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。