第6章

Thesemeritshaveceasedtobedisputed，but，thoughaloyalTennysonian，IhaveneverquitebeenabletoreconcilemyselftoMaudasawhole。Theheroisanunwholesomeyoungman，andnotofanoriginalkind。Heisunbeautenebreuxof1830。IsupposeithasbeenobservedthatheismerelyTheMasterofRavenswoodinmoderncostume，andwithoutLadyAshton。HerpartistakenbyMaud"sbrother。ThesituationsoftheheroandoftheMaster(whoseacquaintanceThackerayneverrenewedafterhelosthishatintheKelpieFlow)arenearlyidentical。Thefamiliesandfathersofbothhavebeenruinedby"thegrayoldwolf，"andbySirWilliamAshton，representingthehouseofStair。Bothheroeslivedawdlingon，hardbytheirlostancestralhomes。Bothfallinlovewiththedaughtersoftheenemiesoftheirhouses。Thelovesofbotharebaffled，andendintragedy。Bothareconcernedinaduel，thoughtheMaster，onhiswaytotheground，"stableshissteedintheKelpieFlow，"andthewooerinMaudshootsLucyAshton"sbrother，——ImeanthebrotherofMaud，——thoughduellinginEnglandwasoutofdate。Thencomesanintervalofmadness，andherecoversamidthepatrioticemotionsoftheill-fatedCrimeanexpedition。Bothloversaregloomy，thoughtheMasterhasbettercause，fortheTennysonianheroismorecomfortablyprovidedforthanEdgarwithhis"manandmaid，"hisCalebandMysie。

Finally，bothTheBrideofLammermoor，whichaffectedTennysonsopotentlyinboyhood("Amerrymerrybridal，Amerrymerryday")，andMaud，excelinpassagesratherthanaswholes。

TheheroofMaud，withhisclandestinewooingofagirlofsixteen，hasthisapology，thatthematchhadbeen，asitwere，predestined，anddesiredbythemotherofthelady。Still，thebrotherdidnotilltobeangry；andthepeevishnessoftheheroagainstthebrotherandtheparvenulordandrivalstrikesajarringnote。InEngland，atleast，thegeneralsentimentisopposedtothismoody，introspectivekindofyoungman，ofwhomTennysonisnottobesupposedtoapprove。Wedonotfeelcertainthathismanandmaidwere"everreadytoslanderandsteal。"Thatseemstobepartofhisjaundicedwayoflookingateverythingandeverybody。Hehasevenabadwordforthe"man-god"ofmoderndays，-

"Themanofsciencehimselfisfonderofglory，andvain，Aneyewell-practisedinnature，aspiritboundedandpoor。"

Rienn"estsacreforthiscynic，whothinkshimselfaStoic。ThusMaudwasmadetobeunpopularwiththeauthor"scountrymen，whoconceivedaprejudiceagainstMaud"slover，describedbyTennysonas"amorbidpoeticsoul，……anegotistwiththemakingsofacynic。"

Thatheis"raisedtosanity"(stillinTennyson"swords)"byapureandholylovewhichelevateshiswholenature，"theworldfailedtoperceive，especiallyasthesanitywasonlyabrieflucidinterval，temperedbyhangingaboutthegardentomeetagirlofsixteen，unknowntoherrelations。Tennysonaddedthat"differentphasesofpassioninonepersontaketheplaceofdifferentcharacters，"towhichcriticsrepliedthattheywanteddifferentcharacters，ifonlybywayofrelief，anddidnotcareforanyofthephasesofpassion。

ThelearnedMonsieurJanethasmaintainedthatloveisadiseaselikeanother，andthatnobodyfallsinlovewheninperfecthealthofmindandbody。Thistheoryseemsopentoexception，buttheheroofMaudisunhealthyenough。Atbestandlast，heonlyhelpstogiveamartialforcea"send-off":-

"IstoodonagiantdeckandmixedmybreathWithaloyalpeopleshoutingabattle-cry。"

Hedidnotgooutasavolunteer，andprobablytheCrimeanwintersbroughthimbacktohisoriginalestateofcynicalgloom——andverynaturally。

ThereconciliationwithLifeisnotlikethereconciliationofInMemoriam。Thepoemtookitsriseinoldlines，andmostbeautifullines，whichTennysonhadcontributedin1837toamiscellany:-

"Othat"twerepossible，Afterlonggriefandpain，TofindthearmsofmytrueloveRoundmeonceagain。"

Thencethepoet，workingbacktofindtheoriginofthesituation，encounteredtheideasandthepersonsofMaud。

Ihavetriedtostatethesources，inthegeneralmind，ofthegeneraldislikeofMaud。Thepublic，"drivingatpractice，"

disapprovedofthe"criticismoflife"inthepoem；confusedthesufferingnarratorwiththeauthor，andneglectedthepoetry。"Nomodernpoem，"saidJowett，"containsmorelinesthatringintheearsofmen。IdonotknowanyverseoutofShakespeareinwhichtheecstacyoflovesoarstosuchaheight。"Withthesecommentswemayagree，yetmayfailtofollowJowettwhenhesays，"NopoemsinceShakespeareseemstoshowequalpowerofthesamekind，orequalknowledgeofhumannature。"Shakespearecouldnotinanarrativepoemhavepreferredthevaryingpassionsofonecharactertothecharactersofmanypersons。

Tennysonwas"nettledatfirst，"hissonsays，"bythesecaptiousremarksofthe"indolentreviewers，"butafterwardshewouldtakenonoticeofthemexcepttospeakoftheminahalf-pitiful，half-

humorous，half-mournfulmanner。"Thebesettingsinanderrorofthecriticswas，ofcourse，toconfoundTennyson"sherowithhimself，asifweconfusedDickenswithPip。

LikeAuroraLeigh，Lucile，andotherworks，Maudisunderthedisadvantageofbeing，practically，anovelofmodernlifeinverse。

Criticisedasataleofmodernlife(anditwascriticisedinthatcharacter)，itcouldnotbeveryhighlyesteemed。ButtheessenceofMaud，ofcourse，liesinthepoeticalvehicle。Nobodycancavilattheimpressivenessoftheopeningstanzas-

"Ihatethedreadfulhollowbehindthelittlewood"；

withthekeynotesofcolourandofdesolationstruck；thelipsofthehollow"dabbledwithblood-redheath，"the"red-ribb"dledges，"and"theflyinggoldoftheruin"dwoodlands"；andthecontrastinthepictureofthechildMaud-

"Maudthedelightofthevillage，theringingjoyoftheHall。"

Thepoemaboundsinlineswhichliveinthememory，asinthevernaldescription-

"Amillionemeraldsbreakfromtheruby-buddedlime"；

andthevoiceheardinthegardensinging"Apassionateballadgallantandgay，"

asLovelace"sAlthea，andthelinesonthefar-offwavingofawhitehand，"betwixtthecloudandthemoon。"Thelyricof"BirdsinthehighHall-gardenWhentwilightwasfalling，Maud，Maud，Maud，Maud，Theywerecryingandcalling，"

wasafavouriteofthepoet。

"Whatbirdswerethese？"heissaidtohaveaskedaladysuddenly，whenreadingtoasilentcompany。

"Nightingales，"suggestedalistener，whodidnotprobablyrememberanyotherfowlthatisvocalinthedusk。

"No，theywererooks，"answeredthepoet。

"ComeintotheGarden，Maud，"isasfinealove-songasTennysoneverwrote，withatriumphantring，andasoaringexultantnote。Thenthepoemdropsfromitsheight，likealarkshothighinheaven；tragedycomes，andremorse，andthebeautifulinterludeofthe"lovelyshell，Smallandpureasapearl。"

Thenfollowstheexquisite"Othat"twerepossible，"

andthedullconsciousnessofthepoemofmadness，withitsdumbgnawingconfusionofpainandwanderingmemory；theherobeingfinallyleft，intheauthor"swords，"sanebutshattered。"

Tennyson"slettersofthetimeshowthatthecriticssucceededinwoundinghim:itwasnotadifficultthingtodo。Maudwasthreatenedwithabroadsidefrom"thatpompholygous，broad-blownApollodorus，thegiftedX。"PeoplewhohavereadAytoun"sdivertingFirmilian，whereApollodorusplayshispart，andwhoremember"giftedGilfillan"inWaverley，knowwhothegiftedX。was。ButX。wasnogreatauthoritysouthofTay。

Despitethealmostunanimouscondemnationbypubliccritics，thesuccessofMaudenabledTennysontobuyFarringford，sohemusthavebeenbetterappreciatedandunderstoodbytheworldthanbythereviewers。

InFebruary1850TennysonreturnedtohisoldArthurianthemes，"theonlybigthingnotdone，"forMiltonhadmerelyglancedatArthur，Drydendidnot"RaisetheTableRoundagain，"

andBlackmorehasneverbeenreckonedadequate。VivienwasfirstcomposedasMerlinandNimue，andthenGeraintandEnidwasadaptedfromtheMabinogion，theWelshcollectionofMarchenandlegends，thingsofwidelydifferentages，nowratherCeltic，orBrythonic，nowamplificationsmadeundertheinfluenceofmediaevalFrenchromance。

EnidwasfinishedinWalesinAugust，andTennysonlearnedWelshenoughtobeabletoreadtheMabinogion，whichismuchmoreofWelshthanmanyArthuriancriticspossess。ThetwofirstIdyllswereprivatelyprintedinthesummerof1857，beingveryrareandmuchdesiredofcollectorsinthisembryonicshape。InJulyGuineverewasbegun，inthemiddle，withArthur"svaledictoryaddresstohiserringconsort。InautumnTennysonvisitedthelateDukeofArgyllatInveraray:hewasmuchattachedtotheDuke——unlikeProfessorHuxley。Theirloveofnature，theDukebeingaskeen-eyedasthepoetwasshort-sighted，wasonetieofunion。TheIndianMutiny，oratleastthedeathofHavelock，wastheoccasionoflineswhichtheauthorwastoowisetoincludeinanyofhisvolumes:thepoemonLucknowwasoflatercomposition。

GuineverewascompletedinMarch1858；andTennysonmetMrSwinburne，thenveryyoung。"WhatIparticularlyadmiredinhimwasthathedidnotpressuponmeanyversesofhisown。"Tennysonwouldhavefoundmoretoadmireifhehadpressedforasightoftheverses。NeitherhenorMrMatthewArnoldwasveryencouragingtoyoungpoets:theyhadnosonsinApollo，likeBenJonson。Butbothwerekeptinaperpetualstateofapprehensionbythearmyofversifierswhosendvolumesbypost，towhomthatcanonlybesaidwhatTennysondidsaytooneofthem，"Asanamusementtoyourselfandyourfriends，thewritingit"(verse)"isallverywell。"Itisthefriendswhodonotfinditamusing，whilethestrangerbecomesthefoe。ThepsychologyofthesepestsoftheMusesisbewildering。Theydonotseemtoreadpoetry，onlytowriteitandlaunchitatunoffendingstrangers。Iftheyboughteachother"sbooks，allofthemcouldaffordtopublish。

TheMasterofBalliol，themostadvicefulman，ifonemayusetheterm，ofhisage，appearstohaveadvisedTennysontopublishtheIdyllsatonce。TherehadbeenyearsofsilencesinceMaud，andtheMastersuspectedthat"mosquitoes"(reviewers)werethecause。

"ThereisanoteneededtoshowthegoodsideofhumannatureandtocondoneitsfrailtieswhichThackeraywillneverstrike。"ToothersitseemsthatThackeraywaseternallystrikingthisnote:atthattimeinGeneralLambert，hiswife，anddaughters，nottospeakofothercharactersinTheVirginians。WhodoesnotcondonethefrailtiesofCaptainCostigan，andF。B。，andtheChevalierStrong？

Inanycase，Tennysontookhisowntime，hewas(1858)onlybeginningElaine。ThereisnodoubtthatTennysonwaseasilyprickedbyunsympatheticcriticism，evenfromthemostinsignificantsource，and，asheconfessed，hereceivedlittlepleasurefrompraise。Allauthors，withoutexception，aresensitive。Asturdierauthorwrotethathewouldsometimeshavebeengladtomeethisassailant"wherethemuir-cockwasbailie。"WeknowhowtestilyWordsworthrepliedindefencetothegentlestcommentsbyLamb。

TheMasterofBalliolkeptinsisting，"Astothecritics，theirpowerisnotreallygreat……Onedropofnaturalfeelinginpoetryorthetruestatementofasinglenewfactisalreadyfelttobeofmorevaluethanallthecriticsputtogether。"Yetevencriticsmaybeintheright，andofallgreatpoets，Tennysonlistenedmostobedientlytotheircensures，aswehaveseeninthecaseofhisearlypoems。

Hisprolongedsilencesaftertheattacksof1833and1855wereoccupiedinworkandreflection:Achilleswasnotmerelysulkinginhistent，assomeofhisfriendsseemtohavesupposed。Anepicinaseriesofepicidyllscannotbedashedofflikearomanticnovelinrhyme；andTennyson"smethodwasalwaysoneofwaitingformaturityofconceptionandexecution。

MrsTennyson，doubtlessbyherlord"sdesire，askedtheMaster(thentutorofBalliol)tosuggestthemes。Oldagewassuggested，andistreatedinTheGrandmother。Othertopicswerenothandled。"Iholdmoststrongly，"saidtheMaster，"thatitisthedutyofeveryonewhohasthegoodfortunetoknowamanofgeniustodoanytriflingservicetheycantolightenhiswork。"TodoeveryserviceinhispowertoeverymanwastheMaster"slife-longpractice。Hewasnotmuchathome，hislettersshow，withBurns，towhomheseemstohaveattributedJohnAnderson，myjo，John，whilehetellsananecdoteofBurnscomposingTamo"Shanterwithemotionaltears，which，iftrueatall，istrueofthemakingofToMaryinHeaven。IfBurnsweptoverTamo"Shanter，thetearsmusthavebeentearsoflaughter。

ThefirstfourIdyllsoftheKingwerepreparedforpublicationinthespringof1859；whileTennysonwasatworkalsoonPelleasandEttarre，andtheTristramcycle。InautumnhewentonatourtoLisbonwithMrF。T。PalgraveandMrCraufurdGrove。Returning，hefelleagerlytoreadinganearlycopyofDarwin"sOriginofSpecies，thecrownofhisownearlyspeculationsonthetheoryofevolution。

"YourtheorydoesnotmakeagainstChristianity？"heaskedDarwinlater(1868)，whoreplied，"No，certainlynot。"ButDarwinhasstatedthewaveringsofhisownmindincontactwithatopictoohighforapriorireasoning，andonlytobeapproached，ifatall，onthestrengthofthescientificmethodappliedtofactswhichscience，sofar，neglects，ordenies，or"explainsaway，"ratherthanexplains。

TheIdylls，unlikeMaud，werewellreceivedbythepress，betterbythepublic，andbestofallbyfriendslikeThackeray，theDukeofArgyll，theMasterofBalliol，andClough，whileRuskinshowedsomereserve。TheletterfromThackerayIcannotdenymyselfthepleasureofcitingfromtheBiography:itwaswritten"inanardourofclaretandgratitude，"butpostedsomesixweekslater:-

FOLKESTONE，September。

36ONSLOWSQUARE，October。

MyDearOldAlfred，——Ioweyoualetterofhappinessandthanks。

Sir，aboutthreeweeksago，whenIwasillinbed，IreadtheIdyllsoftheKing，andIthought，"Oh，Imustwritetohimnow，forthispleasure，thisdelight，thissplendourofhappinesswhichIhavebeenenjoying。"ButIshouldhaveblottedthesheets，"tisillwritingonone"sback。Theletterfullofgratitudeneverwentasfarasthepost-office，andhowcomesitnow？

D"abord，abottleofclaret。(Thelandlordofthehotelaskedmedowntothecellarandtreatedme。)Thenafterwardssittinghere，anoldmagazine，Fraser"sMagazine，1850，andIcomeonapoemoutofThePrincesswhichsays，"IhearthehornsofElflandblowing，blowing，"——no，it"s"thehornsofElflandfaintlyblowing"(Ihavebeenintomybedroomtofetchmypenandithasmadethatblot)，and，readingthelines，whichonlyonemanintheworldcouldwrite，I

thoughtabouttheotherhornsofElflandblowinginfullstrength，andArthuringoldarmour，andGuinevereingoldhair，andallthoseknightsandheroesandbeautiesandpurplelandscapesandmistygraylakesinwhichyouhavemademelive。Theyseemlikefactstome，sinceaboutthreeweeksago(threeweeksoramonthwasit？)whenI

readthebook。Itisonthetableyonder，andIdon"tlike，somehow，todisturbit，butthedelightandgratitude!YouhavemademeashappyasIwasasachildwiththeArabianNights，——everystepIhavewalkedinElflandhasbeenasortofParadisetome。(ThelandlordgaveTWObottlesofhisclaretandIthinkIdrankthemost)andhereIhavebeenlyingbackinthechairandthinkingofthosedelightfulIdylls，mythoughtsbeingturnedtoyou:whatcouldIdobutbegratefultothatsurprisinggeniuswhichhasmademesohappy？DoyouunderstandthatwhatImeanisalltrue，andthatIshouldbreakoutwereyousittingoppositewithapipeinyourmouth？Goldandpurpleanddiamonds，Isay，gentlemen，andgloryandloveandhonour，andifyouhaven"tgivenmeallthesewhyshouldIbeinsuchanardourofgratitude？ButIhavehadoutofthatdearbookthegreatestdelightthathasevercometomesinceIwasayoungman；towriteandthinkaboutitmakesmealmostyoung，andthisIsupposeiswhatI"mdoing，likeanafter-dinnerspeech。

P。S——Ithoughtthe"Grandmother"quiteasfine。Howcanyouat50

bedoingthingsaswellasat35？

October16th——(Ishouldthinksixweeksafterthewritingoftheabove。)

Therhapsodyofgratitudewasneversent，andforapeculiarreason:

justaboutthetimeofwritingIcametoanarrangementwithSmith&

Eldertoedittheirnewmagazine，andtohaveacontributionfromT。

wasthepublishers"andeditor"shighestambition。Buttoaskamanforafavour，andtopraiseandbowdownbeforehiminthesamepage，seemedtobesolikehypocrisy，thatIheldmyhand，andleftthisnoteinmydesk，whereithasbeenlyingduringalittleFrench-

Italian-Swisstourwhichmygirlsandtheirpapahavebeenmaking。

MeanwhileS。E。&Co。havebeenmakingtheirownproposalstoyou，andyouhaverepliednotfavourably，Iamsorrytohear；butnowthereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldnothavemyhomages，andIamjustasthankfulfortheIdylls，andloveandadmirethemjustasmuch，asIdidtwomonthsagowhenIbegantowriteinthatardourofclaretandgratitude。Ifyoucan"twriteforusyoucan"t。Ifyoucanbychancesomeday，andhelpanoldfriend，howpleasedandhappyI

shallbe!Thishowevermustbelefttofateandyourconvenience:I

don"tintendtogiveuphope，butacceptthegoodfortuneifitcomes。Iseeone，two，threequarterliesadvertisedto-day，asallbringinglaurelstolaureatus。Hewillnotrefusetheprivatetributeofanoldfriend，willhe？Youdon"tknowhowpleasedthegirlswereatKensingtont"otherdaytohearyouquotetheirfather"slittleverses，andhetooIdaresaywasnotdisgusted。Hesendsyouandyourshisverybestregardsinthismostheartfeltandartless(noteofadmiration)!

Alwaysyours，mydearAlfred，W。M。THACKERAY。

NaturallythislettergaveTennysonmorepleasurethanalltheconvertedcriticswiththeirfavourablereviews。TheDukeofArgyllannouncedtheconversionofMacaulay。TheMasterfoundElaine"thefairest，sweetest，purestlovepoemintheEnglishlanguage。"Astothewhole，"TheallegoryinthedistanceGREATLYSTRENGTHENS，ALSO

ELEVATES，THEMEANINGOFTHEPOEM。"

Ruskin，likesomeothercritics，felt"theartandfinishinthesepoemsalittlemorethanIliketofeelit。"YetGuinevereandElainehadbeenrapidlywrittenandlittlecorrected。Iconfesstotheopinionthatwhatamandoesmosteasilyis，asarule，whathedoesbest。Weknowthatthe"artandfinish"ofShakespearewerespontaneous，andsowerethoseofTennyson。Perfectioninartissometimesmoresuddenthanwethink，butthen"thelongpreparationforit，——thatunseengermination，THATiswhatweignoreandforget。"

Buthewiselykepthispiecesbyhimforalongtime，restudyingthemwithafresheye。The"unreality"ofthesubjectalsofailedtopleaseRuskin，asitisastumbling-blocktoothers。Hewantedpoemson"thelivingpresent，"athemenotselectedbyHomer，Shakespeare，Spenser，Milton，Virgil，ortheGreekdramatists，except(amongsurvivingplays)inthePersaeofAEschylus。Thepoetwhocantransfigurethehotpresentisfortunate，butmost，andthegreatest，havevisitedthecoolquietpurlieusofthepast。

CHAPTERVII——THEIDYLLSOFTHEKING。

TheIdyllsmayprobablybebestconsideredintheirfinalshape:

theyarenotanepic，butaseriesofheroicidylliaofthesamegenreastheheroicidylliaofTheocritus。Hewrotelongafterthenaturalageofnationalepic，theageofHomer。HesawthelaterliteraryepicriseintheArgonauticaofApolloniusRhodius，apoemwithmanybeauties，ifratheranarchaisticandelaboraterevivalasawhole。Thetimeforlongnarrativepoems，Theocritusappearstohavethought，waspast，andheonlyventuredontheheroicidylliaofHeracles，andcertainadventuresoftheArgonauts。Tennyson，too，fromthefirstbelievedthathispiecesoughttobeshort。

Therefore，thoughhehadaconceptionofhisworkasawhole，aconceptionlongmusedon，andsketchedinvariouslights，heproducednoepic，onlyaseriesofepicidyllia。Hehadaspiritualconception，"anallegoryinthedistance，"anallegorynottobeinsistedupon，thoughitspresencewastobefelt。Nolonger，asinyouth，didTennysonintendMerlintosymbolise"thescepticalunderstanding"(asifonewereto"breakintoblankthegospelof"

HerrKant)，orpoorGuineveretostandfortheBlessedReformation，ortheTableRoundforLiberalInstitutions。MercifullyTennysonneveractuallyallegorisedArthurinthatfashion。LaterhethoughtofamusicalmasqueofArthur，andsketchedascenario。FinallyTennysondroppedboththeallegoryofLiberalprinciplesandthemusicalmasqueinfavouroftheseriesofheroicidylls。Therewasonlya"parabolicdrift"intheintention。"ThereisnosinglefactorincidentintheIdylls，howeverseeminglymystical，whichcannotbeexplainedwithoutanymysteryorallegorywhatever。TheIdyllsoughttoberead(andtherightreadersneverdreamofdoinganythingelse)asromanticpoems，justlikeBrowning"sChildeRoland，inwhichthewrongreaders(themembersoftheBrowningSociety)soughtformysticmountainsandmarvels。YetTennysonhadhisowninterpretation，"adreamofmancomingintopracticallifeandruinedbyonesin。"Thatwashis"interpretation，"or"allegoryinthedistance。"

PeoplemaybeheardobjectingtothesuggestionofanyspiritualinterpretationoftheArthurlegends，andeventotheexistenceofelementarymoralityamongtheArthurianknightsandladies。Thereseemstobeanotionthat"boldbawdryandopenmanslaughter，"asRogerAschamsaid，arethestapleofTennyson"ssources，whetherinthemediaevalFrench，theWelsh，orinMalory"scompilation，chieflyfromFrenchsources。Tennysonisaccusedof"Bowdlerising"these，andofintroducinggentleness，courtesy，andconscienceintoaliteraturewheresuchqualitieswereunknown。Imustconfessmyselfignorantofanyearlyandpopular，or"primitive"literature，inwhichhumanvirtues，andthehumanconscience，donotplaytheirpart。ThosewhoobjecttoTennyson"shandlingofthegreatArthuriancycle，onthegroundthatheistoorefinedandtoomoral，musteitherneverhavereadormustlonghaveforgottenevenMalory"sromance。Thusweread，inarecentnovel，thatLancelotwasanhommeauxbonnesfortunes，whereasLancelotwasthemostloyaloflovers。

Amongothercritics，MrHarrisonhasobjectedthattheArthurianworldofTennyson"isnotquiteanidealworld。Thereinliesthedifficulty。Thescene，thoughnotofcoursehistoric，hascertainhistoricsuggestionsandcharacters。"Itisnotapparentwhothehistoriccharactersare，fortherealArthurisbutahistoricphantasm。"Butthen，inthemidstofsomuchrealism，theknights，fromArthurdownwards，talkandactinwayswithwhichwearefamiliarinmodernethicalandpsychologicalnovels，butwhichareasimpossibleinrealmediaevalknightsasaBengaltigeroraPolarbearwouldbeinadrawing-room。"Iconfesstolittleacquaintancewithmodernethicalnovels；butrealmediaevalknights，andstillmoretheknightsofmediaevalromance，werecapableofveryethicalactions。Tohaltanarmyfortheprotectionandcomfortofalaundresswasahighlyethicalaction。PerhapsSirRedversBullerwoulddoit:Brucedid。MrHarrisonaccusestheladiesoftheIdyllsofsoul-bewilderingcasuistry，likethatofwomeninMiddlemarchorHelbeckofBannisdale。NowIamnotremindedbyGuinevere，andElaine，andEnid，ofladiesintheseethicalnovels。

ButthewomenofthemediaevalCoursd"Amour(theoriginalsfromwhomtheoldromancersdrew)werenothingifnotcasuists。"Spiritualdelicacy"(astheyunderstoodit)wastheirdelight。

MrHarrisonevenarguesthatMalory"smenlivedhot-bloodedlivesinfiercetimes，"beforeanideahadarisenintheworldof"reverencingconscience，""leadingsweetlives，""andsoon。Butheadmitsthattheyhad"fantasticidealsof"honour"and"love。""Asto"fantastic，"thatisamatterofopinion，buttohaveidealsandtoliveinaccordancewiththemisto"reverenceconscience"，whichtheheroesoftheromancesaresaidbyMrHarrisonnevertohavehadanideaofdoing。Theyaredeniedeven"amiablewordsandcourtliness。"

Needonesaythatcourtlinessisthedominantnoteofmediaevalknights，inhistoryasinromance？WithdiscourtesyFroissartwould"headthecountofcrimes。"Afterabattle，hesays，ScotsknightsandEnglishwouldthankeachotherforagoodfight，"notliketheGermans。""Andnow，Idaresay，"saidMalory"sSirEctor，"thou，SirLancelot，wastthecurtiestknightthateverbareshield，……andthouwastthemeekestmanandthegentlestthateverateinhallamongladies。"ObserveSirLancelotinthedifficultpasswheretheLilyMaidoffersherlove:"Jesudefendme，forthenIrewardedyourfatherandyourbrotherfullevilfortheirgreatgoodness