Butbecause，fairdamsel，thatyelovemeasyesayyedo，Iwill，foryourgoodwillandkindness，showyousomegoodness，……andalwayswhileIlivetobeyourtrueknight。"Hereare"amiablewordsandcourtesy。"IcannotagreewithMrHarrisonthatMalory'sbookismerely"afiercelustyepic。"Thatwasnottheopinionofitsprinterandpublisher，Caxton。Heproduceditasanexampleof"thegentleandvirtuousdeedsthatsomeknightsusedinthesedays，……
nobleandrenownedactsofhumanity，gentleness，andchivalry。Forhereinmaybeseennoblechivalry，courtesy，humanity，friendliness，love，cowardice，murder，hate，virtue，andsin。Doafterthegoodandleavetheevil。"
Inreactionagainstthebold-facedheroinesandsensualamoursofsomeoftheoldFrenchromances，anidealofexaggeratedasceticism，ofstainlesschastity，notoriouslypervadestheportionofMalory'sworkwhichdealswiththeHolyGrail。Lancelotisdistraughtwhenhefindsthat，bydintofenchantment，hehasbeenmadefalsetoGuinevereBookXI。chap。viii。AfterhisdreamingvisionoftheHolyGrail，withthereproachfulVoice，SirLancelotsaid，"Mysinandmywickednesshavebroughtmegreatdishonour，……andnowI
seeandunderstandthatmyoldsinhinderethandshamethme。"Hewashuman，theLancelotofMalory，and"felltohisoldloveagain，"withaheavyheart，andwithlongpenanceattheend。Howsuchgoodknightscanbedeemedconsciencelessandvoidofcourtesyoneknowsnot，exceptbyasurvivalofthePuritanismofAscham。ButTennysonfoundinthebookwhatisinthebook——honour，conscience，courtesy，andthehero-
"Whosehonourrootedindishonourstood，Andfaithunfaithfulkepthimfalselytrue。"
Malory'sbook，whichwasTennyson'schiefsource，endsbybeingthetragedyoftheconscienceofLancelot。Arthurisdead，or"InAvalonhegrowethold。"TheQueenandLancelotmightsing，asLennoxreportsthatQueenMarydidafterDarnley'smurder-
"WeelismeForIamfree。"
"Whytooktheynottheirpastime？"Becauseconscienceforbade，andGuineveresendsherloverfarfromher，andbothdieinreligion。
ThusMalory's"fiercelustyepic"isneithersolustynorsofiercebutthatitgivesTennysonhiskeynote:thesinthatbreaksthefaircompanionship，andisbitterlyrepented。
"Theknightsarealmosttoopolitetokilleachother，"thecriticurges。InMalorytheyaresometimesquitetoopolitetokilleachother。SirDarrashasablood-feudagainstSirTristram，andSirTristramisinhisdungeon。SirDarrassaid，"WityewellthatSirDarrasshallneverdestroysuchanobleknightasthouartinprison，howbeitthatthouhastslainthreeofmysons，wherebyIwasgreatlyaggrieved。Butnowshaltthougoandthyfellows……Allthatyedid，"saidSirDarras，"wasbyforceofknighthood，andthatwasthecauseIwouldnotputyoutodeath"BookIX。chap。xl。
Tennysonisaccusedof"emasculatingthefiercelustyepicintoamorallesson，asifitweretobeperformedinadrawing-roombyanacademyofyoungladies"——presidedover，Idaresay，by"Anglicanclergymen。"IknownothowanyonewhohasreadtheMorted'ArthurcanblameTennysoninthematter。LetMaloryandhissourcesbeblamed，iftobemoralistobeculpable。Afewpassagesapart，thereisnocoarsenessinMalory；thatthereareconscience，courtesy，"sweetlives，""keepingdownthebaseinman，""amiablewords，"andallthatTennysongives，and，inMrHarrison'stheory，giveswithoutauthorityintheromance，myquotationsfromMalorydemonstrate。Theyarechosenatacasualopeningofhisbook。Thatthere"hadnotarisenintheworld""theideaofreverencingconscience"beforethecloseofthefifteenthcenturyA。D。isanextraordinarystatementforacriticofhistorytooffer。
MrHarrisonmakeshisprotestbecause"intheconspiracyofsilenceintowhichTennyson'sjustfamehashypnotisedthecritics，itisbarehonestytoadmitdefects。"IthinkIamnothypnotised，andI
donotregardtheIdyllsasthecrownofTennyson'swork。Butitisnothis"defect"tohaveintroducedgenerosity，gentleness，conscience，andchastitywherenosuchthingsoccurinhissources。
TakeSirDarras:hispositionisthatofPriamwhenhemeetsAchilles，whoslewhissons，exceptthatPriamcomesasasuppliant；
SirDarrashasTristraminhishands，andmayslayhim。Heis"toopolite，"asMrHarrisonsays:heistoogoodaChristian，ortoogoodagentleman。OnewouldnothavegivenatripodforthelifeofAchilleshadhefallenintothehandsofPriam。Butbetween1200
B。C。orsoandthedateofMalory，newideasabout"livingsweetlives"hadarisen。Whereandwhendotheynotarise？ABritishpatrolfiredoncertainSwazisintimeoftruce。Theirlieutenant，whohadbeenabsentwhenthisoccurred，rodealonetothestrongholdoftheSwaziking，Sekukoeni，andgavehimselfup，expectingdeathbytorture。"Go，sir，"saidtheking；"wetooaregentlemen。"Theideaofa"sweetlife"ofhonourhaddawnedevenonSekukoeni:itlightsupMalory'sromance，andisreflectedinTennyson'sIdylls，doubtlesswithsomemodernismofexpression。
ThattheIdyllsrepresentnorealworldiscertain。ThatTennysonmodernisesandmoralisestoomuch，Iwillinglyadmit；whatIdenyisthatheintroducesgentleness，courtesy，andconsciencewherehissourceshavenone。Indeedthisisnotamatterofcriticalopinion，butofverifiablefact。AnyonecanreadMaloryandjudgeforhimself。ButtheworldinwhichtheIdyllsmovecouldnotbereal。
Formorethanathousandyearsdifferentraces，differentages，hadtakenholdoftheancientCelticlegendsandspiritualisedthemaftertheirownmanner，andmouldedthemtotheirownideals。TheremayhavebeenahistoricalArthur，ComesBritanniae，aftertheRomanwithdrawal。YeAmherawdyrArthur，"theEmperorArthur，"mayhavelivedandfought，andledtheBrythonstobattle。ButtheremayalsohavebeenaBrythonicdeity，orculturehero，ofthesame，orofasimilarname，andmythsabouthimmayhavebeenassignedtoarealArthur。Again，theArthuroftheoldWelshlegendswasbynomeanstheblamelessking——evenincomparativelylateFrenchromancesheisnotblameless。Buttheprocessofidealisinghimwenton:stillincompleteinMalory'scompilation，whereheisoftenratherotioseandfarfromroyal。Tennyson，forhispurpose，completedtheidealisation。
AstoGuinevere，shewasnotidealisedintheoldWelshrhyme-
"Guinevere，GiantOgurvan'sdaughter，Naughtyyoung，morenaughtylater。"
OfLancelot，andherpassionforhim，theoldWelshhasnothingtosay。ProbablyChretiendeTroyes，byahappyblunderormisconception，gaveLancelothisloveandhispre-eminentpart。
LancelotwasconfusedwithPeredur，andGuineverewiththeladyofwhomPeredurwasinquest。TheElainewhobecomesbyLancelotthemotherofGalahad"wasLancelot'srightfulconsort，asonerecognisesinhernamethatofElen，theEmpress，whomthestoryofPeredur"
Lancelot，bytheconfusion"givesthatherotowife。"ThesecondElaine，themaidofAstolat，isanotherrefractionfromtheoriginalElen。AstotheGrail，itmaybeaChristianisedrenderingofoneoranotherofthemagicalandmysticcaldronsofWelshorIrishlegend。
ThereisevenanapparentCelticsourceofthemysteriousfisherkingoftheGrailromance。{12}
AsketchoftheevolutionoftheArthurianlegendsmightrunthus:-
Sixthtoeighthcentury，growthofmythaboutanArthur，real，orsupposedtobereal。
Tenthcentury，theDuchiesofNormandyandBrittanyareincloserelations；bytheeleventhcenturyNormansknowCelticArthurianstories。
After，1066，NormansincontactwiththeCelticpeoplesofthisislandareintouchwiththeArthurtales。
1130-1145，worksonArthurianmatterbyGeoffreyofMonmouth。
1155，Wace'sFrenchtranslationofGeoffrey。
1150-1182，ChretiendeTroyeswritespoemsonArthuriantopics。
FrenchproseromancesonArthur，from，say，1180to1250。ThoseromancesreachWales，andmodify，intranslations，theoriginalWelshlegends，or，inpart，supplantthem。
Amplificationsandrecastingsarenumerous。In1485CaxtonpublishesMalory'sselectionsfromFrenchandEnglishsources，thewholebeingTennyson'smainsource，LeMortd'Arthur。{13}
ThustheArthurstories，originallyCeltic，originallyamassofsemi-paganlegend，myth，andmarchen，havebeenretoldandrehandledbyNorman，Englishman，andFrenchman，takingonnewhues，expressingnewideals——religious，chivalrous，andmoral。Anypoetmayworkhiswillonthem，andTennyson'swillwastoretainthechivalrouscourtesy，generosity，love，andasceticism，whiledimlyorbrightlyveilingorilluminatingthemwithhisownideals。Aftersomanyprocesses，fromfolk-taletomodernidyll，theArthurianworldcouldnotbereal，andrealitisnot。Camelotlies"outofspace，outoftime，"thoughthecolouringismainlythatofthelaterchivalry，and"thegleam"onthehuesispartlyderivedfromCelticfancyofvariousdates，andispartlyTennysonian。
AstheIdyllswerefinallyarranged，thefirst，TheComingofArthur，isaremarkableproofofTennyson'singenuityinconstruction。TalesaboutthebirthofArthurvaried。InMalory，UtherPendragon，theBretwaldainlaterphraseofBritain，besiegestheDukeofTintagil，whohasafairwife，Ygerne，inanothercastle。MerlinmagicallyputsonUthertheshapeofYgerne'shusband，andasherhusbandshereceiveshim。OnthatnightArthurisbegottenbyUther，andtheDukeofTintagil，hismother'shusband，isslaininasortie。
UtherwedsYgerne；bothrecogniseArthurastheirchild。However，bytheCelticcustomoffosteragetheinfantisintrustedtoSirEctorashisdalt，orfoster-child，andUtherfallsinbattle。Arthurislaterapprovenkingbytheadventureofdrawingfromthestonethemagicswordthatnootherkingcouldmove。ThisadventureanswerstoSigmund'sdrawingtheswordfromtheBranstock，intheVolsungaSaga，"Nowmenstandup，andnonewouldfainbethelasttolayhandtothesword，"apparentlystrickenintothepillarbyWoden。"Butnonewhocametheretomightavailtopullitout，forinnowisewoulditcomeawayhowsoevertheytuggedatit，butnowupcomesSigmund，KingVolsung'sson，andsetshandtothesword，andpullsitfromthestock，evenasifitlayloosebeforehim。"TheincidentintheArthurianasintheVolsungalegendisonaparwiththeGoldenBough，inthesixthbookoftheAEneid。Onlythepredestinedchampion，suchasAEneas，canpluck，orbreak，orcutthebough-
"IpsevolensfacilisquesequeturSitefatavocant。"
AllthisancientpopularelementintheArthurstoryisdisregardedbyTennyson。HedoesnotmakeUtherapproachYgerneinthesemblanceofherlord，asZeusapproachedAlcmenainthesemblanceofherhusband，Amphitryon。HeneglectstheotherancienttestoftheprovingofArthurbyhissuccessindrawingthesword。Thepoet'sobjectistoenfoldtheoriginandbirthofArthurinaspiritualmystery。ThisisdeftlyaccomplishedbyaidofthevariousversionsofthetalethatreachKingLeodogranwhenArthurseeksthehandofhisdaughterGuinevere，forArthur'stitletothecrownisstilldisputed，soLeodogranmakesinquiries。TheanswersfirstleaveitdubiouswhetherArthurissonofGorlois，husbandofYgerne，orofUther，whoslewGorloisandmarriedher:-
"Enforcedshewastowedhiminhertears。"
TheCelticcustomoffosterageisoverlooked，andMerlingivesthechildtoAnton，notasthecustomarydalt，buttopreservethebabefromdanger。QueenBellicentthentellsLeodogran，fromtheevidenceofBleys，Merlin'smasterinnecromancy，thestoryofArthur'smiraculousadvent。
"AnddownthewaveandintheflamewasborneAnakedbabe，androdetoMerlin'sfeet，Whostooptandcaughtthebabe，andcried'TheKing!
HereisanheirforUther!'"
ButMerlin，whenaskedbyBellicenttocorroboratethestatementofBleys，merely"Answer'dinriddlingtripletsofoldtime。"
Finally，Leodogran'sfaithisconfirmedbyavision。Thusdoubtfully，amidstrumourandportent，cloudandspirituallight，comesArthur:"fromthegreatdeep"hecomes，andinasstrangefashion，attheend，"tothegreatdeephegoes"——akingtobeacceptedinfaithorrejectedbydoubt。Arthurandhisidealareobjectsofbelief。Allgoeswellwhiletheknightsholdthat"TheKingwillfollowChrist，andwetheKing，InwhomhighGodhathbreathedasecretthing。"
InhistorywefindthesamesituationintheFranceof1429-
"TheKingwillfollowJeanne，andwetheKing。"
Whilethisfaithheld，allwentwell；whenthekingceasedtofollow，thespellwasbroken，——theMaidwasmartyred。InthissensethepoetconceivesthecomingofArthur，asigntobespokenagainst，atestofhighpurposes，abeliefredeemingandennoblingtillfaithfails，andthelittleriftwithinthelute，theloveofLancelotandGuinevere，makesdiscordofthemusic。Asmatteroflegend，itistobeunderstoodthatGuineveredidnotrecogniseArthurwhenfirstherodebelowherwindow-
"SinceheneitherworeonhelmorshieldThegoldensymbolofhiskinglihood。"
ButLancelotwassenttobringthebride-
"Andreturn'dAmongtheflowers，inMay，withGuinevere。"
Thentheirlonglovemayhavebegun，asinthestoryofTristramsenttobringYseulttobethebrideofKingMark。InMalory，however，LancelotdoesnotcomeonthescenetillafterArthur'sweddingandreturnfromhisconqueringexpeditiontoRome。ThenLancelotwinsrenown，"whereforeQueenGuineverehadhiminfavouraboveallotherknights；andincertainhelovedtheQueenagainaboveallotherladiesdamoselsofhislife。"Lancelot，aswehaveseen，ispracticallyaFrenchcreation，adoptedtoillustratethechivalroustheoryoflove，withitsbitterfruit。ThoughnotoftheoriginalCelticstockoflegend，SirLancelotmakestheromancewhatitis，anddrawsdownthetragedythatoriginallyturnedonthesinofArthurhimself，thesinthatgavebirthtothetraitorModred。Butthemediaevalromancersdisguisedthatformofthestory，andtheprocessofidealisingArthurreachedsuchheightsinthemiddleagesthatTennysonthoughthimselfatlibertytopainttheFlosRegum，"theblamelessKing。"HefollowedtheBrutabArthur。"Inshort，GodhasnotmadesinceAdamwas，themanmoreperfectthanArthur。"
ThisisremotefromtheArthuroftheoldestCelticlegends，butjustifiesthepoetinadaptingArthurtotheidealherooftheIdylls:-
"Idealmanhoodclosedinrealman，Ratherthanthatgreyking，whosename，aghost，Streamslikeacloud，man-shaped，frommountain-peak，Andcleavestocairnandcromlechstill；orhimOfGeoffrey'sbook，orhimofMalleor's，oneTouchedbytheadulterousfingerofatimeThathoveredbetweenwarandwantonness，Andcrowningsanddethronements。"
ThepoeticalbeautiesofTheComingofArthurexcelthoseofGarethandLynette。ThesonsofLotandBellicentseemtohavebeenoriginallyregardedastheincestuousoffspringofArthurandhissister，thewifeofKingLot。NextitwasrepresentedthatArthurwasignorantoftherelationship。MrRhyssupposesthatthemythicalscandalstillpresentinMaloryasasinofignorancearosefromblendingtheCelticArthurasCultureHerowithanolderdivinepersonage，suchasZeus，whomarrieshissisterHera。MarriagesofbrotherandsisterarefamiliarintheEgyptianroyalhouse，andthatoftheIncas。Butthepoethasaperfectrighttodisregardascandalousmythwhich，obviouslycrystallisedlateraboutthefigureofthemythicalCelticArthur，wasanincongruousaccretiontohislegend。Gareth，therefore，ismerelyArthur'snephew，notson，inthepoem，asareGawainandthetraitorModred。ThestoryseemstoberathermediaevalFrenchthanCeltic——aminglingofthespiritoffabliauandpopularfairytale。Thepoethasaddedtoitslightness，almostfrivolity，thedescriptionoftheunrealcityofCamelot，builttomusic，aswhen"Ilion，likeamist，roseintotowers。"
HehasalsobroughtintheallegoryofDeath，which，whenfaced，provestobe"abloomingboy"behindthemask。ThecourtesyandprowessofLancelotleaduptothelaterdevelopmentofhischaracter。
InTheMarriageofGeraint，arumourhasalreadyrisenaboutLancelotandtheQueen，darkeningtheCourt，andpresaging"Theworld'sloudwhisperbreakingintostorm。"
ForthisreasonGeraintremovesEnidfromCamelottohisownland——
thepoetthusearlyleadinguptothesinandthedoomofLancelot。
ButthismotivedoesnotoccurintheWelshstoryofEnidandGeraint，whichTennysonhasotherwisefollowedwithunwontedcloseness。ThetaleoccursinFrenchromancesinvariousforms，butitappearstohavereturned，bywayofFranceandcolouredwithFrenchinfluences，toWales，whereitisoneofthelaterMabinogion。
ThecharactersareCeltic，andNud，fatherofEdyrn，Geraint'sdefeatedantagonist，appearstoberecognisedbyMrRhysas"theCelticZeus。"ThemannersandthetournamentsareFrench。IntheWelshtaleGeraintandEnidarebeddedinArthur'sownchamber，whichseemstobeasymboliccommutationofthejusprimaenoctisacustomofwhichtheveryexistenceisdisputed。Thisunseemlyantiquariandetail，ofcourse，isomittedintheIdyll。
AnabstractoftheWelshtalewillshowhowcloselyTennysonherefollowshisoriginal。NewsisbroughtintoArthur'sCourtoftheappearanceofawhitestag。Thekingarrangesahunt，andGuinevereasksleavetogoandwatchthesport。Nextmorningshecannotbewakened，thoughthetaledoesnotaver，liketheIdyll，thatshewas"Lostinsweetdreams，anddreamingofherloveForLancelot。"
Guineverewakeslate，andridesthroughafordofUsktothehunt。
Geraintfollows，"agolden-hiltedswordwasathisside，andarobeandasurcoatofsatinwereuponhim，andtwoshoesofleatheruponhisfeet，andaroundhimwasascarfofbluepurple，ateachcornerofwhichwasagoldenapple":-
"ButGuineverelaylateintothemorn，Lostinsweetdreams，anddreamingofherloveForLancelot，andforgetfulofthehunt；
Butroseatlast，asinglemaidenwithher，Tookhorse，andfordedUsk，andgain'dthewood；
There，onalittleknollbesideit，stay'dWaitingtohearthehounds；butheardinsteadAsuddensoundofhoofs，forPrinceGeraint，Latealso，wearingneitherhunting-dressNorweapon，saveagolden-hiltedbrand，Camequicklyflashingthro'theshallowfordBehindthem，andsogallop'duptheknoll。
Apurplescarf，ateitherendwhereofThereswunganappleofthepurestgold，Sway'droundabouthim，ashegallop'dupTojointhem，glancinglikeadragon-flyInsummersuitandsilksofholiday。"
Theencounterwiththedwarf，thelady，andtheknightfollows。TheproseoftheMabinogimaybecomparedwiththeverseofTennyson:-
"Geraint，"saidGwenhwyvar，"knowestthouthenameofthattallknightyonder？""Iknowhimnot，"saidhe，"andthestrangearmourthathewearspreventsmyeitherseeinghisfaceorhisfeatures。"
"Go，maiden，"saidGwenhwyvar，"andaskthedwarfwhothatknightis。"Thenthemaidenwentuptothedwarf；andthedwarfwaitedforthemaiden，whenhesawhercomingtowardshim。Andthemaideninquiredofthedwarfwhotheknightwas。"Iwillnottellthee，"heanswered。"Sincethouartsochurlishasnottotellme，"saidshe，"Iwillaskhimhimself。""Thoushaltnotaskhim，bymyfaith，"
saidhe。"Wherefore？"saidshe。"BecausethouartnotofhonoursufficienttobefittheetospeaktomyLord。"Thenthemaidenturnedherhorse'sheadtowardstheknight，uponwhichthedwarfstruckherwiththewhipthatwasinhishandacrossthefaceandtheeyes，untilthebloodflowedforth。Andthemaiden，throughthehurtshereceivedfromtheblow，returnedtoGwenhwyvar，complainingofthepain。"Veryrudelyhasthedwarftreatedthee，"saidGeraint。
"Iwillgomyselftoknowwhotheknightis。""Go，"saidGwenhwyvar。
AndGeraintwentuptothedwarf。"Whoisyonderknight？"saidGeraint。"Iwillnottellthee，"saidthedwarf。"ThenwillIaskhimhimself，"saidhe。"Thatwiltthounot，bymyfaith，"saidthedwarf；"thouartnothonourableenoughtospeakwithmyLord。"SaidGeraint，"Ihavespokenwithmenofequalrankwithhim。"Andheturnedhishorse'sheadtowardstheknight；butthedwarfovertookhim，andstruckhimashehaddonethemaiden，sothatthebloodcolouredthescarfthatGeraintwore。ThenGeraintputhishanduponthehiltofhissword，buthetookcounselwithhimself，andconsideredthatitwouldbenovengeanceforhimtoslaythedwarf，andtobeattackedunarmedbythearmedknight，sohereturnedtowhereGwenhwyvarwas。
"Andwhiletheylisten'dforthedistanthunt，AndchieflyforthebayingofCavall，KingArthur'shoundofdeepestmouth，thererodeFullslowlybyaknight，lady，anddwarf；
Whereofthedwarflagg'dlatest，andtheknightHadvizorup，andshow'dayouthfulface，Imperious，andofhaughtiestlineaments。
AndGuinevere，notmindfulofhisfaceIntheKing'shall，desiredhisname，andsentHermaidentodemanditofthedwarf；
Whobeingvicious，oldandirritable，Anddoublingallhismaster'sviceofpride，Madeanswersharplythatsheshouldnotknow。
'ThenwillIaskitofhimself，'shesaid。
'Nay，bymyfaith，thoushaltnot，'criedthedwarf；
'Thouartnotworthyev'ntospeakofhim'；