernaturerathercommonplace。
"Thatgoodman，theclergyman，hastoldmewordsofpeace，"
strikesanoteratherresemblingtheTennysonianparodyofWordsworth-
"AMrWilkinson，aclergyman。"
TheLotos-Eaters，ofcourse，isattheoppositepoleofthepoet"sgenius。AfewplainversesoftheOdyssey，almostbaldintheirreticence，arethepointderepereofthemostmagicalvisionexpressedinthemostmusicalverse。HereisthelanguidcharmofSpenser，enrichedwithmanyclassicalmemories，andpicturesofnaturalbeautygorgeouslyyetdelicatelypainted。Aftertheexcisionofsomeverses，ratherfantastical，in1842，thepoembecameaflawlessmasterpiece，——oneoftheeternalpossessionsofsong。
Ontheotherhand，theopeningofTheDreamofFairWomenwasmarredin1833bythegrotesqueintroductoryversesabout"amanthatsailsinaballoon。"YoungasTennysonwas，thesefreakishpassagesareapsychologicalmarvelintheworkofonewhodidnotlackthesavingsenseofhumour。Thepoet，waftedonthewingand"pinionthattheThebaneaglebear，"cannotconceivablybelikenedtoanaeronautwavingflagsoutofaballoon——exceptinaspiritofself-mockerywhichwasnotTennyson"s。Hisremarkableself-disciplineinexcisingthefantasticandsuperfluous，andreducinghisworktoitsclassicalperfectionofthoughtandform，isnowheremoreremarkablethaninthismagnificentvision。Itisprobablybymereaccidentalcoincidenceofthoughtthat，intheversesToJ。S。(JamesSpedding)，Tennysonreproducesthenoblespeechonthewarrior"sdeathwhichSirWalterScottplacesinthelipsofthegreatDundee:"Itisthememorywhichthesoldierleavesbehindhim，likethelongtrainoflightthatfollowsthesunkensun，THATisallthatisworthcaringfor，"thelightwhichlingerseternallyonthehillsofAtholl。
Tennyson"slinesareacloseparallel:-
"HismemorylongwilllivealoneInallourhearts，asmournfullightThatbroodsabovethefallensun，Anddwellsinheavenhalfthenight。"
ThoughTennysondislikedtheexhibitionof"thechipsoftheworkshop，"wehavecommentedonthem，ontheearlyreadingsoftheearlyvolumes。Theymayberegardedmoreproperlyasthesketchesofamasterthanas"chips，"anddomorethanmerelyengagetheidlecuriosityofthefanaticsoffirsteditions。Theyprovethatthepoetwasstudiousofperfection，andwiselystudious，forhisalterations，unlikethoseofsomeauthors，werealmostinvariablyforthebetter，thesaner，themorematureintaste。Theearlyreadingsarealsoworthnotice，becausetheypartiallyexplain，bytheiroccasionallyfantasticandhumourlesscharacter，thelackofearlyandgeneralrecognitionofthepoet"sgenius。Thenativeprejudiceofmankindisnotinfavourofanewpoet。Ofnewpoetstherearealwayssomany，mostofthembad，thatnaturehasprotectedmankindbyanarmourofsuspiciousness。Theworld，andLockhart，easilyfoundgoodreasonsfordistrustingthisnewclaimantoftheivyandthebays:moreover，sinceabout1814therehadbeenareactionagainstnewpoetry。Themarketwasglutted。Scotthadseteverybodyonreading，andtoomanyonwriting，novels。Thegreatreactionofthecenturyagainstallformsofliteratureexceptprosefictionhadbegun。NeartheverydateofTennyson"sfirstvolumeBulwerLytton，aswesaw，hadfranklyexplainedthathewrotenovelsbecausenobodywouldlookatanythingelse。Tennysonhadtoovercomethisuniversal，orallbutuniversal，indifferencetonewpoetry，and，afterbeingsilentfortenyears，overcomeithedid——aremarkablevictoryofartandofpatientcourage。Timeswereevenworseforpoetsthanto-day。Threehundredcopiesofthenewvolumeweresold!
ButTennyson"sfriendswerenotpuffersinleaguewithpushingpublishers。
Meanwhilethepoetin1833wentonquietlyandundefeatedwithhiswork。HecomposedTheGardener"sDaughter，andwasatworkontheMorted"Arthur，suppressedtilltheninthyear，ontheHoratianplan。
Manypoemswereproduced(andevenwrittenout，whichanumberofhispiecesneverwere)，andwereleftinmanuscripttilltheyappearedintheBiography。Mostofthesearesolittleworthyoftheauthorthatthemarvelishowhecametowritethem——inwhatuninspiredhours。
UnlikeWordsworth，hecouldweedthetaresfromhiswheat。HisstudieswereinGreek，German，Italian，history(alittle)，andchemistry，botany，andelectricity——"cross-grainedMuses，"theselast。
ItwasonSeptember15，1833，thatArthurHallamdied。Unheraldedbysignorsymptomofdiseaseasitwas，thenewsfelllikeathunderboltfromaserenesky。Tennyson"sandHallam"slovehadbeen"passingtheloveofwomen。"Ablowlikethisdrivesamanontherocksoftheultimate，theinsolubleproblemsofdestiny。"Isthistheend？"Nourishedasonthemilkoflions，ontheelevatingandstrengtheningdoctrinesofpopularscience，trainedfromchildhoodtoforegohopeandattendeveninglectures，theyoungcriticsofourgenerationfindTennysonaweaklingbecausehehadhopesandfearsconcerningtheultimaterenewalofwhatwasmorethanhalfhislife——
hisfriendship。
"ThatfaithIfainwouldkeep，ThathopeI"llnotforego:
Eternalbethesleep-
Unlesstowakenso，"
wroteLockhart，andtheversesechoedceaselesslyinthewidowedheartofCarlyle。Thesemen，itispartofthedutyofcriticslaterborntoremember，werenotchildrenorcowards，thoughtheydreamed，andhoped，andfeared。Weoughttomakeallowanceforfailingsincidenttoanagenotyetfullyenlightenedbypopularscience，andstillundivorcedfromspiritualideasthatareasoldasthehumanrace，andperhapsnotlikelytoperishwhilethatraceexists。Nowandthenevenscientificmenhavebeenmistaken，especiallywhentheyhavedeclinedtoexamineevidence，asinthisproblemofthetranscendentalnatureofthehumanspirittheyusuallydo。AtalleventsTennysonwasunconvincedthatdeathistheend，andshortlyafterthefataltidingsarrivedfromViennahebegantowritefragmentsinversepreludingtothepoemofInMemoriam。Healsobegan，inamoodofgreatmisery，TheTwoVoices；or，ThoughtsofaSuicide。ThepoemseemstohavebeenpartlydonebySeptember1834，whenSpeddingcommentedonit，andonthebeautifulSirGalahad，"intendedforsomethingofamalecounterparttoStAgnes。"TheMorted"ArthurTennysonthenthought"thebestthingIhavemanagedlately。"Veryearlyin1835manystanzasofInMemoriamhadtakenform。"Idonotwishtobedraggedforwardinanyshapebeforethereadingpublicatpresent，"wrotethepoet，whenheheardthatMilldesiredtowriteonhim。HisOEnonehehadbroughttoitsnewperfection，anddidnotdesirecommentsonworknowseveralyearsold。HealsowrotehisUlyssesandhisTithonus。
Ifevertheterm"morbid"couldhavebeenappliedtoTennyson，itwouldhavebeenintheyearsimmediatelyfollowingthedeathofArthurHallam。Buttheapplicationwouldhavebeenunjust。True，thepoetwaslivingoutoftheworld；hewasunhappy，andhewas，aspeoplesay，"doingnothing。"HewassopoorthathesoldhisChancellor"sprizegoldmedal，andhedidnot"ScanhiswholehorizonInquestofwhathecouldclapeyeson，"
inthewayofmoney-making，whichanotherpoetdescribesasthenormalattitudeofallmenaswellasofpirates。Acarelessobserverwouldhavethoughtthatthepoetwasdawdling。ButhedweltinnoCastleofIndolence；hestudied，hecomposed，hecorrectedhisverses:likeSirWalterinLiddesdale，"hewasmakinghimsel"a"thetime。"Hedidnotneglectthemovementsofthegreatworldinthatdawnofdiscontentwiththephilosophyofcommercialism。Butitwasnothisvocationtoplungeintothefray，andontoplatforms。
Itisaveryrarethinganywhere，especiallyinEngland，foramandeliberatelytochoosepoetryasthedutyofhislife，andtoremainloyal，asaconsequence，tothebrideofStFrancis——Poverty。ThisloyaltyTennysonmaintained，evenunderthetemptationtomakemoneyinrecognisedwayspresentedbyhisnew-bornloveforhisfuturewife，MissEmilySellwood。Theyhadfirstmetin1830，whenshe，agirlofseventeen，seemedtohimlike"aDryadoranOreadwanderinghere。"ButadmirationbecametheaffectionofalifetimewhenTennysonmetMissSellwoodasbridesmaidtohersister，thebrideofhisbrotherCharles，in1836。Thepoetcouldnotaffordtomarry，and，liketheheroofLocksleyHall，hemayhaveaskedhimself，"WhatisthatwhichIshoulddo？"By1840hehaddonenothingtangibleandlucrative，andcorrespondencebetweentheloverswasforbidden。ThatneitherdreamedofTennyson"sdesertingpoetryforamorenormalprofessionprovedofgreatbenefittotheworld。Thecourseisonewhichcouldonlybejustifiedbytheabsolutecertaintyofpossessinggenius。