alfred tennyson-第22节

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As　those　that　watch　a　kitten；　thus　he　grew
Tolerant　of　what　he　half　disdain'd；　and　she；
Perceiving　that　she　was　but　half　disdain'd；
Began　to　break　her　sports　with　graver　fits；
Turn　red　or　pale；　would　often　when　they　met
Sigh　fully；　or　all…silent　gaze　upon　him
With　such　a　fixt　devotion；　that　the　old　man；
Tho'　doubtful；　felt　the　flattery；　and　at　times
Would　flatter　his　own　wish　in　age　for　love；
And　half　believe　her　true：　　for　thus　at　times
He　waver'd；　but　that　other　clung　to　him；
Fixt　in　her　will；　and　so　the　seasons　went。〃


Vivien　is　modern　enoughif　any　type　of　character　is　modern：　　at　all
events　there　is　no　such　Blanche　Amory　of　a　girl　in　the　old　legends
and　romances。　　In　these　Merlin　fatigues　the　lady　by　his　love；　she
learns　his　arts；　and　gets　rid　of　him　as　she　can。　　His　forebodings　in
the　Idyll　contain　a　magnificent　image：…


　　　〃There　lay　she　all　her　length　and　kiss'd　his　feet；
As　if　in　deepest　reverence　and　in　love。
A　twist　of　gold　was　round　her　hair；　a　robe
Of　samite　without　price；　that　more　exprest
Than　hid　her；　clung　about　her　lissome　limbs；
In　colour　like　the　satin…shining　palm
On　sallows　in　the　windy　gleams　of　March：
And　while　she　kiss'd　them；　crying；　'Trample　me；
Dear　feet；　that　I　have　follow'd　thro'　the　world；
And　I　will　pay　you　worship；　tread　me　down
And　I　will　kiss　you　for　it'；　he　was　mute：
So　dark　a　forethought　roll'd　about　his　brain；
As　on　a　dull　day　in　an　Ocean　cave
The　blind　wave　feeling　round　his　long　sea…hall
In　silence。〃


We　think　of　the　blinded　Cyclops　groping　round　his　cave；　like　〃the
blind　wave　feeling　round　his　long　sea…hall。〃

The　richness；　the　many　shining　contrasts　and　immortal　lines　in
Vivien；　seem　almost　too　noble　for　a　subject　not　easily　redeemed；　and
the　picture　of　the　ideal　Court　lying　in　full　corruption。　　Next　to
Elaine；　Jowett　wrote　that　he　〃admired　Vivien　the　most　（the　naughty
one）；　which　seems　to　me　a　work　of　wonderful　power　and　skill。　　It　is
most　elegant　and　fanciful。　　I　am　not　surprised　at　your　Delilah
beguiling　the　wise　man；　she　is　quite　equal　to　it。〃　　The　dramatic
versatility　of　Tennyson's　genius；　his　power　of　creating　the　most
various　characters；　is　nowhere　better　displayed　than　in　the　contrast
between　the　Vivien　and　the　Elaine。　　Vivien　is　a　type；　her　adventure
is　of　a　nature；　which　he　has　not　elsewhere　handled。　　Thackeray；　who
admired　the　Idylls　so　enthusiastically；　might　have　recognised　in
Vivien　a　character　not　unlike　some　of　his　own；　as　dark　as　Becky
Sharp；　more　terrible　in　her　selfishness　than　that　Beatrix　Esmond　who
is　still　a　paragon；　and；　in　her　creator's　despite；　a　queen　of　hearts。
In　Elaine；　on　the　other　hand；　Tennyson　has　drawn　a　girl　so　innocently
passionate；　and　told　a　tale　of　love　that　never　found　his　earthly
close；　so　delicately　beautiful；　that　we　may　perhaps　place　this　Idyll
the　highest　of　his　poems　on　love；　and　reckon　it　the　gem　of　the
Idylls；　the　central　diamond　in　the　diamond　crown。　　Reading　Elaine
once　more；　after　an　interval　of　years；　one　is　captivated　by　its
grace；　its　pathos；　its　nobility。　　The　poet　had　touched　on　some
unidentified　form　of　the　story；　long　before；　in　The　Lady　of　Shalott。
That　poem　had　the　mystery　of　romance；　but；　in　human　interest；　could
not　compete　with　Elaine；　if　indeed　any　poem　of　Tennyson's　can　be
ranked　with　this　matchless　Idyll。

The　mere　invention；　and；　as　we　may　say；　charpentage；　are　of　the　first
order。　　The　materials　in　Malory；　though　beautiful；　are　simple；　and
left　a　field　for　the　poet's　invention。　｛16｝

Arthur；　with　the　Scots　and　Northern　knights；　means　to　encounter　all
comers　at　a　Whitsuntide　tourney。　　Guinevere　is　ill；　and　cannot　go　to
the　jousts；　while　Lancelot　makes　excuse　that　he　is　not　healed　of　a
wound。　　〃Wherefore　the　King　was　heavy　and　passing　wroth；　and　so　he
departed　towards　Winchester。〃　　The　Queen　then　blamed　Lancelot：
people　will　say　they　deceive　Arthur。　　〃Madame；〃　said　Sir　Lancelot；　〃I
allow　your　wit；　it　is　of　late　come　that　ye　were　wise。〃　　In　the　Idyll
Guinevere　speaks　as　if　their　early　loves　had　been　as　conspicuous　as；
according　to　George　Buchanan；　were　those　of　Queen　Mary　and　Bothwell。
Lancelot　will　go　to　the　tourney；　and；　despite　Guinevere's　warning；
will　take　part　against　Arthur　and　his　own　fierce　Northern　kinsmen。
He　rides　to　Astolat〃that　is；　Gylford〃where　Arthur　sees　him。　　He
borrows　the　blank　shield　of　〃Sir　Torre；〃　and　the　company　of　his
brother　Sir　Lavaine。　　Elaine　〃cast　such　a　love　unto　Sir　Lancelot　that
she　would　never　withdraw　her　love；　wherefore　she　died。〃　　At　her
prayer；　and　for　better　disguise　（as　he　had　never　worn　a　lady's
favour）；　Lancelot　carried　her　scarlet　pearl…embroidered　sleeve　in　his
helmet；　and　left　his　shield　in　Elaine's　keeping。　　The　tourney　passes
as　in　the　poem；　Gawain　recognising　Lancelot；　but　puzzled　by　the
favour　he　wears。　　The　wounded　Lancelot　〃thought　to　do　what　he　might
while　he　might　endure。〃　　When　he　is　offered　the　prize　he　is　so　sore
hurt　that　he　〃takes　no　force　of　no　honour。〃　　He　rides　into　a　wood；
where　Lavaine　draws　forth　the　spear。　　Lavaine　brings　Lancelot　to　the
hermit；　once　a　knight。　　〃I　have　seen　the　day；〃　says　the　hermit；　〃I
would　have　loved　him　the　worse；　because　he　was　against　my　lord；　King
Arthur；　for　some　time。　　I　was　one　of　the　fellowship　of　the　Round
Table；　but　I　thank　God　now　I　am　otherwise　disposed。〃　　Gawain；　seeking
the　wounded　knight；　comes　to　Astolat；　where　Elaine　declares　〃he　is
the　man　in　the　world　that　I　first　loved；　and　truly　he　is　the　last
that　ever　I　shall　love。〃　　Gawain；　on　seeing　the　shield；　tells　Elaine
that　the　wounded　knight　is　Lancelot；　and　she　goes　to　seek　him　and
Lavaine。　　Gawain　does　not　pay　court　to　Elaine；　nor　does　Arthur　rebuke
him；　as　in　the　poem。　　When　Guinevere　heard　that　Lancelot　bore　another
lady's　favour；　〃she　was　nigh　out　of　her　mind　for　wrath；〃　and
expressed　her　anger　to　Sir　Bors；　for　Gawain　had　spoken　of　the　maid　of
Astolat。　　Bors　tells　this　to　Lancelot；　who　is　tended　by　Elaine。
〃'But　I　well　see；'　said　Sir　Bors；　'by　her　diligence　about　you　that
she　loveth　you　entirely。'　　'That　me　repenteth；'　said　Sir　Lancelot。
Said　Sir　Bors；　'Sir；　she　is　not　the　first　that　hath　lost　her　pain
upon　you；　and　that　is　the　more　pity。'〃　　When　Lancelot　recovers；　and
returns　to　Astolat；　she　declares　her　love　with　the　frankness　of
ladies　in　mediaeval　romance。　　〃Have　mercy　upon　me　and　suffer　me　not
to　die　for　thy　love。〃　　Lancelot　replies　with　the　courtesy　and　the
offers　of　service　which　became　him。　　〃Of　all　this；〃　said　the　maiden；
〃I　will　none；　for　but　if　ye　will　wed　me；　or　be　my　paramour　at　the
least；　wit　you　well；　Sir　Lancelot；　my　good　days　are　done。〃

This　was　a　difficult　pass　for　the　poet；　living　in　other　days　of　other
manners。　　His　art　appears　in　the　turn　which　he　gives　to　Elaine's
declaration：…


　　　〃But　when　Sir　Lancelot's　deadly　hurt　was　whole；
To　Astolat　returning　rode　the　three。
There　morn　by　morn；　arraying　her　sweet　self
In　that　wherein　she　deem'd　she　look'd　her　best；
She　came　before　Sir　Lancelot；　for　she　thought
'If　I　be　loved；　these　are　my　festal　robes；
If　not；　the　victim's　flowers　before　he　fall。'
And　Lancelot　ever　prest　upon　the　maid
That　she　should　ask　some　goodly　gift　of　him
For　her　own　self　or　hers；　'and　do　not　shun
To　speak　the　wish　most　near　to　your　true　heart；
Such　service　have　ye　done　me；　that　I　make
My　will　of　yours；　and　Prince　and　Lord　am　I
In　mine　own　land；　and　what　I　will　I　can。'
Then　like　a　ghost　she　lifted　up　her　face；
But　like　a　ghost　without　the　power　to　speak。
And　Lancelot　saw　that　she　withheld　her　wish；
And　bode　among　them　yet　a　little　space
Till　he　should　learn　it；　and　one　morn　it　chanced
He　found　her　in　among　the　garden　yews；
And　said；　'Delay　no　longer；　speak　your　wish；
Seeing　I　go　to…day'：　　then　out　she　brake：
'Going？　and　we　shall　never　see　you　more。
And　I　must　die　for　want　of　one　bold　word。'
'Speak：　　that　I　live　to　hear；'　he　said；　'is　yours。'
Then　suddenly　and　passionately　she　spoke：
'I　have　gone　mad。　　I　love　you：　　let　me　die。'
'Ah；　sister；'　answer'd　Lancelot；　'what　is　this？'
And　innocently　extending　her　white　arms；
'Your　love；'　she　said；　'your　loveto　be　your　wife。'
And　Lancelot　answer'd；　'Had　I　chosen　to　wed；
I　had　been　wedded　earlier；　sweet　Elaine：
But　now　there　never　will　be　wife　of　mine。'
'No；　no'　she　cried；　'I　care　not　to　be　wife；
But　to　be　with　you　still；　to　see　your　face；
To　serve　you；　and　to　follow　you　thro'　the　world。'
And　Lancelot　answer'd；　'Nay；　the　world；　the　world；
All　ear　and　eye；　with　such　a　stupid　heart
To　interpret　ear　and　eye；　and　such　a　tongue
To　blare　its　own　interpretationnay；
Full　ill　then　should　I　quit　your　brother's　love；
And　your　good　father's　kindness。'　　And　she　said；
'Not　to　be　with　you；　not　to　see　your　face　…
Alas　for　me　then；　my　good　days　are　done。'〃


So　she　dies；　and　is　borne　down　Thames　to　London；　the　fairest　corpse；
〃and　she　lay　as　though　she　had　smiled。〃　　Her　letter　is　read。　　〃Ye
might　have　showed　her；〃　said　the　Queen；　〃some　courtesy　and　gentleness
that　might　have　preserved　her　life；〃　and　so　the　two　are　reconciled。

Such；　in　brief；　is　the　tender　old　tale　of　true　love；　with　the　shining
courtesy　of　Lavaine　and　the　father　of　the　maid；　who　speak　no　word　of
anger　against　Lancelot。　　〃For　since　first　I　saw　my　lord；　Sir
Lancelot；〃　says　Lavaine；