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elements from Shakespeare and from Beaumont and Fletcher。
In June 1891 the poet went on a tour in Devonshire； and began his
Akbar； and probably wrote June Bracken and Heather； or perhaps it was
composed when 〃we often sat on the top of Blackdown to watch the
sunset。〃 He wrote to Mr Kipling …
〃The oldest to the youngest singer
That England bore〃
（to alter Mr Swinburne's lines to Landor）； praising his Flag of
England。 Mr Kipling replied as 〃the private to the general。〃
Early in 1892 The Foresters was successfully produced at New York by
Miss Ada Rehan； the music by Sir Arthur Sullivan； and the scenery
from woodland designs by Whymper。 Robin Hood （as we learn from Mark
Twain） is a favourite hero with the youth of America。 Mr Tom Sawyer
himself took； in Mark Twain's tale； the part of the bold outlaw。
The Death of OEnone was published in 1892； with the dedication to the
Master of Balliol …
〃Read a Grecian tale retold
Which； cast in later Grecian mould；
Quintus Calaber
Somewhat lazily handled of old。〃
Quintus Calaber； more usually called Quintus Smyrnaeus； is a writer
of perhaps the fourth century of our era。 About him nothing； or next
to nothing； is known。 He told； in so late an age； the conclusion of
the Tale of Troy； and （in the writer's opinion） has been unduly
neglected and disdained。 His manner； I venture to think； is more
Homeric than that of the more famous and doubtless greater
Alexandrian poet of the Argonautic cycle； Apollonius Rhodius； his
senior by five centuries。 His materials were probably the ancient
and lost poems of the Epic Cycle； and the story of the death of
OEnone may be from the Little Iliad of Lesches。 Possibly parts of
his work may be textually derived from the Cyclics； but the topic is
very obscure。 In Quintus； Paris； after encountering evil omens on
his way； makes a long speech； imploring the pardon of the deserted
OEnone。 She replies； not with the Tennysonian brevity； she sends him
back to the helpless arms of her rival； Helen。 Paris dies on the
hills； never did Helen see him returning。 The wood…nymphs bewail
Paris； and a herdsman brings the bitter news to Helen； who chants her
lament。 But remorse falls on OEnone。 She does not go
〃Slowly down
By the long torrent's ever…deepened roar；〃
but rushes 〃swift as the wind to seek and spring upon the pyre of her
lord。〃 Fate and Aphrodite drive her headlong； and in heaven Selene；
remembering Endymion； bewails the lot of her sister in sorrow。
OEnone reaches the funeral flame； and without a word or a cry leaps
into her husband's arms； the wild Nymphs wondering。 The lovers are
mingled in one heap of ashes； and these are bestowed in one vessel of
gold and buried in a howe。 This is the story which the poet
rehandled in his old age； completing the work of his happy youth when
he walked with Hallam in the Pyrenean hills； that were to him as Ida。
The romance of OEnone and her death condone； as even Homer was apt to
condone； the sins of beautiful Paris； whom the nymphs lament； despite
the evil that he has wrought。 The silence of the veiled OEnone； as
she springs into her lover's last embrace； is perhaps more affecting
and more natural than Tennyson's
〃She lifted up a voice
Of shrill command； 'Who burns upon the pyre？'〃
The St Telemachus has the old splendour and vigour of verse； and；
though written so late in life； is worthy of the poet's prime：…
〃Eve after eve that haggard anchorite
Would haunt the desolated fane； and there
Gaze at the ruin； often mutter low
'Vicisti Galilaee'； louder again；
Spurning a shatter'd fragment of the God；
'Vicisti Galilaee！' butwhen now
Bathed in that lurid crimsonask'd 'Is earth
On fire to the West？ or is the Demon…god
Wroth at his fall？' and heard an answer 'Wake
Thou deedless dreamer； lazying out a life
Of self…suppression； not of selfless love。'
And once a flight of shadowy fighters crost
The disk； and once； he thought； a shape with wings
Came sweeping by him； and pointed to the West；
And at his ear he heard a whisper 'Rome；'
And in his heart he cried 'The call of God！'
And call'd arose； and； slowly plunging down
Thro' that disastrous glory； set his face
By waste and field and town of alien tongue；
Following a hundred sunsets； and the sphere
Of westward…wheeling stars； and every dawn
Struck from him his own shadow on to Rome。
Foot…sore； way…worn； at length he touch'd his goal；
The Christian city。〃
Akbar's Dream may be taken； more or less； to represent the poet's own
theology of a race seeking after God； if perchance they may find Him；
and the closing Hymn was a favourite with Tennyson。 He said； 〃It is
a magnificent metre〃：…
〃HYMN。
I。
Once again thou flamest heavenward； once again we see thee rise。
Every morning is thy birthday gladdening human hearts and eyes。
Every morning here we greet it； bowing lowly down before thee；
Thee the Godlike； thee the changeless in thine ever…changing skies。
II。
Shadow…maker； shadow…slayer； arrowing light from clime to clime；
Hear thy myriad laureates hail thee monarch in their woodland rhyme。
Warble bird； and open flower； and； men； below the dome of azure
Kneel adoring Him the Timeless in the flame that measures Time！〃
In this final volume the poet cast his handful of incense on the
altar of Scott； versifying the tale of Il Bizarro； which the dying
Sir Walter records in his Journal in Italy。 The Churchwarden and the
Curate is not inferior to the earlier peasant poems in its expression
of shrewdness； humour； and superstition。 A verse of Poets and
Critics may be taken as the poet's last word on the old futile
quarrel：…
〃This thing； that thing is the rage；
Helter…skelter runs the age；
Minds on this round earth of ours
Vary like the leaves and flowers；
Fashion'd after certain laws；
Sing thou low or loud or sweet；
All at all points thou canst not meet；
Some will pass and some will pause。
What is true at last will tell：
Few at first will place thee well；
Some too low would have thee shine；
Some too highno fault of thine …
Hold thine own； and work thy will！
Year will graze the heel of year；
But seldom comes the poet here；
And the Critic's rarer still。〃
Still the lines hold good …
〃Some too low would have thee shine；
Some too highno fault of thine。〃
The end was now at hand。 A sense of weakness was felt by the poet on
September 3； 1892： on the 28th his family sent for Sir Andrew Clark；
but the patient gradually faded out of life； and expired on Thursday；
October 6； at 1。35 A。M。 To the very last he had Shakespeare by him；
and his windows were open to the sun； on the last night they were
flooded by the moonlight。 The description of the final scenes must
be read in the Biography by the poet's son。 〃His patience and quiet
strength had power upon those who were nearest and dearest to him； we
felt thankful for the love and the utter peace of it all。〃 〃The life
after death；〃 Tennyson had said just before his fatal illness； 〃is
the cardinal point of Christianity。 I believe that God reveals
Himself in every individual soul； and my idea of Heaven is