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。