第8章

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，itchancedthatonasummermorn(Theysleepingeachbyeither)thenewsunBeatthro\'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。