Noteverybodycanperusealloftheseverydiverseauthorswithpleasure。HebeganhispoemontheRomangladiatorialcombats；
　　indeedhisyears，fourscoreandone，lefthisintellectualeagernessasunimpairedasthatofGoethe。"Acrookedshare，"hesaidtothePrincessLouise，"maymakeastraightfurrow。""OneafternoonhehadalongwaltzwithM-intheballroom。"Speakingof"AllthecharmofalltheMusesOftenfloweringinalonelyword"
　　inVirgil，headduced，ratherstrangely，thecunctantemramum，saidoftheGoldenBough，intheSixthAEneid。Thechoiceisodd，becausetheSibylhasjusttoldAEneasthat，ifhebedestinedtopluckthebranchofgold，ipsevolensfacilisquesequetur，"itwillcomeoffofitsownaccord，"likethesacredtibranchesoftheFijians，whichbenddowntobepluckedfortheFirerite。Yet，whenthepredestinedAEneastriestoplucktheboughofgold，ityieldsreluctantlycunctantem，contrarytowhattheSibylhasforetold。MrConington，therefore，thoughtthephraseasliponthepartofVirgil。"PeopleaccusedVirgilofplagiarising，"hesaid，"butifamanmadeithisowntherewasnoharminthatlookatthegreatpoets，Shakespeareincluded。"Tennyson，likeVirgil，mademuchthatwasancienthisown；hisversesareoften，andpurposefully，amosaicofclassicalreminiscences。Buthewasvexedbythehuntersafterremoteandunconsciousresemblances，andfar-fetchedanalogiesbetweenhislinesandthoseofothers。Hecomplainedthat，ifhesaidthatthesunwentdown，aparallelwasatoncecitedfromHomer，oranybodyelse，andheusedaverypowerfulphrasetocondemncriticswhodetectedsuchrepetitions。"Themoaningsofthehomelesssea，"——"moanings"
　　fromHorace，"homeless"fromShelley。"AsifnooneelsehadeverheardtheseamoanexceptHorace!"Tennyson'smixtureofmemoryandforgetfulnesswasnotsostrangeasthatofScott，andwhenheadaptedfromtheGreek，Latin，orItalian，itwasofsetpurpose，justasitwaswithVirgil。Thebeautifullinescomparingagirl'seyestobottomagatesthatseemto"WaveandfloatIncrystalcurrentsofclearrunningseas，"
　　heinventedwhilebathinginWales。Itwashishabit，tonotedowninversesuchsimilesfromnature，andtousethemwhenhefoundoccasion。Butthehighercriticism，analysingthesimile，detectedelementsfromShakespeareandfromBeaumontandFletcher。
　　InJune1891thepoetwentonatourinDevonshire，andbeganhisAkbar，andprobablywroteJuneBrackenandHeather；orperhapsitwascomposedwhen"weoftensatonthetopofBlackdowntowatchthesunset。"HewrotetoMrKipling-
　　"TheoldesttotheyoungestsingerThatEnglandbore"
　　toalterMrSwinburne'slinestoLandor，praisinghisFlagofEngland。MrKiplingrepliedas"theprivatetothegeneral。"
　　Earlyin1892TheForesterswassuccessfullyproducedatNewYorkbyMissAdaRehan，themusicbySirArthurSullivan，andthesceneryfromwoodlanddesignsbyWhymper。RobinHoodaswelearnfromMarkTwainisafavouriteherowiththeyouthofAmerica。MrTomSawyerhimselftook，inMarkTwain'stale，thepartoftheboldoutlaw。
　　TheDeathofOEnonewaspublishedin1892，withthededicationtotheMasterofBalliol-
　　"ReadaGreciantaleretoldWhich，castinlaterGrecianmould，QuintusCalaberSomewhatlazilyhandledofold。"
　　QuintusCalaber，moreusuallycalledQuintusSmyrnaeus，isawriterofperhapsthefourthcenturyofourera。Abouthimnothing，ornexttonothing，isknown。Hetold，insolateanage，theconclusionoftheTaleofTroy，andinthewriter'sopinionhasbeenundulyneglectedanddisdained。Hismanner，Iventuretothink，ismoreHomericthanthatofthemorefamousanddoubtlessgreaterAlexandrianpoetoftheArgonauticcycle，ApolloniusRhodius，hisseniorbyfivecenturies。HismaterialswereprobablytheancientandlostpoemsoftheEpicCycle，andthestoryofthedeathofOEnonemaybefromtheLittleIliadofLesches。PossiblypartsofhisworkmaybetextuallyderivedfromtheCyclics，butthetopicisveryobscure。InQuintus，Paris，afterencounteringevilomensonhisway，makesalongspeech，imploringthepardonofthedesertedOEnone。Shereplies，notwiththeTennysonianbrevity；shesendshimbacktothehelplessarmsofherrival，Helen。Parisdiesonthehills；neverdidHelenseehimreturning。Thewood-nymphsbewailParis，andaherdsmanbringsthebitternewstoHelen，whochantsherlament。ButremorsefallsonOEnone。Shedoesnotgo"SlowlydownBythelongtorrent'sever-deepenedroar，"
　　butrushes"swiftasthewindtoseekandspringuponthepyreofherlord。"FateandAphroditedriveherheadlong，andinheavenSelene，rememberingEndymion，bewailsthelotofhersisterinsorrow。
　　OEnonereachesthefuneralflame，andwithoutawordoracryleapsintoherhusband'sarms，thewildNymphswondering。Theloversaremingledinoneheapofashes，andthesearebestowedinonevesselofgoldandburiedinahowe。Thisisthestorywhichthepoetrehandledinhisoldage，completingtheworkofhishappyyouthwhenhewalkedwithHallaminthePyreneanhills，thatweretohimasIda。
　　TheromanceofOEnoneandherdeathcondone，asevenHomerwasapttocondone，thesinsofbeautifulParis，whomthenymphslament，despitetheevilthathehaswrought。ThesilenceoftheveiledOEnone，asshespringsintoherlover'slastembrace，isperhapsmoreaffectingandmorenaturalthanTennyson's"SheliftedupavoiceOfshrillcommand，'Whoburnsuponthepyre？'"
　　TheStTelemachushastheoldsplendourandvigourofverse，and，thoughwrittensolateinlife，isworthyofthepoet'sprime:-
　　"EveafterevethathaggardanchoriteWouldhauntthedesolatedfane，andthereGazeattheruin，oftenmutterlow'VicistiGalilaee'；louderagain，Spurningashatter'dfragmentoftheGod，'VicistiGalilaee!'but——whennowBathedinthatluridcrimson——ask'd'IsearthOnfiretotheWest？oristheDemon-godWrothathisfall？'andheardananswer'WakeThoudeedlessdreamer，lazyingoutalifeOfself-suppression，notofselflesslove。'
　　AndonceaflightofshadowyfighterscrostThedisk，andonce，hethought，ashapewithwingsCamesweepingbyhim，andpointedtotheWest，Andathisearheheardawhisper'Rome，'
　　Andinhishearthecried'ThecallofGod!'
　　Andcall'darose，and，slowlyplungingdownThro'thatdisastrousglory，sethisfaceBywasteandfieldandtownofalientongue，Followingahundredsunsets，andthesphereOfwestward-wheelingstars；andeverydawnStruckfromhimhisownshadowontoRome。
　　Foot-sore，way-worn，atlengthhetouch'dhisgoal，TheChristiancity。"
　　Akbar'sDreammaybetaken，moreorless，torepresentthepoet'sowntheologyofaraceseekingafterGod，ifperchancetheymayfindHim，andtheclosingHymnwasafavouritewithTennyson。Hesaid，"Itisamagnificentmetre":-
　　"HYMN。
　　I。
　　Onceagainthouflamestheavenward，onceagainweseetheerise。
　　Everymorningisthybirthdaygladdeninghumanheartsandeyes。
　　Everymorningherewegreetit，bowinglowlydownbeforethee，TheetheGodlike，theethechangelessinthineever-changingskies。
　　II。
　　Shadow-maker，shadow-slayer，arrowinglightfromclimetoclime，Hearthymyriadlaureateshailtheemonarchintheirwoodlandrhyme。
　　Warblebird，andopenflower，and，men，belowthedomeofazureKneeladoringHimtheTimelessintheflamethatmeasuresTime!"
　　InthisfinalvolumethepoetcasthishandfulofincenseonthealtarofScott，versifyingthetaleofIlBizarro，whichthedyingSirWalterrecordsinhisJournalinItaly。TheChurchwardenandtheCurateisnotinferiortotheearlierpeasantpoemsinitsexpressionofshrewdness，humour，andsuperstition。AverseofPoetsandCriticsmaybetakenasthepoet'slastwordontheoldfutilequarrel:-
　　"Thisthing，thatthingistherage，Helter-skelterrunstheage；
　　MindsonthisroundearthofoursVaryliketheleavesandflowers，Fashion'daftercertainlaws；
　　Singthouloworloudorsweet，Allatallpointsthoucanstnotmeet，Somewillpassandsomewillpause。
　　Whatistrueatlastwilltell:
　　Fewatfirstwillplacetheewell；
　　Sometoolowwouldhavetheeshine，Sometoohigh——nofaultofthine-
　　Holdthineown，andworkthywill!
　　Yearwillgrazetheheelofyear，Butseldomcomesthepoethere，AndtheCritic'srarerstill。"
　　Stillthelinesholdgood-
　　"Sometoolowwouldhavetheeshine，Sometoohigh——nofaultofthine。"
　　Theendwasnowathand。AsenseofweaknesswasfeltbythepoetonSeptember3，1892:onthe28thhisfamilysentforSirAndrewClark；
　　butthepatientgraduallyfadedoutoflife，andexpiredonThursday，October6，at1。35A。M。TotheverylasthehadShakespearebyhim，andhiswindowswereopentothesun；onthelastnighttheywerefloodedbythemoonlight。ThedescriptionofthefinalscenesmustbereadintheBiographybythepoet'sson。"Hispatienceandquietstrengthhadpoweruponthosewhowerenearestanddearesttohim；wefeltthankfulfortheloveandtheutterpeaceofitall。""Thelifeafterdeath，"Tennysonhadsaidjustbeforehisfatalillness，"isthecardinalpointofChristianity。IbelievethatGodrevealsHimselfineveryindividualsoul；andmyideaofHeavenistheperpetualministryofonesoultoanother。"Hehadlivedthelifeofheavenuponearth，beinginallhisworkaministerofthingshonourable，lovely，consoling，andennoblingtothesoulsofothers，withaministrywhichcannotdie。Hisbodysleepsnexttothatofhisfriendandfellow-poet，RobertBrowning，infrontofChaucer'smonumentintheAbbey。
　　CHAPTERXI——LASTCHAPTER。
　　"O，thatPresswillgetholdofmenow，"Tennysonsaidwhenheknewthathislasthourwasathand。Hehadahorrorofpersonaltattle，asevenhisearlypoemsdeclare-
　　"FornowthePoetcannotdie，Norleavehismusicasofold，ButroundhimerehescarcebecoldBeginsthescandalandthecry。"
　　Butno"carrion-vulture"haswaited"Totearhisheartbeforethecrowd。"
　　AboutTennyson，doubtless，thereismuchanecdotage:mostoftheanecdotesturnonhisshyness，hisreallyexaggeratedhatredofpersonalnotoriety，andtheoddandbrusquethingswhichhewouldsaywhenalarmedbyeffusivestrangers。Ithasnotseemedworthwhiletorepeatmorethanoneortwooftheselegends，norhaveIsoughtoutsidetheBiographybyhissonformorethanthebiographerchosetotell。Thereaderswhoareleastinterestedinpoetryaremostinterestedintattleaboutthepoet。Itistheprivilegeofgeniustoretainthefreshnessandsimplicity，withsomeofthefoibles，ofthechild。WhenTennysonreadhispoemsaloudhewasapttobemovedbythem，andtoexpressfranklyhisapprobationwherehethoughtitdeserved。Onlyveryrudimentarypsychologistsrecognisedconceitinthisfreedom；andonlythesamesetofpersonsmistookshynessforarrogance。EffusivenessofpraiseorcuriosityinastrangerisapttoproducebluntnessofreplyinaBriton。"Don'ttalkd-dnonsense，sir，"saidtheDukeofWellingtontothegushingpersonwhopilotedhim，inhisoldage，acrossPiccadilly。OfTennysonMrPalgravesays，"Ihaveknownhimsilenced，almostfrozen，beforetheeagerunintentionaleyesofagirloffifteen。Andunderthestressofthisnervousimpulsecompelledtocontradicthisinnerselfespeciallywhenundertheterrorofleonisation……，hewasdoubtlessattimesbetrayedintoanabruptphrase，acoldunsympatheticexterior；amoment's'defectoftherose。'"Hadhenotbeensensitiveinallthings，hewouldhavebeenlessofapoet。ThechiefcriticismdirectedagainsthismodeoflifeisthatheWAS
　　sensitiveandreserved，buthecouldanddidmakehimselfpleasantinthesocietyoflespauvresd'esprit。Curiosityalarmedhim，anddrovehimintohisshell:strangerswhomethiminthatmoodcarriedawayfalseimpressions，whichdevelopedintomyths。AstheMasterofBalliolhasrecorded，despitehisshyness"hewasextremelyhospitable，ofteninvitingnotonlyhisfriends，butthefriendsofhisfriends，andgivingthemaheartywelcome。Forunderneathasensitiveexteriorhewasthoroughlygenialifhewasunderstood。"
　　Inthesepointshewasunlikehisgreatcontemporary，Browning；forinstance，TennysonneverIthinkwastheMaster'sguestatBalliol，mingling，likeBrowning，withtheundergraduates，towhomtheMaster'shospitalitywasfreelyextended。Yet，wherehewasfamiliar，Tennysonwasagaycompanion，notshunningjestorevenparadox。"AsDrJohnsonsays，everymanmaybejudgedofbyhislaughter":butnoBoswellhaschronicledthelaughtersofTennyson。
　　"Henever，orhardlyever，madepunsorwitticisms"thoughonepun，atleast，enduresintradition，"butalwayslivedinanattitudeofhumour。"MrJowettwritesandnodescriptionofthepoetisbetterthanhis-
　　IfIweretodescribehisoutwardappearance，IshouldsaythathewascertainlyunlikeanyoneelsewhomIeversaw。AglanceatsomeofWatts'portraitsofhimwillgive，betterthananydescriptionwhichcanbeexpressedinwords，aconceptionofhisnoblemienandlook。Hewasamagnificentman，whostoodbeforeyouinhisnativerefinementandstrength。Theunconventionalityofhismannerswasinkeepingwiththeoriginalityofhisfigure。Hewouldsometimessaynothing，orawordortwoonly，tothestrangerwhoapproachedhim，outofshyness。Hewouldsometimescomeintothedrawing-roomreadingabook。Atothertimes，especiallytoladies，hewassingularlygraciousandbenevolent。Hewouldtalkabouttheaccidentsofhisownlifewithanextraordinaryfreedom，asatthemomenttheyappearedtopresentthemselvestohismind，thedaysofhisboyhoodthatwerepassedatSomersby，andtheoldschoolofmannerswhichhecameacrossinhisownneighbourhood:thedaysofthe"apostles"atCambridge:theyearswhichhespentinLondon；theeveningsenjoyedattheCockTavern，andelsewhere，whenhesawanothersideoflife，notwithoutakindlyandhumoroussenseoftheridiculousinhisfellow-creatures。Hisrepertoryofstorieswasperfectlyinexhaustible；theywereoftenaboutslightmattersthatwouldscarcelybearrepetition，butweretoldwithsuchlifelikereality，thattheyconvulsedhishearerswithlaughter。Likemoststory-tellers，heoftenrepeatedhisfavourites；but，likechildren，hisaudiencelikedhearingthemagainandagain，andheenjoyedtellingthem。Itmightbesaidofhimthathetoldmorestoriesthananyone，butwasbynomeanstheregularstory-teller。Inthecommonestconversationheshowedhimselfamanofgenius。
　　TothisdescriptionmaybeaddedanotherbyMrF。T。Palgrave:-
　　Everyonewillhaveseenmen，distinguishedinsomelineofwork，whoseconversationtotaketheoldfigureeither"smelttoostronglyofthelamp，"orlayquiteapartfromtheirartorcraft。
　　What，throughalltheseyears，struckmeaboutTennyson，wasthatwhilstheneverdeviatedintopoeticallanguageassuch，whetherinrhetoricorhighlycolouredphrase，yetthroughoutthesubstanceofhistalkthesamemodeofthought，thesameimaginativegraspofnature，thesamefinenessandgentlenessinhisviewofcharacter，thesameforbearanceandtoleration，theaureamediocritasdespisedbyfoolsandfanatics，whicharestampedonhispoetry，wereconstantlyperceptible:whilstintheeasyandasitwereunsoughtchoiceness，theconscientiousandtruth-lovingprecisionofhiswords，thesamepersonalidentityrevealeditself。Whatastrangecharmlayhere，howdeeplyilluminatingthewholecharacter，asinprolongedintercourseitgraduallyrevealeditself!Artistandman，Tennysonwasinvariablytruetohimself，orrather，inWordsworth'sphrase，he"movedaltogether"；hisnatureandhispoetrybeingharmoniousaspectsofthesamesoul；asbotaniststellusthatflowerandfruitarebuttransformationsofrootandstemandleafage。Wereadhow，inmediaevaldays，conduitsweremadetoflowwithclaret。
　　Butthiswasongreatoccasionsonly。Tennyson'sfountainalwaysranwine。
　　Oncemore:InMme。Recamier'ssalon，Ihaveread，atthetimewhenconversationwasyetafineartinParis，guestsfamousforespritwouldsitinthetwilightroundthestove，whilsteachinturnletflysomesparklinganecdoteorbon-mot，whichroseandshoneanddiedoutintosilence，tillthenextoftheelectpyrotechnistswasready。
　　Goodthingsofthiskind，asIhavesaid，wereplentifulinTennyson'srepertory。Butwhat，topassfromthematerialstothemethodofhisconversation，eminentlymarkeditwasthecontinuityoftheelectriccurrent。Hespoke，andwassilent，andspokeagain:
　　butthecircuitwasunbroken；therewasnoeffortintakingupthethread，nosenseofdisjunction。OftenIthought，hadheneverwrittenalineofthepoemssodeartous，hisconversationalonewouldhavemadehimthemostinterestingcompanionknowntome。Fromthisgreatandgraciousstudentofhumanity，whatless，indeed，couldbeexpected？Andif，asaconverser，IweretocomparehimwithSocrates，asfiguredforusinthedialoguesofhisgreatdisciple，I
　　thinkthatIshouldhavetheassentofthateminentlyvaluedfriendofTennyson's，whoselonglabouroflovehasconferredEnglishcitizenshipuponPlato。
　　Wehavecalledhimshyandsensitiveindailyintercoursewithstrangers，andastocriticism，hefreelyconfessedthatamidgeofdispraisecouldsting，whileapplausegavehimlittlepleasure。Yetnopoetalteredhisversessomuchinobediencetocensureunjustlyorirritatinglystated，yetinessencejust。Hereadilyrejectedsomeofhis"Juvenilia"onMrPalgrave'ssuggestion。Thesamefriendtellshowwellhetookaratherfierceattackonanunpublishedpiece，whenMrPalgrave"ownedthathecouldnotfindonegoodlineinit。"Veryfewpoets，orevenversifiersfiercertheythanpoetsare，wouldhavecontinuedtoshowtheirvirginnumberstoafriendsocandid，asTennysondid。Perhapsmostofthegenusirritabilewillgrantthatspokencriticism，ifunfavourable，somehowannoysandstirsoppositioninanauthor；probablybecauseitconfirmshisownsuspicionsabouthiswork。Suchcriticismisalmostinvariablyjust。
　　ButCampbell，whenRogersofferedacorrection，"bouncedoutoftheroom，witha'Hangit!Ishouldliketoseethemanwhowoulddaretocorrectme。'"
　　MrJowettjustlyrecognisedinthelifeofTennysontwocircumstanceswhichmadehimotherthan，butforthese，hewouldhavebeen。HehadintendedtodowiththeArthuriansubjectwhatheneverdid，"insomewayorothertohaverepresentedinitthegreatreligionsoftheworld……ItisaproofofTennyson'sgeniusthatheshouldhavethusearlygraspedthegreathistoricalaspectofreligion。"Hisintentionwasfoiled，hisearlydreamwasbroken，bythedeathofArthurHallam，andbythecoldnessandcontemptwithwhich，atthesameperiod，hisearlypoemswerereceived。
　　MrJowettwhohadafirmbeliefinthe"greatwork"regrettedthechangeofplanastotheArthuriantopic，regretteditthemorefromhisowninterestintheHistoryofReligion。Butweneednotsharetheregrets。TheearlyplanfortheArthurwhichMrJowettneversawhasbeenpublished，andcertainlytheschemecouldnothavebeenexecutedontheselines。{18}Moreover，astheMasterobserved，theworkwouldhavebeenprematureinTennyson'syouth，and，indeed，itwouldstillbepremature。Thecomparativescienceofreligiousevolutionisevennowverytentative，anddoesnotyieldmaterialsofsufficientstabilityforanepic，evenifsuchanepiccouldbeforcedintothemouldoftheArthurlegends，afeatperhapsimpossible，andcertainlyundesirable。Atrulyfantasticallegorymusthavebeentheresult，anditisfortunatethatthepoetabandonedtheideainfavourofmorehumanthemes。Moreover，herecognisedveryearlythathiswasnotaMusedelonguehaleine；thathemustbe"short。"Wemaythereforefeelcertainthathisearlysorrowanddiscouragementweresalutarytohimasapoet，andasaman。Hebecamemoresympathetic，moretender，andwasobligedtoputforththatstoicalself-control，andstrenuouscourageandendurance，throughwhichalonehispoeticcareerwasrenderedpossible。"Hehadthesusceptibilityofachildorawoman，"sayshisfriend；"hehadalso"itwasastrangecombination"thestrengthofagiantorofagod。"Withoutthesequalitieshemusthavebrokendownbetween1833
　　and1842intoahypochondriac，oramorose，ifmajestic，failure。
　　Poor，obscure，andunhappy，heovercametheworld，andpassedfromdarknessintolight。The"poetictemperament"inanothernotgiftedwithhisenduranceandpersistentstrengthwouldhaveachievedruin。
　　MostofusrememberTaine'sparallelbetweenTennysonandAlfreddeMusset。TheFrenchcritichasnohighapprovalofTennyson's"respectability"andlongpeacefullife，ascomparedwiththewreckedlifeandgeniusofMusset，l'enfantperduoflove，wine，andsong。
　　Thisisatheorylikeanother，andisperhapsattractivetotheyoung。Thepoetmusthavestrongpassions，orhowcanhesingofthem:hemustbetossedandwhirledinthestressofthings，likeShelley'sautumnleaves；-
　　"Ghostsfromanenchanterfleeing。"
　　LookingatBurns，Byron，Musset，orevenatShelley'searlieryears，youthseesinthemthetruepoets，"sacredthings，"butalso"light，"
　　asPlatosays，inspiredtobreaktheirwingsagainstthenatureofexistence，andtheflammantiamaeniamundi。Butthisisalmostaboyishidea，thisideathatthetruepoetistheslaveofthepassions，andthatthepoetwhodominatesthemhasnone，andisbutastaiddomesticanimal，anassbrowsingthecommon，assomebodyhaswrittenaboutWordsworth。CertainlyTennyson'swasno"passionlessperfection。"He，likeothers，wastemptedtobeatwithineffectualwingsagainsttheinscrutablenatureoflife。He，too，hadhisdarkhour，andwasassubjecttotemptationastheywhoyieldedtothestressanddied，orbecameunhappywaifs，"youngmenwithasplendidpast。"Hemusthaveknown，nolessthanMusset，theattractionsofmanyaparadisartificiel，withitsbrightvisions，itshouris，itsoffersofoblivionofpain。"Hehadthelookofonewhohadsufferedgreatly，"MrPalgravewritesinhisrecordoftheirfirstmeetingin1842。Buthe，likeGoethe，Scott，andVictorHugo，hadstrengthaswellaspassionandemotion；hecameunscorchedthroughthefirethathasburnedawaythewingsofsomanyothergreatpoets。Thiswasnolessfortunatefortheworldthanforhimself。Ofhisprolongeddarkhourweknowlittleindetail，butwehaveseenthatfromthefirstheresistedtheTempter；UlyssesishisRetroSathanas!
　　About"themechanismofgenius"inTennysonMrPalgravehastoldusalittle；moreappearsincidentallyinhisbiography。"Itwashiswaythatwhenwehadenteredonsomesceneofspecialbeautyorgrandeur，afterenjoyingittogether，heshouldalwayswithdrawwhollyfromsight，andstudytheview，asitwere，inalittleartificialsolitude。"
　　Tennyson'spoems，MrPalgravesays，oftenaroseinakindofpointdereperelikethoseformsandlandscapeswhichseemtospringfromafloatingpointoflight，beheldwithclosedeyesjustbeforewesleep。"Morethanoncehesaidthathispoemssprangoftenfroma'nucleus，'someoneword，maybe，orbriefmelodiousphrase，whichhadfloatedthroughthebrain，asitwere，unbidden。Andperhapsatoncewhilewalkingtheywerepresentlywroughtintoalittlesong。Butifhedidnotwriteitdownatoncethelyricfledfromhimirrecoverably。"Hebelievedhimselfthustohavelostpoemsasgoodashisbest。Itseemsprobablethatthisisacommongenesisofverses，goodorbad，amongallwhowrite。LikeDickens，andlikemostmenofgeniusprobably，hesawallthescenesofhispoems"inhismind'seye。"Manyauthorsdothis，withoutthepowerofmakingtheirreaderssharethevision；butprobablyfewcanimpartthevisionwhodonotthemselves"visualise"withdistinctness。Wehaveseen，inthecasesofTheHolyGrailandotherpieces，thatTennyson，afterlongmeditatingasubject，oftenwroteveryrapidly，andwithlittleneedofcorrection。Hewasbornwith"style"；itwasagiftofhisgeniusratherthantheresultofconsciouselaboration。Yethediduse"thefile，"ofwhichmuchisnowwritten，especiallyforthepurposeofpolishingawaythesibilants，socommoninourlanguage。Inthenineyearsofsilencewhichfollowedthelittlebookof1833hispoemsmatured，andhenceforthitisprobablethathealteredhisverseslittle，ifweexceptthemodificationsinThePrincess。Manyslightverbaltouchesweremade，oroldreadingswererestored，butimportantchanges，inthewayofomissionoraddition，becamerare。
　　OfnatureTennysonwasscrupulouslyobservanttillhisverylatestdays，eagerlynoting，notonly"effects，"asapainterdoes，buttheircauses，botanicalorgeological。Hadmanbeenscientificfromthebeginninghewouldprobablyhaveevolvednopoetryatall；
　　materialthingswouldnothavebeenendowedbyhimwithlifeandpassion；hewouldhavetoldhimselfnostoriesoftheoriginsofstarsandflowers，cloudsandfire，windsandrainbows。Modernpoetshaveresented，likeKeatsandWordsworth，thedestructionoftheoldprehistoricdreamsbythegeologistandbyotherscientificcharacters。ButitwaspartofTennyson'spoeticoriginalitytoseethebeautifulthingsofnatureatoncewiththevisionofearlypoeticmen，andofmodernsaccustomedtothemicroscope，telescope，spectrumanalysis，andsoforth。ThusTennysonreceivedadoubledelightfromthesensibleuniverse，anditisadoubledelightthathecommunicatestohisreaders。Hisintellectwasthusalwaysactive，eveninapparentrepose。Hiseyesrestednotfromobserving，orhismindfromrecordingandcomparing，thebeautifulfamiliarphenomenaofearthandsky。InthematterofthestudyofbookswehaveseenhowdeeplyversedhewasincertainoftheGreek，Roman，andItalianclassics。MrJowettwrites:"Hewaswhatmightbecalledagoodscholarintheuniversityorpublic-schoolsenseoftheterm，……yetIseemtorememberthathehadhisfavouriteclassics，suchasHomer，andPindar，andTheocritus……HewasalsoaloverofGreekfragments。ButIamnotsurewhether，inlaterlife，heeversatdowntoreadconsecutivelythegreatestworksofAEschylusandSophocles，althoughheusedoccasionallytodipintothem。"TheGreekdramatists，infact，seemtohaveaffectedTennyson'sworkbutslightly，whileheconstantlyremindsusofVirgil，Homer，Theocritus，andevenPersiusandHorace。MediaevalFrench，whetherinpoetryorprose，andthepoetryofthe"Pleiad"
　　seemstohaveoccupiedlittleofhisattention。Intotheorientalliteratureshedipped——prettydeeplyforhisAkbar；andevenhisLocksleyHallowedsomethingtoSirWilliamJones'sversionof"theoldArabianMoallakat。"Thedebtappearstobeinfinitesimal。HeseemstohavebeenlesscloselyfamiliarwithElizabethanpoetrythanmighthavebeenexpected:anumberofhisobiterdictaonallkindsofliterarypointsarerecordedintheLifebyMrPalgrave。"SirWalterScott'sshorttale，MyAuntMargaret'sMirrorhowlittleknown!，heoncespokeofasthefinestofallghostormagicalstories。"LordTennysonadds，"TheTapestriedChamberalsohegreatlyadmired。"BotharelostfrommodernviewamongtheshortpiecesofthelastvolumesoftheWaverleynovels。Ofthepoet'sinterestinandattitudetowardsthemoreobscurepyschologicalandpsychicalproblems——topopularsciencefoolishness——enoughhasbeensaid，buttheremarksofProfessorTyndallhavenotbeencited:-
　　Myspecialpurposeinintroducingthispoem，however，wastocallyourattentiontoapassagefurtheronwhichgreatlyinterestedme。
　　Thepoemis，throughout，adiscussionbetweenabelieverinimmortalityandonewhoisunabletobelieve。Themethodpursuedisthis。TheSagereadsaportionofthescroll，whichhehastakenfromthehandsofhisfollower，andthenbringshisownargumentstobearuponthatportion，withaviewtoneutralisingthescepticismoftheyoungerman。LetmehereremarkthatIreadthewholeseriesofpoemspublishedunderthetitle"Tiresias，"fullofadmirationfortheirfreshnessandvigour。SevenyearsafterIhadfirstreadthemyourfatherdied，andyou，hisson，askedmetocontributeachaptertothebookwhichyoucontemplatepublishing。IknewthatIhadsomesmallstoreofreferencestomyinterviewwithyourfathercarefullywritteninancientjournals。Onthereceiptofyourrequest，I
　　lookeduptheaccountofmyfirstvisittoFarringford，andthere，tomyprofoundastonishment，Ifounddescribedthatexperienceofyourfather'swhich，inthemouthoftheAncientSage，wasmadethegroundofanimportantargumentagainstmaterialismandinfavourofpersonalimmortalityeight-and-twentyyearsafterwards。Innootherpoemduringalltheseyearsis，tomyknowledge，thisexperienceoncealludedto。Ihadcompletelyforgottenit，buthereitwasrecordedinblackandwhite。Ifyouturntoyourfather'saccountofthewonderfulstateofconsciousnesssuperinducedbythinkingofhisownname，andcompareitwiththeargumentoftheAncientSage，youwillseethattheyrefertooneandthesamephenomenon。
　　Andmore，myson!formorethanoncewhenI
　　Satallalone，revolvinginmyselfThewordthatisthesymbolofmyself，ThemortallimitoftheSelfwasloosed，AndpastintotheNameless，asacloudMeltsintoheaven。Itouch'dmylimbs，thelimbsWerestrange，notmine——andyetnoshadeofdoubt，Bututterclearness，andthro'lossofSelfThegainofsuchlargelifeasmatch'dwithoursWereSuntospark——unshadowableinwords，Themselvesbutshadowsofashadow-world。
　　AnywordsaboutTennysonasapoliticianareapttoexcitethesleeplessprejudicewhichhauntsthepoliticalfield。Heprobably，ifforcedto"putanametoit，"wouldhavecalledhimselfaLiberal。
　　Buthewasnotasocialagitator。Heneversetarickonfire。"Heheldaloof，inasomewhatdetachedposition，fromthegreatsocialseethingsofhisage"MrFredericHarrison。Butinyouthhehelpedtoextinguishsomeflamingricks。Hespokeofthe"many-headedbeast"thereadingpublicintermsborrowedfromPlato。HehadnohigheresteemformobsthanShakespeareorJohnKnoxprofessed，whilehistheoryoftyrantsinthecaseofNapoleonIII。about1852wasthatofLiberalslikeMrSwinburneandVictorHugo。ThoughtomodernenlightenmentTennysonmayseemasgreataToryasDrJohnson，yethehadspokenhiswordin1852forthefreedomofFrance，andforsecuringEnglandagainstthesupposeddesignsofausurpernowfallen。Hereallybelieved，obsoleteasthefaithmaybe，inguardingourown，bothonlandandsea。PerhapsnoContinentalorAmericancritichaseveryetdispraisedapoeticalfellow-countrymanmerelyforurgingthedutiesofnationalunionandnationaldefence。
　　Acritic，however，writesthusofTennyson:"Whenourpoetdescendsintothearenaofpartypolemics，insuchthingsasRiflemen，Form!
　　HandsallRound，……TheFleet，andothertopicalpiecesdeartotheJingosoul，itisnotpoetrybutjournalism。"IdoubtwhetherthedesirablenessoftheexistenceofavolunteerforceandofafleetreallyiswithinthearenaofPARTYpolemics。Ifanypartythinksthatweoughttohavenovolunteers，andthatitisourdutytostarvethefleet，whatisthatparty'sname？Whocries，"DownwiththeFleet!DownwithNationalDefence!HoorayfortheDisintegrationoftheEmpire!"？
　　Tennysonwasnotapartyman，buthecertainlywouldhaveopposedanysuchparty。IftodefendourhomesandthisEnglandbe"Jingoism，"
　　Tennyson，likeShakespeare，wasaJingo。But，alas!IdonotknowthenameofthepartywhichopposesTennyson，andwhichwishestheinvadertotrampledownEngland——anyinvaderwilldoforsophilanthropicapurpose。Exceptwhenresistingthisunnamedparty，thepoetseldomorneverentered"thearenaofpartypolemics。"
　　Tennysoncouldnothaveexclaimed，likeSquireWestern，"HurrahforoldEngland!TwentythousandhonestFrenchmenhavelandedinKent!"
　　Heundeniablydidwriteverseswhetherpoetryorjournalismtendingtomakereaderstakeanunfavourableviewofhonestinvaders。Iftodothatistobea"Jingo，"andifsuchconducthurtsthefeelingsofanygreatEnglishparty，thenTennysonwasaJingoandapartisan，andwas，sofar，arhymester，likeMrKipling。IndeedweknowthatTennysonapplaudedMrKipling'sTheEnglishFlag。Sotheworstisout，asweinEnglandcounttheworst。InAmericaandonthecontinentofEurope，however，apoetmaybeproudofhiscountry'sflagwithoutincurringrebukefromhiscountrymen。Tennysondidnotreckonhimselfapartyman；hebelievedmoreinpoliticalevolutionthaninpoliticalrevolution，withcataclysms。HewasneitheranAnarchistnoraHomeRuler，norapoliticiansogenerousastowishEnglandtobelaiddefencelessatthefeetofherfoes。
　　Ifthesesentimentsdeservecensure，inTennyson，atleast，theyclaimourtolerance。HewasnotborninagenerationlateenoughtobetrulyLiberal。Oldprejudicesabout"thisEngland，"oldwordsfromHenryV。andKingJohn，hauntedhismemoryanddarkenedhisvisionofthetrueproportionsofthings。Wedrawinprejudicewithourmother'smilk。ThemotherofTennysonhadnotbeenanAgnosticoraComtist；hisfatherhadnotbeenastaunchtrue-blueanti-
　　Englander。Thusheinheritedacertainbiasinfavouroffaithandfatherland，abiasfromwhichhecouldneveremancipatehimself。Buttoutcomprendrec'esttoutpardonner。HadTennyson'sbirthbeenlater，wemightfindinhimamorecompleterealisationofourpoeticideal——mighthavedetectedlesstoblameortoforgive。
　　WiththatapologywemustleavethefameofTennysonasapoliticiantotheclementconsiderationofanenlightenedposterity。Idonotdefendhisnarrowinsularities，hisJingoism，ortheappreciablepercentageoffaithwhichblushinganalysismaydetectinhishonestdoubt:thesethingsImayregretorcondemn，butweoughtnottoletthemobscureourviewofthePoet。Hewasledawaybybadexamples。
　　OfallJingoesShakespeareisthemostunashamed，andnexttohimareDrayton，Scott，andWordsworth，withhis"Oh，foronehourofthatDundee!"
　　IntheyearswhichfollowedtheuntowardaffairofWaterlooyoungTennysonfellmuchundertheinfluenceofShakespeare，Wordsworth，andtheotheroffenders，andtheseareextenuatingcircumstances。Byacuriouspracticalparadox，wheretherealmsofpoetryandpoliticsmeet，theTorycriticsseemmilderofmoodandmoreLiberalthantheLiberalcritics。ThusMrWilliamMorriswascertainlyaveryadvancedpoliticaltheorist；andintheologyMrSwinburnehaswrittenthingsnoteasilyreconcilablewithorthodoxy。YetwefindDivine-
　　RightTories，whoinliteratureareferventadmirersofthesetwopoets，andleavetheirheterodoxiesoutofaccount。ButmanyLiberalcriticsappearunablequitetoforgiveTennysonbecausehedidnotwishtostarvethefleet，andbecauseheheldcertainveryancient，ifobsolete，beliefs。Perhapsageneralamnestyoughttobepassed，asfaraspoetsareconcerned，andtheirpoliticsandcreedsshouldbelefttosilence，where"beyondthesevoicesthereispeace。"
　　Oneremark，Ihope，canexcitenoprejudice。ThegreatestoftheGordonswasasoldier，andlivedinreligion。ButthepointatwhichTennyson'smemoryisblendedwiththatofGordonisthepointofsympathywiththeneglectedpoor。Itistohiswiseadvice，andtoaffectionforGordon，thatweowetheGordontrainingschoolforpoorboys，——agoodschool，andgoodboyscomeoutofthatacademy。
　　ThequestionastoTennyson'spreciserankinthegloriousrollofthePoetsofEnglandcanneverbedeterminedbyus，ifinanycaseoratanytimesuchdeterminationscanbemade。Wedonot，orshouldnot，askwhetherVirgilorLucretius，whetherAEschylusorSophocles，isthegreaterpoet。TheconsentofmankindseemstoplaceHomerandShakespeareandDantehighaboveall。Fortherestnoprize-listcanbesettled。Ifinfluenceamongaliensisthetest，Byronprobablytakes，amongourpoets，thenextrankafterShakespeare。Butprobablythereisnopossibletest。IncertainrespectsShelley，inmanyrespectsMilton，insomeColeridge，insomeBurns，intheopinionofanumberofpersonsBrowning，aregreaterpoetsthanTennyson。ButforexquisitevarietyandvariedexquisitenessTennysonisnotreadilytobesurpassed。Atonemomenthepleasestheuncriticalmassofreaders，inanothermoodhewinstheverdictoftheraffine。ItisasuccesswhichscarceanyEnglishpoetbutShakespearehasexcelled。Hisfaultshaverarely，ifever，beenthoseofflat-footed，"thick-ankled"dulness；ofrhetoric，ofcommon-
　　place；ratherhavehisdefectsbeentheexcessofhisqualities。A
　　kindofJohnBullishnessmayalsobenoted，especiallyinderogatoryreferencestoFrance，which，trueoruntrue，areoutoftasteandkeeping。Buttheseerrorscouldberemovedbytheexcisionofhalf-
　　a-dozenlines。HislaterworkastheVoyageofMaelduneshowsajustappreciationofancientCelticliterature。Agreatcritic，F。
　　T。Palgrave，hasexpressedperhapsthesoundestappreciationofTennyson:-
　　Itisfor"thedaysthatremain"tobearwitnesstohisrealplaceinthegreathierarchy，amongstwhomDanteboldlyyetjustlyrankedhimself。ButifwelookatTennyson'sworkinatwofoldaspect，——
　　HERE，ontheexquisiteartinwhich，throughout，hisverseisclothed，thelucidbeautyoftheform，themelodyalmostaudibleasmusic，themysteriousskillbywhichthewordsusedconstantlystrikeastheINEVITABLEwordsandhence，unforgettable，thesubtleallusivetouches，bywhichasecondaryimageissuggestedtoenrichtheleadingthought，astheharmonic"partials"giverichnesstothenotestruckuponthestring；THERE，whenwethinkofthevastfertilityinsubjectandtreatment，unitedwithhappyselectionofmotive，thewiderangeofcharacter，thedramaticforceofimpersonation，thepathosineveryvariety，themasteryoverthecomicandthetragicalike，aboveall，perhaps，thosephrasesofluminousinsightwhichspringdirectfromimaginativeobservationofHumanity，trueforalltime，comingfromthehearttotheheart，——hisworkwillprobablybefoundtoliesomewherebetweenthatofVirgilandShakespeare:havingitsportion，ifImayventureonthephrase，intheinspirationofboth。
　　AprofessedenthusiastforTennysoncanaddnothingto，andtakenothingfrom，thesewordsofonewho，thoughhisfriend，wastootrulyacritictoentertaintheadmirationthatgoesbeyondidolatry。