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。Infactbesidestheinnatewretchednessofallcritics，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，andtosomeextenthismeals，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。SirHenryIrvinghadthoughtthatBecketthenunpublished
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
beselfishandnotsufferanhonourasGladstonesaystobedonetoliteratureinmyname？\"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。ThestruggleinBecketbetweenhisloveofthekingandhisdutytotheChurchorwhathetakestobehisdutyisnoblypresented，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。\"HismindranonapoemfoundedonanEgyptianlegendofwhichthesourceisnotmentioned，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。