按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
intimate knowledge of the mechanical details necessary for the modern
stage； although in early and middle life he had been a constant
playgoer； and would keenly follow the action of a play； criticising
the characterisation； incidents； scenic effects； situations；
language； and dramatic points。〃 He was quite prepared to be 〃edited〃
for acting purposes by the players。 Miss Mary Anderson says that 〃he
was ready to sacrifice even his MOST beautiful lines for the sake of
a real dramatic effect。〃
This proved unusual common…sense in a poet。 Modern times and manners
are notoriously unfavourable to the serious drama。 In the age of the
Greek tragedians； as in the days of 〃Eliza and our James；〃 reading
was not very common； and life was much more passed in public than
among ourselves； when people go to the play for light recreation； or
to be shocked。 So various was the genius of Tennyson； that had he
devoted himself early to the stage； and had he been backed by a
manager with the enterprise and intelligence of Sir Henry Irving； it
is impossible to say how much he might have done to restore the
serious drama。 But we cannot regret that he was occupied in his
prime with other things； nor can we expect to find his noblest and
most enduring work in the dramatic experiments of his latest years。
It is notable that； in his opinion； 〃the conditions of the dramatic
art are much more complex than they were。〃 For example； we have 〃the
star system；〃 which tends to allot what is； or was； technically
styled 〃the fat；〃 to one or two popular players。 Now； a poet like
Tennyson will inevitably distribute large quantities of what is most
excellent to many characters； and the consequent difficulties may be
appreciated by students of our fallen nature。 The poet added that to
be a first…rate historical playwright means much more work than
formerly； seeing that 〃exact history〃 has taken the part of the
〃chance chronicle。〃
This is a misfortune。 The dramas of the Attic stage； with one or two
exceptions； are based on myth and legend； not on history； and even in
the Persae； grounded on contemporary events； AEschylus introduced the
ghost of Darius； not vouched for by 〃exact history。〃 Let us conceive
Shakespeare writing Macbeth in an age of 〃exact history。〃 Hardly any
of the play would be left。 Fleance and Banquo must go。 Duncan
becomes a young man； and far from 〃gracious。〃 Macbeth appears as the
defender of the legitimist prince； Lulach； against Duncan； a usurper。
Lady Macbeth is a pattern to her sex； and her lord is a clement and
sagacious ruler。 The witches are ruled out of the piece。
Difficulties arise about the English aid to Malcolm。 History； in
fact； declines to be dramatic。 Liberties must be taken。 In his
plays of the Mary Stuart cycle； Mr Swinburne telescopes the affair of
Darnley into that of Chastelard； which was much earlier。 He makes
Mary Beaton （in love with Chastelard） a kind of avenging fate； who
will never leave the Queen till her head falls at Fotheringay；
though； in fact； after a flirtation with Randolph； Mary Beaton
married Ogilvy of Boyne （really in love with Lady Bothwell）； and not
one of the four Maries was at Fotheringay。 An artist ought to be
allowed to follow legend； of its essence dramatic； or to manipulate
history as he pleases。 Our modern scrupulosity is pedantic。 But
Tennyson read a long list of books for his Queen Mary； though it does
not appear that he made original researches in MSS。 These labours
occupied 1874 and 1875。 Yet it would be foolish to criticise his
Queen Mary as if we were criticising 〃exact history。〃 〃The play's
the thing。〃
The poet thought that 〃Bloody Mary〃 〃had been harshly judged by the
verdict of popular tradition。〃 So have most characters to whom
popular dislike affixes the popular epithet〃Bloody Claverse；〃
〃Bloody Mackenzie；〃 〃Bloody Balfour。〃 Mary had the courage of the
Tudors。 She 〃edified all around her by her cheerfulness； her piety；
and her resignation to the will of Providence；〃 in her last days
（Lingard）。 Camden calls her 〃a queen never praised enough for the
purity of her morals； her charity to the poor〃 （she practised as a
district visitor）； 〃and her liberality to the nobles and the clergy。〃
She was 〃pious； merciful； pure； and ever to be praised； if we
overlook her erroneous opinions in religion；〃 says Godwin。 She had
been grievously wronged from her youth upwards。 In Elizabeth she had
a sister and a rival； a constant intriguer against her； and a
kinswoman far from amiable。 Despite 〃the kindness and attention of
Philip〃 （Lingard）； affairs of State demanded his absence from
England。 The disappointment as to her expected child was cruel。 She
knew that she had become unpopular； and she could not look for the
success of her Church； to which she was sincerely attached。 M。
Auguste Filon thought that Queen Mary might secure dramatic rank for
Tennyson； 〃if a great actress arose who conceived a passion for the
part of Mary。〃 But that was not to be expected。 Mary was middle…
aged； plain； and in aspect now terrible； now rueful。 No great
actress will throw herself with passion into such an ungrateful part。
〃Throughout all history；〃 Tennyson said； 〃there was nothing more
mournful than the final tragedy of this woman。〃 MOURNFUL it is； but
not tragic。 There is nothing grand at the close； as when Mary Stuart
conquers death and evil fame； redeeming herself by her courage and
her calm； and extending over unborn generations that witchery which
her enemies dreaded more than an army with banners。
Moreover； popular tradition can never forgive the fires of
Smithfield。 It was Mary Tudor's misfortune that she had the power to
execute； on a great scale； that faculty of persecution to the death
for which her Presbyterian and other Protestant opponents pined in
vain。 Mr Froude says of her； 〃For the first and last time the true
Ultramontane spirit was dominant in England； the genuine conviction
that； as the orthodox prophets and sovereigns of Israel slew the
worshippers of Baal； so were Catholic rulers called upon； as their
first duty； to extirpate heretics as the enemies of God and man。〃
That was precisely the spirit of Knox and other Presbyterian
denouncers of death against 〃Idolaters〃 （Catholics）。 But the
Scottish preachers were always thwarted： Mary and her advisers had
their way； as； earlier； Latimer had preached against sufferers at the
stake。 To the stake； which he feared so greatly； Cranmer had sent
persons not of his own fleeting shade of theological opinion。 These
men had burned Anabaptists； but all that is lightly forgotten by
Protestant opinion。 Under Mary （whoever may have been primarily
responsible） Cranmer and Latimer were treated as they had treated
others。 Moreover； some two hundred poor men and women had dared the
fiery death。 The persecution was on a scale never forgiven or
forgotten； since Mary began cerdonibus esse timenda。 Mary was not
essentially inclement。 Despite Renard； the agent of the Emperor； she
spared that lord of fluff and feather； Courtenay； and she spared
Elizabeth。 Lady Jane she could not save； the girl who was a queen by
grace of God and