Butbecause,fairdamsel,thatyelovemeasyesayyedo,Iwill,foryourgoodwillandkindness,showyousomegoodness,……andalwayswhileIlivetobeyourtrueknight。\"Hereare\"amiablewordsandcourtesy。\"IcannotagreewithMrHarrisonthatMalory\'sbookismerely\"afiercelustyepic。\"Thatwasnottheopinionofitsprinterandpublisher,Caxton。Heproduceditasanexampleof\"thegentleandvirtuousdeedsthatsomeknightsusedinthesedays,……
nobleandrenownedactsofhumanity,gentleness,andchivalry。Forhereinmaybeseennoblechivalry,courtesy,humanity,friendliness,love,cowardice,murder,hate,virtue,andsin。Doafterthegoodandleavetheevil。\"
Inreactionagainstthebold-facedheroinesandsensualamoursofsomeoftheoldFrenchromances,anidealofexaggeratedasceticism,ofstainlesschastity,notoriouslypervadestheportionofMalory\'sworkwhichdealswiththeHolyGrail。Lancelotisdistraughtwhenhefindsthat,bydintofenchantment,hehasbeenmadefalsetoGuinevereBookXI。chap。viii。AfterhisdreamingvisionoftheHolyGrail,withthereproachfulVoice,SirLancelotsaid,\"Mysinandmywickednesshavebroughtmegreatdishonour,……andnowI
seeandunderstandthatmyoldsinhinderethandshamethme。\"Hewashuman,theLancelotofMalory,and\"felltohisoldloveagain,\"withaheavyheart,andwithlongpenanceattheend。Howsuchgoodknightscanbedeemedconsciencelessandvoidofcourtesyoneknowsnot,exceptbyasurvivalofthePuritanismofAscham。ButTennysonfoundinthebookwhatisinthebook——honour,conscience,courtesy,andthehero-
\"Whosehonourrootedindishonourstood,Andfaithunfaithfulkepthimfalselytrue。\"
Malory\'sbook,whichwasTennyson\'schiefsource,endsbybeingthetragedyoftheconscienceofLancelot。Arthurisdead,or\"InAvalonhegrowethold。\"TheQueenandLancelotmightsing,asLennoxreportsthatQueenMarydidafterDarnley\'smurder-
\"WeelismeForIamfree。\"
\"Whytooktheynottheirpastime?\"Becauseconscienceforbade,andGuineveresendsherloverfarfromher,andbothdieinreligion。
ThusMalory\'s\"fiercelustyepic\"isneithersolustynorsofiercebutthatitgivesTennysonhiskeynote:thesinthatbreaksthefaircompanionship,andisbitterlyrepented。
\"Theknightsarealmosttoopolitetokilleachother,\"thecriticurges。InMalorytheyaresometimesquitetoopolitetokilleachother。SirDarrashasablood-feudagainstSirTristram,andSirTristramisinhisdungeon。SirDarrassaid,\"WityewellthatSirDarrasshallneverdestroysuchanobleknightasthouartinprison,howbeitthatthouhastslainthreeofmysons,wherebyIwasgreatlyaggrieved。Butnowshaltthougoandthyfellows……Allthatyedid,\"saidSirDarras,\"wasbyforceofknighthood,andthatwasthecauseIwouldnotputyoutodeath\"BookIX。chap。xl。
Tennysonisaccusedof\"emasculatingthefiercelustyepicintoamorallesson,asifitweretobeperformedinadrawing-roombyanacademyofyoungladies\"——presidedover,Idaresay,by\"Anglicanclergymen。\"IknownothowanyonewhohasreadtheMorted\'ArthurcanblameTennysoninthematter。LetMaloryandhissourcesbeblamed,iftobemoralistobeculpable。Afewpassagesapart,thereisnocoarsenessinMalory;thatthereareconscience,courtesy,\"sweetlives,\"\"keepingdownthebaseinman,\"\"amiablewords,\"andallthatTennysongives,and,inMrHarrison\'stheory,giveswithoutauthorityintheromance,myquotationsfromMalorydemonstrate。Theyarechosenatacasualopeningofhisbook。Thatthere\"hadnotarisenintheworld\"\"theideaofreverencingconscience\"beforethecloseofthefifteenthcenturyA。D。isanextraordinarystatementforacriticofhistorytooffer。
MrHarrisonmakeshisprotestbecause\"intheconspiracyofsilenceintowhichTennyson\'sjustfamehashypnotisedthecritics,itisbarehonestytoadmitdefects。\"IthinkIamnothypnotised,andI
donotregardtheIdyllsasthecrownofTennyson\'swork。Butitisnothis\"defect\"tohaveintroducedgenerosity,gentleness,conscience,andchastitywherenosuchthingsoccurinhissources。
TakeSirDarras:hispositionisthatofPriamwhenhemeetsAchilles,whoslewhissons,exceptthatPriamcomesasasuppliant;
SirDarrashasTristraminhishands,andmayslayhim。Heis\"toopolite,\"asMrHarrisonsays:heistoogoodaChristian,ortoogoodagentleman。OnewouldnothavegivenatripodforthelifeofAchilleshadhefallenintothehandsofPriam。Butbetween1200
B。C。orsoandthedateofMalory,newideasabout\"livingsweetlives\"hadarisen。Whereandwhendotheynotarise?ABritishpatrolfiredoncertainSwazisintimeoftruce。Theirlieutenant,whohadbeenabsentwhenthisoccurred,rodealonetothestrongholdoftheSwaziking,Sekukoeni,andgavehimselfup,expectingdeathbytorture。\"Go,sir,\"saidtheking;\"wetooaregentlemen。\"Theideaofa\"sweetlife\"ofhonourhaddawnedevenonSekukoeni:itlightsupMalory\'sromance,andisreflectedinTennyson\'sIdylls,doubtlesswithsomemodernismofexpression。
ThattheIdyllsrepresentnorealworldiscertain。ThatTennysonmodernisesandmoralisestoomuch,Iwillinglyadmit;whatIdenyisthatheintroducesgentleness,courtesy,andconsciencewherehissourceshavenone。Indeedthisisnotamatterofcriticalopinion,butofverifiablefact。AnyonecanreadMaloryandjudgeforhimself。ButtheworldinwhichtheIdyllsmovecouldnotbereal。
Formorethanathousandyearsdifferentraces,differentages,hadtakenholdoftheancientCelticlegendsandspiritualisedthemaftertheirownmanner,andmouldedthemtotheirownideals。TheremayhavebeenahistoricalArthur,ComesBritanniae,aftertheRomanwithdrawal。YeAmherawdyrArthur,\"theEmperorArthur,\"mayhavelivedandfought,andledtheBrythonstobattle。ButtheremayalsohavebeenaBrythonicdeity,orculturehero,ofthesame,orofasimilarname,andmythsabouthimmayhavebeenassignedtoarealArthur。Again,theArthuroftheoldWelshlegendswasbynomeanstheblamelessking——evenincomparativelylateFrenchromancesheisnotblameless。Buttheprocessofidealisinghimwenton:stillincompleteinMalory\'scompilation,whereheisoftenratherotioseandfarfromroyal。Tennyson,forhispurpose,completedtheidealisation。
AstoGuinevere,shewasnotidealisedintheoldWelshrhyme-
\"Guinevere,GiantOgurvan\'sdaughter,Naughtyyoung,morenaughtylater。\"
OfLancelot,andherpassionforhim,theoldWelshhasnothingtosay。ProbablyChretiendeTroyes,byahappyblunderormisconception,gaveLancelothisloveandhispre-eminentpart。
LancelotwasconfusedwithPeredur,andGuineverewiththeladyofwhomPeredurwasinquest。TheElainewhobecomesbyLancelotthemotherofGalahad\"wasLancelot\'srightfulconsort,asonerecognisesinhernamethatofElen,theEmpress,whomthestoryofPeredur\"
Lancelot,bytheconfusion\"givesthatherotowife。\"ThesecondElaine,themaidofAstolat,isanotherrefractionfromtheoriginalElen。AstotheGrail,itmaybeaChristianisedrenderingofoneoranotherofthemagicalandmysticcaldronsofWelshorIrishlegend。
ThereisevenanapparentCelticsourceofthemysteriousfisherkingoftheGrailromance。{12}
AsketchoftheevolutionoftheArthurianlegendsmightrunthus:-
Sixthtoeighthcentury,growthofmythaboutanArthur,real,orsupposedtobereal。
Tenthcentury,theDuchiesofNormandyandBrittanyareincloserelations;bytheeleventhcenturyNormansknowCelticArthurianstories。
After,1066,NormansincontactwiththeCelticpeoplesofthisislandareintouchwiththeArthurtales。
1130-1145,worksonArthurianmatterbyGeoffreyofMonmouth。
1155,Wace\'sFrenchtranslationofGeoffrey。
1150-1182,ChretiendeTroyeswritespoemsonArthuriantopics。
FrenchproseromancesonArthur,from,say,1180to1250。ThoseromancesreachWales,andmodify,intranslations,theoriginalWelshlegends,or,inpart,supplantthem。
Amplificationsandrecastingsarenumerous。In1485CaxtonpublishesMalory\'sselectionsfromFrenchandEnglishsources,thewholebeingTennyson\'smainsource,LeMortd\'Arthur。{13}
ThustheArthurstories,originallyCeltic,originallyamassofsemi-paganlegend,myth,andmarchen,havebeenretoldandrehandledbyNorman,Englishman,andFrenchman,takingonnewhues,expressingnewideals——religious,chivalrous,andmoral。Anypoetmayworkhiswillonthem,andTennyson\'swillwastoretainthechivalrouscourtesy,generosity,love,andasceticism,whiledimlyorbrightlyveilingorilluminatingthemwithhisownideals。Aftersomanyprocesses,fromfolk-taletomodernidyll,theArthurianworldcouldnotbereal,andrealitisnot。Camelotlies\"outofspace,outoftime,\"thoughthecolouringismainlythatofthelaterchivalry,and\"thegleam\"onthehuesispartlyderivedfromCelticfancyofvariousdates,andispartlyTennysonian。
AstheIdyllswerefinallyarranged,thefirst,TheComingofArthur,isaremarkableproofofTennyson\'singenuityinconstruction。TalesaboutthebirthofArthurvaried。InMalory,UtherPendragon,theBretwaldainlaterphraseofBritain,besiegestheDukeofTintagil,whohasafairwife,Ygerne,inanothercastle。MerlinmagicallyputsonUthertheshapeofYgerne\'shusband,andasherhusbandshereceiveshim。OnthatnightArthurisbegottenbyUther,andtheDukeofTintagil,hismother\'shusband,isslaininasortie。
UtherwedsYgerne;bothrecogniseArthurastheirchild。However,bytheCelticcustomoffosteragetheinfantisintrustedtoSirEctorashisdalt,orfoster-child,andUtherfallsinbattle。Arthurislaterapprovenkingbytheadventureofdrawingfromthestonethemagicswordthatnootherkingcouldmove。ThisadventureanswerstoSigmund\'sdrawingtheswordfromtheBranstock,intheVolsungaSaga,\"Nowmenstandup,andnonewouldfainbethelasttolayhandtothesword,\"apparentlystrickenintothepillarbyWoden。\"Butnonewhocametheretomightavailtopullitout,forinnowisewoulditcomeawayhowsoevertheytuggedatit,butnowupcomesSigmund,KingVolsung\'sson,andsetshandtothesword,andpullsitfromthestock,evenasifitlayloosebeforehim。\"TheincidentintheArthurianasintheVolsungalegendisonaparwiththeGoldenBough,inthesixthbookoftheAEneid。Onlythepredestinedchampion,suchasAEneas,canpluck,orbreak,orcutthebough-
\"IpsevolensfacilisquesequeturSitefatavocant。\"
AllthisancientpopularelementintheArthurstoryisdisregardedbyTennyson。HedoesnotmakeUtherapproachYgerneinthesemblanceofherlord,asZeusapproachedAlcmenainthesemblanceofherhusband,Amphitryon。HeneglectstheotherancienttestoftheprovingofArthurbyhissuccessindrawingthesword。Thepoet\'sobjectistoenfoldtheoriginandbirthofArthurinaspiritualmystery。ThisisdeftlyaccomplishedbyaidofthevariousversionsofthetalethatreachKingLeodogranwhenArthurseeksthehandofhisdaughterGuinevere,forArthur\'stitletothecrownisstilldisputed,soLeodogranmakesinquiries。TheanswersfirstleaveitdubiouswhetherArthurissonofGorlois,husbandofYgerne,orofUther,whoslewGorloisandmarriedher:-
\"Enforcedshewastowedhiminhertears。\"
TheCelticcustomoffosterageisoverlooked,andMerlingivesthechildtoAnton,notasthecustomarydalt,buttopreservethebabefromdanger。QueenBellicentthentellsLeodogran,fromtheevidenceofBleys,Merlin\'smasterinnecromancy,thestoryofArthur\'smiraculousadvent。
\"AnddownthewaveandintheflamewasborneAnakedbabe,androdetoMerlin\'sfeet,Whostooptandcaughtthebabe,andcried\'TheKing!
HereisanheirforUther!\'\"
ButMerlin,whenaskedbyBellicenttocorroboratethestatementofBleys,merely\"Answer\'dinriddlingtripletsofoldtime。\"
Finally,Leodogran\'sfaithisconfirmedbyavision。Thusdoubtfully,amidstrumourandportent,cloudandspirituallight,comesArthur:\"fromthegreatdeep\"hecomes,andinasstrangefashion,attheend,\"tothegreatdeephegoes\"——akingtobeacceptedinfaithorrejectedbydoubt。Arthurandhisidealareobjectsofbelief。Allgoeswellwhiletheknightsholdthat\"TheKingwillfollowChrist,andwetheKing,InwhomhighGodhathbreathedasecretthing。\"
InhistorywefindthesamesituationintheFranceof1429-
\"TheKingwillfollowJeanne,andwetheKing。\"
Whilethisfaithheld,allwentwell;whenthekingceasedtofollow,thespellwasbroken,——theMaidwasmartyred。InthissensethepoetconceivesthecomingofArthur,asigntobespokenagainst,atestofhighpurposes,abeliefredeemingandennoblingtillfaithfails,andthelittleriftwithinthelute,theloveofLancelotandGuinevere,makesdiscordofthemusic。Asmatteroflegend,itistobeunderstoodthatGuineveredidnotrecogniseArthurwhenfirstherodebelowherwindow-
\"SinceheneitherworeonhelmorshieldThegoldensymbolofhiskinglihood。\"
ButLancelotwassenttobringthebride-
\"Andreturn\'dAmongtheflowers,inMay,withGuinevere。\"
Thentheirlonglovemayhavebegun,asinthestoryofTristramsenttobringYseulttobethebrideofKingMark。InMalory,however,LancelotdoesnotcomeonthescenetillafterArthur\'sweddingandreturnfromhisconqueringexpeditiontoRome。ThenLancelotwinsrenown,\"whereforeQueenGuineverehadhiminfavouraboveallotherknights;andincertainhelovedtheQueenagainaboveallotherladiesdamoselsofhislife。\"Lancelot,aswehaveseen,ispracticallyaFrenchcreation,adoptedtoillustratethechivalroustheoryoflove,withitsbitterfruit。ThoughnotoftheoriginalCelticstockoflegend,SirLancelotmakestheromancewhatitis,anddrawsdownthetragedythatoriginallyturnedonthesinofArthurhimself,thesinthatgavebirthtothetraitorModred。Butthemediaevalromancersdisguisedthatformofthestory,andtheprocessofidealisingArthurreachedsuchheightsinthemiddleagesthatTennysonthoughthimselfatlibertytopainttheFlosRegum,\"theblamelessKing。\"HefollowedtheBrutabArthur。\"Inshort,GodhasnotmadesinceAdamwas,themanmoreperfectthanArthur。\"
ThisisremotefromtheArthuroftheoldestCelticlegends,butjustifiesthepoetinadaptingArthurtotheidealherooftheIdylls:-
\"Idealmanhoodclosedinrealman,Ratherthanthatgreyking,whosename,aghost,Streamslikeacloud,man-shaped,frommountain-peak,Andcleavestocairnandcromlechstill;orhimOfGeoffrey\'sbook,orhimofMalleor\'s,oneTouchedbytheadulterousfingerofatimeThathoveredbetweenwarandwantonness,Andcrowningsanddethronements。\"
ThepoeticalbeautiesofTheComingofArthurexcelthoseofGarethandLynette。ThesonsofLotandBellicentseemtohavebeenoriginallyregardedastheincestuousoffspringofArthurandhissister,thewifeofKingLot。NextitwasrepresentedthatArthurwasignorantoftherelationship。MrRhyssupposesthatthemythicalscandalstillpresentinMaloryasasinofignorancearosefromblendingtheCelticArthurasCultureHerowithanolderdivinepersonage,suchasZeus,whomarrieshissisterHera。MarriagesofbrotherandsisterarefamiliarintheEgyptianroyalhouse,andthatoftheIncas。Butthepoethasaperfectrighttodisregardascandalousmythwhich,obviouslycrystallisedlateraboutthefigureofthemythicalCelticArthur,wasanincongruousaccretiontohislegend。Gareth,therefore,ismerelyArthur\'snephew,notson,inthepoem,asareGawainandthetraitorModred。ThestoryseemstoberathermediaevalFrenchthanCeltic——aminglingofthespiritoffabliauandpopularfairytale。Thepoethasaddedtoitslightness,almostfrivolity,thedescriptionoftheunrealcityofCamelot,builttomusic,aswhen\"Ilion,likeamist,roseintotowers。\"
HehasalsobroughtintheallegoryofDeath,which,whenfaced,provestobe\"abloomingboy\"behindthemask。ThecourtesyandprowessofLancelotleaduptothelaterdevelopmentofhischaracter。
InTheMarriageofGeraint,arumourhasalreadyrisenaboutLancelotandtheQueen,darkeningtheCourt,andpresaging\"Theworld\'sloudwhisperbreakingintostorm。\"
ForthisreasonGeraintremovesEnidfromCamelottohisownland——
thepoetthusearlyleadinguptothesinandthedoomofLancelot。
ButthismotivedoesnotoccurintheWelshstoryofEnidandGeraint,whichTennysonhasotherwisefollowedwithunwontedcloseness。ThetaleoccursinFrenchromancesinvariousforms,butitappearstohavereturned,bywayofFranceandcolouredwithFrenchinfluences,toWales,whereitisoneofthelaterMabinogion。
ThecharactersareCeltic,andNud,fatherofEdyrn,Geraint\'sdefeatedantagonist,appearstoberecognisedbyMrRhysas\"theCelticZeus。\"ThemannersandthetournamentsareFrench。IntheWelshtaleGeraintandEnidarebeddedinArthur\'sownchamber,whichseemstobeasymboliccommutationofthejusprimaenoctisacustomofwhichtheveryexistenceisdisputed。Thisunseemlyantiquariandetail,ofcourse,isomittedintheIdyll。
AnabstractoftheWelshtalewillshowhowcloselyTennysonherefollowshisoriginal。NewsisbroughtintoArthur\'sCourtoftheappearanceofawhitestag。Thekingarrangesahunt,andGuinevereasksleavetogoandwatchthesport。Nextmorningshecannotbewakened,thoughthetaledoesnotaver,liketheIdyll,thatshewas\"Lostinsweetdreams,anddreamingofherloveForLancelot。\"
Guineverewakeslate,andridesthroughafordofUsktothehunt。
Geraintfollows,\"agolden-hiltedswordwasathisside,andarobeandasurcoatofsatinwereuponhim,andtwoshoesofleatheruponhisfeet,andaroundhimwasascarfofbluepurple,ateachcornerofwhichwasagoldenapple\":-
\"ButGuineverelaylateintothemorn,Lostinsweetdreams,anddreamingofherloveForLancelot,andforgetfulofthehunt;
Butroseatlast,asinglemaidenwithher,Tookhorse,andfordedUsk,andgain\'dthewood;
There,onalittleknollbesideit,stay\'dWaitingtohearthehounds;butheardinsteadAsuddensoundofhoofs,forPrinceGeraint,Latealso,wearingneitherhunting-dressNorweapon,saveagolden-hiltedbrand,Camequicklyflashingthro\'theshallowfordBehindthem,andsogallop\'duptheknoll。
Apurplescarf,ateitherendwhereofThereswunganappleofthepurestgold,Sway\'droundabouthim,ashegallop\'dupTojointhem,glancinglikeadragon-flyInsummersuitandsilksofholiday。\"
Theencounterwiththedwarf,thelady,andtheknightfollows。TheproseoftheMabinogimaybecomparedwiththeverseofTennyson:-
\"Geraint,\"saidGwenhwyvar,\"knowestthouthenameofthattallknightyonder?\"\"Iknowhimnot,\"saidhe,\"andthestrangearmourthathewearspreventsmyeitherseeinghisfaceorhisfeatures。\"
\"Go,maiden,\"saidGwenhwyvar,\"andaskthedwarfwhothatknightis。\"Thenthemaidenwentuptothedwarf;andthedwarfwaitedforthemaiden,whenhesawhercomingtowardshim。Andthemaideninquiredofthedwarfwhotheknightwas。\"Iwillnottellthee,\"heanswered。\"Sincethouartsochurlishasnottotellme,\"saidshe,\"Iwillaskhimhimself。\"\"Thoushaltnotaskhim,bymyfaith,\"
saidhe。\"Wherefore?\"saidshe。\"BecausethouartnotofhonoursufficienttobefittheetospeaktomyLord。\"Thenthemaidenturnedherhorse\'sheadtowardstheknight,uponwhichthedwarfstruckherwiththewhipthatwasinhishandacrossthefaceandtheeyes,untilthebloodflowedforth。Andthemaiden,throughthehurtshereceivedfromtheblow,returnedtoGwenhwyvar,complainingofthepain。\"Veryrudelyhasthedwarftreatedthee,\"saidGeraint。
\"Iwillgomyselftoknowwhotheknightis。\"\"Go,\"saidGwenhwyvar。
AndGeraintwentuptothedwarf。\"Whoisyonderknight?\"saidGeraint。\"Iwillnottellthee,\"saidthedwarf。\"ThenwillIaskhimhimself,\"saidhe。\"Thatwiltthounot,bymyfaith,\"saidthedwarf;\"thouartnothonourableenoughtospeakwithmyLord。\"SaidGeraint,\"Ihavespokenwithmenofequalrankwithhim。\"Andheturnedhishorse\'sheadtowardstheknight;butthedwarfovertookhim,andstruckhimashehaddonethemaiden,sothatthebloodcolouredthescarfthatGeraintwore。ThenGeraintputhishanduponthehiltofhissword,buthetookcounselwithhimself,andconsideredthatitwouldbenovengeanceforhimtoslaythedwarf,andtobeattackedunarmedbythearmedknight,sohereturnedtowhereGwenhwyvarwas。
\"Andwhiletheylisten\'dforthedistanthunt,AndchieflyforthebayingofCavall,KingArthur\'shoundofdeepestmouth,thererodeFullslowlybyaknight,lady,anddwarf;
Whereofthedwarflagg\'dlatest,andtheknightHadvizorup,andshow\'dayouthfulface,Imperious,andofhaughtiestlineaments。
AndGuinevere,notmindfulofhisfaceIntheKing\'shall,desiredhisname,andsentHermaidentodemanditofthedwarf;
Whobeingvicious,oldandirritable,Anddoublingallhismaster\'sviceofpride,Madeanswersharplythatsheshouldnotknow。
\'ThenwillIaskitofhimself,\'shesaid。
\'Nay,bymyfaith,thoushaltnot,\'criedthedwarf;
\'Thouartnotworthyev\'ntospeakofhim\';