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,andcomposedaboutthesamedate1833-35。\"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。InSeaDreamsfirstpublishedin1860theawfulvisionofcrumblingfaithsissomewhatoutofharmonywithitsenvironment:-
\"ButroundtheNorth,alight,Abelt,itseem\'d,ofluminousvapour,lay,AndeverinitalowmusicalnoteSwell\'dupanddied;and,asitswell\'d,aridgeOfbreakerissuedfromthebelt,andstillGrewwiththegrowingnote,andwhenthenoteHadreach\'dathunderousfulness,onthosecliffsBroke,mixtwithawfullightthesameasthatLivingwithinthebeltwherebyshesawThatallthoselinesofcliffswerecliffsnomore,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\'sAlcaicsMiltonwereintendedtofollowtheGreekratherthantheHoratianmodel,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,escapestheconceitsofPopewhonever\"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。AtthistimeAugust1868Tennysonlefthisoldpublishers,theMoxons,forMrStrahan,whoenduredtill1872。ThenhewassucceededbyMessrsH。S。King&
Co。,whogaveplace1879toMessrsKeganPaul&Co。,whilein1884
MessrsMacmillanbecame,andcontinuetobe,thepublishers。Afewpieces,exceptLucretiusMacmillan\'sMagazine,May1868
unimportant,appearedinserials。
Veryearlyin1869TheComingofArthurwascomposed,whileTennysonwasreadingBrowning\'sTheRingandtheBook。Heandhisgreatcontemporarywereontermsofaffectionatefriendship,thoughTennyson,perhaps,appreciatedlessofBrowningthanBrowningofTennyson。Meanwhile\"OldFitz\"keptupafireofunsympatheticgrowlsatBrowningandallhisworks。\"Ihavebeentryinginvaintoreadit\"TheRingandtheBook,\"andyettheAthenaeumtellsmeitiswonderfullyfine。\"FitzGerald\'splyhadbeentakenlongago;hewantedverbalmusicinpoetrynoexorbitantdesire,while,inBrowning,carminadesunt。Perhaps,too,apersonalfeeling,asifBrowningwasTennyson\'srival,affectedthejudgmentoftheauthorofOmarKhayyam。Wemayalmostcallhim\"theauthor。\"
TheHolyGrail,withthesmallerpoems,suchasLucretius,waspublishedattheendof1869。FitzGeraldappearstohavepreferredTheNorthernFarmer,\"thesubstantialrough-spunnatureIknew,\"toallthevisionaryknightsintheairyQuest。Tocompare\"——\"
obviouslyBrowningwithTennyson,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,TheCupin1881attheLyceum,ThePromiseofMayattheGlobein1882,Becketin1884,withTheForestersin1892。ItseemsbesttoconsiderallthedramaticperiodofTennyson\'swork,aperiodreachedsostrangelylateinhiscareer,inthesequenceofthePlays。ThetaskisonefromwhichIshrink,asconsciousofentireignoranceofthestageandoflackofenthusiasmforthedrama。Greatdramaticauthorshave,almostinvariably,hadlongpracticalknowledgeofthescenesandofwhatisbehindthem。Shakespeareandhiscontemporaries,Moliereandhiscontemporaries,hadlivedtheirlivesontheboardsandinthefoyer,actorsthemselves,orindailytouchwithactorsandactresses。Inthepresentdaysuccessfulplaywrightsappeartolivemuchintheworldoftheplayers。Theyhavepracticalknowledgeoftheconventionsandconditionswhichthestageimposes。
NeitherBrowningnorMrSwinburnetotakegreatnameshashad,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。HemakesMaryBeatoninlovewithChastelardakindofavengingfate,whowillneverleavetheQueentillherheadfallsatFotheringay;
though,infact,afteraflirtationwithRandolph,MaryBeatonmarriedOgilvyofBoynereallyinlovewithLadyBothwell,andnotoneofthefourMarieswasatFotheringay。Anartistoughttobeallowedtofollowlegend,ofitsessencedramatic,ortomanipulatehistoryashepleases。Ourmodernscrupulosityispedantic。ButTennysonreadalonglistofbooksforhisQueenMary,thoughitdoesnotappearthathemadeoriginalresearchesinMSS。Theselaboursoccupied1874and1875。YetitwouldbefoolishtocriticisehisQueenMaryasifwewerecriticising\"exacthistory。\"\"Theplay\'sthething。\"
Thepoetthoughtthat\"BloodyMary\"\"hadbeenharshlyjudgedbytheverdictofpopulartradition。\"Sohavemostcharacterstowhompopulardislikeaffixesthepopularepithet——\"BloodyClaverse,\"
\"BloodyMackenzie,\"\"BloodyBalfour。\"MaryhadthecourageoftheTudors。She\"edifiedallaroundherbyhercheerfulness,herpiety,andherresignationtothewillofProvidence,\"inherlastdaysLingard。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。UnderMarywhoevermayhavebeenprimarilyresponsibleCranmerandLatimerweretreatedastheyhadtreatedothers。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。PointsofdifficultanddebatedevidenceastoElizabeth\'spartinWyatt\'srebellionarediscussed。
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,ashersoliloquyActIII。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。\"
BeforewritingHarold1876thepoet\"studiedmanyrecentplays,\"
andre-readAEschylusandSophocles。ForhistoryhewenttotheBayeuxtapestry,theRomandeRou,LordLytton,andFreeman。