The sun., 1892-10-07
Tennyson.

have had. we still have, other singers: but
to him was awarded with general consent
the pnlm Of paramount renown. No other
voice that spoke to us in verse commanded
so wide an audience, was listened to with
60 great eagerness. OF will DO remembered
with more affection.
Tho literary career OF TENNYsoN may
almost be said to have spnnncd the circuit
Of tho Victorian age, for. although 1t did
not quito touch the end. it opened before
tho beginning Of the reign Of tho present
Queen. Some sixty years have pusscd si;ce
Il slender volume OF poems introduced
young graduate Of Cambridge to tho Eng
lish-rcading world. Tho Offering fell upon
a time which had garuerel larger and ripper
fruit. There were giants In those days.
The master hand that had swept the chords
Of Scottish minstrcsy had not yet lost all
its original vigor. The lovers of CAMPBELL
had not surrendered their faith that the
Pleasures OF Hope" and the story
of "Gertrudo OF Wyoming" were but
n prelude to loitier strains. BYRON. in
deed. was dead. but his fame. although it
had passed it's zenith. still shone the bright
est in the armament. SHELLEY had pre-
ceded him to the grave. but the reputation
CT that consummate artist in melody was
growlng. and has not ceased to grow.
From the tomb Of KEATS mems eyes had
turned with regret and wonder to the bold
outline OF" Hyperion" and the rich shad
ows of est. Agnes Eve" CorERIDGE was
a wreck. but tho finger Of his Ancient
Mariner" pointed many a thoughtful gaze
toward the untlavclled country which
fringes the visible world. WoRDswoRTH's
voice had given loud and clear the signal Of
poetic reform. and all who were ready to
desert the outworn moulds OF classic
thought and classic imagery had begun to
close around his banner.
Into that circle Of splendid names no
youthful aspirant could win admittance
without challenge The conservative
temper OF CHRISTOPHER NORTH was pro-
voked by the cordial welcome given to the
newcomer in certain quarters to assume an
attitude Of repression that was. to say the
least. ungenerous. A more measured se-
verify would have been amply warranted.
He would have been bold prophet who in
1880. from "Claribel and tho "Mer-
maid." would have foretold the "Idylls
OF the King" TESNYsoN. indeed. ripened
slowly. His next volume. published
two years later. was enriched with tho
Lady OF Shalot.." the Lotus Eaters"
and the Palace Of Art" but many OF the
poems were di.figured by his earlier man
nerismS, and some discovered an affected
mysticism and llankering after novel ez-
preston that was not indicative OF health
or strength 1t was still an open question
whether tho great gifts Of which he had
offered tokens would be Furnished by pa
t!ent labor or after snme idle brandishirgs
rust in satisfied repose. Nor would lie have
been the first or the last for whom victory.
too early and lightly won. has mingled the
poppy with the laurel. A silence Of ten
years followed. ard it seemed probable that
another name must he added to those of
CAMPBELL and OF CoLEaIDGE un the roll Of
splendid disappointments.
But during th., long interval the poet had
not been idle. lIo had thought and he had
suffered. He hah learned much aud dis
carded much. On II sudden his treasu1 y
was opened. and tho fruits OF energy ard
discipline fell in glist.ning showers at the
feet Of II public which had almost forgotten
him. Tho "Morte dArthur." Dora"
Love and Duty" Ulysses" "LocksIey
Hall" Appealed in divers tones to charm
ed and astonished audience. BY one sweep
and with no feeble hand he planted his
standard in many and widely different
fields. The bright forecast OF lls college,
friends was justified; he had sprung at 3
| bound into the front rank o! living poets.
We pass over the Princess" which added
| little to his reputation. and reach 1850, u
cardinal point in his career. In that year
| it is Just To say that "Lycidas" and
"hdonais" were eclipsed by in Memo
RAM" This remarkable work. at once
| the noblest inouody and most impressive OF
| heart histories. interpreted the authors
| life and consolidated his fame. Maud"
came next. and morbid. incohcrent. struc-
turcless as IL wits. would have severely
| tried credit less firmly rooted. II mark
the single serious break in the progrce, OF
the authors mind. Meanwhile. not - few
of TENHYsoS's admirers had continued to
regard the "Morte d'Arthur" as the
strongest OF his productions. That frag,
ment was published In 1912. but it was moi
until 1859 that four kindred poems were
drawn from that Arrhurian romance which
had early haunted his fancy and was tc
chiefly employ the energies OF his ripcl
years. The "Idylls of the King" had many
successors. and the Last Tournament
completed the cycle.
Recalling the artistic capabilities o
which TENNysoN has given proof. one natu
rally begins with his power Of delineatinl
outward nature. In the simplicity ant
sincerity which mark his best work in this
direction wc recognize the stamp of The
true poet. lie satisfied the test OF RUsKIS
for he did not steep the landscape, whicl
he cndeavored to reproduce. in sentimen
Of his own. or ascrbe to it 4 fictitious sym
pathy with human moods and passions
No doubt SCOTT is the great modern maste
OF landscape drawing In verse. ,bu
| some passages OF rare excellence nigh