第11章

Studentsofarecentcontroversywillobservethat，followingFreeman，heretainsthefamouspalisade，sogrievouslybatteredbytheaxe-strokesofMrHoraceRound。Haroldisapiecemorecompressed，andmuchmoreinaccordancewiththetraditionsofthedrama，thanQueenMary。Thetopicistragicindeed:thesorrowbeingthatofagreatman，agreatking，thebulwarkofapeoplethatfellwithhisfall。Moreover，asthetopicistreated，theplayisrichintheironyusuallyassociatedwiththenameofSophocles。

Victorycomesbeforeafall。Harold，likeAntigone，istornbetweentwoduties——hisoathandtheclaimsofhiscountry。HisruincomesfromwhatAristotlewouldcallhis[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]，hisfaultinswearingtheoathtoWilliam。Theherohimself；reckinglittle，afterasuperstitiousmoment，oftheconcealedrelicsoverwhichheswore，deemshisoffencetolieinswearingavowwhichhenevermeanttokeep。Thepersuasionswhichurgehimtothiscourseareadmirablypresented:England，Edith，hisbrother"sfreedom，wereatstake。Casuistry，orevenlaw，wouldhaveabsolvedhimeasily；anoathtakenunderduresseisofnoavail。ButHarold"s"honourrootedindishonourstood，"andhecannotsoreadilyabsolvehimself。BruceandthebishopswhostoodbyBrucehadnosuchscruples:theyperjuredthemselvesoften，onthemostsacredrelics，especiallythebishops。ButHaroldrisesabovethemediaevalandmagicalconceptionoftheoath，andgoestohisdoomconsciousofastainonhishonour，ofwhichonlyadeeperstain，thatoffalsenesstohiscountry，couldmakehimclean。Thisisatrulytragicstrokeofdestiny。Thehero"scharacterisadmirablynoble，patient，andsimple。TheConfessoralsoisastrueinartastohistory，andhisvisionofthefallandriseofEnglandisanoblepassage。InAldwythwehavesomethingofVivien，withagrainofconscience，andthepartofEdithSwan"s-neckhasarestrainedandclassicpathosincontrastwiththemelancholyofWulfnoth。Thepiece，asthepoetsaid，isa"tragedyofdoom，"ofdeepeninganddarkeningomens，asintheOdysseyandNjal"sSaga。Thebattlescene，withthechorusesofthemonks，makesanobleclose。

FitzGeraldremainedloyal，butitwasto"afairyPrincewhocamefromotherskiesthantheserainyones，"and"thewretchedcritics，"

asG。H。Lewescalledthem，seemtohavebeenunfriendly。Infact(besidestheinnatewretchednessofallcritics)，theygrudgedthetimeandlabourgiventothedrama，inanundramaticage。HaroldhadnotwhatFitzGeraldcalled"theoldchampagneflavour"ofthevintageof1842。

Becketwasbegunin1876，printedin1879，andpublishedin1884。

Beforethatdate，in1880，Tennysonproducedoneofthevolumesofpoetrywhichwasmorewelcomethanaplaytomostofhisadmirers。

TheinterveningyearspassedintheIsleofWight，atAldworth，intown，andinsummertours，wereofnomarkedbiographicalinterest。

Thepoetwascloseonthreescoreandten——hereachedthatlimitin1879。Thedaysdarkenedaroundhim，asdarkentheymust:inthespringof1879helosthisfavouritebrother，himselfapoetoforiginalgenius，CharlesTennysonTurner。InMayofthesameyearhepublishedTheLover"sTale，whichhasbeentreatedhereamonghisearliestworks。Hishours，and(tosomeextent)hismeals，wereregulatedbySirAndrewClark。Heplantedtrees，walked，read，loiteredinhisgarden，andkeptuphisoldfriendships，whilehemadethatofthegreatGordon。ComplimentspassedbetweenhimandVictorHugo，whohadentertainedLionelTennysoninParis，andwrote:

"Jelisavecemotionvosverssuperbes；c"estunrefletdegloirequevousm"envoyez。"MrMatthewArnold"scomplimentwasverylikeMrArnold"shumour:"Yourfatherhasbeenourmostpopularpoetforoverfortyyears，andIamofopinionthathefullydeserveshisreputation":suchwas"Mat"ssublimewaggery。"Tennysonheapedcoalsoffireontheotherpoet，biddinghim，ashelikedtobebidden，towritemorepoetry，not"prosethings。"TennysonlivedmuchinthesocietyofBrowningandGeorgeEliot，andmadetheacquaintanceofRenan。InDecember1879MrandMrsKendalproducedTheFalcon，whichranforsixty-sevennights；itis"anexquisitelittlepoeminaction，"asFannyKemblesaid。DuringaContinentaltourTennysonvisitedCatullus"sSirmio:"herehemadehisFraterAveatqueVale，"andthepoetcomposedhisbeautifulsalutationtothe"TenderestofRomanpoetsnineteenhundredyearsago。"

In1880BalladsandotherPoemsprovedthat，likeTitian，thegreatpoetwasnottobedefeatedbytheyears。TheFirstQuarrelwasinhismostpopularEnglishstyle。RizpahdeservedandreceivedthesplendidpanegyricofMrSwinburne。TheRevengeisprobablythefinestofthepatrioticpieces，andkeepsgreenthememoryofanexploitthemostmarvellousintheannalsofEnglishseamen。TheVillageWifeisapendantworthyofTheNorthernFarmer。ThepoemIntheChildren"sHospitalcausedsomeirritationatthemoment，buttherewasonlyoneopinionastotheDefenceofLucknowandthebeautifulre-tellingoftheCelticVoyageofMaeldune。ThefragmentofHomerictranslationwasequallyfortunateinchoiceofsubjectandinrendering。

Intheendof1880thepoetfinishedTheCup，whichhadbeenworkedonoccasionallysincehecompletedTheFalconin1880。ThepiecewasreadbytheauthortoSirHenryIrvingandhiscompany，anditwasfoundthatthemanuscriptcopyneededfewalterationstofititforthestage。Thesceneryandtheactingoftheprotagonistsarenoteasilytobeforgotten。Theplayranforahundredandthirtynights。SirHenryIrvinghadthoughtthatBecket(thenunpublished)

wouldprovetooexpensive，andcouldonlybeasuccesd"estime。

Tennysonhadfoundoutthat"theworstofwritingforthestageis，youmustkeepsomeactoralwaysinyourmind。"TothisnecessityauthorslikeMoliereandShakespearewere，ofcourse，resignedandfamiliar；theyknewexactlyhowtodealwithalltheirmeans。Butthispartofthebusinessofplay-writingmustalwaysbeacrosstothepoetwhoisnotatonewiththeworldofthestage。

InTheCupMissEllenTerrymadethestrongestimpression，herpartbeingnobleandsympathetic，whileSirHenryIrvinghadtheungratefulpartofthevillain。Tobesure，hewasavillainofmuchcomplexity；andTennysonthoughtthathissubtleblendofRomanrefinementandintellectuality，andbarbarian，self-satisfiedsensuality，wasnot"hitoff。"Synorixis，infact，half-Greek，half-Celt，withaRomaneducation，andthe"blend"israthertooremoteforsuccessfulrepresentation。Thetraditionalvillain，fromIagodownwards，isnotapttouttersuchpoetryasthis:-

"OThou，thatdostinspirethegermwithlife，Thechild，athreadwithinthehouseofbirth，Andgivehimlimbs，thenair，andsendhimforthThegloryofhisfather——ThouwhosebreathIsbalmywindtorobeourbillswithgrass，Andkindleallourvaleswithmyrtle-blossom，Androllthegoldenoceansofourgrain，Andswaythelonggrape-bunchesofourvines，AndfillallheartswithfatnessandthelustOfplenty——makemehappyinmymarriage!"

Theyear1881broughtthedeathofanotheroftheoldCambridgefriends，JamesSpedding，thebiographerofBacon；andCarlylealsodied，atruefriend，ifratherintermittentinhisappreciationofpoetry。TherealCarlyledidappreciateit，buttheCarlyleofattitudewastoomuchoftheironCovenantertoexpresswhathefelt。

ThepoemDespairirritatedtheearnestandseriousreadersof"know-

nothingbooks。"Thepoemexpressed，dramatically，amoodlikeanother，ahumanmoodnotsoveryuncommon。Amanruinedinthisworld"shappinesscursesthefaithofhisyouth，andtheunfaithofhisreadingandreflection，andtriestodrownhimself。Thisisoneconclusionofthepracticalsyllogism，anditisafreecountry。

However，therewerefreethinkerswhodidnotthinkthatTennyson"skindofthinkingoughttobefree。Otherearnestpersonsobjectedto"Firstdrinkahealth，"inthere-fashionedsongofHandsallRound。

TheymighthaverememberedaroyalhealthdrunkinwateranhourbeforethedrinkerssweptMackaydownthePassofKilliecrankie。Thepoetdidnotspecifythefluidinwhichthetoastwastobecarried，andthecupmightbethatwhich"cheersbutnotinebriates。""Thecommoncup，"astheremonstrantshadtobeinformed，"hasinallagesbeenthesacredsymbolofunity。"

ThePromiseofMaywasproducedinNovember1882，andthepoetwasoncemoresounfortunateastovexthesusceptibilitiesofadvancedthinkers。Theplayisnotamasterpiece，andyetneitherthegallerygodsnortheMarquisofQueensberryneedhavefelttheirwitherswrung。Thehero，orvillain，Edgar，isaperfectlyimpossibleperson，andrepresentsnokindofpolitical，social，oreconomicalthinker。Amanwouldgiveallotherblissandallhisworldlywealthforthis，towastehiswholestrengthinonekickuponthisperfectprig。Heemploystheargumentsofevolutionandsoforthtojustifytheseductionofalittlegirloffifteen，andlater，bywayofmakingamends，proposestocommitincestbymarryinghersister。

Therehavebeenevolutionists，tobesure，whobelievedinpromiscuity，likeMrEdgar，aspreferabletomonogamy。Butthisonlyprovesthatanevolutionistmayfailtounderstandevolution。TherebealsosuchfolkasStevensoncalls"squirradicals"——squireswhosaythat"thelandisthepeople"s。"Probablynoadvocateofpromiscuity，andnosquirradical，waspresentattheperformancesofThePromiseofMay。Butpeopleofadvancedmindshadgotitintotheirheadsthattheirdoctrinesweretobeattacked，sotheywentandmadeahubbubinthesacredcauseoffreedomofthoughtandspeech。Thetruthis，thatcontroversialtopics，politicaltopics，oughtnottobebroughtintoplays，muchlessintosermons。TennysonmeantEdgarfor"nothingthorough，nothingsincere。"Heisthatvenomousthing，theprig-scoundrel:hedoesnotsuitthestage，andhisplace，ifanywhere，isinthenovel。Advocatesofmarriagewithadeceasedwife"ssistermighthaveapplaudedEdgarforwishingtomarrythesisterofamistressassumedtobedeceased，butnootherpartyintheStatewantedanythingexceptthepunchingofEdgar"sheadbyFarmerDobson。

In1883diedEdwardFitzGerald，themostkind，loyal，and，ashesaid，crotchetyofoldanddearCambridgefriends。HedidnotlivetoseethedelightfulpoemwhichTennysonhadwrittenforhim。Inalmosthislatestletterhehadremarked，superfluously，thatwhenhecalledthetaskoftranslatingTheAgamemnon"workforapoet，"he"wasnotthinkingofMrBrowning。"

Intheautumnof1883Tennysonwastaken，withMrGladstone，bySirDonaldCurrie，foracruiseroundthewestcoastofScotland，totheOrkneys，andtoCopenhagen。ThepeopleofKirkwallconferredonthepoetandthestatesmanthefreedomoftheburgh，andMrGladstone，inaninterestingspeech，comparedtherelativechancesofposthumousfameofthepoetandthepolitician。PericlesisnotlessrememberedthanSophocles，thoughShakespeareismoreinmen"smindsthanCecil。

Muchdepends，asfarasthestatesmenareconsidered，oncontemporaryhistorians。ItisThucydideswhoimmortalisesPericles。ButitisimprobablethatthethingswhichMrGladstonedid，andattempted，willbeforgottenmorerapidlythantheconductandcharactersof，say，BurleighorLethington。

In1884，afterthisvoyage，withitsroyalfunctionsandcelebrationsatCopenhagen，apeeragewasofferedtothepoet。He"didnotwanttoalterhisplainMr，"andhemusthaveknownthat，whetherheacceptedorrefused，thechorusofblamewouldbelouderthanthatofapplause。Scotthaddesired"suchgrinninghonourasSirWalterhath"；thetitlewentwellwiththeoldname，andpleasedhisloveofoldtimes。Tennysonhadbeenblamed"byliterarymen"forthriceevadingabaronetcy，andhedidnotthinkthatapeeragewouldmakesmooththelivesofhisdescendants。Butheconcluded，"WhyshouldI

beselfishandnotsufferanhonour(asGladstonesays)tobedonetoliteratureinmyname？"Politically，hethoughtthattheUpperHouse，whileitlasts，partlysuppliedtheplaceoftheAmerican"referendum。"HevotedinJuly1884fortheextensionofthefranchise，andinNovemberstatedhisviewstoMrGladstoneinverse。

InprosehewrotetoMrGladstone，"Ihaveastrongconvictionthatthemoresimplethedealingsofmenwithmen，aswellasofmanwithman，are——thebetter，"asentimentwhich，perhaps，didnotalwaysprevailwithhisfriend。Thepoet"sreflectionsonthehorrorofGordon"sdeatharenotrecorded。HeintroducedtheideaoftheGordonHomeforBoys，andlatersupporteditbyaletter，"HaveweforgottenGordon？"totheDailyTelegraph。TheywhocannotforgetGordonmustalwaysbegratefultoTennysonforprovidingthisopportunityofhonouringthegreatestofanillustriousclan，andofhelping，intheirdegree，aschemewhichwasdeartotheheroicleader。

Thepoet，verynaturally，wasmostaversetopersonalappearanceinpublicmatters。Mankindissofashionedthattheadviceofapoetisalwaysregardedasunpractical，andisevenapttoinjurethecausewhichheadvocates。HappilytherecannotbetwoopinionsabouttherightwayofhonouringGordon。Tennyson"spoem，TheFleet，wasalsoinharmonywiththegeneralsentiment。

Inthelastmonthof1884Becketwaspublished。ThethemeofFairRosamundhadappealedtothepoetinyouth，andhehadwrittenpartofalyricwhichhejudiciouslyleftunpublished。ItisgiveninhisBiography。In1877hehadvisitedCanterbury，andhadtracedthestepsofBeckettohisplaceofslaughterintheCathedral。Thepoemwasprintedin1879，butnotpublishedtillsevenyearslater。In1879SirHenryIrvinghadthoughttheplaytoocostlytobeproducedwithmorethanasuccesd"estime；butin1891heputitonthestage，whereitprovedthemostsuccessfulofmodernpoeticdramas。Aspublisheditis，obviously，fartoolongforpublicperformance。Itisnoteasytounderstandwhydramaticpoetsalwaysmaketheirworkssomuchtoolong。Thedramaseems，byitsverynature，tohavealimitalmostasdistinctasthelimitofthesonnet。Itiseasytocalculatehowlongaplayforthestageoughttobe，andwemightthinkthatapoetwouldfindthenaturallimitserviceabletohisart，foritinculcatesselection，conciseness，andconcentration。

Butdespitetheseadvantagesofthenaturalformofthedrama，modernpoets，atleast，constantlyoverflowtheirbanks。Theauthorruitprofusus，andthemanagerhastoreducethepiecetofeasibleproportions，suchasitoughttohaveassumedfromthefirst。

BeckethasbeenhighlypraisedbySirHenryIrvinghimself，forits"momentsofpassionandpathos，……which，whentheyexist，atonetoanaudiencefortheenduranceoflongacts。"Butwhyshouldtheaudiencehavesuchlongactstoendure？Thereader，onefears，isapttousehisprivilegeofskipping。ThelongspeechesofWalterMapandtheimmenseperiodofMargerytemptthestudenttoexercisehisagility。A"chronicleplay"hastheprivilegeofwandering，butBecketwanderstoofarandtoolong。ThepoliticaldetailsofthequarrelbetweenChurchandState，withitsdomesticandinternationalcomplexities，areapttofatiguetheattention。Inevitableandinsolubleasthesituationwas，neitherprotagonistisentirelysympathetic，whetherintheplayorinhistory。ThestruggleinBecketbetweenhisloveofthekingandhisdutytotheChurch(orwhathetakestobehisduty)isnoblypresented，andistrulydramatic，whilethereisgrotesqueandterriblereliefinthebanquetoftheBeggars。Inthesceneoftheassassinationthepoet"neverstoopshiswing，"andtherearepassagesoftenderpathosbetweenHenryandRosamund，whileBecket"skeenmemoriesofhisearlydays，justbeforehisdeath，aremoving。

"Becket。IoncewasoutwithHenryinthedaysWhenHenrylovedme，andwecameuponAwild-fowlsittingonhernest，sostillIreach"dmyhandandtouch"d；shedidnotstir；

Thesnowhadfrozenroundher，andshesatStone-deaduponaheapofice-coldeggs。

Look!howthislove，thismother，runsthro"allTheworldGodmade——eventhebeast——thebird!

JohnofSalisbury。Ay，stillaloverofthebeastandbird？

Butthesearm"dmen——willyounothideyourself？

PerchancethefierceDeBrocsfromSaltwoodCastle，ToassailourHolyMotherlestshebroodToolongo"erthishardegg，theworld，andsendHerwholeheart"sheatintoit，tillitbreakIntoyoungangels。Prayyou，hideyourself。

Becket。Therewasalittlefair-hair"dNormanmaidLivedinmymother"shouse:ifRosamundisTheworld"srose，ashernameimportsher——sheWastheworld"slily。

JohnofSalisbury。Ay，andwhatofher？

Becket。Shediedofleprosy。"

ButthepartofRosamund，herinnocentignoranceespecially，isnotveryreadilyintelligible，notquitepersuasive，andthereisalmostatouchoftheburlesqueinherunexpectedappearanceasamonk。Toweavethatoldandfamousstoryofloveintotheterriblycomplexpoliticalintriguewasataskalmosttoogreat。ThecharacterofEleanorisperhapsmoresuccessfullydrawnintheProloguethaninthescenewheresheoffersthechoiceofthedaggerorthebowl，andisinterrupted，inastartlinglyunexpectedmanner，bytheArchbishophimself。Theopportunitiesforsceniceffectsaremagnificentthroughout，andmusthavecontributedgreatlytothesuccessonthestage。StillonecannotbutregardthepublishedBecketasratherthemarblefromwhichthestatuemaybehewnthanasthestatueitself。Therearefinescenes，powerfulandmasterlydrawingofcharacterinHenry，Eleanor，andBecket，butthereisawantofconcentration，due，perhaps，tothelongperiodoftimecoveredbytheaction。So，atleast，itseemstoareaderwhohasadmittedhissenseofincompetencyinthedramaticregion。Theacutenessofthepoet"spowerofhistoricalintuitionwasattestedbyMrJ。R。GreenandMrBryce。"Onecannotimagine，"saidMrBryce，"amorevivid，amoreperfectlyfaithfulpicturethanitgivesbothofHenryandThomas。"Tennyson"sportraitsofthesetwo"gobeyondandperfecthistory。"Thepoet"ssympathyought，perhaps，tohavebeen，ifnotwiththefalseandruffianlyHenry，atleastwithHenry"ssideofthequestion。ForTennysonhadmadeHaroldleave"ToEnglandMylegacyofwaragainstthePopeFromchildtochild，fromPopetoPope，fromagetoage，Tilltheseawashherlevelwithhershores，OrtillthePopebeChrist"s。"

CHAPTERIX——LASTYEARS。

Theendof1884sawthepublicationofTiresiasandotherPoems，dedicatedto"Mygoodfriend，RobertBrowning，"andopeningwiththebeautifulversestoonewhoneverwasMrBrowning"sfriend，EdwardFitzGerald。ThevolumeisrichinthebestexamplesofTennyson"slaterwork。Tiresias，themonologueoftheagedseer，blindedbyexcessoflightwhenhebeheldAtheneunveiled，andunderthecurseofCassandra，isworthyoftheauthorwho，inyouth，wroteOEnoneandUlysses。PossiblytheversesreflectTennyson"sownsenseofpublicindifferencetothevoiceofthepoetandtheseer。Buttheyareofmuchearlierdatethantheyearofpublication:-

"ForwhenthecrowdwouldroarForblood，forwar，whoseissuewastheirdoom，TocastwisewordsamongthemultitudeWasflingingfruittolions；nor，inhoursOfciviloutbreak，whenIknewthetwainWouldeachwasteeach，andbringonboththeyokeOfstrongerstates，wasminethevoicetocurbThemadnessofourcitiesandtheirkings。

Whoeverturn"duponhisheeltohearMywarningthatthetyrannyofoneWaspreludetothetyrannyofall？

MycounselthatthetyrannyofallLedbackwardtothetyrannyofone？

Thispowerhathwork"dnogoodtoaughtthatlives。"

Theconclusionwasafavouritewiththeauthor，andhisblankverseneverreachedahigherstrain:-

"Butforme，IwouldthatIweregather"dtomyrest，Andmingledwiththefamouskingsofold，Onwhomabouttheirocean-isletsflashThefacesoftheGods——thewiseman"sword，Heretrampledbythepopulaceunderfoot，Therecrown"dwithworship——andtheseeyeswillfindThemenIknew，andwatchthechariotwhirlAboutthegoalagain，andhuntersraceTheshadowylion，andthewarrior-kings，Inheightandprowessmorethanhuman，striveAgainforglory，whilethegoldenlyreIseversoundinginheroicearsHeroichymns，andeverywaythevalesWind，cloudedwiththegratefulincense-fumeOfthosewhomixallodourtotheGodsOnonefarheightinonefar-shiningfire。"

ThenfollowsthepatheticpieceonFitzGerald"sdeath，andtheprayer，notunfulfilled-

"That，whenIfromhenceShallfadewithhimintotheunknown，Mycloseofearth"sexperienceMayproveaspeacefulashisown。"

TheAncientSage，withitslyricinterludes，isoneofTennyson"smeditationsonthemysteryoftheworldandofexistence。Likethepoethimself，theSagefindsagleamoflightandhopeinhisownsubjectiveexperiencesofsomeunspeakablecondition，alreadyrecordedinInMemoriam。Thetopicwasoneonwhichheseemstohavespokentohisfriendswithfreedom:-

"Andmore，myson!formorethanoncewhenI

Satallalone，revolvinginmyselfThewordthatisthesymbolofmyself，ThemortallimitoftheSelfwasloosed，AndpastintotheNameless，asacloudMeltsintoHeaven。Itouch"dmylimbs，thelimbsWerestrangenotmine——andyetnoshadeofdoubt，Bututterclearness，andthro"lossofSelfThegainofsuchlargelifeasmatch"dwithoursWereSuntospark——unshadowableinwords，Themselvesbutshadowsofashadow-world。"

Thepoet"shabitof"RevolvinginmyselfThewordthatisthesymbolofmyself"-

thatis，ofdwellingonthesoundofhisownname，wasfamiliartotheArabs。M。LefeburehasdrawnmyattentiontoapassageintheworksofamediaevalArabphilosopher，IbnKhaldoun:{17}"Toarriveatthehighestdegreeofinspirationofwhichheiscapable，thedivinershouldhaverecoursetotheuseofcertainphrasesmarkedbyapeculiarcadenceandparallelism。Thusheemancipateshismindfromtheinfluenceofthesenses，andisenabledtoattainanimperfectcontactwiththespiritualworld。"IbnKhaldounregardsthe"contact"asextremely"imperfect。"Hedescribessimilareffortsmadebyconcentratingthegazeonamirror，abowlofwater，orthelike。Tennysonwasdoubtlessunawarethathehadstumbledaccidentallyonamethodof"ancientsages。"Psychologistswillexplainhisexperiencebytheword"dissociation。"Itisnoteverybody，however，whocanthusdissociatehimself。Thetemperamentofgeniushasoftenbeensubjecttosuchinfluence，asM。LefeburehasshowninthemoderninstancesofGeorgeSandandAlfreddeMusset:wemightaddShelley，Goethe，andevenScott。

Thepoet"sversatilitywasdisplayedintheappearancewiththeserecordsof"weirdseizures"，oftheIrishdialectpieceTo-morrow，thepopularSpinster"sSweet-Arts，andtheLocksleyHallSixtyYearsAfter。Theoldfireoftheversificationisunabated，buttheherohasrelapsedonthegloomoftheheroofMaud。Herepresentshimself，ofcourse，notTennyson，oronlyoneofthemoodsofTennyson，whichweresometimesblackenough。AverydifferentmoodchantstheChargeoftheHeavyBrigade，andspeaksof"GreenSussexfadingintoblueWithonegrayglimpseofsea。"

ThelinesToVirgilwerewrittenattherequestoftheMantuans，bythemostVirgilianofallthesuccessorsofthe"Wielderofthestateliestmeasureevermouldedbythelipsofman。"

NeverwasTennysonmoreVirgilianthaninthisunmatchedpanegyric，thesumandflowerofcriticismofthat"Goldenbranchamidtheshadows，kingsandrealmsthatpasstorisenomore。"

HardlylessadmirableisthetributetoCatullus，andtheoldpoetisyoungagaininthebird-songofEarlySpring。ThelinesonPoetsandtheirBibliographies，withTheDeadProphet，expressTennyson"slifelongabhorrenceofthecriticsandbiographers，whosejoyisinthefutileandtheunimportant，inpersonalgossipandthesweepingsofthestudio，thesalvageofthewastepaperbasket。ThePrefatoryPoemtomyBrother"sSonnetsisnotonlytouchinginitself，butprovesthatthepoetcan"turntofavourandtoprettiness"suchanafflictionastheruinoussummerof1879。

Theyear1880broughtdeeperdistressinthedeathofthepoet"ssonLionel，whoseillness，beguninIndia，endedfatallyintheRedSea。

Theinterestofthefollowingyearswasmainlydomestic。Thepoet"shealth，hithertorobust，wassomewhatimpairedin1888，buthisvividinterestinaffairsandinletterswasunabated。HeconsoledhimselfwithVirgil，Keats，Wordsworth，Gibbon，Euripides，andMrLeaf"sspeculationsonthecompositenatureoftheIliad，inwhichColeridge，perhapsaloneamongpoets，believed。"Youknow，"saidTennysontoMrLeaf；"Ineverlikedthattheoryofyoursaboutthemanypoets。"ItwouldbeatleastaseasytoprovethatthereweremanyauthorsofIvanhoe，orperhapsitwouldbeagooddealmoreeasy。However，headmittedthatthreelineswhichoccurbothintheEighthandtheSixteenthBooksoftheIliadaremoreappropriateinthelaterbook。Similarexamplesmightbefoundinhisownpoems。

Hestillwrote，intheintervalsofamaladywhichbroughthim"asneardeathasamancouldbewithoutdying。"Hewasanexampleofthegreatphysicalstrengthwhich，onthewhole，seemsusuallytoaccompanygreatmentalpower。Thestrengthmaybedissipatedbypassion，orbyunduelabour，asincaseseasilyrecalledtomemory，butneithercausehadimpairedthevigourofTennyson。LikeGoethe，helivedoutallhislife；andhiseightiethbirthdaywascheeredbothbypublicandprivateexpressionsofreverenceandaffection。

OfTennyson"slastthreeyearsonearthwemaythink，inhisownwords，thathis"Life"slatesteveenduredNorsettledintohuelessgrey。"

Naturewasasdeartohimandasinspiringasofold；menandaffairsandletterswerenotslurredbyhisintactandenergeticmind。HisDemeterandotherPoems，withthededicationtoLordDufferin，appearedintheDecemberoftheyear。ThededicationwasthelamentforthedeadsonandthesalutationtotheViceroyofIndia，apieceofresignedandmanlyregret。TheDemeterandPersephoneisamodernandtenderstudyofthethemeofthemostbeautifulHomericHymn。

TheancientpoethadnosuchthoughtoftherestoredPersephoneasthatwhichimpelsTennysontodescribeher"Faintasaclimate-changingbirdthatfliesAllnightacrossthedarkness，andatdawnFallsonthethresholdofhernativeland。"

Thespring，therestoredPersephone，comesmorevigorousandjoyoustotheshoresoftheAEgeanthantoours。AllTennyson"sownisDemeter"saweofthose"imperialdisimpassionedeyes"ofherdaughter，comefromthebedandthethroneofHades，theLordofmanyguests。Thehymn，happyinitsending，hasnothoughtofthegreyheadsoftheFates，andtheiranswertothegoddessconcerning"fatebeyondtheFates，"andthebreakingofthebondsofHades。TheballadofOwdRoaisoneofthemostspiritedoftheessaysindialecttowhichTennysonhadoflateyearsinclined。Vastnessmerelyexpresses，intermsofpoetry，Tennyson"sconvictionthat，withoutimmortality，lifeisaseriesofworthlesscontrasts。Anoppositeopinionmaybeentertained，butamanhasarighttoexpresshisown，which，comingfromsogreatamind，isnotundeservingofattention；or，atleast，ishardlydeservingofreproof。Thepoet"sideaisalsostatedthusinTheRing，intermswhichperhapsdonotfallbelowthepoetical；or，atleast，donotdropinto"theutterlyunpoetical":-

"TheGhostinMan，theGhostthatoncewasMan，ButcannotwhollyfreeitselffromMan，Arecallingtoeachotherthro"adawnStrangerthanearthhaseverseen；theveilIsrending，andtheVoicesofthedayAreheardacrosstheVoicesofthedark。

Nosuddenheaven，norsuddenhell，forman，Butthro"theWillofOnewhoknowsandrules-

Andutterknowledgeisbututterlove-

AEonianEvolution，swiftorslow，Thro"alltheSpheres——aneveropeningheight，Aneverlesseningearth。"

TheRingis，infact，aghoststorybasedonalegendtoldbyMrLowellaboutahousenearwherehehadoncelived；oneofthosehousesvexedby"Afootstep，alowthrobbinginthewalls，Anoiseoffallingweightsthatneverfell，Weirdwhispers，bellsthatrangwithoutahand，Door-handlesturn"dwhennonewasatthedoor，Andbolteddoorsthatopen"dofthemselves。"

Thesephenomenaweredoubtlesscausedbyratsandwater-pipes，buttheydonotdestroythepityandthepassionofthetale。ThelinestoMaryBoyleareallofthenormalworld，andworthyofapoet"syouthandofthespring。MerlinandtheGleamisthespiritualallegoryofthepoet"sowncareer:-

"Arthurhadvanish"dIknewnotwhither，Thekingwholovedme，Andcannotdie。"

Soatlast"AllbutinHeavenHoversTheGleam，"

whitherthewayfarerwassoontofollow。Thereisamarvelloushopeandpathosinthemelancholyoftheseallbutthelatestsongs，reminiscentofyouthandlove，andevenofthedimhauntingmemoriesanddreamsofinfancy。NootherEnglishpoethasthusroundedallhislifewithmusic。Tennysonwasinhiseighty-firstyear，whenthere"cameinamoment"thecrownofhiswork，theimmortallyric，CrossingtheBar。ItishardlylessmajesticandmusicalintheperfectGreekrenderingbyhisbrother-in-law，MrLushington。Foronceatleastapoemhasbeen"pouredfromthegoldentothesilvercup"withoutthespillingofadrop。Thenewbook"sappearancewascoincidentwiththedeathofMrBrowning，"solovingandappreciative，"asLadyTennysonwrote；afriend，notarival，howeverthepartisansofeitherpoetmightstrivetostiremulationbetweentwomenofsuchloftyandsuchvariousgenius。

CHAPTERX——1890。

Intheyear1889thepoet"shealthhadpermittedhimtotakelongwalksonthesea-shoreandalongthecliffs，oneofwhich，byreasonofitswhiteness，hehadnamed"Taliessin，""thesplendidbrow。"HismindranonapoemfoundedonanEgyptianlegend(ofwhichthesourceisnotmentioned)，tellinghow"despairanddeathcameuponhimwhowasmadenoughtotrytoprobethesecretoftheuniverse。"HealsothoughtofadramaonTristram，who，intheIdylls，istreatedwithbrevity，andnotwiththesympathyoftheoldwriterwhocries，"GodblessTristramtheknight:hefoughtforEngland!"Butearlyin1890Tennysonsufferedfromasevereattackofinfluenza。InMayMrWattspaintedhisportrait，and"Divinelythroughallhindrancefoundtheman。"

TennysonwasagreatadmirerofMissAusten"snovels:"Therealismandlife-likenessofMissAusten"sDramatisPersonaecomenearesttothoseofShakespeare。Shakespeare，however，isasuntowhichJaneAusten，thoughabrightandtruelittleworld，isbutanasteroid。"

Hewasthereforepleasedtofindapple-blossomsco-existingwithripestrawberriesonJune28，asMissAustenhasbeenblamed，byminutephilosophers，forintroducingthiscombinationinthegardenpartyinEmma。Thepoet，likemostofthegoodandgreat，readnovelseagerly，andexcitedhimselfovertheconfirmationofanadultmaleinastorybyMissYonge。OfScott，"themostchivalrousliteraryfigureofthecentury，andtheauthorwiththewidestrangesinceShakespeare，"hepreferredOldMortality，anditisagoodchoice。

Hehated"morbidandintrospectivetales，withtheiroceansofshamphilosophy。"Atthistime，withcatholictaste，hereadMrStevensonandMrMeredith，MissBraddonandMrHenryJames，OuidaandMrThomasHardy；MrHallCaineandMrAnstey；MrsOliphantandMissEdnaLyall。