wasnot\"faint,\"butstrengthenedwiththeyears。Therearesaidtohavebeenlesshopefulintervals。
Hisfaithis,ofcourse,noargumentforothers,——atleastitoughtnottobe。Weareallthecreaturesofourbias,ourenvironment,ourexperience,ouremotions。TheexperienceofTennysonwasunliketheexperienceofmostmen。Ityieldedhimsubjectivegroundsforbelief。He\"openedapathuntomany,\"likeYama,theVedicbeingwhodiscoveredthewaytodeath。ButTennyson\'spathlednottodeath,buttolifespiritual,andtohope,andhedid\"giveanewimpulsetothethoughtofhisage,\"asothergreatpoetshavedone。Ofcourseitmaybeanimpulsetowrongthought。AsthephilosophicalAustralianblacksaid,\"Weshallknowwhenwearedead。\"
MrHarrisonarguesasif,unlikeTennyson,Byron,Wordsworth,Shelley,andBurnsproduced\"originalideasfreshfromtheirownspirit,andnotderivedfromcontemporarythinkers。\"Idonotknowwhatoriginalideasthesegreatpoetsdiscoveredandpromulgated;
theirideasseemtohavebeen\"intheair。\"Thesepoets\"madethemcurrentcoin。\"ShelleythoughtthatheowedmanyofhisideastoGodwin,acontemporarythinker。WordsworthhasadebttoPlato,athinkernotcontemporary。Burns\'sdemocraticindependencewas\"intheair,\"andhadbeen,inScotland,sinceElderremarkedonitinalettertoInglesin1515。Itisnottheideas,itistheexpressionoftheideas,thatmarksthepoet。Tennyson\'sideasarerelativelynovel,thoughasoldasPlotinus,fortheyareappliedtoanovel,oratleastanunfamiliar,mentalsituation。Doubtwasabroad,asitalwaysis;but,forperhapsthefirsttimesincePorphyrywrotehislettertoAbammon,thedoubtersdesiredtobelieve,andsaid,\"Lord,helpThoumyunbelief。\"Torobust,notsensitiveminds,verymuchinunitywiththemselves,theattitudeseemscontemptible,oratbestdecentlyfutile。YetIcannotthinkitbelowthedignityofmankind,consciousthatitisnotomniscient。ThepoetdoesfailinlogicInMemoriam,cxx。whenhesays-
\"Lethim,thewisermanwhospringsHereafter,upfromchildhoodshapeHisactionlikethegreaterape,ButIwasBORNtootherthings。\"
Iamnotwellacquaintedwiththehabitsofthegreaterape,butitwouldprobablybeunwise,andperhapsindecent,toimitatehim,evenif\"wealsoarehisoffspring。\"Wemightaswellreverttopolyandryandpaint,becauseourCelticorPictishancestors,ifwehadany,practisedtheoneandworetheother。However,petulancesliketheverseonthegreaterapearerareinInMemoriam。Todeclarethat\"I
wouldnotstay\"inlifeifscienceprovesustobe\"cunningcastsinclay,\"isbeneaththecourageoftheStoicalphilosophy。
Theologically,thepoemrepresentsthestrugglewithdoubtsandhopesandfears,whichhadbeenwithTennysonfromhisboyhood,asisprovedbythevolumeof1830。Butthedoubtshadexerted,probably,butlittleinfluenceonhishappinesstillthesuddenstrokeoflossmadelifeforatimeseemalmostunbearableunlessthedoubtsweresolved。TheyWEREsolved,orstoicallysetaside,intheUlysses,writteninthefreshnessofgrief,withtheconclusionthatwemustbe\"StronginwillTostrive,toseek,tofind,andnottoyield。\"
Butthegnawingofgrieftillitbecomesaphysicalpain,thefeverfitsofsorrow,theachingdesiderium,bringbackinmanyguisestheoldquestions。Theserequirenewattemptsatanswers,andareanswered,\"thesadmechanicexercise\"ofverseallayingthepain。
ThisisthegenesisofInMemoriam,notoriginallywrittenforpublicationbutproducedatlastasamonumenttofriendship,andasabookofconsolation。
Nobooksofconsolationcanconsoleexceptbysympathy;andinInMemoriamsympathyandreliefhavebeenfound,andwillbefound,bymany。Another,wefeel,hastroddenourdarkandstonypath,hasbeenshadowedbytheshapesofdreadwhichhauntourvalleyoftribulation:amindalmostinfinitelygreaterthanourshasbeenourfellow-sufferer。Hehasemergedfromthedarknessoftheshadowofdeathintothelight,whither,asitseemstous,wecanscarcelyhopetocome。Itisthesympathyandtheexample,Ithink,notthespeculations,mysticalorscientific,whichmakeInMemoriam,inmorethanname,abookofconsolation:eveninhoursofthesharpestdistress,whenitstechnicalbeautiesandwonderfulpicturesseemshadowyandunreal,liketheyellowsunshineandthewoodsofthatautumndaywhenamanlearnedthathisfriendwasdead。No,itwasnotthespeculationsandargumentsthatconsoledorencouragedus。
WedidnotlistentoTennysonastoMrFredericHarrison\'sglorifiedAnglicanclergyman。Wecouldnotmurmur,liketheQueenoftheMay-
\"Thatgoodman,theLaureate,hastoldtiswordsofpeace。\"
Whatwevaluedwasthepoet\'scompanionship。TherewasayoungreadertowhomAllalongtheValleycameasanewpoeminatimeofrecentsorrow。
\"Thetwo-and-thirtyyearswereamistthatrollsaway,\"
saidthesingerofInMemoriam,andinthathouritseemedasifnonecouldendurefortwo-and-thirtyyearsthecompanionshipofloss。Buttheyearshavegoneby,andhaveleft\"EveryoungthefacethatdwellsWithreasoncloister\'dinthebrain。\"{10}
InthiswaytomanyInMemoriamisalmostalife-longcompanion:wewalkwithGreat-heartforourguidethroughthevalleyPerilous。
InthisrespectInMemoriamisunique,forneithertoitspraisenordispraiseisittobecomparedwiththeotherfamouselegiesoftheworld。Thesearebriefoutburstsofgrief——real,asinthehopelesswordsofCatullusoverhisbrother\'stomb;oracademic,likeMilton\'sLycidas。WearenottosupposethatMiltonwasheart-brokenbythedeathofyoungMrKing,orthatShelleywasgreatlydesolatedbythedeathofKeats,withwhomhispersonalrelationshadbeenslight,andofwhosepoetryhehadspokenevil。Hewasnoblystirredasapoetbyapoet\'sdeath——likeMrSwinburnebythedeathofCharlesBaudelaire;butneitherShelleynorMrSwinburnewaslamentingdimidiumanimaesuae,ormourningforafriend\"Dearasthemothertotheson,Morethanmybrothersaretome。\"
ThepassionofInMemoriamispersonal,isacute,islife-long,andthusitdiffersfromtheotherelegies。Moreover,itcelebratesanobleobject,andthusisunliketheambiguousaffection,realordramatic,whichinformsthesonnetsofShakespeare。Sothepoemstandsalone,cloistered;notfierywithindignation,notbreakingintoactualprophecy,likeShelley\'sAdonais;notcapable,byreasonevenofitsmeditativemetre,oftheorganmusicofLycidas。Yetitisnottobereckonedinferiortothesebecauseitsaimandplanareotherthantheirs。
Itisfarfrommypurposeto\"class\"Tennyson,ortodisputeabouthisrelativegreatnesswhencomparedwithWordsworthorByron,Coleridge,Shelley,orBurns。HeratedonesongofLovelaceaboveallhislyrics,and,infact,couldnomorehavewrittentheCavalier\'sToAltheafromPrisonthanLovelacecouldhavewrittentheMorted\'Arthur。\"Itisnotreasonable,itisnotfair,\"saysMrHarrison,aftercomparingInMemoriamwithLycidas,\"tocompareTennysonwithMilton,\"anditisnotreasonabletocompareTennysonwithanypoetwhatever。Criticismisnottheconstructionofaclasslist。ButwemayreasonablysaythatInMemoriamisanoblepoem,anoriginalpoem,apoemwhichstandsaloneinliterature。Thewonderfulbeauty,everfresh,howsoeveroftenread,ofmanystanzas,isnotdeniedbyanycritic。Themarvelisthatthesameserenecertaintyofartbroodsovereventhestanzaswhichmusthavebeenconceivedwhilethesorrowwasfresh。Thesecondpiece,\"Oldyew,whichgraspestatthestones,\"
musthavebeencomposedsoonafterthestrokefell。Yetitisasperfectastheproemof1849。Asarule,thepoeticalexpressionofstrongemotionappearsusuallytoclothethememoryofpassionwhenithasbeensoftenedbytime。Butherealready\"therhythm,phrasing,andarticulationareentirelyfaultless,exquisitelyclear,melodious,andrare。\"{11}Itweresuperfluouslabourtopointatspecialbeauties,attheexquisiterenderingofnature;andcopiouscommentariesexisttoexplainthecourseoftheargument,ifaseriesofmoodsistobecalledanargument。Onemaynotesuchapointasthatxiv。wherethepoetsaysthat,werehetomeethisfriendinlife,\"Ishouldnotfeelittobestrange。\"
Itmayhavehappenedtomanytomistake,forasectionofasecond,thefaceofastrangerforthefaceseenonlyindreams,andtofindthattherecognitionbringsnosurprise。
Piecesofacharacterapartfromtherest,andplacedinadesignedsequence,arexcii。,xciii。,xcv。Inthefirstthepoetsays-
\"IfanyvisionshouldrevealThylikeness,ImightcountitvainAsbutthecankerofthebrain;
Yea,tho\'itspakeandmadeappealTochanceswhereourlotswerecastTogetherinthedaysbehind,Imightbutsay,IhearawindOfmemorymurmuringthepast。
Yea,tho\'itspakeandbaredtoviewAfactwithinthecomingyear;
Andtho\'themonths,revolvingnear,Shouldprovethephantom-warningtrue,Theymightnotseemthyprophecies,Butspiritualpresentiments,AndsuchrefractionofeventsAsoftenriseseretheyrise。\"
Theauthorthusshowshimselfdifficileastorecognisingthepersonalidentityofaphantasm;norisiteasytoseewhatmodeofprovinghisidentitywouldbelefttoaspirit。Thepoet,therefore,appealstosomeperhapslesssatisfactoryexperience:-
\"Descend,andtouch,andenter;hearThewishtoostrongforwordstoname;
ThatinthisblindnessoftheframeMyGhostmayfeelthatthineisnear。\"
ThethirdpoemisthecrownofInMemoriam,expressingalmostsuchthingsasarenotgiventomantoutter:-
Andallatonceitseem\'datlastThelivingsoulwasflash\'donmine,Andmineinthiswaswound,andwhirl\'dAboutempyrealheightsofthought,Andcameonthatwhichis,andcaughtThedeeppulsationsoftheworld,AEonianmusicmeasuringoutThestepsofTime——theshocksofChance-
TheblowsofDeath。AtlengthmytranceWascancell\'d,strickenthro\'withdoubt。
Vaguewords!butah,howhardtoframeInmatter-mouldedformsofspeech,Orev\'nforintellecttoreachThro\'memorythatwhichIbecame。\"
Experienceslikethis,subjective,andnotmatterforargument,werefamiliartoTennyson。Jowettsaid,\"Hewasoneofthosewho,thoughnotanupholderofmiracles,thoughtthatthewondersofHeavenandEarthwereneverfarabsentfromus。\"InTheMystic,Tennyson,whenalmostaboy,hadshownfamiliaritywithstrangepsychologicalandpsychicalconditions。Poemsofmuchlaterlifealsodealwiththese,and,moreorlessconsciously,hisphilosophywastinged,andhisconfidencethatwearemorethan\"cunningcastsinclay\"wasincreased,byphenomenaofexperience,whichcanonlybeevidenceforthemystichimself,ifevenforhim。Butthisdimaspectofhisphilosophy,ofcourse,is\"totheGreeksfoolishness。\"
Hiswasaphilosophyofhisown;notaphilosophyfordisciples,and\"thosethateddyroundandround。\"Itwasthesumofhisreflectiononthemassofhisimpressions。Ihaveshown,bytheaidofdates,thatitwasnotborrowedfromHuxley,MrStopfordBrooke,orthelateDukeofArgyll。But,nodoubt,manyoftheideaswere\"intheair,\"
andmusthavepresentedthemselvestomindsatonceofreligioustendency,andattractedbytheevolutionarytheorieswhichhadalwaysexistedasfloatingspeculations,tilltheyweremadecurrentcoinbythegeniusandpatientstudyofDarwin。ThatTennyson\'sopinionsbetween1830and1840wereinfluencedbythoseofF。D。MauriceisreckonedprobablebyCanonAinger,authorofthenoticeofthepoetinTheDictionaryofNationalBiography。IntheLifeofMaurice,Tennysondoesnotappeartill1850,andthetwomenwerenotatCambridgetogether。ButMaurice\'sideas,astheythenexisted,mayhavereachedTennysonorallythroughHallamandothermembersoftheTrinityset,whoknewpersonallytheauthorofLetterstoaQuaker。
However,thisisnoquestionofscientificpriority:tomyselfitseemsthatTennyson\"beathismusicout\"forhimself,asperhapsmostpeopledo。LikehisownSirPercivale,\"Iknownotallhemeant。\"
AmongtheopinionsastoInMemoriamcurrentatthetimeofitspublicationLordTennysonnoticesthoseofMauriceandRobertson。
They\"thoughtthatthepoethadmadeadefinitesteptowardstheunificationofthehighestreligionandphilosophywiththeprogressivescienceoftheday。\"Neithersciencenorreligionstandsstill;neitherstandsnowwhereitthendid。Conceivablytheyaretravellingonpathswhichwillultimatelycoincide;butthisopinion,ofcourse,mustseemfoolishnesstomostprofessorsofscience。
BishopWestcottwasatCambridgewhenthebookappeared:heisoneofMrHarrison\'spossiblesourcesofTennyson\'sideas。Herecognisedthepoet\'s\"splendidfaithinthefaceofeverydifficultyinthegrowingpurposeofthesumoflife,andinthenobledestinyoftheindividualman。\"TenyearslaterProfessorHenrySidgwick,amindsufficientlysceptical,foundinsomelinesofInMemoriam\"theindestructibleandinalienableminimumoffaithwhichhumanitycannotgiveupbecauseitisnecessaryforlife;andwhichIknowthatI,atleastsofarasthemaninmeisdeeperthanthemethodicalthinker,cannotgiveup。\"Butweknowthatmanypersonsnotonlydonotfindanirreducibleminimumoffaith\"necessaryforlife,\"butarehighlyindignantandcontemptuousifanyoneelseventurestosuggestthelogicalpossibilityofanyfaithatall。
Themassofmankindwillprobablyneverbeconvincedunbelievers——
nay,probablythebackwardorforwardswingofthependulumwilltouchmoreconvincedbelief。Buttherealwayshavebeen,sincetheRishisofIndiasang,superiorpersonswhobelieveinnothingnotmaterial——whateverthematerialmaybe。Tennysonwas,itissaid,\"impatient\"oftheseespritsforts,andtheyareimpatientofhim。
Itisanerrortobeimpatient:weknownotwhitherthelogosmayleadus,orlatergenerations;andweoughtnottobeirritatedwithothersbecauseitleadsthemintowhatwethinkthewrongpath。Itisunfortunatethataworkofart,likeInMemoriam,shouldarousetheologicaloranti-theologicalpassions。Thepoetonlyshowsusthepathsbywhichhismindtravelled:theymaynotbetherightpaths,norisiteasytotracethemonaphilosophicalchart。HeescapedfromDoubtingCastle。Othersmay\"takethatforahermitage,\"andbehappyenoughintheresidence。Wearealldeterminedbyourbias:
Tennyson\'sisunconcealed。Hispoemisnotatract:itdoesnotaimattheconversionofpeoplewiththecontrarybias,itisirksome,inwritingaboutapoet,tobeobligedtodiscussaphilosophywhich,certainly,isnotstatedinthemannerofSpinoza,butismerelytheequilibriumofcontendingforcesinasinglemind。
ThemostfamousreviewofInMemoriamisthatwhichdeclaredthat\"thesetouchinglinesevidentlycomefromthefullheartofthewidowofamilitaryman。\"Thisisonlyequalled,ifequalled,byarecentcritiquewhichtreatedafresheditionofJaneEyreasanewnovel,\"notwithoutpower,inparts,andshowingsomeknowledgeofYorkshirelocalcolour。\"
CHAPTERVI——AFTERINMEMORIAM。
OnJune13Tennysonmarried,atShiplake,theobjectofhisold,long-tried,andconstantaffection。Themarriagewasstill\"imprudent,\"——eightyearsofthenuncontestedsupremacyinEnglishpoetryhadnotbroughtagoldenharvest。MrMoxonappearstohavesupplied300pounds\"inadvanceofroyalties。\"Thesum,socontemptibleintheeyesoffirst-ratemodernnovelists,wasacompetencetoTennyson,addedtohislittlepensionandtheepavesofhispatrimony。\"ThepeaceofGodcameintomylifewhenImarriedher,\"hesaidinlaterdays。Thepoetmadeacharmingcopyofversestohisfriend,theRev。MrRawnsley,whotiedtheknot,asheandhisbridedrovetothebeautifulvillageofPangbourne。ThencetheywenttothestatelyClevedonCourt,theseatofSirAbrahamElton,hardbythechurchwhereArthurHallamsleeps。Theplaceisveryancientandbeautiful,andwasafavouritehauntofThackeray。TheypassedontoLynton,andtoGlastonbury,whereacollateralancestorofMrsTennyson\'sisburiedbesideKingArthur\'sgrave,inthatgreenvalleyofAvilion,amongtheapple-blossoms。TheysettledforawhileatTentLodgeonConistonWater,inalandofhospitableMarshalls。
AftertheirreturntoLondon,onthenightofNovember18,TennysondreamedthatPrinceAlbertcameandkissedhim,andthathehimselfsaid,\"Verykind,butveryGerman,\"whichwasverylikehim。NextdayhereceivedfromWindsortheofferoftheLaureateship。Hedoubted,andhesitated,butaccepted。SinceWordsworth\'sdeaththerehad,asusual,beenagooddealofbanterabouttheprobablenewLaureate:examplesofcompetitiveodesexistinBonGaultier。ThatbyTennysonisAnacreontic,buthewasnotreallysetonkissingtheMaidsofHonour,asheismadetosing。Rogershaddeclined,onthepleaofextremeoldage;butitwasworthyofthegreatandgoodQueennottooverlooktheNestorofEnglishpoets。Fortherest,theQueenlookedfor\"anamebearingsuchdistinctionintheliteraryworldastodocredittotheappointment。\"InthepreviouscenturythegreatpoetshadrarelybeenLaureates。ButsinceSirWalterScottdeclinedthebaysinfavourofSouthey,forwhom,again,thetaleofbricksinthewayofOdeswaslightened,andwhenWordsworthsucceededSouthey,theofficebecamehonourable。Tennysongaveitanincreaseofrenown,while,thoughinitselfofmerelynominalvalue,itservedhispoems,tospeakprofanely,asanadvertisement。Neweditionsofhisbookswereatonceindemand;whilefewreadershadeverheardofMrBrowning,alreadyhisfriend,andalreadyauthorofMenandWomen。
TheLaureateshipbroughtthepoetacquaintedwiththeQueen,whowastobehisdebtorinlaterdaysforencouragementandconsolation。TohisLaureateshipweowe,amongothergoodthings,thestatelyandmovingOdeontheDeathoftheDukeofWellington,asplendidheroicpiece,unappreciatedatthemoment。ButTennysonwas,ofcourse,noBirthdaypoet。SincetheexileoftheHouseofStuartourkingsinEnglandhavenotmaintainedtheoldfamiliaritywithmanyclassesoftheirsubjects。LiteraturehasnotbeenfashionableatCourt,andTennysoncouldinnoagehavebeenacourtier。Wehearthecomplaint,everynowandthen,thatofficialhonoursarenotconferredexcepttheLaureateshiponmenofletters。Butmostofthemprobablythinkitratherdistinguishednottobedecorated,ortocarrytitlesbornebymanydeservingpersonsunvisitedbytheMuses。Eventheappointmenttothebaysusuallyprovokesagreatdealofjealousandspitefulfeeling,whichwouldonlybemultipliedifofficialhonoursweredistributedamongmenofthepen。PerhapsTennyson\'slaurelswerenotfornothinginthechorusofdispraisewhichgreetedtheOdeontheDukeofWellington,andMaud。
Theyear1851waschieflynotableforatourtoItaly,madeimmortalinthebeautifulpoemofTheDaisy,inameasureofthepoet\'sowninvention。Thenextyear,followingontheCoupd\'etatandtheriseofthenewFrenchempire,producedpatrioticappealstoBritonsto\"guardtheirown,\"whichtoagreatextentformeralienownershadbeenunsuccessfulinguardingfromBritons。TheTennysonshadlosttheirfirstchildathisbirth:perhapsheisrememberedinTheGrandmother,\"thebabehadfoughtforhislife。\"InAugust1852thepresentLordTennysonwasborn,andMrMauricewasaskedtobegodfather。TheWellingtonOdewasofNovember,andwasmetby\"thealmostuniversaldepreciationofthepress,\"——why,exceptbecause,asIhavejustsuggested,TennysonwasLaureate,itisimpossibletoimagine。Theverseswereworthyoftheoccasion:moretheycouldnotbe。
Intheautumnof1853thepoetvisitedArdtornishontheSoundofMull,abeautifulplaceendearedtohimwhonowwritesbytheearliestassociations。ItchancedtohimtopasshisholidaystherejustwhenTennysonandMrPalgravehadleft——\"MrTinsmithandMrPancake,\"asRoberttheboatman,averyblackCelt,calledthem。
Beingthennineyearsofage,Iheardofapoet\'svisit,andasked,\"Arealpoet,likeSirWalterScott?\"withwhomIthensupposedthat\"theMusehadgoneaway。\"\"Oh,notlikeSirWalterScott,ofcourse,\"mymothertoldme,withloyaltyunashamed。OnecanthinkofthepoetasMrsSellar,hishostess,describeshim,beneaththelimesoftheavenueatAcharn,planted,MrsSellarsays,byacousinofFloraMacdonald。Ihavebeentoldthattheladywhoplantedthelilies,ifnotthelimes,wasthefamedJacobite,MissJennieCameron,mentionedinTomJones。AnEnglishengravingof1746showsthePrincebetweenthesetwobeauties,FloraandJennie。
\"Noone,\"saysMrsSellar,\"couldhavebeenmoreeasy,simple,anddelightful,\"andindeeditisnomarvelthatinhersocietyandthatofherhusband,theGreekprofessor,andhercousin,MissCross,andinsuchscenes,\"heblossomedoutinthemostgenialmanner,makingusallfeelasifhewereanoldfriend。\"
InNovemberTennysontookahouseatFarringford,\"asitwasbeautifulandfarfromthehauntsofmen。\"Therehesettledtoacountryexistenceinthesocietyofhiswife,histwochildrenthesecond,Lionel,beingin1854thebaby,andtherehecomposedMaud,whilethesoundoftheguns,inpracticeforthewaroftheCrimea,boomedfromthecoast。InMayTennysonsawtheartists,ofschoolsoddlyvarious,whoillustratedhispoems。Millais,Rossetti,andHolmanHuntgavethetonetotheart,butMrHorsley,Creswick,andMulgravewerealsoengaged。WhileMaudwasbeingcomposedTennysonwroteTheChargeoftheLightBrigade;afamouspoem,notinamannerinwhichhewasborntoexcel——atleastinmypooropinion。\"SomeoneHADblundered,\"andthatlinewasthefirstfashionedandthekeynoteofthepoem;but,afterall,\"blundered\"isnotanexquisiterhymeto\"hundred。\"Thepoem,inanycase,wasmostwelcometoourarmyintheCrimea,andisaspiritedpieceforrecitation。
InJanuary1855Maudwasfinished;inAprilthepoetcopieditoutforthepress,andrefreshedhimselfbyreadingaverydifferentpoem,TheLadyoftheLake。Theauthor,SirWalter,hadsuffered,liketheheroofMaud,byanunhappyloveaffair,whichjustfaintlycoloursTheLadyoftheLakebyasingleallusion,inthedescriptionofFitz-James\'sdreams:-
\"Then,——frommycouchmayheavenlymightChasethatworstphantomofthenight!-
Againreturnedthescenesofyouth,Ofconfidentundoubtingtruth;
AgainhissoulheinterchangedWithfriendswhoseheartswerelongestranged。
Theycome,indimprocessionled,Thecold,thefaithless,andthedead;
Aswarmeachhand,eachbrowasgay,Asiftheypartedyesterday。
Anddoubtdistractshimattheview-
Oh,werehissensesfalseortrue?
Dreamedheofdeath,orbrokenvow,Orisitallavisionnow?\"
WelearnfromLadyLouisaStuart,towhomScottreadtheselines,thattheyreferredtohislostlove。IcitethepassagebecausetheextremereticenceofScott,inhisundyingsorrow,isincontrastwithwhatTennyson,afterreadingTheLadyoftheLake,wasputtingintothemouthofhiscomplainingloverinMaud。
WehavenoreasontosupposethatTennysonhimselfhadevertobewailafaithlesslove。Tobesure,theheroofLocksleyHallisinthisattitude,butthenLocksleyHallisnotautobiographical。Lessdramaticandimpersonalinappearancearethestanzas-
\"Comenot,whenIamdead,Todropthyfoolishtearsuponmygrave;\"
and\"Child,ifitwerethineerrororthycrimeIcarenolonger,beingallunblest。\"
Nobiographertellsuswhetherthiswasapersonalcomplaintorameresetofversesonanimaginaryoccasion。InInMemoriamTennysonspeaksoutconcerningthelossofafriend。InMaud,asinLocksleyHall,hemakeshisherorevealtheagonycausedbythelossofamistress。Thereisnoreasontosupposethatthepoethadeveranysuchmischance,butmanyreadershavetakenLocksleyHallandMaudforautobiographicalrevelations,likeInMemoriam。Theyare,ontheotherhand,imaginativeanddramatic。Theyillustratethepangsofdisappointedloveofwoman,pangsmorecomplexandmoreranklingthanthoseinflictedbydeath。Ineachcase,however,thepoet,whohassungsonoblythehappinessoffortunateweddedloves,haschosenaherowithwhomwedonotreadilysympathise——aHamletinminiature,\"Withaheartoffuriousfancies,\"
asintheoldmadsong。Thischoice,thankstothepopularmisconception,didhimsomeharm。Asa\"monodramaticIdyll,\"aromanceinmanyrichlyricmeasures,Maudwasatfirstexcessivelyunpopular。\"Tennyson\'sMaudisTennyson\'sMaudlin,\"saidasatirist,and\"morbid,\"\"mad,\"\"rampant,\"and\"rabidbloodthirstinessofsoul,\"
wereamongtheamenitiesofcriticism。Tennysonhatedwar,buthishero,atleast,hopesthatnationalunioninanationalstrugglewillawakeanoblerthanthecommercialspirit。IntotherightsandwrongsofourquarrelwithRussiawearenottogo。Tennyson,rightlyorwrongly,tookthepartofhiscountry,andmust\"tholethefeud\"ofthosehigh-souledcitizenswhothinktheircountryalwaysinthewrong——asperhapsitveryfrequentlyis。Wearenottoexpectatranquilabsenceofbiasinthemidstofmilitaryexcitement,whenverylaudablesentimentsareapttomisguidemeninbothdirections。
Inanycase,politicalpartisanshipaddedtotheenemiesofthepoem,whichwasapplaudedbyHenryTaylor,Ruskin,GeorgeBrimley,andJowett,whileMrsBrowningsentconsolingwordsfromItaly。Thepoemremainedafavouritewiththeauthor,whochosepassagesfromitoften,whenpersuadedtoreadaloudbyfriends;andmoderncriticismhasnotfailedtoapplaudthesplendouroftheverseandthesubtletyofthemadscenes,thepassionofthelovelyrics。