CuriousandexquisiteexperimentinmetreisindicatedintheLeonineElegiacs，inClaribel，andseveralotherpoems。Qualitieswhichwerenotforlongtofindpublicexpression，speculativepowersbrooding，invariousmoods，onultimateandinsolublequestions，wereattestedbyTheMystic，andSupposedConfessionsofaSecond-rateSensitiveMindnotinUnitywithItself，anunluckytitleofaremarkableperformance。"Inthis，themostagitatedofallhispoems，wefindthesoulurgingonward'Thro'utterdarkafull-sail'dskiff，Unpilotedi'theechoingdanceOfreboantwhirlwinds；'
　　andtothequestion，'Whynotbelieve，then？'wehaveasanswerasimileofthesea，whichcannotslumberlikeamountaintarn，or'DrawdownintohisvexedpoolsAllthatblueheavenwhichhuesandpaves'
　　thetranquilinlandmere。"{3}
　　Thepoetlongsforthefaithofhisinfantdaysandofhismother-
　　"Thymilddeepeyesupraised，thatknewThebeautyandreposeoffaith，Andtheclearspiritshiningthro'。"
　　Thatfaithisalreadyshaken，andthelongstruggleforbeliefhasalreadybegun。
　　Tennyson，accordingtoMatthewArnold，wasnotunespritpuissant。
　　Otherandyoungercritics，whohaveattainedtoacock-certainmoodofnegation，areapttoblamehimbecause，infact，hedidnotfinallyagreewiththeiropinions。Ifamanisnecessarilyaweaklingorahypocritebecause，aftertryingallthings，heisnotanatheistoramaterialist，thenthereproachofinsincerityoroffeeblenessofmindmustrestuponTennyson。Butitismanifestthat，almostinboyhood，hehadalreadyfacedtheideaswhich，tooneofhischaracter，almostmeantdespair:hehadnotkepthiseyesclosed。Tohisextremelyself-satisfiedaccuserswemightanswer，inlinesfromthisearliestvolumeTheMystic:-
　　"Yescornhimwithanundiscerningscorn；
　　Yecannotreadthemarvelinhiseye，Thestillsereneabstraction。"
　　Hewouldbehold"Oneshadowinthemidstofagreatlight，Onereflexfrometernityontime，Onemightycountenanceofperfectcalm，Awfulwithmostinvariableeyes。"
　　Hismysticoftheseboyishyears-
　　"Oftenlyingbroadawake，andyetRemainingfromthebody，andapartInintellectandpowerandwill，hathheardTimeflowinginthemiddleofthenight，Andallthingscreepingtoadayofdoom。"
　　Inthispoem，neverrepublishedbytheauthor，isanattempttoexpressanexperiencewhichinlateryearshemorethanonceendeavouredtosetforthinarticulatespeech，anexperiencewhichwasdestinedtocolourhisfinialspeculationsonultimateproblemsofGodandofthesoul。Weshalllaterhavetodiscusstheopinionofaneminentcritic，MrFredericHarrison，thatTennyson'sideas，theological，evolutionary，andgenerallyspeculative，"followed，ratherthancreated，thecurrentideasofhistime。""Thetrainofthought"inInMemoriam，writesMrHarrison，"isessentiallythatwithwhichordinaryEnglishreadershadbeenmadefamiliarbyF。D。
　　Maurice，ProfessorJowett，DrMartineau，EcceHomo，Hypatia。"OftheseinfluencesonlyMaurice，andMauriceonlyorally，couldhavereachedtheauthorofTheMysticandtheSupposedConfessions。EcceHomo，Hypatia，MrJowett，wereallinthebosomofthefuturewhenInMemoriamwaswritten。Now，TheMysticandtheSupposedConfessionsarepriortoInMemoriam，earlierthan1830。YettheyalreadycontainthechiefspeculativetendenciesofInMemoriam；thegrowingdoubtscausedbyevolutionaryideasthenfamiliartoTennyson，thoughnotto"ordinaryEnglishreaders"，thelongingforareturntochildlikefaith，andthemysticalexperienceswhichhelpedTennysontorecoverafaiththatabodewithhim。Inthesethingshewasoriginal。Evenasanundergraduatehewasnotfollowing"atrainofthoughtmadefamiliar"byauthorswhohadnotyetwrittenaline，andbybookswhichhadnotyetbeenpublished。
　　Somuch，then，ofthepoetthatwastobeandofthephilosopherexistedinthelittlevolumeoftheundergraduate。InTheMysticwenoticeaphrase，twowordslong，whichwaslatertobemadefamiliar，"Daughtersoftime，divinelytall，"reproducedinthepictureofHelen:-
　　"AdaughteroftheGods，divinelytall，Andmostdivinelyfair。"
　　ThereflectivepiecesarecertainlyofmoreinterestnowthoughtheyseemtohavesatisfiedthepoetlessthanthegalleryofairyfairyLilians，Adelines，Rosalinds，andEleanores:-
　　"Daughtersofdreamsandofstories，"
　　like"Faustine，Fragoletta，Dolores，Felise，andYolande，andJuliette。"
　　Cambridge，whichhewassoontoleave，didnotsatisfythepoet。
　　OxforddidnotsatisfyGibbon，orlater，Shelley；andyoungmenofgeniusarenot，infact，usuallycontentwithuniversitieswhich，perhaps，aredoingtheirbest，butareneithergovernednorpopulatedbymindsofthehighestandmostoriginalclass。
　　"YouthatdoprofesstoteachAndteachusnothing，feedingnottheheart。"
　　Theuniversities，infact，teachagooddealofthatwhichcanbelearned，butthebestthingscannotbetaught。Theuniversitiesgivemenleisure，books，andcompanionship，tolearnforthemselves。Alltutorscannotbe，andatthattimefewdreamedofbeing，menlikeJowettandT。H。Green，Gamalielsatwhosefeetundergraduatessatwithenthusiasm，"didEAGERLYfrequent，"likeOmarKhayyam。InlateryearsTennysonfoundcloserrelationsbetweendonsandundergraduates，andrecordedhisaffectionforhisuniversity。Shehadsuppliedhimwithsuchcompanionshipasisrare，andpermittedhimto"catchtheblossomoftheflyingterms，"eveniftutorsandlecturerswerecreaturesofroutine，terriblementenfoncesdanslamatiere，likethesireofMadelonandCathos，thathonourablecitizen。
　　Tennysonjustmissed，bygoingdown，avisitofWordsworthtoCambridge。Theoldenthusiastofrevolutionwasjustifyingpassiveobedience:thirtyyearshadturnedthealmostJacobinintoanalmostJacobite。Suchisthetriumphoftime。Inthesummerof1830
　　Tennyson，withHallam，visitedthePyrenees。Thepurposewaspolitical——toaidsomeSpanishrebels。ThefruitisseeninOEnoneandMarianaintheSouth。
　　InMarch1831Tennysonlosthisfather。"Hesleptinthedeadman'sbed，earnestlydesiringtoseehisghost，butnoghostcame。""Yousee，"hesaid，"ghostsdonotgenerallycometoimaginativepeople；"
　　aremarkverytrue，thoughghostsareattributedto"imagination。"
　　Whatevercausesthesephantasms，itisnotthekindofphantasiawhichisconsciouslyexercisedbythepoet。Coleridgehadseenfartoomanyghoststobelieveinthem；andColeridgeandDonneapart，withthehallucinationsofGoetheandShelley，whometthemselves，whatpoeteverdid"seeaghost"？OnewhosawTennysonashewanderedaloneatthisperiodcalledhim"amysteriousbeing，seeminglyliftedhighaboveothermortals，andhavingapowerofintercoursewiththespiritworldnotgrantedtoothers。"Butitwastheworldofthepoet，notofthe"medium。"
　　TheTennysonsstayedonattheparsonageforsixyears。But，anticipatingtheirremoval，ArthurHallamin1831dealtinprophecyabouttheidentificationinthedistrictofplacesinhisfriend'spoems——"criticaftercriticwilltracethewanderingsofthebrook，"
　　as，——infact，criticaftercritichasdone。Tennysondisliked——these"localisers。"Thepoet'swalksweresharedbyArthurHallam，thenaffiancedtohissisterEmily。
　　CHAPTERII——POEMSOF1831-1833。
　　By1832mostofthepoemsofTennyson'ssecondvolumewerecirculatinginMS。amonghisfriends，andnopoeteverhadfriendsmoreencouraging。Perhapsbardsofto-daydonotfindaneagernessamongtheiracquaintanceforeffusionsinmanuscript，orinproof-
　　sheets。Thecharmedvolumeappearedattheendoftheyeardated1833，andHallamdenouncedas"infamous"Lockhart'sreviewintheQuarterly。Infamousornot，itisextremelydiverting。HowLockhartcouldmissthegreatandabundantpoetryremainsamarvel。TenyearslatertheScorpionrepented，andinvitedSterlingtoreviewanybookhepleased，forthepurposeofenablinghimtopraisethetwovolumesof1842，whichhedidgladly。Lockharthatedallaffectationand"preciosity，"ofwhichthenewbookwasnotdestitute。HehadbeenamongWordsworth'smostardentadmirerswhenWordsworthhadfew，butthememoriesofthewarwiththe"CockneySchool"clungtohim，thewarwithLeighHunt，andnowhegavehimselfuptosatire。ProbablyhethoughtthatthepoetwasamemberofaLondonclique。ThereisreallynoexcuseforLockhart，exceptthatheDIDrepent，thatmuchofhisbanterwasamusing，andthat，aboveall，hiscensureswereacceptedbythepoet，whoaltered，later，manypassagesofafineabsurditycriticisedbytheinfamousreviewer。Onecouldnamegreatprose-writers，historians，whoneveralteredthewondrouserrorstowhichtheirattentionwascalledbycritics。Prose-writershavebeenmoresensitivelyattachedtotheirglaringblundersinverifiablefactsthanwasthisverysensitivepoettohisoccasionallapsesintaste。
　　TheLadyofShalott，eveninitsearlyform，wasmorethanenoughtogiveassuranceofapoet。Ineffectitisevenmorepoetical，inamysteriousway，ifinfinitelylesshuman，thanthelatertreatmentofthesameorasimilarlegendinElaine。IthasthecharmofColeridge，andanallegoryofthefatalescapefromtheworldofdreamsandshadowsintothatofrealitiesmayhavebeenreallypresenttothemindoftheyoungpoet，awarethathewas"livinginphantasy。"Thealterationsareusuallyforthebetter。Thedaffodilisnotanaquaticplant，asthepoetseemstoassertinthefirstform-
　　"Theyellow-leavedwater-lily，Thegreensheatheddaffodilly，Trembleinthewaterchilly，RoundaboutShalott。"
　　Nobodycanprefertokeep"ThoughthesquallyeastwindkeenlyBlew，withfoldedarmsserenelyBythewaterstoodthequeenlyLadyofShalott。"
　　HoweverstoicaltheLadymayhavebeen，thereaderistooseriouslysympatheticwithherinevitablediscomfort-
　　"AllraimentedinsnowywhiteThatlooselyflew，"
　　asshewas。Theoriginalconclusionwasdistressing；weweredroppedfromtheairsofmysteriousromance:-
　　"Theycrossedthemselves，theirstarstheyblest，Knight，minstrel，abbot，squire，andguest；
　　Therelayaparchmentonherbreast，ThatpuzzledmorethanalltherestThewell-fedwitsatCamelot。"
　　Hithertowehavebeen"puzzled，"butaswiththesublimeincoherencesofadream。Nowwemeetwell-fedwits，whosay，"Blessmystars!"asperhapsweshouldalsohavedoneinthecircumstances——adeadladyarriving，inaverycoldeastwind，aloneinaboat，for"herbloodwasfrozenslowly，"aswasnatural，grantingtheweatherandthelady'sairycostume。Itiscertainlymatterofsurprisethattheyoungpoet'svisionbrokeupinthishumorousmanner。And，afterall，itislesssurprisingthattheScorpion，findingsuchmatterinanewlittlebookbyanewyoungman，wasmoresensitivetotheabsurditythantotheromance。ButnoloverofpoetryshouldhavebeenblindtothealmostflawlessexcellenceofMarianaintheSouth，inspiredbythelandscapeoftheProvencaltourwithArthurHallam。
　　InconsequenceofLockhart'scensures，orindeferencetothematurertasteofthepoet，TheMiller'sDaughterwasgreatlyalteredbefore1842。Itisoneoftheearliest，ifnottheveryearliest，ofTennyson'sdomesticEnglishidylls，poemswithconspicuousbeauties，butnotwithoutsacrificestothatMuseofthehomeaffectionsonwhomSirBarnesNewcomedeliveredhisfamouslecture。Theseventhstanzaperhapshardlydeservedtobealtered，asitis，soastobringin"minnows"where"fish"hadbeenthereading，andwhere"trout"wouldbestrecallanEnglishchalkstream。Totheanglertherisingtrout，whichleftthepoetcold，isatleastaswelcomeasthe"reflexofabeauteousform。""Everywomanseemsanangelatthewater-side，"said"thatgoodoldangler，nowwithGod，"ThomasToddStoddart，andso"thelongandlistlessboy"foundittobe。Itisnowonderthatthemotherwas"SLOWLYbroughttoyieldconsenttomydesire。"Thedomesticaffections，infact，donotadaptthemselvessowelltopoetryasthepassion，uniqueinTennyson，ofFatima。Thecriticswhohuntforparallelsorplagiarismswillnote-
　　"OLove，Ofire!oncehedrewWithonelongkissmywholesoulthro'
　　Mylips，"
　　andwillobserveMrBrowning's"OncehekissedMysouloutinafierymist。"
　　AstoOEnone，thesceneryofthatearliestoftheclassicalidyllsisborrowedfromthePyreneesandthetourwithHallam。"ItispossiblethatthepoemmayhavebeensuggestedbyBeattie'sJudgmentofParis，"saysMrCollins；itisalsopossiblethatthetalewhich"QuintusCalaberSomewhatlazilyhandledofold"
　　mayhavereachedTennyson'smindfromanolderwriterthanBeattie。
　　HeisatleastaslikelytohavebeenfamiliarwithGreekmythaswiththelamented"Minstrel。"Theformof1833，greatlyalteredin1842，containedsuchunluckyphrasesas"cedarshadowy，"and"snowycoloured，""marblecold，""violet-eyed"——easyspoilsofcriticism。ThealterationswhichconvertedabeautifulbutfaultyintoabeautifulandflawlesspoemperhapsobscurethesignificanceofOEnone's"Iwillnotdiealone，"whichintheearliervolumedirectlyreferstotheforeseenendofallasnarratedinTennyson'slatepiece，TheDeathofOEnone。ThewholepoembringstomindtheglowinghuesofTitianandthefamousHomericlinesonthedivinewedlockofZeusandHera。
　　TheallegoryormoralofThePalaceofArtdoesnotneedexplanation。
　　Notmanyofthepoemsowemoretorevision。TheearlystanzaaboutIsaiah，withfierceEzekiel，and"EasternConfutzee，"didundeniablyremindthereader，asLockhartsaid，ofTheGrovesofBlarney。
　　"Withstatuesgracingthatnobleplacein，Allhaythengoddessesmostrare，Petrarch，Plato，andNebuchadnezzar，Allstandingnakedintheopenair。"
　　IntheearlyversiontheSoul，beingtoomuch"uptodate，"
　　"Litwhitestreamsofdazzlinggas，"
　　likeSirWalterScottatAbbotsford。
　　"Thusherintense，untolddelight，Indeeporvividcolour，smell，andsound，Wasflattereddayandnight。"
　　LockhartwasnotfondofSirWalter'sexperimentsingas，the"smell"
　　gavehimno"deep，untolddelight，"andhis"infamousreview"wasbiassedbythesecircumstances。
　　Thevolumeof1833wasinnothingmoreremarkablethaninitsproofofthemany-sidednessoftheauthor。Heofferedmediaevalromance，andclassicalperfectiontouchedwiththeromanticspirit，anddomesticidyll，ofwhichTheMayQueenisprobablythemostpopularexample。The"mysteriousbeing，"conversantwith"thespiritualworld，"mighthavebeenexpectedtodisdaintopicswellwithintherangeofElizaCook。Hedidnotdespisebutelevatedthem，andtherebydidmoretointroducehimselftothewideEnglishpublicthanhecouldhavedonebyacenturyofFatimasorLotos-Eaters。Ontheotherhand，atastemorefastidious，ormoreperverse，willscarcelybesatisfiedwithpathoswhichinprocessoftimehascometoseem"obvious。"ThepathosofearlydeathintheprimeofbeautyislessobviousinHomer，whereAchillesistobethevictim，orinthelamentsoftheAnthology，whereweonlyknowthatthedeadbrideormaidenwasfair；butthepoorMayQueenisofhernaturerathercommonplace。
　　"Thatgoodman，theclergyman，hastoldmewordsofpeace，"
　　strikesanoteratherresemblingtheTennysonianparodyofWordsworth-
　　"AMrWilkinson，aclergyman。"
　　TheLotos-Eaters，ofcourse，isattheoppositepoleofthepoet'sgenius。AfewplainversesoftheOdyssey，almostbaldintheirreticence，arethepointderepereofthemostmagicalvisionexpressedinthemostmusicalverse。HereisthelanguidcharmofSpenser，enrichedwithmanyclassicalmemories，andpicturesofnaturalbeautygorgeouslyyetdelicatelypainted。Aftertheexcisionofsomeverses，ratherfantastical，in1842，thepoembecameaflawlessmasterpiece，——oneoftheeternalpossessionsofsong。
　　Ontheotherhand，theopeningofTheDreamofFairWomenwasmarredin1833bythegrotesqueintroductoryversesabout"amanthatsailsinaballoon。"YoungasTennysonwas，thesefreakishpassagesareapsychologicalmarvelintheworkofonewhodidnotlackthesavingsenseofhumour。Thepoet，waftedonthewingand"pinionthattheThebaneaglebear，"cannotconceivablybelikenedtoanaeronautwavingflagsoutofaballoon——exceptinaspiritofself-mockerywhichwasnotTennyson's。Hisremarkableself-disciplineinexcisingthefantasticandsuperfluous，andreducinghisworktoitsclassicalperfectionofthoughtandform，isnowheremoreremarkablethaninthismagnificentvision。Itisprobablybymereaccidentalcoincidenceofthoughtthat，intheversesToJ。S。JamesSpedding，Tennysonreproducesthenoblespeechonthewarrior'sdeathwhichSirWalterScottplacesinthelipsofthegreatDundee:"Itisthememorywhichthesoldierleavesbehindhim，likethelongtrainoflightthatfollowsthesunkensun，THATisallthatisworthcaringfor，"thelightwhichlingerseternallyonthehillsofAtholl。
　　Tennyson'slinesareacloseparallel:-
　　"HismemorylongwilllivealoneInallourhearts，asmournfullightThatbroodsabovethefallensun，Anddwellsinheavenhalfthenight。"
　　ThoughTennysondislikedtheexhibitionof"thechipsoftheworkshop，"wehavecommentedonthem，ontheearlyreadingsoftheearlyvolumes。Theymayberegardedmoreproperlyasthesketchesofamasterthanas"chips，"anddomorethanmerelyengagetheidlecuriosityofthefanaticsoffirsteditions。Theyprovethatthepoetwasstudiousofperfection，andwiselystudious，forhisalterations，unlikethoseofsomeauthors，werealmostinvariablyforthebetter，thesaner，themorematureintaste。Theearlyreadingsarealsoworthnotice，becausetheypartiallyexplain，bytheiroccasionallyfantasticandhumourlesscharacter，thelackofearlyandgeneralrecognitionofthepoet'sgenius。Thenativeprejudiceofmankindisnotinfavourofanewpoet。Ofnewpoetstherearealwayssomany，mostofthembad，thatnaturehasprotectedmankindbyanarmourofsuspiciousness。Theworld，andLockhart，easilyfoundgoodreasonsfordistrustingthisnewclaimantoftheivyandthebays:moreover，sinceabout1814therehadbeenareactionagainstnewpoetry。Themarketwasglutted。Scotthadseteverybodyonreading，andtoomanyonwriting，novels。Thegreatreactionofthecenturyagainstallformsofliteratureexceptprosefictionhadbegun。NeartheverydateofTennyson'sfirstvolumeBulwerLytton，aswesaw，hadfranklyexplainedthathewrotenovelsbecausenobodywouldlookatanythingelse。Tennysonhadtoovercomethisuniversal，orallbutuniversal，indifferencetonewpoetry，and，afterbeingsilentfortenyears，overcomeithedid——aremarkablevictoryofartandofpatientcourage。Timeswereevenworseforpoetsthanto-day。Threehundredcopiesofthenewvolumeweresold!
　　ButTennyson'sfriendswerenotpuffersinleaguewithpushingpublishers。
　　Meanwhilethepoetin1833wentonquietlyandundefeatedwithhiswork。HecomposedTheGardener'sDaughter，andwasatworkontheMorted'Arthur，suppressedtilltheninthyear，ontheHoratianplan。
　　Manypoemswereproducedandevenwrittenout，whichanumberofhispiecesneverwere，andwereleftinmanuscripttilltheyappearedintheBiography。Mostofthesearesolittleworthyoftheauthorthatthemarvelishowhecametowritethem——inwhatuninspiredhours。
　　UnlikeWordsworth，hecouldweedthetaresfromhiswheat。HisstudieswereinGreek，German，Italian，historyalittle，andchemistry，botany，andelectricity——"cross-grainedMuses，"theselast。
　　ItwasonSeptember15，1833，thatArthurHallamdied。Unheraldedbysignorsymptomofdiseaseasitwas，thenewsfelllikeathunderboltfromaserenesky。Tennyson'sandHallam'slovehadbeen"passingtheloveofwomen。"Ablowlikethisdrivesamanontherocksoftheultimate，theinsolubleproblemsofdestiny。"Isthistheend？"Nourishedasonthemilkoflions，ontheelevatingandstrengtheningdoctrinesofpopularscience，trainedfromchildhoodtoforegohopeandattendeveninglectures，theyoungcriticsofourgenerationfindTennysonaweaklingbecausehehadhopesandfearsconcerningtheultimaterenewalofwhatwasmorethanhalfhislife——
　　hisfriendship。
　　"ThatfaithIfainwouldkeep，ThathopeI'llnotforego:
　　Eternalbethesleep-
　　Unlesstowakenso，"
　　wroteLockhart，andtheversesechoedceaselesslyinthewidowedheartofCarlyle。Thesemen，itispartofthedutyofcriticslaterborntoremember，werenotchildrenorcowards，thoughtheydreamed，andhoped，andfeared。Weoughttomakeallowanceforfailingsincidenttoanagenotyetfullyenlightenedbypopularscience，andstillundivorcedfromspiritualideasthatareasoldasthehumanrace，andperhapsnotlikelytoperishwhilethatraceexists。Nowandthenevenscientificmenhavebeenmistaken，especiallywhentheyhavedeclinedtoexamineevidence，asinthisproblemofthetranscendentalnatureofthehumanspirittheyusuallydo。AtalleventsTennysonwasunconvincedthatdeathistheend，andshortlyafterthefataltidingsarrivedfromViennahebegantowritefragmentsinversepreludingtothepoemofInMemoriam。Healsobegan，inamoodofgreatmisery，TheTwoVoices；or，ThoughtsofaSuicide。ThepoemseemstohavebeenpartlydonebySeptember1834，whenSpeddingcommentedonit，andonthebeautifulSirGalahad，"intendedforsomethingofamalecounterparttoStAgnes。"TheMorted'ArthurTennysonthenthought"thebestthingIhavemanagedlately。"Veryearlyin1835manystanzasofInMemoriamhadtakenform。"Idonotwishtobedraggedforwardinanyshapebeforethereadingpublicatpresent，"wrotethepoet，whenheheardthatMilldesiredtowriteonhim。HisOEnonehehadbroughttoitsnewperfection，anddidnotdesirecommentsonworknowseveralyearsold。HealsowrotehisUlyssesandhisTithonus。
　　Ifevertheterm"morbid"couldhavebeenappliedtoTennyson，itwouldhavebeenintheyearsimmediatelyfollowingthedeathofArthurHallam。Buttheapplicationwouldhavebeenunjust。True，thepoetwaslivingoutoftheworld；hewasunhappy，andhewas，aspeoplesay，"doingnothing。"HewassopoorthathesoldhisChancellor'sprizegoldmedal，andhedidnot"ScanhiswholehorizonInquestofwhathecouldclapeyeson，"
　　inthewayofmoney-making，whichanotherpoetdescribesasthenormalattitudeofallmenaswellasofpirates。Acarelessobserverwouldhavethoughtthatthepoetwasdawdling。ButhedweltinnoCastleofIndolence；hestudied，hecomposed，hecorrectedhisverses:likeSirWalterinLiddesdale，"hewasmakinghimsel'a'thetime。"Hedidnotneglectthemovementsofthegreatworldinthatdawnofdiscontentwiththephilosophyofcommercialism。Butitwasnothisvocationtoplungeintothefray，andontoplatforms。
　　Itisaveryrarethinganywhere，especiallyinEngland，foramandeliberatelytochoosepoetryasthedutyofhislife，andtoremainloyal，asaconsequence，tothebrideofStFrancis——Poverty。ThisloyaltyTennysonmaintained，evenunderthetemptationtomakemoneyinrecognisedwayspresentedbyhisnew-bornloveforhisfuturewife，MissEmilySellwood。Theyhadfirstmetin1830，whenshe，agirlofseventeen，seemedtohimlike"aDryadoranOreadwanderinghere。"ButadmirationbecametheaffectionofalifetimewhenTennysonmetMissSellwoodasbridesmaidtohersister，thebrideofhisbrotherCharles，in1836。Thepoetcouldnotaffordtomarry，and，liketheheroofLocksleyHall，hemayhaveaskedhimself，"WhatisthatwhichIshoulddo？"By1840hehaddonenothingtangibleandlucrative，andcorrespondencebetweentheloverswasforbidden。ThatneitherdreamedofTennyson'sdesertingpoetryforamorenormalprofessionprovedofgreatbenefittotheworld。Thecourseisonewhichcouldonlybejustifiedbytheabsolutecertaintyofpossessinggenius。