Thesemeritshaveceasedtobedisputed，but，thoughaloyalTennysonian，IhaveneverquitebeenabletoreconcilemyselftoMaudasawhole。Theheroisanunwholesomeyoungman，andnotofanoriginalkind。Heisunbeautenebreuxof1830。IsupposeithasbeenobservedthatheismerelyTheMasterofRavenswoodinmoderncostume，andwithoutLadyAshton。HerpartistakenbyMaud'sbrother。ThesituationsoftheheroandoftheMasterwhoseacquaintanceThackerayneverrenewedafterhelosthishatintheKelpieFlowarenearlyidentical。Thefamiliesandfathersofbothhavebeenruinedby"thegrayoldwolf，"andbySirWilliamAshton，representingthehouseofStair。Bothheroeslivedawdlingon，hardbytheirlostancestralhomes。Bothfallinlovewiththedaughtersoftheenemiesoftheirhouses。Thelovesofbotharebaffled，andendintragedy。Bothareconcernedinaduel，thoughtheMaster，onhiswaytotheground，"stableshissteedintheKelpieFlow，"andthewooerinMaudshootsLucyAshton'sbrother，——ImeanthebrotherofMaud，——thoughduellinginEnglandwasoutofdate。Thencomesanintervalofmadness，andherecoversamidthepatrioticemotionsoftheill-fatedCrimeanexpedition。Bothloversaregloomy，thoughtheMasterhasbettercause，fortheTennysonianheroismorecomfortablyprovidedforthanEdgarwithhis"manandmaid，"hisCalebandMysie。
　　Finally，bothTheBrideofLammermoor，whichaffectedTennysonsopotentlyinboyhood"Amerrymerrybridal，Amerrymerryday"，andMaud，excelinpassagesratherthanaswholes。
　　TheheroofMaud，withhisclandestinewooingofagirlofsixteen，hasthisapology，thatthematchhadbeen，asitwere，predestined，anddesiredbythemotherofthelady。Still，thebrotherdidnotilltobeangry；andthepeevishnessoftheheroagainstthebrotherandtheparvenulordandrivalstrikesajarringnote。InEngland，atleast，thegeneralsentimentisopposedtothismoody，introspectivekindofyoungman，ofwhomTennysonisnottobesupposedtoapprove。Wedonotfeelcertainthathismanandmaidwere"everreadytoslanderandsteal。"Thatseemstobepartofhisjaundicedwayoflookingateverythingandeverybody。Hehasevenabadwordforthe"man-god"ofmoderndays，-
　　"Themanofsciencehimselfisfonderofglory，andvain，Aneyewell-practisedinnature，aspiritboundedandpoor。"
　　Rienn'estsacreforthiscynic，whothinkshimselfaStoic。ThusMaudwasmadetobeunpopularwiththeauthor'scountrymen，whoconceivedaprejudiceagainstMaud'slover，describedbyTennysonas"amorbidpoeticsoul，……anegotistwiththemakingsofacynic。"
　　Thatheis"raisedtosanity"stillinTennyson'swords"byapureandholylovewhichelevateshiswholenature，"theworldfailedtoperceive，especiallyasthesanitywasonlyabrieflucidinterval，temperedbyhangingaboutthegardentomeetagirlofsixteen，unknowntoherrelations。Tennysonaddedthat"differentphasesofpassioninonepersontaketheplaceofdifferentcharacters，"towhichcriticsrepliedthattheywanteddifferentcharacters，ifonlybywayofrelief，anddidnotcareforanyofthephasesofpassion。
　　ThelearnedMonsieurJanethasmaintainedthatloveisadiseaselikeanother，andthatnobodyfallsinlovewheninperfecthealthofmindandbody。Thistheoryseemsopentoexception，buttheheroofMaudisunhealthyenough。Atbestandlast，heonlyhelpstogiveamartialforcea"send-off":-
　　"IstoodonagiantdeckandmixedmybreathWithaloyalpeopleshoutingabattle-cry。"
　　Hedidnotgooutasavolunteer，andprobablytheCrimeanwintersbroughthimbacktohisoriginalestateofcynicalgloom——andverynaturally。
　　ThereconciliationwithLifeisnotlikethereconciliationofInMemoriam。Thepoemtookitsriseinoldlines，andmostbeautifullines，whichTennysonhadcontributedin1837toamiscellany:-
　　"Othat'twerepossible，Afterlonggriefandpain，TofindthearmsofmytrueloveRoundmeonceagain。"
　　Thencethepoet，workingbacktofindtheoriginofthesituation，encounteredtheideasandthepersonsofMaud。
　　Ihavetriedtostatethesources，inthegeneralmind，ofthegeneraldislikeofMaud。Thepublic，"drivingatpractice，"
　　disapprovedofthe"criticismoflife"inthepoem；confusedthesufferingnarratorwiththeauthor，andneglectedthepoetry。"Nomodernpoem，"saidJowett，"containsmorelinesthatringintheearsofmen。IdonotknowanyverseoutofShakespeareinwhichtheecstacyoflovesoarstosuchaheight。"Withthesecommentswemayagree，yetmayfailtofollowJowettwhenhesays，"NopoemsinceShakespeareseemstoshowequalpowerofthesamekind，orequalknowledgeofhumannature。"Shakespearecouldnotinanarrativepoemhavepreferredthevaryingpassionsofonecharactertothecharactersofmanypersons。
　　Tennysonwas"nettledatfirst，"hissonsays，"bythesecaptiousremarksofthe'indolentreviewers，'butafterwardshewouldtakenonoticeofthemexcepttospeakoftheminahalf-pitiful，half-
　　humorous，half-mournfulmanner。"Thebesettingsinanderrorofthecriticswas，ofcourse，toconfoundTennyson'sherowithhimself，asifweconfusedDickenswithPip。
　　LikeAuroraLeigh，Lucile，andotherworks，Maudisunderthedisadvantageofbeing，practically，anovelofmodernlifeinverse。
　　Criticisedasataleofmodernlifeanditwascriticisedinthatcharacter，itcouldnotbeveryhighlyesteemed。ButtheessenceofMaud，ofcourse，liesinthepoeticalvehicle。Nobodycancavilattheimpressivenessoftheopeningstanzas-
　　"Ihatethedreadfulhollowbehindthelittlewood"；
　　withthekeynotesofcolourandofdesolationstruck；thelipsofthehollow"dabbledwithblood-redheath，"the"red-ribb'dledges，"and"theflyinggoldoftheruin'dwoodlands"；andthecontrastinthepictureofthechildMaud-
　　"Maudthedelightofthevillage，theringingjoyoftheHall。"
　　Thepoemaboundsinlineswhichliveinthememory，asinthevernaldescription-
　　"Amillionemeraldsbreakfromtheruby-buddedlime"；
　　andthevoiceheardinthegardensinging"Apassionateballadgallantandgay，"
　　asLovelace'sAlthea，andthelinesonthefar-offwavingofawhitehand，"betwixtthecloudandthemoon。"Thelyricof"BirdsinthehighHall-gardenWhentwilightwasfalling，Maud，Maud，Maud，Maud，Theywerecryingandcalling，"
　　wasafavouriteofthepoet。
　　"Whatbirdswerethese？"heissaidtohaveaskedaladysuddenly，whenreadingtoasilentcompany。
　　"Nightingales，"suggestedalistener，whodidnotprobablyrememberanyotherfowlthatisvocalinthedusk。
　　"No，theywererooks，"answeredthepoet。
　　"ComeintotheGarden，Maud，"isasfinealove-songasTennysoneverwrote，withatriumphantring，andasoaringexultantnote。Thenthepoemdropsfromitsheight，likealarkshothighinheaven；tragedycomes，andremorse，andthebeautifulinterludeofthe"lovelyshell，Smallandpureasapearl。"
　　Thenfollowstheexquisite"Othat'twerepossible，"
　　andthedullconsciousnessofthepoemofmadness，withitsdumbgnawingconfusionofpainandwanderingmemory；theherobeingfinallyleft，intheauthor'swords，"sanebutshattered。"
　　Tennyson'slettersofthetimeshowthatthecriticssucceededinwoundinghim:itwasnotadifficultthingtodo。Maudwasthreatenedwithabroadsidefrom"thatpompholygous，broad-blownApollodorus，thegiftedX。"PeoplewhohavereadAytoun'sdivertingFirmilian，whereApollodorusplayshispart，andwhoremember"giftedGilfillan"inWaverley，knowwhothegiftedX。was。ButX。wasnogreatauthoritysouthofTay。
　　Despitethealmostunanimouscondemnationbypubliccritics，thesuccessofMaudenabledTennysontobuyFarringford，sohemusthavebeenbetterappreciatedandunderstoodbytheworldthanbythereviewers。
　　InFebruary1850TennysonreturnedtohisoldArthurianthemes，"theonlybigthingnotdone，"forMiltonhadmerelyglancedatArthur，Drydendidnot"RaisetheTableRoundagain，"
　　andBlackmorehasneverbeenreckonedadequate。VivienwasfirstcomposedasMerlinandNimue，andthenGeraintandEnidwasadaptedfromtheMabinogion，theWelshcollectionofMarchenandlegends，thingsofwidelydifferentages，nowratherCeltic，orBrythonic，nowamplificationsmadeundertheinfluenceofmediaevalFrenchromance。
　　EnidwasfinishedinWalesinAugust，andTennysonlearnedWelshenoughtobeabletoreadtheMabinogion，whichismuchmoreofWelshthanmanyArthuriancriticspossess。ThetwofirstIdyllswereprivatelyprintedinthesummerof1857，beingveryrareandmuchdesiredofcollectorsinthisembryonicshape。InJulyGuineverewasbegun，inthemiddle，withArthur'svaledictoryaddresstohiserringconsort。InautumnTennysonvisitedthelateDukeofArgyllatInveraray:hewasmuchattachedtotheDuke——unlikeProfessorHuxley。Theirloveofnature，theDukebeingaskeen-eyedasthepoetwasshort-sighted，wasonetieofunion。TheIndianMutiny，oratleastthedeathofHavelock，wastheoccasionoflineswhichtheauthorwastoowisetoincludeinanyofhisvolumes:thepoemonLucknowwasoflatercomposition。
　　GuineverewascompletedinMarch1858；andTennysonmetMrSwinburne，thenveryyoung。"WhatIparticularlyadmiredinhimwasthathedidnotpressuponmeanyversesofhisown。"Tennysonwouldhavefoundmoretoadmireifhehadpressedforasightoftheverses。NeitherhenorMrMatthewArnoldwasveryencouragingtoyoungpoets:theyhadnosonsinApollo，likeBenJonson。Butbothwerekeptinaperpetualstateofapprehensionbythearmyofversifierswhosendvolumesbypost，towhomthatcanonlybesaidwhatTennysondidsaytooneofthem，"Asanamusementtoyourselfandyourfriends，thewritingit"verse"isallverywell。"Itisthefriendswhodonotfinditamusing，whilethestrangerbecomesthefoe。ThepsychologyofthesepestsoftheMusesisbewildering。Theydonotseemtoreadpoetry，onlytowriteitandlaunchitatunoffendingstrangers。Iftheyboughteachother'sbooks，allofthemcouldaffordtopublish。
　　TheMasterofBalliol，themostadvicefulman，ifonemayusetheterm，ofhisage，appearstohaveadvisedTennysontopublishtheIdyllsatonce。TherehadbeenyearsofsilencesinceMaud，andtheMastersuspectedthat"mosquitoes"reviewerswerethecause。
　　"ThereisanoteneededtoshowthegoodsideofhumannatureandtocondoneitsfrailtieswhichThackeraywillneverstrike。"ToothersitseemsthatThackeraywaseternallystrikingthisnote:atthattimeinGeneralLambert，hiswife，anddaughters，nottospeakofothercharactersinTheVirginians。WhodoesnotcondonethefrailtiesofCaptainCostigan，andF。B。，andtheChevalierStrong？
　　Inanycase，Tennysontookhisowntime，hewas1858onlybeginningElaine。ThereisnodoubtthatTennysonwaseasilyprickedbyunsympatheticcriticism，evenfromthemostinsignificantsource，and，asheconfessed，hereceivedlittlepleasurefrompraise。Allauthors，withoutexception，aresensitive。Asturdierauthorwrotethathewouldsometimeshavebeengladtomeethisassailant"wherethemuir-cockwasbailie。"WeknowhowtestilyWordsworthrepliedindefencetothegentlestcommentsbyLamb。
　　TheMasterofBalliolkeptinsisting，"Astothecritics，theirpowerisnotreallygreat……Onedropofnaturalfeelinginpoetryorthetruestatementofasinglenewfactisalreadyfelttobeofmorevaluethanallthecriticsputtogether。"Yetevencriticsmaybeintheright，andofallgreatpoets，Tennysonlistenedmostobedientlytotheircensures，aswehaveseeninthecaseofhisearlypoems。
　　Hisprolongedsilencesaftertheattacksof1833and1855wereoccupiedinworkandreflection:Achilleswasnotmerelysulkinginhistent，assomeofhisfriendsseemtohavesupposed。Anepicinaseriesofepicidyllscannotbedashedofflikearomanticnovelinrhyme；andTennyson'smethodwasalwaysoneofwaitingformaturityofconceptionandexecution。
　　MrsTennyson，doubtlessbyherlord'sdesire，askedtheMasterthentutorofBallioltosuggestthemes。Oldagewassuggested，andistreatedinTheGrandmother。Othertopicswerenothandled。"Iholdmoststrongly，"saidtheMaster，"thatitisthedutyofeveryonewhohasthegoodfortunetoknowamanofgeniustodoanytriflingservicetheycantolightenhiswork。"TodoeveryserviceinhispowertoeverymanwastheMaster'slife-longpractice。Hewasnotmuchathome，hislettersshow，withBurns，towhomheseemstohaveattributedJohnAnderson，myjo，John，whilehetellsananecdoteofBurnscomposingTamo'Shanterwithemotionaltears，which，iftrueatall，istrueofthemakingofToMaryinHeaven。IfBurnsweptoverTamo'Shanter，thetearsmusthavebeentearsoflaughter。
　　ThefirstfourIdyllsoftheKingwerepreparedforpublicationinthespringof1859；whileTennysonwasatworkalsoonPelleasandEttarre，andtheTristramcycle。InautumnhewentonatourtoLisbonwithMrF。T。PalgraveandMrCraufurdGrove。Returning，hefelleagerlytoreadinganearlycopyofDarwin'sOriginofSpecies，thecrownofhisownearlyspeculationsonthetheoryofevolution。
　　"YourtheorydoesnotmakeagainstChristianity？"heaskedDarwinlater1868，whoreplied，"No，certainlynot。"ButDarwinhasstatedthewaveringsofhisownmindincontactwithatopictoohighforapriorireasoning，andonlytobeapproached，ifatall，onthestrengthofthescientificmethodappliedtofactswhichscience，sofar，neglects，ordenies，or"explainsaway，"ratherthanexplains。
　　TheIdylls，unlikeMaud，werewellreceivedbythepress，betterbythepublic，andbestofallbyfriendslikeThackeray，theDukeofArgyll，theMasterofBalliol，andClough，whileRuskinshowedsomereserve。TheletterfromThackerayIcannotdenymyselfthepleasureofcitingfromtheBiography:itwaswritten"inanardourofclaretandgratitude，"butpostedsomesixweekslater:-
　　FOLKESTONE，September。
　　36ONSLOWSQUARE，October。
　　MyDearOldAlfred，——Ioweyoualetterofhappinessandthanks。
　　Sir，aboutthreeweeksago，whenIwasillinbed，IreadtheIdyllsoftheKing，andIthought，"Oh，Imustwritetohimnow，forthispleasure，thisdelight，thissplendourofhappinesswhichIhavebeenenjoying。"ButIshouldhaveblottedthesheets，'tisillwritingonone'sback。Theletterfullofgratitudeneverwentasfarasthepost-office，andhowcomesitnow？
　　D'abord，abottleofclaret。Thelandlordofthehotelaskedmedowntothecellarandtreatedme。Thenafterwardssittinghere，anoldmagazine，Fraser'sMagazine，1850，andIcomeonapoemoutofThePrincesswhichsays，"IhearthehornsofElflandblowing，blowing，"——no，it's"thehornsofElflandfaintlyblowing"Ihavebeenintomybedroomtofetchmypenandithasmadethatblot，and，readingthelines，whichonlyonemanintheworldcouldwrite，I
　　thoughtabouttheotherhornsofElflandblowinginfullstrength，andArthuringoldarmour，andGuinevereingoldhair，andallthoseknightsandheroesandbeautiesandpurplelandscapesandmistygraylakesinwhichyouhavemademelive。Theyseemlikefactstome，sinceaboutthreeweeksagothreeweeksoramonthwasit？whenI
　　readthebook。Itisonthetableyonder，andIdon'tlike，somehow，todisturbit，butthedelightandgratitude!YouhavemademeashappyasIwasasachildwiththeArabianNights，——everystepIhavewalkedinElflandhasbeenasortofParadisetome。ThelandlordgaveTWObottlesofhisclaretandIthinkIdrankthemostandhereIhavebeenlyingbackinthechairandthinkingofthosedelightfulIdylls，mythoughtsbeingturnedtoyou:whatcouldIdobutbegratefultothatsurprisinggeniuswhichhasmademesohappy？DoyouunderstandthatwhatImeanisalltrue，andthatIshouldbreakoutwereyousittingoppositewithapipeinyourmouth？Goldandpurpleanddiamonds，Isay，gentlemen，andgloryandloveandhonour，andifyouhaven'tgivenmeallthesewhyshouldIbeinsuchanardourofgratitude？ButIhavehadoutofthatdearbookthegreatestdelightthathasevercometomesinceIwasayoungman；towriteandthinkaboutitmakesmealmostyoung，andthisIsupposeiswhatI'mdoing，likeanafter-dinnerspeech。
　　P。S——Ithoughtthe"Grandmother"quiteasfine。Howcanyouat50
　　bedoingthingsaswellasat35？
　　October16th——Ishouldthinksixweeksafterthewritingoftheabove。
　　Therhapsodyofgratitudewasneversent，andforapeculiarreason:
　　justaboutthetimeofwritingIcametoanarrangementwithSmith&
　　Eldertoedittheirnewmagazine，andtohaveacontributionfromT。
　　wasthepublishers'andeditor'shighestambition。Buttoaskamanforafavour，andtopraiseandbowdownbeforehiminthesamepage，seemedtobesolikehypocrisy，thatIheldmyhand，andleftthisnoteinmydesk，whereithasbeenlyingduringalittleFrench-
　　Italian-Swisstourwhichmygirlsandtheirpapahavebeenmaking。
　　MeanwhileS。E。&Co。havebeenmakingtheirownproposalstoyou，andyouhaverepliednotfavourably，Iamsorrytohear；butnowthereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldnothavemyhomages，andIamjustasthankfulfortheIdylls，andloveandadmirethemjustasmuch，asIdidtwomonthsagowhenIbegantowriteinthatardourofclaretandgratitude。Ifyoucan'twriteforusyoucan't。Ifyoucanbychancesomeday，andhelpanoldfriend，howpleasedandhappyI
　　shallbe!Thishowevermustbelefttofateandyourconvenience:I
　　don'tintendtogiveuphope，butacceptthegoodfortuneifitcomes。Iseeone，two，threequarterliesadvertisedto-day，asallbringinglaurelstolaureatus。Hewillnotrefusetheprivatetributeofanoldfriend，willhe？Youdon'tknowhowpleasedthegirlswereatKensingtont'otherdaytohearyouquotetheirfather'slittleverses，andhetooIdaresaywasnotdisgusted。Hesendsyouandyourshisverybestregardsinthismostheartfeltandartlessnoteofadmiration!
　　Alwaysyours，mydearAlfred，W。M。THACKERAY。
　　NaturallythislettergaveTennysonmorepleasurethanalltheconvertedcriticswiththeirfavourablereviews。TheDukeofArgyllannouncedtheconversionofMacaulay。TheMasterfoundElaine"thefairest，sweetest，purestlovepoemintheEnglishlanguage。"Astothewhole，"TheallegoryinthedistanceGREATLYSTRENGTHENS，ALSO
　　ELEVATES，THEMEANINGOFTHEPOEM。"
　　Ruskin，likesomeothercritics，felt"theartandfinishinthesepoemsalittlemorethanIliketofeelit。"YetGuinevereandElainehadbeenrapidlywrittenandlittlecorrected。Iconfesstotheopinionthatwhatamandoesmosteasilyis，asarule，whathedoesbest。Weknowthatthe"artandfinish"ofShakespearewerespontaneous，andsowerethoseofTennyson。Perfectioninartissometimesmoresuddenthanwethink，butthen"thelongpreparationforit，——thatunseengermination，THATiswhatweignoreandforget。"
　　Buthewiselykepthispiecesbyhimforalongtime，restudyingthemwithafresheye。The"unreality"ofthesubjectalsofailedtopleaseRuskin，asitisastumbling-blocktoothers。Hewantedpoemson"thelivingpresent，"athemenotselectedbyHomer，Shakespeare，Spenser，Milton，Virgil，ortheGreekdramatists，exceptamongsurvivingplaysinthePersaeofAEschylus。Thepoetwhocantransfigurethehotpresentisfortunate，butmost，andthegreatest，havevisitedthecoolquietpurlieusofthepast。
　　CHAPTERVII——THEIDYLLSOFTHEKING。
　　TheIdyllsmayprobablybebestconsideredintheirfinalshape:
　　theyarenotanepic，butaseriesofheroicidylliaofthesamegenreastheheroicidylliaofTheocritus。Hewrotelongafterthenaturalageofnationalepic，theageofHomer。HesawthelaterliteraryepicriseintheArgonauticaofApolloniusRhodius，apoemwithmanybeauties，ifratheranarchaisticandelaboraterevivalasawhole。Thetimeforlongnarrativepoems，Theocritusappearstohavethought，waspast，andheonlyventuredontheheroicidylliaofHeracles，andcertainadventuresoftheArgonauts。Tennyson，too，fromthefirstbelievedthathispiecesoughttobeshort。
　　Therefore，thoughhehadaconceptionofhisworkasawhole，aconceptionlongmusedon，andsketchedinvariouslights，heproducednoepic，onlyaseriesofepicidyllia。Hehadaspiritualconception，"anallegoryinthedistance，"anallegorynottobeinsistedupon，thoughitspresencewastobefelt。Nolonger，asinyouth，didTennysonintendMerlintosymbolise"thescepticalunderstanding"asifonewereto"breakintoblankthegospelof"
　　HerrKant，orpoorGuineveretostandfortheBlessedReformation，ortheTableRoundforLiberalInstitutions。MercifullyTennysonneveractuallyallegorisedArthurinthatfashion。LaterhethoughtofamusicalmasqueofArthur，andsketchedascenario。FinallyTennysondroppedboththeallegoryofLiberalprinciplesandthemusicalmasqueinfavouroftheseriesofheroicidylls。Therewasonlya"parabolicdrift"intheintention。"ThereisnosinglefactorincidentintheIdylls，howeverseeminglymystical，whichcannotbeexplainedwithoutanymysteryorallegorywhatever。TheIdyllsoughttobereadandtherightreadersneverdreamofdoinganythingelseasromanticpoems，justlikeBrowning'sChildeRoland，inwhichthewrongreadersthemembersoftheBrowningSocietysoughtformysticmountainsandmarvels。YetTennysonhadhisowninterpretation，"adreamofmancomingintopracticallifeandruinedbyonesin。"Thatwashis"interpretation，"or"allegoryinthedistance。"
　　PeoplemaybeheardobjectingtothesuggestionofanyspiritualinterpretationoftheArthurlegends，andeventotheexistenceofelementarymoralityamongtheArthurianknightsandladies。Thereseemstobeanotionthat"boldbawdryandopenmanslaughter，"asRogerAschamsaid，arethestapleofTennyson'ssources，whetherinthemediaevalFrench，theWelsh，orinMalory'scompilation，chieflyfromFrenchsources。Tennysonisaccusedof"Bowdlerising"these，andofintroducinggentleness，courtesy，andconscienceintoaliteraturewheresuchqualitieswereunknown。Imustconfessmyselfignorantofanyearlyandpopular，or"primitive"literature，inwhichhumanvirtues，andthehumanconscience，donotplaytheirpart。ThosewhoobjecttoTennyson'shandlingofthegreatArthuriancycle，onthegroundthatheistoorefinedandtoomoral，musteitherneverhavereadormustlonghaveforgottenevenMalory'sromance。Thusweread，inarecentnovel，thatLancelotwasanhommeauxbonnesfortunes，whereasLancelotwasthemostloyaloflovers。
　　Amongothercritics，MrHarrisonhasobjectedthattheArthurianworldofTennyson"isnotquiteanidealworld。Thereinliesthedifficulty。Thescene，thoughnotofcoursehistoric，hascertainhistoricsuggestionsandcharacters。"Itisnotapparentwhothehistoriccharactersare，fortherealArthurisbutahistoricphantasm。"Butthen，inthemidstofsomuchrealism，theknights，fromArthurdownwards，talkandactinwayswithwhichwearefamiliarinmodernethicalandpsychologicalnovels，butwhichareasimpossibleinrealmediaevalknightsasaBengaltigeroraPolarbearwouldbeinadrawing-room。"Iconfesstolittleacquaintancewithmodernethicalnovels；butrealmediaevalknights，andstillmoretheknightsofmediaevalromance，werecapableofveryethicalactions。Tohaltanarmyfortheprotectionandcomfortofalaundresswasahighlyethicalaction。PerhapsSirRedversBullerwoulddoit:Brucedid。MrHarrisonaccusestheladiesoftheIdyllsofsoul-bewilderingcasuistry，likethatofwomeninMiddlemarchorHelbeckofBannisdale。NowIamnotremindedbyGuinevere，andElaine，andEnid，ofladiesintheseethicalnovels。
　　ButthewomenofthemediaevalCoursd'Amourtheoriginalsfromwhomtheoldromancersdrewwerenothingifnotcasuists。"Spiritualdelicacy"astheyunderstooditwastheirdelight。
　　MrHarrisonevenarguesthatMalory'smenlivedhot-bloodedlivesinfiercetimes，"beforeanideahadarisenintheworldof'reverencingconscience，''leadingsweetlives，'"andsoon。Butheadmitsthattheyhad"fantasticidealsof'honour'and'love。'"Asto"fantastic，"thatisamatterofopinion，buttohaveidealsandtoliveinaccordancewiththemisto"reverenceconscience"，whichtheheroesoftheromancesaresaidbyMrHarrisonnevertohavehadanideaofdoing。Theyaredeniedeven"amiablewordsandcourtliness。"
　　Needonesaythatcourtlinessisthedominantnoteofmediaevalknights，inhistoryasinromance？WithdiscourtesyFroissartwould"headthecountofcrimes。"Afterabattle，hesays，ScotsknightsandEnglishwouldthankeachotherforagoodfight，"notliketheGermans。""Andnow，Idaresay，"saidMalory'sSirEctor，"thou，SirLancelot，wastthecurtiestknightthateverbareshield，……andthouwastthemeekestmanandthegentlestthateverateinhallamongladies。"ObserveSirLancelotinthedifficultpasswheretheLilyMaidoffersherlove:"Jesudefendme，forthenIrewardedyourfatherandyourbrotherfullevilfortheirgreatgoodness