wasnot"faint，"butstrengthenedwiththeyears。Therearesaidtohavebeenlesshopefulintervals。
Hisfaithis，ofcourse，noargumentforothers，——atleastitoughtnottobe。Weareallthecreaturesofourbias，ourenvironment，ourexperience，ouremotions。TheexperienceofTennysonwasunliketheexperienceofmostmen。Ityieldedhimsubjectivegroundsforbelief。He"openedapathuntomany，"likeYama，theVedicbeingwhodiscoveredthewaytodeath。ButTennyson'spathlednottodeath，buttolifespiritual，andtohope，andhedid"giveanewimpulsetothethoughtofhisage，"asothergreatpoetshavedone。Ofcourseitmaybeanimpulsetowrongthought。AsthephilosophicalAustralianblacksaid，"Weshallknowwhenwearedead。"
MrHarrisonarguesasif，unlikeTennyson，Byron，Wordsworth，Shelley，andBurnsproduced"originalideasfreshfromtheirownspirit，andnotderivedfromcontemporarythinkers。"Idonotknowwhatoriginalideasthesegreatpoetsdiscoveredandpromulgated；
theirideasseemtohavebeen"intheair。"Thesepoets"madethemcurrentcoin。"ShelleythoughtthatheowedmanyofhisideastoGodwin，acontemporarythinker。WordsworthhasadebttoPlato，athinkernotcontemporary。Burns'sdemocraticindependencewas"intheair，"andhadbeen，inScotland，sinceElderremarkedonitinalettertoInglesin1515。Itisnottheideas，itistheexpressionoftheideas，thatmarksthepoet。Tennyson'sideasarerelativelynovel，thoughasoldasPlotinus，fortheyareappliedtoanovel，oratleastanunfamiliar，mentalsituation。Doubtwasabroad，asitalwaysis；but，forperhapsthefirsttimesincePorphyrywrotehislettertoAbammon，thedoubtersdesiredtobelieve，andsaid，"Lord，helpThoumyunbelief。"Torobust，notsensitiveminds，verymuchinunitywiththemselves，theattitudeseemscontemptible，oratbestdecentlyfutile。YetIcannotthinkitbelowthedignityofmankind，consciousthatitisnotomniscient。ThepoetdoesfailinlogicInMemoriam，cxx。whenhesays-
"Lethim，thewisermanwhospringsHereafter，upfromchildhoodshapeHisactionlikethegreaterape，ButIwasBORNtootherthings。"
Iamnotwellacquaintedwiththehabitsofthegreaterape，butitwouldprobablybeunwise，andperhapsindecent，toimitatehim，evenif"wealsoarehisoffspring。"Wemightaswellreverttopolyandryandpaint，becauseourCelticorPictishancestors，ifwehadany，practisedtheoneandworetheother。However，petulancesliketheverseonthegreaterapearerareinInMemoriam。Todeclarethat"I
wouldnotstay"inlifeifscienceprovesustobe"cunningcastsinclay，"isbeneaththecourageoftheStoicalphilosophy。
Theologically，thepoemrepresentsthestrugglewithdoubtsandhopesandfears，whichhadbeenwithTennysonfromhisboyhood，asisprovedbythevolumeof1830。Butthedoubtshadexerted，probably，butlittleinfluenceonhishappinesstillthesuddenstrokeoflossmadelifeforatimeseemalmostunbearableunlessthedoubtsweresolved。TheyWEREsolved，orstoicallysetaside，intheUlysses，writteninthefreshnessofgrief，withtheconclusionthatwemustbe"StronginwillTostrive，toseek，tofind，andnottoyield。"
Butthegnawingofgrieftillitbecomesaphysicalpain，thefeverfitsofsorrow，theachingdesiderium，bringbackinmanyguisestheoldquestions。Theserequirenewattemptsatanswers，andareanswered，"thesadmechanicexercise"ofverseallayingthepain。
ThisisthegenesisofInMemoriam，notoriginallywrittenforpublicationbutproducedatlastasamonumenttofriendship，andasabookofconsolation。
Nobooksofconsolationcanconsoleexceptbysympathy；andinInMemoriamsympathyandreliefhavebeenfound，andwillbefound，bymany。Another，wefeel，hastroddenourdarkandstonypath，hasbeenshadowedbytheshapesofdreadwhichhauntourvalleyoftribulation:amindalmostinfinitelygreaterthanourshasbeenourfellow-sufferer。Hehasemergedfromthedarknessoftheshadowofdeathintothelight，whither，asitseemstous，wecanscarcelyhopetocome。Itisthesympathyandtheexample，Ithink，notthespeculations，mysticalorscientific，whichmakeInMemoriam，inmorethanname，abookofconsolation:eveninhoursofthesharpestdistress，whenitstechnicalbeautiesandwonderfulpicturesseemshadowyandunreal，liketheyellowsunshineandthewoodsofthatautumndaywhenamanlearnedthathisfriendwasdead。No，itwasnotthespeculationsandargumentsthatconsoledorencouragedus。
WedidnotlistentoTennysonastoMrFredericHarrison'sglorifiedAnglicanclergyman。Wecouldnotmurmur，liketheQueenoftheMay-
"Thatgoodman，theLaureate，hastoldtiswordsofpeace。"
Whatwevaluedwasthepoet'scompanionship。TherewasayoungreadertowhomAllalongtheValleycameasanewpoeminatimeofrecentsorrow。
"Thetwo-and-thirtyyearswereamistthatrollsaway，"
saidthesingerofInMemoriam，andinthathouritseemedasifnonecouldendurefortwo-and-thirtyyearsthecompanionshipofloss。Buttheyearshavegoneby，andhaveleft"EveryoungthefacethatdwellsWithreasoncloister'dinthebrain。"{10}
InthiswaytomanyInMemoriamisalmostalife-longcompanion:wewalkwithGreat-heartforourguidethroughthevalleyPerilous。
InthisrespectInMemoriamisunique，forneithertoitspraisenordispraiseisittobecomparedwiththeotherfamouselegiesoftheworld。Thesearebriefoutburstsofgrief——real，asinthehopelesswordsofCatullusoverhisbrother'stomb；oracademic，likeMilton'sLycidas。WearenottosupposethatMiltonwasheart-brokenbythedeathofyoungMrKing，orthatShelleywasgreatlydesolatedbythedeathofKeats，withwhomhispersonalrelationshadbeenslight，andofwhosepoetryhehadspokenevil。Hewasnoblystirredasapoetbyapoet'sdeath——likeMrSwinburnebythedeathofCharlesBaudelaire；butneitherShelleynorMrSwinburnewaslamentingdimidiumanimaesuae，ormourningforafriend"Dearasthemothertotheson，Morethanmybrothersaretome。"
ThepassionofInMemoriamispersonal，isacute，islife-long，andthusitdiffersfromtheotherelegies。Moreover，itcelebratesanobleobject，andthusisunliketheambiguousaffection，realordramatic，whichinformsthesonnetsofShakespeare。Sothepoemstandsalone，cloistered；notfierywithindignation，notbreakingintoactualprophecy，likeShelley'sAdonais；notcapable，byreasonevenofitsmeditativemetre，oftheorganmusicofLycidas。Yetitisnottobereckonedinferiortothesebecauseitsaimandplanareotherthantheirs。
Itisfarfrommypurposeto"class"Tennyson，ortodisputeabouthisrelativegreatnesswhencomparedwithWordsworthorByron，Coleridge，Shelley，orBurns。HeratedonesongofLovelaceaboveallhislyrics，and，infact，couldnomorehavewrittentheCavalier'sToAltheafromPrisonthanLovelacecouldhavewrittentheMorted'Arthur。"Itisnotreasonable，itisnotfair，"saysMrHarrison，aftercomparingInMemoriamwithLycidas，"tocompareTennysonwithMilton，"anditisnotreasonabletocompareTennysonwithanypoetwhatever。Criticismisnottheconstructionofaclasslist。ButwemayreasonablysaythatInMemoriamisanoblepoem，anoriginalpoem，apoemwhichstandsaloneinliterature。Thewonderfulbeauty，everfresh，howsoeveroftenread，ofmanystanzas，isnotdeniedbyanycritic。Themarvelisthatthesameserenecertaintyofartbroodsovereventhestanzaswhichmusthavebeenconceivedwhilethesorrowwasfresh。Thesecondpiece，"Oldyew，whichgraspestatthestones，"
musthavebeencomposedsoonafterthestrokefell。Yetitisasperfectastheproemof1849。Asarule，thepoeticalexpressionofstrongemotionappearsusuallytoclothethememoryofpassionwhenithasbeensoftenedbytime。Butherealready"therhythm，phrasing，andarticulationareentirelyfaultless，exquisitelyclear，melodious，andrare。"{11}Itweresuperfluouslabourtopointatspecialbeauties，attheexquisiterenderingofnature；andcopiouscommentariesexisttoexplainthecourseoftheargument，ifaseriesofmoodsistobecalledanargument。Onemaynotesuchapointasthatxiv。wherethepoetsaysthat，werehetomeethisfriendinlife，"Ishouldnotfeelittobestrange。"
Itmayhavehappenedtomanytomistake，forasectionofasecond，thefaceofastrangerforthefaceseenonlyindreams，andtofindthattherecognitionbringsnosurprise。
Piecesofacharacterapartfromtherest，andplacedinadesignedsequence，arexcii。，xciii。，xcv。Inthefirstthepoetsays-
"IfanyvisionshouldrevealThylikeness，ImightcountitvainAsbutthecankerofthebrain；
Yea，tho'itspakeandmadeappealTochanceswhereourlotswerecastTogetherinthedaysbehind，Imightbutsay，IhearawindOfmemorymurmuringthepast。
Yea，tho'itspakeandbaredtoviewAfactwithinthecomingyear；
Andtho'themonths，revolvingnear，Shouldprovethephantom-warningtrue，Theymightnotseemthyprophecies，Butspiritualpresentiments，AndsuchrefractionofeventsAsoftenriseseretheyrise。"
Theauthorthusshowshimselfdifficileastorecognisingthepersonalidentityofaphantasm；norisiteasytoseewhatmodeofprovinghisidentitywouldbelefttoaspirit。Thepoet，therefore，appealstosomeperhapslesssatisfactoryexperience:-
"Descend，andtouch，andenter；hearThewishtoostrongforwordstoname；
ThatinthisblindnessoftheframeMyGhostmayfeelthatthineisnear。"
ThethirdpoemisthecrownofInMemoriam，expressingalmostsuchthingsasarenotgiventomantoutter:-
Andallatonceitseem'datlastThelivingsoulwasflash'donmine，Andmineinthiswaswound，andwhirl'dAboutempyrealheightsofthought，Andcameonthatwhichis，andcaughtThedeeppulsationsoftheworld，AEonianmusicmeasuringoutThestepsofTime——theshocksofChance-
TheblowsofDeath。AtlengthmytranceWascancell'd，strickenthro'withdoubt。
Vaguewords!butah，howhardtoframeInmatter-mouldedformsofspeech，Orev'nforintellecttoreachThro'memorythatwhichIbecame。"
Experienceslikethis，subjective，andnotmatterforargument，werefamiliartoTennyson。Jowettsaid，"Hewasoneofthosewho，thoughnotanupholderofmiracles，thoughtthatthewondersofHeavenandEarthwereneverfarabsentfromus。"InTheMystic，Tennyson，whenalmostaboy，hadshownfamiliaritywithstrangepsychologicalandpsychicalconditions。Poemsofmuchlaterlifealsodealwiththese，and，moreorlessconsciously，hisphilosophywastinged，andhisconfidencethatwearemorethan"cunningcastsinclay"wasincreased，byphenomenaofexperience，whichcanonlybeevidenceforthemystichimself，ifevenforhim。Butthisdimaspectofhisphilosophy，ofcourse，is"totheGreeksfoolishness。"
Hiswasaphilosophyofhisown；notaphilosophyfordisciples，and"thosethateddyroundandround。"Itwasthesumofhisreflectiononthemassofhisimpressions。Ihaveshown，bytheaidofdates，thatitwasnotborrowedfromHuxley，MrStopfordBrooke，orthelateDukeofArgyll。But，nodoubt，manyoftheideaswere"intheair，"
andmusthavepresentedthemselvestomindsatonceofreligioustendency，andattractedbytheevolutionarytheorieswhichhadalwaysexistedasfloatingspeculations，tilltheyweremadecurrentcoinbythegeniusandpatientstudyofDarwin。ThatTennyson'sopinionsbetween1830and1840wereinfluencedbythoseofF。D。MauriceisreckonedprobablebyCanonAinger，authorofthenoticeofthepoetinTheDictionaryofNationalBiography。IntheLifeofMaurice，Tennysondoesnotappeartill1850，andthetwomenwerenotatCambridgetogether。ButMaurice'sideas，astheythenexisted，mayhavereachedTennysonorallythroughHallamandothermembersoftheTrinityset，whoknewpersonallytheauthorofLetterstoaQuaker。
However，thisisnoquestionofscientificpriority:tomyselfitseemsthatTennyson"beathismusicout"forhimself，asperhapsmostpeopledo。LikehisownSirPercivale，"Iknownotallhemeant。"
AmongtheopinionsastoInMemoriamcurrentatthetimeofitspublicationLordTennysonnoticesthoseofMauriceandRobertson。
They"thoughtthatthepoethadmadeadefinitesteptowardstheunificationofthehighestreligionandphilosophywiththeprogressivescienceoftheday。"Neithersciencenorreligionstandsstill；neitherstandsnowwhereitthendid。Conceivablytheyaretravellingonpathswhichwillultimatelycoincide；butthisopinion，ofcourse，mustseemfoolishnesstomostprofessorsofscience。
BishopWestcottwasatCambridgewhenthebookappeared:heisoneofMrHarrison'spossiblesourcesofTennyson'sideas。Herecognisedthepoet's"splendidfaithinthefaceofeverydifficultyinthegrowingpurposeofthesumoflife，andinthenobledestinyoftheindividualman。"TenyearslaterProfessorHenrySidgwick，amindsufficientlysceptical，foundinsomelinesofInMemoriam"theindestructibleandinalienableminimumoffaithwhichhumanitycannotgiveupbecauseitisnecessaryforlife；andwhichIknowthatI，atleastsofarasthemaninmeisdeeperthanthemethodicalthinker，cannotgiveup。"Butweknowthatmanypersonsnotonlydonotfindanirreducibleminimumoffaith"necessaryforlife，"butarehighlyindignantandcontemptuousifanyoneelseventurestosuggestthelogicalpossibilityofanyfaithatall。
Themassofmankindwillprobablyneverbeconvincedunbelievers——
nay，probablythebackwardorforwardswingofthependulumwilltouchmoreconvincedbelief。Buttherealwayshavebeen，sincetheRishisofIndiasang，superiorpersonswhobelieveinnothingnotmaterial——whateverthematerialmaybe。Tennysonwas，itissaid，"impatient"oftheseespritsforts，andtheyareimpatientofhim。
Itisanerrortobeimpatient:weknownotwhitherthelogosmayleadus，orlatergenerations；andweoughtnottobeirritatedwithothersbecauseitleadsthemintowhatwethinkthewrongpath。Itisunfortunatethataworkofart，likeInMemoriam，shouldarousetheologicaloranti-theologicalpassions。Thepoetonlyshowsusthepathsbywhichhismindtravelled:theymaynotbetherightpaths，norisiteasytotracethemonaphilosophicalchart。HeescapedfromDoubtingCastle。Othersmay"takethatforahermitage，"andbehappyenoughintheresidence。Wearealldeterminedbyourbias:
Tennyson'sisunconcealed。Hispoemisnotatract:itdoesnotaimattheconversionofpeoplewiththecontrarybias，itisirksome，inwritingaboutapoet，tobeobligedtodiscussaphilosophywhich，certainly，isnotstatedinthemannerofSpinoza，butismerelytheequilibriumofcontendingforcesinasinglemind。
ThemostfamousreviewofInMemoriamisthatwhichdeclaredthat"thesetouchinglinesevidentlycomefromthefullheartofthewidowofamilitaryman。"Thisisonlyequalled，ifequalled，byarecentcritiquewhichtreatedafresheditionofJaneEyreasanewnovel，"notwithoutpower，inparts，andshowingsomeknowledgeofYorkshirelocalcolour。"
CHAPTERVI——AFTERINMEMORIAM。
OnJune13Tennysonmarried，atShiplake，theobjectofhisold，long-tried，andconstantaffection。Themarriagewasstill"imprudent，"——eightyearsofthenuncontestedsupremacyinEnglishpoetryhadnotbroughtagoldenharvest。MrMoxonappearstohavesupplied300pounds"inadvanceofroyalties。"Thesum，socontemptibleintheeyesoffirst-ratemodernnovelists，wasacompetencetoTennyson，addedtohislittlepensionandtheepavesofhispatrimony。"ThepeaceofGodcameintomylifewhenImarriedher，"hesaidinlaterdays。Thepoetmadeacharmingcopyofversestohisfriend，theRev。MrRawnsley，whotiedtheknot，asheandhisbridedrovetothebeautifulvillageofPangbourne。ThencetheywenttothestatelyClevedonCourt，theseatofSirAbrahamElton，hardbythechurchwhereArthurHallamsleeps。Theplaceisveryancientandbeautiful，andwasafavouritehauntofThackeray。TheypassedontoLynton，andtoGlastonbury，whereacollateralancestorofMrsTennyson'sisburiedbesideKingArthur'sgrave，inthatgreenvalleyofAvilion，amongtheapple-blossoms。TheysettledforawhileatTentLodgeonConistonWater，inalandofhospitableMarshalls。
AftertheirreturntoLondon，onthenightofNovember18，TennysondreamedthatPrinceAlbertcameandkissedhim，andthathehimselfsaid，"Verykind，butveryGerman，"whichwasverylikehim。NextdayhereceivedfromWindsortheofferoftheLaureateship。Hedoubted，andhesitated，butaccepted。SinceWordsworth'sdeaththerehad，asusual，beenagooddealofbanterabouttheprobablenewLaureate:examplesofcompetitiveodesexistinBonGaultier。ThatbyTennysonisAnacreontic，buthewasnotreallysetonkissingtheMaidsofHonour，asheismadetosing。Rogershaddeclined，onthepleaofextremeoldage；butitwasworthyofthegreatandgoodQueennottooverlooktheNestorofEnglishpoets。Fortherest，theQueenlookedfor"anamebearingsuchdistinctionintheliteraryworldastodocredittotheappointment。"InthepreviouscenturythegreatpoetshadrarelybeenLaureates。ButsinceSirWalterScottdeclinedthebaysinfavourofSouthey，forwhom，again，thetaleofbricksinthewayofOdeswaslightened，andwhenWordsworthsucceededSouthey，theofficebecamehonourable。Tennysongaveitanincreaseofrenown，while，thoughinitselfofmerelynominalvalue，itservedhispoems，tospeakprofanely，asanadvertisement。Neweditionsofhisbookswereatonceindemand；whilefewreadershadeverheardofMrBrowning，alreadyhisfriend，andalreadyauthorofMenandWomen。
TheLaureateshipbroughtthepoetacquaintedwiththeQueen，whowastobehisdebtorinlaterdaysforencouragementandconsolation。TohisLaureateshipweowe，amongothergoodthings，thestatelyandmovingOdeontheDeathoftheDukeofWellington，asplendidheroicpiece，unappreciatedatthemoment。ButTennysonwas，ofcourse，noBirthdaypoet。SincetheexileoftheHouseofStuartourkingsinEnglandhavenotmaintainedtheoldfamiliaritywithmanyclassesoftheirsubjects。LiteraturehasnotbeenfashionableatCourt，andTennysoncouldinnoagehavebeenacourtier。Wehearthecomplaint，everynowandthen，thatofficialhonoursarenotconferredexcepttheLaureateshiponmenofletters。Butmostofthemprobablythinkitratherdistinguishednottobedecorated，ortocarrytitlesbornebymanydeservingpersonsunvisitedbytheMuses。Eventheappointmenttothebaysusuallyprovokesagreatdealofjealousandspitefulfeeling，whichwouldonlybemultipliedifofficialhonoursweredistributedamongmenofthepen。PerhapsTennyson'slaurelswerenotfornothinginthechorusofdispraisewhichgreetedtheOdeontheDukeofWellington，andMaud。
Theyear1851waschieflynotableforatourtoItaly，madeimmortalinthebeautifulpoemofTheDaisy，inameasureofthepoet'sowninvention。Thenextyear，followingontheCoupd'etatandtheriseofthenewFrenchempire，producedpatrioticappealstoBritonsto"guardtheirown，"whichtoagreatextentformeralienownershadbeenunsuccessfulinguardingfromBritons。TheTennysonshadlosttheirfirstchildathisbirth:perhapsheisrememberedinTheGrandmother，"thebabehadfoughtforhislife。"InAugust1852thepresentLordTennysonwasborn，andMrMauricewasaskedtobegodfather。TheWellingtonOdewasofNovember，andwasmetby"thealmostuniversaldepreciationofthepress，"——why，exceptbecause，asIhavejustsuggested，TennysonwasLaureate，itisimpossibletoimagine。Theverseswereworthyoftheoccasion:moretheycouldnotbe。
Intheautumnof1853thepoetvisitedArdtornishontheSoundofMull，abeautifulplaceendearedtohimwhonowwritesbytheearliestassociations。ItchancedtohimtopasshisholidaystherejustwhenTennysonandMrPalgravehadleft——"MrTinsmithandMrPancake，"asRoberttheboatman，averyblackCelt，calledthem。
Beingthennineyearsofage，Iheardofapoet'svisit，andasked，"Arealpoet，likeSirWalterScott？"withwhomIthensupposedthat"theMusehadgoneaway。""Oh，notlikeSirWalterScott，ofcourse，"mymothertoldme，withloyaltyunashamed。OnecanthinkofthepoetasMrsSellar，hishostess，describeshim，beneaththelimesoftheavenueatAcharn，planted，MrsSellarsays，byacousinofFloraMacdonald。Ihavebeentoldthattheladywhoplantedthelilies，ifnotthelimes，wasthefamedJacobite，MissJennieCameron，mentionedinTomJones。AnEnglishengravingof1746showsthePrincebetweenthesetwobeauties，FloraandJennie。
"Noone，"saysMrsSellar，"couldhavebeenmoreeasy，simple，anddelightful，"andindeeditisnomarvelthatinhersocietyandthatofherhusband，theGreekprofessor，andhercousin，MissCross，andinsuchscenes，"heblossomedoutinthemostgenialmanner，makingusallfeelasifhewereanoldfriend。"
InNovemberTennysontookahouseatFarringford，"asitwasbeautifulandfarfromthehauntsofmen。"Therehesettledtoacountryexistenceinthesocietyofhiswife，histwochildrenthesecond，Lionel，beingin1854thebaby，andtherehecomposedMaud，whilethesoundoftheguns，inpracticeforthewaroftheCrimea，boomedfromthecoast。InMayTennysonsawtheartists，ofschoolsoddlyvarious，whoillustratedhispoems。Millais，Rossetti，andHolmanHuntgavethetonetotheart，butMrHorsley，Creswick，andMulgravewerealsoengaged。WhileMaudwasbeingcomposedTennysonwroteTheChargeoftheLightBrigade；afamouspoem，notinamannerinwhichhewasborntoexcel——atleastinmypooropinion。"SomeoneHADblundered，"andthatlinewasthefirstfashionedandthekeynoteofthepoem；but，afterall，"blundered"isnotanexquisiterhymeto"hundred。"Thepoem，inanycase，wasmostwelcometoourarmyintheCrimea，andisaspiritedpieceforrecitation。
InJanuary1855Maudwasfinished；inAprilthepoetcopieditoutforthepress，andrefreshedhimselfbyreadingaverydifferentpoem，TheLadyoftheLake。Theauthor，SirWalter，hadsuffered，liketheheroofMaud，byanunhappyloveaffair，whichjustfaintlycoloursTheLadyoftheLakebyasingleallusion，inthedescriptionofFitz-James'sdreams:-
"Then，——frommycouchmayheavenlymightChasethatworstphantomofthenight!-
Againreturnedthescenesofyouth，Ofconfidentundoubtingtruth；
AgainhissoulheinterchangedWithfriendswhoseheartswerelongestranged。
Theycome，indimprocessionled，Thecold，thefaithless，andthedead；
Aswarmeachhand，eachbrowasgay，Asiftheypartedyesterday。
Anddoubtdistractshimattheview-
Oh，werehissensesfalseortrue？
Dreamedheofdeath，orbrokenvow，Orisitallavisionnow？"
WelearnfromLadyLouisaStuart，towhomScottreadtheselines，thattheyreferredtohislostlove。IcitethepassagebecausetheextremereticenceofScott，inhisundyingsorrow，isincontrastwithwhatTennyson，afterreadingTheLadyoftheLake，wasputtingintothemouthofhiscomplainingloverinMaud。
WehavenoreasontosupposethatTennysonhimselfhadevertobewailafaithlesslove。Tobesure，theheroofLocksleyHallisinthisattitude，butthenLocksleyHallisnotautobiographical。Lessdramaticandimpersonalinappearancearethestanzas-
"Comenot，whenIamdead，Todropthyfoolishtearsuponmygrave；"
and"Child，ifitwerethineerrororthycrimeIcarenolonger，beingallunblest。"
Nobiographertellsuswhetherthiswasapersonalcomplaintorameresetofversesonanimaginaryoccasion。InInMemoriamTennysonspeaksoutconcerningthelossofafriend。InMaud，asinLocksleyHall，hemakeshisherorevealtheagonycausedbythelossofamistress。Thereisnoreasontosupposethatthepoethadeveranysuchmischance，butmanyreadershavetakenLocksleyHallandMaudforautobiographicalrevelations，likeInMemoriam。Theyare，ontheotherhand，imaginativeanddramatic。Theyillustratethepangsofdisappointedloveofwoman，pangsmorecomplexandmoreranklingthanthoseinflictedbydeath。Ineachcase，however，thepoet，whohassungsonoblythehappinessoffortunateweddedloves，haschosenaherowithwhomwedonotreadilysympathise——aHamletinminiature，"Withaheartoffuriousfancies，"
asintheoldmadsong。Thischoice，thankstothepopularmisconception，didhimsomeharm。Asa"monodramaticIdyll，"aromanceinmanyrichlyricmeasures，Maudwasatfirstexcessivelyunpopular。"Tennyson'sMaudisTennyson'sMaudlin，"saidasatirist，and"morbid，""mad，""rampant，"and"rabidbloodthirstinessofsoul，"
wereamongtheamenitiesofcriticism。Tennysonhatedwar，buthishero，atleast，hopesthatnationalunioninanationalstrugglewillawakeanoblerthanthecommercialspirit。IntotherightsandwrongsofourquarrelwithRussiawearenottogo。Tennyson，rightlyorwrongly，tookthepartofhiscountry，andmust"tholethefeud"ofthosehigh-souledcitizenswhothinktheircountryalwaysinthewrong——asperhapsitveryfrequentlyis。Wearenottoexpectatranquilabsenceofbiasinthemidstofmilitaryexcitement，whenverylaudablesentimentsareapttomisguidemeninbothdirections。
Inanycase，politicalpartisanshipaddedtotheenemiesofthepoem，whichwasapplaudedbyHenryTaylor，Ruskin，GeorgeBrimley，andJowett，whileMrsBrowningsentconsolingwordsfromItaly。Thepoemremainedafavouritewiththeauthor，whochosepassagesfromitoften，whenpersuadedtoreadaloudbyfriends；andmoderncriticismhasnotfailedtoapplaudthesplendouroftheverseandthesubtletyofthemadscenes，thepassionofthelovelyrics。