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。