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。