Andwhensheputherhorsetowardtheknight，Struckatherwithhiswhip，andshereturn'dIndignanttotheQueen；whereatGeraintExclaiming，'SurelyIwilllearnthename，'
　　Madesharplytothedwarf，andask'ditofhim，Whoanswer'dasbefore；andwhenthePrinceHadputhishorseinmotiontowardtheknight，Struckathimwithhiswhip，andcuthischeek。
　　ThePrince'sbloodspirteduponthescarf，Dyeingit；andhisquick，instinctivehandCaughtatthehilt，astoabolishhim:
　　Buthe，fromhisexceedingmanfulnessAndpurenobilityoftemperament，Wrothtobewrothatsuchaworm，refrain'dFromev'naword。"
　　Theself-restraintofGeraint，whodoesnotslaythedwarf，"FromhisexceedingmanfulnessAndpurenobilityoftemperament，"
　　mayappear"toopolite，"andtoomuchinaccordwiththestillundiscoveredideaof"leadingsweetlives。"However，theuninventedideadoesoccurintheWelshoriginal:"ThenGeraintputhishanduponthehiltofhissword，buthetookcounselwithhimself，andconsideredthatitwouldbenovengeanceforhimtoslaythedwarf，"
　　whilehealsoreflectsthathewouldbe"attackedunarmedbythearmedknight。"PerhapsTennysonmaybeblamedforomittingthisobviousmotiveforself-restraint。Geraintthereforefollowstheknightinhopeoffindingarms，andarrivesatthetownallbusywithpreparationsforthetournamentofthesparrow-hawk。Thiswasachallengesparrow-hawk:theknighthadwonittwice，andifhewonitthriceitwouldbehistokeep。Therest，inthetale，isexactlyfollowedintheIdyll。GeraintisentertainedbytheruinedYniol。
　　Theyouthbearsthe"costrel"fullof"goodpurchasedmead"theruinedEarlnotbrewingforhimself，andEnidcarriesthemanchetbreadinherveil，"old，andbeginningtobewornout。"AllTennyson'sownisthebeautifulpassage-
　　"Andwhilehewaitedinthecastlecourt，ThevoiceofEnid，Yniol'sdaughter，rangClearthro'theopencasementofthehall，Singing；andasthesweetvoiceofabird，Heardbythelanderinalonelyisle，MoveshimtothinkwhatkindofbirditisThatsingssodelicatelyclear，andmakeConjectureoftheplumageandtheform；
　　SothesweetvoiceofEnidmovedGeraint；
　　AndmadehimlikeamanabroadatmornWhenfirsttheliquidnotebelovedofmenComesflyingovermanyawindywaveToBritain，andinAprilsuddenlyBreaksfromacoppicegemm'dwithgreenandred，Andhesuspendshisconversewithafriend，Oritmaybethelabourofhishands，Tothinkorsay，'Thereisthenightingale'；
　　SofareditwithGeraint，whothoughtandsaid，'Here，byGod'sgrace，istheonevoiceforme。'"
　　Yniolfranklyadmitsinthetalethathewasinthewronginthequarrelwithhisnephew。Thepoet，however，giveshimtheright，asisnatural。ThecombatisexactlyfollowedintheIdyll，asisGeraint'sinsistenceincarryinghisbridetoCourtinherfadedsilks。Geraint，however，leavesCourtwithEnid，notbecauseofthescandalaboutLancelot，buttodohisdutyinhisowncountry。Hebecomesindolentanduxorious，andEniddeploreshisweakness，andawakeshissuspicions，thus:-
　　Andonemorninginthesummertimetheywereupontheircouch，andGeraintlayupontheedgeofit。AndEnidwaswithoutsleepintheapartmentwhichhadwindowsofglass。Andthesunshoneuponthecouch。Andtheclotheshadslippedfromoffhisarmsandhisbreast，andhewasasleep。Thenshegazeduponthemarvellousbeautyofhisappearance，andshesaid，"Alas，andamIthecausethatthesearmsandthisbreasthavelosttheirgloryandthewarlikefamewhichtheyoncesorichlyenjoyed!"Andasshesaidthis，thetearsdroppedfromhereyes，andtheyfelluponhisbreast。Andthetearssheshed，andthewordsshehadspoken，awokehim；andanotherthingcontributedtoawakenhim，andthatwastheideathatitwasnotinthinkingofhimthatshespokethus，butthatitwasbecauseshelovedsomeothermanmorethanhim，andthatshewishedforothersociety，andthereuponGeraintwastroubledinhismind，andhecalledhissquire；andwhenhecametohim，"Goquickly，"saidhe，"andpreparemyhorseandmyarms，andmakethemready。Anddothouarise，"saidhetoEnid，"andapparelthyself；andcausethyhorsetobeaccoutred，andclothetheeintheworstriding-dressthatthouhastinthypossession。Andevilbetideme，"saidhe，"ifthoureturnesthereuntilthouknowestwhetherIhavelostmystrengthsocompletelyasthoudidstsay。Andifitbeso，itwillthenbeeasyfortheetoseekthesocietythoudidstwishforofhimofwhomthouwastthinking。"Soshearose，andclothedherselfinhermeanestgarments。"Iknownothing，Lord，"saidshe，"ofthymeaning。"
　　"Neitherwiltthouknowatthistime，"saidhe。
　　"Atlast，itchancedthatonasummermornTheysleepingeachbyeitherthenewsunBeatthro'theblindlesscasementoftheroom，Andheatedthestrongwarriorinhisdreams；
　　Who，moving，castthecoverletaside，Andbaredtheknottedcolumnofhisthroat，Themassivesquareofhisheroicbreast，Andarmsonwhichthestandingmusclesloped，Asslopesawildbrooko'eralittlestone，Runningtoovehementlytobreakuponit。
　　AndEnidwokeandsatbesidethecouch，Admiringhim，andthoughtwithinherself，Wasevermansograndlymadeashe？
　　Then，likeashadow，pastthepeople'stalkAndaccusationofuxoriousnessAcrosshermind，andbowingoverhim，Lowtoherownheartpiteouslyshesaid:
　　'Onoblebreastandall-puissantarms，AmIthecause，IthepoorcausethatmenReproachyou，sayingallyourforceisgone？
　　IAMthecause，becauseIdarenotspeakAndtellhimwhatIthinkandwhattheysay。
　　AndyetIhatethatheshouldlingerhere；
　　Icannotlovemylordandnothisname。
　　FarlieferhadIgirdhisharnessonhim，Andridewithhimtobattleandstandby，AndwatchhismightfulhandstrikinggreatblowsAtcaitiffsandatwrongersoftheworld。
　　FarbetterwereIlaidinthedarkearth，Nothearinganymorehisnoblevoice，Nottobefoldedmoreinthesedeararms，Anddarken'dfromthehighlightinhiseyes，Thanthatmylordthro'meshouldsuffershame。
　　AmIsobold，andcouldIsostandby，Andseemydearlordwoundedinthestrife，Ormaybepiercedtodeathbeforemineeyes，AndyetnotdaretotellhimwhatIthink，Andhowmenslurhim，sayingallhisforceIsmeltedintomereeffeminacy？
　　Ome，IfearthatIamnotruewife。'
　　Halfinwardly，halfaudiblyshespoke，AndthestrongpassioninhermadeherweepTruetearsuponhisbroadandnakedbreast，Andtheseawokehim，andbygreatmischanceHeheardbutfragmentsofherlaterwords，Andthatshefear'dshewasnotatruewife。
　　Andthenhethought，'Inspiteofallmycare，Forallmypains，poorman，forallmypains，Sheisnotfaithfultome，andIseeherWeepingforsomegayknightinArthur'shall。'
　　Thentho'helovedandreverencedhertoomuchTodreamshecouldbeguiltyoffoulact，Rightthro'hismanfulbreastdartedthepangThatmakesaman，inthesweetfaceofherWhomhelovesmost，lonelyandmiserable。
　　Atthishehurl'dhishugelimbsoutofbed，Andshookhisdrowsysquireawakeandcried，'Mychargerandherpalfrey'；thentoher，'Iwillrideforthintothewilderness；
　　Fortho'itseemsmyspursareyettowin，Ihavenotfall'nsolowassomewouldwish。
　　Andthou，putonthyworstandmeanestdressAndridewithme。'AndEnidask'd，amazed，'IfEniderrs，letEnidlearnherfault。'
　　Buthe，'Ichargethee，asknot，butobey。'
　　Thenshebethoughtherofafadedsilk，Afadedmantleandafadedveil，Andmovingtowardacedarncabinet，WhereinshekeptthemfoldedreverentlyWithsprigsofsummerlaidbetweenthefolds，Shetookthem，andarray'dherselftherein，RememberingwhenfirsthecameonherDrestinthatdress，andhowhelovedherinit，Andallherfoolishfearsaboutthedress，Andallhisjourneytoher，ashimselfHadtoldher，andtheircomingtothecourt。"
　　Tennyson's"Armsonwhichthestandingmusclesloped，Asslopesawildbrooko'eralittlestone，Runningtoovehementlytobreakuponit，"
　　issuggestedperhapsbyTheocritus——"Themusclesonhisbrawnyarmsstoodoutlikeroundedrocksthatthewintertorrenthasrolledandwornsmooth，inthegreatswirlingstream"Idyllxxii。
　　Thesecondpartofthepoemfollowstheoriginallessclosely。ThusLimours，inthetale，isnotanoldsuitorofEnid；Edyrndoesnotappeartotherescue；certaincruelgames，veiledinamagicmist，occurinthetale，andareomittedbythepoet；"Gwyffertpetit，socalledbytheFranks，whomtheCymrycalltheLittleKing，"inthetale，isnotacharacterintheIdyll，and，generally，thegrossCelticexaggerationsofGeraint'sfeatsaretoneddownbyTennyson。
　　Inotherrespects，aswhenGerainteatsthemowers'dinner，thetalesuppliesthematerials。Butitdoesnotdwelltenderlyonthereconciliation。Thetaleismoreorlessintheveinof"patientGrizel，"andhewhotolditismoreconcernedwiththefightingthanwithamorisredintegratio，andthesufferingsofEnid。TheIdyllisenrichedwithmanybeautifulpicturesfromnature，suchasthis:-
　　"ButattheflashandmotionofthemanTheyvanish'dpanic-stricken，likeashoalOfdartingfish，thatonasummermornAdownthecrystaldykesatCamelotComeslippingo'ertheirshadowsonthesand，ButifamanwhostandsuponthebrinkButliftashininghandagainstthesun，ThereisnotleftthetwinkleofafinBetwixtthecressyisletswhiteinflower；
　　So，scaredbutatthemotionoftheman，FledallthebooncompanionsoftheEarl，Andlefthimlyinginthepublicway。"
　　InBalinandBalanTennysondisplaysgreatconstructivepower，andremarkableskillinmouldingthemostrecalcitrantmaterials。BalinorBalyn，accordingtoMrRhys，istheBelinusofGeoffreyofMonmouth，"whosenamerepresentstheCelticdivinitydescribedinLatinasApolloBelenusorBelinus。"{14}InGeoffrey，Belinus，euphemerised，orreducedfromgodtohero，hasabrother，Brennius，theCelticBran，KingofBritainfromCaithnesstotheHumber。
　　BelinusdrivesBranintoexile。"ThusitisseenthatBelinusorBalynwas，mythologicallyspeaking，thenaturalenemy"asApolloBelinus，theradiantgod"ofthedarkdivinityBranorBalan。"
　　Ifthisviewbecorrect，thetwobrothersanswertothegoodandbadprinciplesofmythslikethatoftheHuronIouskehatheSun，andAnatensictheMoon，orratherTaouiscaraandIouskeha，thehostilebrothers，BlackandWhite。{15}Thesemythicalbrethrenare，inMalory，twoknightsofNorthumberland，BalinthewildandBalan。
　　TheiradventuresaremixedupwithahostileLadyoftheLake，whomBalinslaysinArthur'spresence，withaswordwhichnonebutBalincandrawfromsheath；andwithanevilblack-facedknightGarlon，invisibleatwill，whomBalinslaysinthecastleoftheknight'sbrother，KingPellam。PursuedfromroomtoroombyPellam，BalinfindshimselfinachamberfullofrelicsofJosephofArimathea。
　　Thereheseizesaspear，theveryspearwithwhichtheRomansoldierpiercedthesideoftheCrucified，andwoundsPellam。Thecastlefallsinruins"throughthatdolorousstroke。"Pellambecomesthemaimedking，whocanonlybehealedbytheHolyGrail。ApparentlyCelticmythsofobscureantiquityhavebeenadaptedinFrance，andinterwovenwithfablesaboutJosephofArimatheaandChristianmysteries。Itisnotpossibleheretogointothecomplicatedlearningofthesubject。InMalory，Balin，afterdealingthedolorousstroke，borrowsastrangeshieldfromaknight，and，thusaccoutred，meetshisbrotherBalan，whodoesnotrecognisehim。Theyfight，bothdieandareburiedinonetomb，andGalahadlaterachievestheadventureofwinningBalin'ssword。"ThusendeththetaleofBalynandofBalan，twobrethrenborninNorthumberland，goodknights，"saysMalory，simply，andunconsciousofthestrangemythologicalmedleyunderthecoatarmourofromance。
　　Thematerials，then，seemedconfusedandobdurate，butTennysonworksthemintothecourseofthefatalloveofLancelotandGuinevere，andintothespiritualtextureoftheIdylls。BalinhasbeenexpelledfromCourtforthewildnessthatgiveshimhisname，BalinleSauvage。Hehadbuffetedasquireinhall。HeandBalanawaitallchallengersbesideawell。Arthurencountersanddismountsthem。
　　Balindevoteshimselftoself-conquest。ThencomestidingsthatPellam，ofoldleaguedwithLotagainstArthur，hastakentoreligion，collectsrelics，claimsdescentfromJosephofArimathea，andownsthesacredspearthatpiercedthesideofChrist。ButGarloniswithhim，theknightinvisible，whoappearstocomefromanIrishsource，oratleasthasaparallelinIrishlegend。ThisGarlonhasanunknightlywayofkillingmenbyviewlessblowsfromtherear。BalangoestoencounterGarlon。Balinremains，learningcourtesy，modellinghimselfonLancelot，andgainingleavetobearGuinevere'sCrownMatrimonialforhiscognisance，——which，ofcourse，Balandoesnotknow，-
　　"Asgoldenearnestofabetterlife。"
　　ButBalinseesreasontothinkthatLancelotandGuinevereloveeventoowell。
　　"Thenchanced，onemorning，thatSirBalinsatClose-bower'dinthatgardennighthehall。
　　Awalkofrosesranfromdoortodoor；
　　Awalkofliliescrostittothebower:
　　AnddownthatrangeofrosesthegreatQueenCamewithslowsteps，themorningonherface；
　　AndallinshadowfromthecounterdoorSirLancelotastomeether，thenatonce，Asifhesawnot，glancedaside，andpacedThelongwhitewalkofliliestowardthebower。
　　Follow'dtheQueen；SirBalinheardher'Prince，ArtthousolittleloyaltothyQueen，AspasswithoutgoodmorrowtothyQueen？'
　　TowhomSirLancelotwithhiseyesonearth，'FainwouldIstillbeloyaltotheQueen。'
　　'Yeaso，'shesaid，'butsotopassmeby-
　　Soloyalscarceisloyaltothyself，Whomallmenratethekingofcourtesy。
　　Letbe:yestand，fairlord，asinadream。'
　　ThenLancelotwithhishandamongtheflowers，'Yea——foradream。LastnightmethoughtIsawThatmaidenSaintwhostandswithlilyinhandInyondershrine。Allroundherprestthedark，AndallthelightuponhersilverfaceFlow'dfromthespirituallilythatsheheld。
　　Lo!theseheremblemsdrewmineeyes——away:
　　Forsee，howperfect-pure!AslightaflushAshardlytintstheblossomofthequinceWouldmartheircharmofstainlessmaidenhood。'
　　'Sweetertome，'shesaid，'thisgardenroseDeep-huedandmany-foldedsweeterstillThewild-woodhyacinthandthebloomofMay。
　　Prince，wehaveridd'nbeforeamongtheflowersInthosefairdays——notallascoolasthese，Tho'season-earlier。Artthousad？orsick？
　　OurnobleKingwillsendtheehisownleech-
　　Sick？orforanymatteranger'datme？'
　　ThenLancelotliftedhislargeeyes；theydweltDeep-trancedonhers，andcouldnotfall:herhueChangedathisgaze:soturningsidebysideTheypast，andBalinstartedfromhisbower。
　　'Queen？subject？butIseenotwhatIsee。
　　Damselandlover？hearnotwhatIhear。
　　Myfatherhathbegottenmeinhiswrath。
　　Isufferfromthethingsbeforeme，know，Learnnothing；amnotworthytobeknight；
　　Achurl，aclown!'andinhimgloomongloomDeepen'd:hesharplycaughthislanceandshield，Norstay'dtocravepermissionoftheKing，But，madforstrangeadventure，dash'daway。"
　　Balinis"disillusioned，"hisfaithintheIdealisshakenifnotshattered。Heridesatadventure。Arrivingatthehalf-ruinedcastleofPellam，thatdubiousdevotee，hehearsGarloninsultGuinevere，butrestrainshimself。Nextday，againinsultedforbearing"thecrownscandalous"onhisshield，hestrikesGarlondown，ispursued，seizesthesacredspear，andescapes。Vivienmeetshiminthewoods，dropsscandalinhisears，andsomaddenshimthathedefaceshisshieldwiththecrownofGuinevere。Hersong，andherwords，"ThisfireofHeaven，Thisoldsun-worship，boy，willriseagain，Andbeatthecrosstoearth，andbreaktheKingAndallhisTable，"
　　mightbeforcedintoanallegoryoftherevivedprideoflife，attheRenaissanceandafter。ThemaddenedyellsofBalinstriketheearofBalan，whothinkshehasmetthefoulknightGarlon，that"TramplesonthegoodlyshieldtoshowHisloathingofourOrderandtheQueen。"
　　Theyfight，fatallywound，andfinallyrecogniseeachother:BalantryingtorestoreBalin'sfaithinGuinevere，whoismerelyslanderedbyGarlonandVivien。Balinacknowledgesthathiswildnesshasbeentheircommonbane，andtheydie，"eitherlockedineither'sarms。"
　　ThereisnothinginMalory，norinanyothersource，sofarasIamaware，whichsuggestedtoTennysontheclouofthesituation——theuseofGuinevere'scrownasacognisancebyBalin。ThisdeviceenablesthepoettoweavetheratherconfusedandunintelligibleadventuresofBalinandBalanintothescheme，andtomakeitastageintheprogressofhisfable。ThatBalinwasrecklessandwildMalorybearswitness，buthisendeavourstoconquerhimselfandreachtheidealsetbyLancelotareTennyson'saddition，withallthetragedyofBalin'sdisenchantmentanddespair。ThestrangefantastichouseofPellam，fullofthemostsacredthings，"InwhichhescarcecouldspytheChristforSaints，"
　　yetshelteringthehumanfiendGarlon，issuppliedbyMalory，whosepredecessorsprobablyblendedmorethanonemythoftheoldCymryintotheromance，washedoverwithChristiancolouring。AsMalorytellsthispartofthetaleitisperhapsmorestrangeandeffectivethanintheIdyll。TheintroductionofVivienintothisadventureiswhollyduetoTennyson:herappearancehereleadsuptohertriumphinthepoemwhichfollows，MerlinandVivien。
　　ThenatureandoriginofMerlinaresomethingofamystery。HintsandrumoursofMerlin，asofArthur，streamfromhillandgraveasfarnorthasTweedside。Ifhewasahistoricalperson，mythsofmagicmightcrystalliseroundhim，asroundVirgilinItaly。TheprocesswouldbetheeasierinacountrywherethepracticesofDruidrystilllingered，andrevivedaftertheretreatoftheRomans。
　　ThemediaevalromancersinventedalegendthatMerlinwasavirgin-
　　bornchildofSatan。InTennysonhemaybeguessedtorepresentthefabledesotericloreofoldreligions，withtheirvaguepantheisms，andsuchmagicasthetapasofBrahmaniclegends。Heiswisewithariddlingevasivewisdom:thebuilderofCamelot，theprophet，ashadowofDruidryclingingtotheChristianking。Hiswisdomcannotavailhim:ifhebeholds"hisownmischancewithaglassycountenance，"hecannotavoidhisshapenfate。HebecomesassottedofVivien，andgoesopen-eyedtohisdoom。
　　Theenchantress，Vivien，isoneofthatdubiouscompanyofLadiesoftheLake，nowfriendly，nowtreacherous。ProbablytheseladiesarethefairiesofpopularCeltictradition，takenupintothemoreelaboratepoetryofCymricliteratureandmediaevalromance。MrRhystracesVivien，orNimue，orNyneue，back，throughaseriesofpalaeographicchangesanderrors，toRhiannon，wifeofPwyll，akindofladyofthelakehethinks，buttheidentificationisnotverysatisfactory。Vivieniscertainly"oneofthedamselsofthelake"
　　inMalory，andthedamselsofthelakeseemtobelakefairies，withalltheirbeguilementsandstrangeunstableloves。"AndalwaysMerlinlayabouttheladytohavehermaidenhood，andshewaseverpassingwearyofhim，andfainwouldhavebeendeliveredofhim，forshewasafraidofhimbecausehewasadevil'sson……SobyhersubtleworkingshemadeMerlintogounderthatstonetoletherwitofthemarvelsthere，butshewroughtsothereforhimthathecameneveroutforallthecrafthecoulddo。AndsoshedepartedandleftMerlin。"ThesympathyofMaloryisnotwiththeenchanter。IntheIdylls，asfinallypublished，Vivienisbornonabattlefieldofdeath，withanatureperverted，andaninstinctivehatredofthegood。WhereforesheleavestheCourtofKingMarktomakemischiefinCamelot。Sheis，infact，theidealminx，acharacternotelsewheretreatedbyTennyson:-
　　"Shehatedalltheknights，andheardinthoughtTheirlavishcommentwhenhernamewasnamed。
　　Foronce，whenArthurwalkingallalone，VextatarumourissuedfromherselfOfsomecorruptioncreptamonghisknights，Hadmether，Vivien，beinggreetedfair，WouldfainhavewroughtuponhiscloudymoodWithreverenteyesmock-loyal，shakenvoice，Andflutter'dadoration，andatlastWithdarksweethintsofsomewhoprizedhimmoreThanwhoshouldprizehimmost；atwhichtheKingHadgazeduponherblanklyandgoneby:
　　Butonehadwatch'd，andhadnotheldhispeace:
　　ItmadethelaughterofanafternoonThatVivienshouldattempttheblamelessKing。
　　Andafterthat，shesetherselftogainHim，themostfamousmanofallthosetimes，Merlin，whoknewtherangeofalltheirarts，HadbuilttheKinghishavens，ships，andhalls，WasalsoBard，andknewthestarryheavens；
　　Thepeoplecall'dhimWizard；whomatfirstSheplay'daboutwithslightandsprightlytalk，Andvividsmiles，andfaintly-venom'dpointsOfslander，glancinghereandgrazingthere；
　　Andyieldingtohiskindliermoods，theSeerWouldwatchheratherpetulance，andplay，Ev'nwhentheyseem'dunloveable，andlaughAsthosethatwatchakitten；thushegrewTolerantofwhathehalfdisdain'd，andshe，Perceivingthatshewasbuthalfdisdain'd，Begantobreakhersportswithgraverfits，Turnredorpale，wouldoftenwhentheymetSighfully，orall-silentgazeuponhimWithsuchafixtdevotion，thattheoldman，Tho'doubtful，felttheflattery，andattimesWouldflatterhisownwishinageforlove，Andhalfbelievehertrue:forthusattimesHewaver'd；butthatotherclungtohim，Fixtinherwill，andsotheseasonswent。"
　　Vivienismodernenough——ifanytypeofcharacterismodern:atalleventsthereisnosuchBlancheAmoryofagirlintheoldlegendsandromances。IntheseMerlinfatiguestheladybyhislove；shelearnshisarts，andgetsridofhimasshecan。HisforebodingsintheIdyllcontainamagnificentimage:-
　　"Therelaysheallherlengthandkiss'dhisfeet，Asifindeepestreverenceandinlove。