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