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But he； 'I charge thee； ask not； but obey。'
Then she bethought her of a faded silk；
A faded mantle and a faded veil；
And moving toward a cedarn cabinet；
Wherein she kept them folded reverently
With sprigs of summer laid between the folds；
She took them； and array'd herself therein；
Remembering when first he came on her
Drest in that dress； and how he loved her in it；
And all her foolish fears about the dress；
And all his journey to her； as himself
Had told her； and their coming to the court。〃
Tennyson's
〃Arms on which the standing muscle sloped；
As slopes a wild brook o'er a little stone；
Running too vehemently to break upon it；〃
is suggested perhaps by Theocritus〃The muscles on his brawny arms
stood out like rounded rocks that the winter torrent has rolled and
worn smooth； in the great swirling stream〃 （Idyll xxii。）
The second part of the poem follows the original less closely。 Thus
Limours； in the tale； is not an old suitor of Enid； Edyrn does not
appear to the rescue； certain cruel games； veiled in a magic mist；
occur in the tale； and are omitted by the poet； 〃Gwyffert petit； so
called by the Franks； whom the Cymry call the Little King；〃 in the
tale； is not a character in the Idyll； and； generally； the gross
Celtic exaggerations of Geraint's feats are toned down by Tennyson。
In other respects； as when Geraint eats the mowers' dinner； the tale
supplies the materials。 But it does not dwell tenderly on the
reconciliation。 The tale is more or less in the vein of 〃patient
Grizel；〃 and he who told it is more concerned with the fighting than
with amoris redintegratio； and the sufferings of Enid。 The Idyll is
enriched with many beautiful pictures from nature； such as this：…
〃But at the flash and motion of the man
They vanish'd panic…stricken； like a shoal
Of darting fish； that on a summer morn
Adown the crystal dykes at Camelot
Come slipping o'er their shadows on the sand；
But if a man who stands upon the brink
But lift a shining hand against the sun；
There is not left the twinkle of a fin
Betwixt the cressy islets white in flower；
So； scared but at the motion of the man；
Fled all the boon companions of the Earl；
And left him lying in the public way。〃
In Balin and Balan Tennyson displays great constructive power； and
remarkable skill in moulding the most recalcitrant materials。 Balin
or Balyn； according to Mr Rhys； is the Belinus of Geoffrey of
Monmouth； 〃whose name represents the Celtic divinity described in
Latin as Apollo Belenus or Belinus。〃 ｛14｝ In Geoffrey； Belinus；
euphemerised； or reduced from god to hero； has a brother； Brennius；
the Celtic Bran； King of Britain from Caithness to the Humber。
Belinus drives Bran into exile。 〃Thus it is seen that Belinus or
Balyn was； mythologically speaking； the natural enemy〃 （as Apollo
Belinus； the radiant god） 〃of the dark divinity Bran or Balan。〃
If this view be correct； the two brothers answer to the good and bad
principles of myths like that of the Huron Iouskeha the Sun； and
Anatensic the Moon； or rather Taouiscara and Iouskeha； the hostile
brothers； Black and White。 ｛15｝ These mythical brethren are； in
Malory； two knights of Northumberland； Balin the wild and Balan。
Their adventures are mixed up with a hostile Lady of the Lake； whom
Balin slays in Arthur's presence； with a sword which none but Balin
can draw from sheath； and with an evil black…faced knight Garlon；
invisible at will； whom Balin slays in the castle of the knight's
brother； King Pellam。 Pursued from room to room by Pellam； Balin
finds himself in a chamber full of relics of Joseph of Arimathea。
There he seizes a spear； the very spear with which the Roman soldier
pierced the side of the Crucified； and wounds Pellam。 The castle
falls in ruins 〃through that dolorous stroke。〃 Pellam becomes the
maimed king； who can only be healed by the Holy Grail。 Apparently
Celtic myths of obscure antiquity have been adapted in France； and
interwoven with fables about Joseph of Arimathea and Christian
mysteries。 It is not possible here to go into the complicated
learning of the subject。 In Malory； Balin； after dealing the
dolorous stroke； borrows a strange shield from a knight； and； thus
accoutred； meets his brother Balan； who does not recognise him。 They
fight； both die and are buried in one tomb； and Galahad later
achieves the adventure of winning Balin's sword。 〃Thus endeth the
tale of Balyn and of Balan； two brethren born in Northumberland； good
knights；〃 says Malory； simply； and unconscious of the strange
mythological medley under the coat armour of romance。
The materials； then； seemed confused and obdurate； but Tennyson works
them into the course of the fatal love of Lancelot and Guinevere； and
into the spiritual texture of the Idylls。 Balin has been expelled
from Court for the wildness that gives him his name； Balin le
Sauvage。 He had buffeted a squire in hall。 He and Balan await all
challengers beside a well。 Arthur encounters and dismounts them。
Balin devotes himself to self…conquest。 Then comes tidings that
Pellam； of old leagued with Lot against Arthur； has taken to
religion； collects relics； claims descent from Joseph of Arimathea；
and owns the sacred spear that pierced the side of Christ。 But
Garlon is with him； the knight invisible； who appears to come from an
Irish source； or at least has a parallel in Irish legend。 This
Garlon has an unknightly way of killing men by viewless blows from
the rear。 Balan goes to encounter Garlon。 Balin remains； learning
courtesy； modelling himself on Lancelot； and gaining leave to bear
Guinevere's Crown Matrimonial for his cognisance；which； of course；
Balan does not know； …
〃As golden earnest of a better life。〃
But Balin sees reason to think that Lancelot and Guinevere love even
too well。
〃Then chanced； one morning； that Sir Balin sat
Close…bower'd in that garden nigh the hall。
A walk of roses ran from door to door；
A walk of lilies crost it to the bower：
And down that range of roses the great Queen
Came with slow steps； the morning on her face；
And all in shadow from the counter door
Sir Lancelot as to meet her； then at once；
As if he saw not； glanced aside； and paced
The long white walk of lilies toward the bower。
Follow'd the Queen； Sir Balin heard her 'Prince；
Art thou so little loyal to thy Queen；
As pass without good morrow to thy Queen？'
To whom Sir Lancelot with his eyes on earth；
'Fain would I still be loyal to the Queen。'
'Yea so；' she said； 'but so to pass me by …
So loyal scarce is loyal to thyself；
Whom all men rate the king of courtesy。
Let be： ye stand； fair lord； as in a dream。'
Then Lancelot with his hand among the flowers；
'Yeafor a dream。 Last night methought I saw
That maiden Saint who stands with lily in hand
In yonder shrine。 All round her prest the dark；
And all the light upon her silver face
Flow'd from the spiritual lily that she held。
Lo！ these her emblems drew mine eyesaway：
For see； how perfect…pure！ As light a flush
As hardly tints the blossom of the quince
Would mar their charm of stainless maidenhood。'
'Sweeter to me；' she said； 'this garden rose
Deep…hued and