Andwhensheputherhorsetowardtheknight，Struckatherwithhiswhip，andshereturn\'dIndignanttotheQueen；whereatGeraintExclaiming，\'SurelyIwilllearnthename，\'
Madesharplytothedwarf，andask\'ditofhim，Whoanswer\'dasbefore；andwhenthePrinceHadputhishorseinmotiontowardtheknight，Struckathimwithhiswhip，andcuthischeek。
ThePrince\'sbloodspirteduponthescarf，Dyeingit；andhisquick，instinctivehandCaughtatthehilt，astoabolishhim:
Buthe，fromhisexceedingmanfulnessAndpurenobilityoftemperament，Wrothtobewrothatsuchaworm，refrain\'dFromev\'naword。\"
Theself-restraintofGeraint，whodoesnotslaythedwarf，\"FromhisexceedingmanfulnessAndpurenobilityoftemperament，\"
mayappear\"toopolite，\"andtoomuchinaccordwiththestillundiscoveredideaof\"leadingsweetlives。\"However，theuninventedideadoesoccurintheWelshoriginal:\"ThenGeraintputhishanduponthehiltofhissword，buthetookcounselwithhimself，andconsideredthatitwouldbenovengeanceforhimtoslaythedwarf，\"
whilehealsoreflectsthathewouldbe\"attackedunarmedbythearmedknight。\"PerhapsTennysonmaybeblamedforomittingthisobviousmotiveforself-restraint。Geraintthereforefollowstheknightinhopeoffindingarms，andarrivesatthetownallbusywithpreparationsforthetournamentofthesparrow-hawk。Thiswasachallengesparrow-hawk:theknighthadwonittwice，andifhewonitthriceitwouldbehistokeep。Therest，inthetale，isexactlyfollowedintheIdyll。GeraintisentertainedbytheruinedYniol。
Theyouthbearsthe\"costrel\"fullof\"goodpurchasedmead\"theruinedEarlnotbrewingforhimself，andEnidcarriesthemanchetbreadinherveil，\"old，andbeginningtobewornout。\"AllTennyson\'sownisthebeautifulpassage-
\"Andwhilehewaitedinthecastlecourt，ThevoiceofEnid，Yniol\'sdaughter，rangClearthro\'theopencasementofthehall，Singing；andasthesweetvoiceofabird，Heardbythelanderinalonelyisle，MoveshimtothinkwhatkindofbirditisThatsingssodelicatelyclear，andmakeConjectureoftheplumageandtheform；
SothesweetvoiceofEnidmovedGeraint；
AndmadehimlikeamanabroadatmornWhenfirsttheliquidnotebelovedofmenComesflyingovermanyawindywaveToBritain，andinAprilsuddenlyBreaksfromacoppicegemm\'dwithgreenandred，Andhesuspendshisconversewithafriend，Oritmaybethelabourofhishands，Tothinkorsay，\'Thereisthenightingale\'；
SofareditwithGeraint，whothoughtandsaid，\'Here，byGod\'sgrace，istheonevoiceforme。\'\"
Yniolfranklyadmitsinthetalethathewasinthewronginthequarrelwithhisnephew。Thepoet，however，giveshimtheright，asisnatural。ThecombatisexactlyfollowedintheIdyll，asisGeraint\'sinsistenceincarryinghisbridetoCourtinherfadedsilks。Geraint，however，leavesCourtwithEnid，notbecauseofthescandalaboutLancelot，buttodohisdutyinhisowncountry。Hebecomesindolentanduxorious，andEniddeploreshisweakness，andawakeshissuspicions，thus:-
Andonemorninginthesummertimetheywereupontheircouch，andGeraintlayupontheedgeofit。AndEnidwaswithoutsleepintheapartmentwhichhadwindowsofglass。Andthesunshoneuponthecouch。Andtheclotheshadslippedfromoffhisarmsandhisbreast，andhewasasleep。Thenshegazeduponthemarvellousbeautyofhisappearance，andshesaid，\"Alas，andamIthecausethatthesearmsandthisbreasthavelosttheirgloryandthewarlikefamewhichtheyoncesorichlyenjoyed!\"Andasshesaidthis，thetearsdroppedfromhereyes，andtheyfelluponhisbreast。Andthetearssheshed，andthewordsshehadspoken，awokehim；andanotherthingcontributedtoawakenhim，andthatwastheideathatitwasnotinthinkingofhimthatshespokethus，butthatitwasbecauseshelovedsomeothermanmorethanhim，andthatshewishedforothersociety，andthereuponGeraintwastroubledinhismind，andhecalledhissquire；andwhenhecametohim，\"Goquickly，\"saidhe，\"andpreparemyhorseandmyarms，andmakethemready。Anddothouarise，\"saidhetoEnid，\"andapparelthyself；andcausethyhorsetobeaccoutred，andclothetheeintheworstriding-dressthatthouhastinthypossession。Andevilbetideme，\"saidhe，\"ifthoureturnesthereuntilthouknowestwhetherIhavelostmystrengthsocompletelyasthoudidstsay。Andifitbeso，itwillthenbeeasyfortheetoseekthesocietythoudidstwishforofhimofwhomthouwastthinking。\"Soshearose，andclothedherselfinhermeanestgarments。\"Iknownothing，Lord，\"saidshe，\"ofthymeaning。\"
\"Neitherwiltthouknowatthistime，\"saidhe。
\"Atlast，itchancedthatonasummermornTheysleepingeachbyeitherthenewsunBeatthro\'theblindlesscasementoftheroom，Andheatedthestrongwarriorinhisdreams；
Who，moving，castthecoverletaside，Andbaredtheknottedcolumnofhisthroat，Themassivesquareofhisheroicbreast，Andarmsonwhichthestandingmusclesloped，Asslopesawildbrooko\'eralittlestone，Runningtoovehementlytobreakuponit。
AndEnidwokeandsatbesidethecouch，Admiringhim，andthoughtwithinherself，Wasevermansograndlymadeashe？
Then，likeashadow，pastthepeople\'stalkAndaccusationofuxoriousnessAcrosshermind，andbowingoverhim，Lowtoherownheartpiteouslyshesaid:
\'Onoblebreastandall-puissantarms，AmIthecause，IthepoorcausethatmenReproachyou，sayingallyourforceisgone？
IAMthecause，becauseIdarenotspeakAndtellhimwhatIthinkandwhattheysay。
AndyetIhatethatheshouldlingerhere；
Icannotlovemylordandnothisname。
FarlieferhadIgirdhisharnessonhim，Andridewithhimtobattleandstandby，AndwatchhismightfulhandstrikinggreatblowsAtcaitiffsandatwrongersoftheworld。
FarbetterwereIlaidinthedarkearth，Nothearinganymorehisnoblevoice，Nottobefoldedmoreinthesedeararms，Anddarken\'dfromthehighlightinhiseyes，Thanthatmylordthro\'meshouldsuffershame。
AmIsobold，andcouldIsostandby，Andseemydearlordwoundedinthestrife，Ormaybepiercedtodeathbeforemineeyes，AndyetnotdaretotellhimwhatIthink，Andhowmenslurhim，sayingallhisforceIsmeltedintomereeffeminacy？
Ome，IfearthatIamnotruewife。\'
Halfinwardly，halfaudiblyshespoke，AndthestrongpassioninhermadeherweepTruetearsuponhisbroadandnakedbreast，Andtheseawokehim，andbygreatmischanceHeheardbutfragmentsofherlaterwords，Andthatshefear\'dshewasnotatruewife。
Andthenhethought，\'Inspiteofallmycare，Forallmypains，poorman，forallmypains，Sheisnotfaithfultome，andIseeherWeepingforsomegayknightinArthur\'shall。\'
Thentho\'helovedandreverencedhertoomuchTodreamshecouldbeguiltyoffoulact，Rightthro\'hismanfulbreastdartedthepangThatmakesaman，inthesweetfaceofherWhomhelovesmost，lonelyandmiserable。
Atthishehurl\'dhishugelimbsoutofbed，Andshookhisdrowsysquireawakeandcried，\'Mychargerandherpalfrey\'；thentoher，\'Iwillrideforthintothewilderness；
Fortho\'itseemsmyspursareyettowin，Ihavenotfall\'nsolowassomewouldwish。
Andthou，putonthyworstandmeanestdressAndridewithme。\'AndEnidask\'d，amazed，\'IfEniderrs，letEnidlearnherfault。\'
Buthe，\'Ichargethee，asknot，butobey。\'
Thenshebethoughtherofafadedsilk，Afadedmantleandafadedveil，Andmovingtowardacedarncabinet，WhereinshekeptthemfoldedreverentlyWithsprigsofsummerlaidbetweenthefolds，Shetookthem，andarray\'dherselftherein，RememberingwhenfirsthecameonherDrestinthatdress，andhowhelovedherinit，Andallherfoolishfearsaboutthedress，Andallhisjourneytoher，ashimselfHadtoldher，andtheircomingtothecourt。\"
Tennyson\'s\"Armsonwhichthestandingmusclesloped，Asslopesawildbrooko\'eralittlestone，Runningtoovehementlytobreakuponit，\"
issuggestedperhapsbyTheocritus——\"Themusclesonhisbrawnyarmsstoodoutlikeroundedrocksthatthewintertorrenthasrolledandwornsmooth，inthegreatswirlingstream\"Idyllxxii。
Thesecondpartofthepoemfollowstheoriginallessclosely。ThusLimours，inthetale，isnotanoldsuitorofEnid；Edyrndoesnotappeartotherescue；certaincruelgames，veiledinamagicmist，occurinthetale，andareomittedbythepoet；\"Gwyffertpetit，socalledbytheFranks，whomtheCymrycalltheLittleKing，\"inthetale，isnotacharacterintheIdyll，and，generally，thegrossCelticexaggerationsofGeraint\'sfeatsaretoneddownbyTennyson。
Inotherrespects，aswhenGerainteatsthemowers\'dinner，thetalesuppliesthematerials。Butitdoesnotdwelltenderlyonthereconciliation。Thetaleismoreorlessintheveinof\"patientGrizel，\"andhewhotolditismoreconcernedwiththefightingthanwithamorisredintegratio，andthesufferingsofEnid。TheIdyllisenrichedwithmanybeautifulpicturesfromnature，suchasthis:-
\"ButattheflashandmotionofthemanTheyvanish\'dpanic-stricken，likeashoalOfdartingfish，thatonasummermornAdownthecrystaldykesatCamelotComeslippingo\'ertheirshadowsonthesand，ButifamanwhostandsuponthebrinkButliftashininghandagainstthesun，ThereisnotleftthetwinkleofafinBetwixtthecressyisletswhiteinflower；
So，scaredbutatthemotionoftheman，FledallthebooncompanionsoftheEarl，Andlefthimlyinginthepublicway。\"
InBalinandBalanTennysondisplaysgreatconstructivepower，andremarkableskillinmouldingthemostrecalcitrantmaterials。BalinorBalyn，accordingtoMrRhys，istheBelinusofGeoffreyofMonmouth，\"whosenamerepresentstheCelticdivinitydescribedinLatinasApolloBelenusorBelinus。\"{14}InGeoffrey，Belinus，euphemerised，orreducedfromgodtohero，hasabrother，Brennius，theCelticBran，KingofBritainfromCaithnesstotheHumber。
BelinusdrivesBranintoexile。\"ThusitisseenthatBelinusorBalynwas，mythologicallyspeaking，thenaturalenemy\"asApolloBelinus，theradiantgod\"ofthedarkdivinityBranorBalan。\"
Ifthisviewbecorrect，thetwobrothersanswertothegoodandbadprinciplesofmythslikethatoftheHuronIouskehatheSun，andAnatensictheMoon，orratherTaouiscaraandIouskeha，thehostilebrothers，BlackandWhite。{15}Thesemythicalbrethrenare，inMalory，twoknightsofNorthumberland，BalinthewildandBalan。
TheiradventuresaremixedupwithahostileLadyoftheLake，whomBalinslaysinArthur\'spresence，withaswordwhichnonebutBalincandrawfromsheath；andwithanevilblack-facedknightGarlon，invisibleatwill，whomBalinslaysinthecastleoftheknight\'sbrother，KingPellam。PursuedfromroomtoroombyPellam，BalinfindshimselfinachamberfullofrelicsofJosephofArimathea。
Thereheseizesaspear，theveryspearwithwhichtheRomansoldierpiercedthesideoftheCrucified，andwoundsPellam。Thecastlefallsinruins\"throughthatdolorousstroke。\"Pellambecomesthemaimedking，whocanonlybehealedbytheHolyGrail。ApparentlyCelticmythsofobscureantiquityhavebeenadaptedinFrance，andinterwovenwithfablesaboutJosephofArimatheaandChristianmysteries。Itisnotpossibleheretogointothecomplicatedlearningofthesubject。InMalory，Balin，afterdealingthedolorousstroke，borrowsastrangeshieldfromaknight，and，thusaccoutred，meetshisbrotherBalan，whodoesnotrecognisehim。Theyfight，bothdieandareburiedinonetomb，andGalahadlaterachievestheadventureofwinningBalin\'ssword。\"ThusendeththetaleofBalynandofBalan，twobrethrenborninNorthumberland，goodknights，\"saysMalory，simply，andunconsciousofthestrangemythologicalmedleyunderthecoatarmourofromance。
Thematerials，then，seemedconfusedandobdurate，butTennysonworksthemintothecourseofthefatalloveofLancelotandGuinevere，andintothespiritualtextureoftheIdylls。BalinhasbeenexpelledfromCourtforthewildnessthatgiveshimhisname，BalinleSauvage。Hehadbuffetedasquireinhall。HeandBalanawaitallchallengersbesideawell。Arthurencountersanddismountsthem。
Balindevoteshimselftoself-conquest。ThencomestidingsthatPellam，ofoldleaguedwithLotagainstArthur，hastakentoreligion，collectsrelics，claimsdescentfromJosephofArimathea，andownsthesacredspearthatpiercedthesideofChrist。ButGarloniswithhim，theknightinvisible，whoappearstocomefromanIrishsource，oratleasthasaparallelinIrishlegend。ThisGarlonhasanunknightlywayofkillingmenbyviewlessblowsfromtherear。BalangoestoencounterGarlon。Balinremains，learningcourtesy，modellinghimselfonLancelot，andgainingleavetobearGuinevere\'sCrownMatrimonialforhiscognisance，——which，ofcourse，Balandoesnotknow，-
\"Asgoldenearnestofabetterlife。\"
ButBalinseesreasontothinkthatLancelotandGuinevereloveeventoowell。
\"Thenchanced，onemorning，thatSirBalinsatClose-bower\'dinthatgardennighthehall。
Awalkofrosesranfromdoortodoor；
Awalkofliliescrostittothebower:
AnddownthatrangeofrosesthegreatQueenCamewithslowsteps，themorningonherface；
AndallinshadowfromthecounterdoorSirLancelotastomeether，thenatonce，Asifhesawnot，glancedaside，andpacedThelongwhitewalkofliliestowardthebower。
Follow\'dtheQueen；SirBalinheardher\'Prince，ArtthousolittleloyaltothyQueen，AspasswithoutgoodmorrowtothyQueen？\'
TowhomSirLancelotwithhiseyesonearth，\'FainwouldIstillbeloyaltotheQueen。\'
\'Yeaso，\'shesaid，\'butsotopassmeby-
Soloyalscarceisloyaltothyself，Whomallmenratethekingofcourtesy。
Letbe:yestand，fairlord，asinadream。\'
ThenLancelotwithhishandamongtheflowers，\'Yea——foradream。LastnightmethoughtIsawThatmaidenSaintwhostandswithlilyinhandInyondershrine。Allroundherprestthedark，AndallthelightuponhersilverfaceFlow\'dfromthespirituallilythatsheheld。
Lo!theseheremblemsdrewmineeyes——away:
Forsee，howperfect-pure!AslightaflushAshardlytintstheblossomofthequinceWouldmartheircharmofstainlessmaidenhood。\'
\'Sweetertome，\'shesaid，\'thisgardenroseDeep-huedandmany-foldedsweeterstillThewild-woodhyacinthandthebloomofMay。
Prince，wehaveridd\'nbeforeamongtheflowersInthosefairdays——notallascoolasthese，Tho\'season-earlier。Artthousad？orsick？
OurnobleKingwillsendtheehisownleech-
Sick？orforanymatteranger\'datme？\'
ThenLancelotliftedhislargeeyes；theydweltDeep-trancedonhers，andcouldnotfall:herhueChangedathisgaze:soturningsidebysideTheypast，andBalinstartedfromhisbower。
\'Queen？subject？butIseenotwhatIsee。
Damselandlover？hearnotwhatIhear。
Myfatherhathbegottenmeinhiswrath。
Isufferfromthethingsbeforeme，know，Learnnothing；amnotworthytobeknight；
Achurl，aclown!\'andinhimgloomongloomDeepen\'d:hesharplycaughthislanceandshield，Norstay\'dtocravepermissionoftheKing，But，madforstrangeadventure，dash\'daway。\"
Balinis\"disillusioned，\"hisfaithintheIdealisshakenifnotshattered。Heridesatadventure。Arrivingatthehalf-ruinedcastleofPellam，thatdubiousdevotee，hehearsGarloninsultGuinevere，butrestrainshimself。Nextday，againinsultedforbearing\"thecrownscandalous\"onhisshield，hestrikesGarlondown，ispursued，seizesthesacredspear，andescapes。Vivienmeetshiminthewoods，dropsscandalinhisears，andsomaddenshimthathedefaceshisshieldwiththecrownofGuinevere。Hersong，andherwords，\"ThisfireofHeaven，Thisoldsun-worship，boy，willriseagain，Andbeatthecrosstoearth，andbreaktheKingAndallhisTable，\"
mightbeforcedintoanallegoryoftherevivedprideoflife，attheRenaissanceandafter。ThemaddenedyellsofBalinstriketheearofBalan，whothinkshehasmetthefoulknightGarlon，that\"TramplesonthegoodlyshieldtoshowHisloathingofourOrderandtheQueen。\"
Theyfight，fatallywound，andfinallyrecogniseeachother:BalantryingtorestoreBalin\'sfaithinGuinevere，whoismerelyslanderedbyGarlonandVivien。Balinacknowledgesthathiswildnesshasbeentheircommonbane，andtheydie，\"eitherlockedineither\'sarms。\"
ThereisnothinginMalory，norinanyothersource，sofarasIamaware，whichsuggestedtoTennysontheclouofthesituation——theuseofGuinevere\'scrownasacognisancebyBalin。ThisdeviceenablesthepoettoweavetheratherconfusedandunintelligibleadventuresofBalinandBalanintothescheme，andtomakeitastageintheprogressofhisfable。ThatBalinwasrecklessandwildMalorybearswitness，buthisendeavourstoconquerhimselfandreachtheidealsetbyLancelotareTennyson\'saddition，withallthetragedyofBalin\'sdisenchantmentanddespair。ThestrangefantastichouseofPellam，fullofthemostsacredthings，\"InwhichhescarcecouldspytheChristforSaints，\"
yetshelteringthehumanfiendGarlon，issuppliedbyMalory，whosepredecessorsprobablyblendedmorethanonemythoftheoldCymryintotheromance，washedoverwithChristiancolouring。AsMalorytellsthispartofthetaleitisperhapsmorestrangeandeffectivethanintheIdyll。TheintroductionofVivienintothisadventureiswhollyduetoTennyson:herappearancehereleadsuptohertriumphinthepoemwhichfollows，MerlinandVivien。
ThenatureandoriginofMerlinaresomethingofamystery。HintsandrumoursofMerlin，asofArthur，streamfromhillandgraveasfarnorthasTweedside。Ifhewasahistoricalperson，mythsofmagicmightcrystalliseroundhim，asroundVirgilinItaly。TheprocesswouldbetheeasierinacountrywherethepracticesofDruidrystilllingered，andrevivedaftertheretreatoftheRomans。
ThemediaevalromancersinventedalegendthatMerlinwasavirgin-
bornchildofSatan。InTennysonhemaybeguessedtorepresentthefabledesotericloreofoldreligions，withtheirvaguepantheisms，andsuchmagicasthetapasofBrahmaniclegends。Heiswisewithariddlingevasivewisdom:thebuilderofCamelot，theprophet，ashadowofDruidryclingingtotheChristianking。Hiswisdomcannotavailhim:ifhebeholds\"hisownmischancewithaglassycountenance，\"hecannotavoidhisshapenfate。HebecomesassottedofVivien，andgoesopen-eyedtohisdoom。
Theenchantress，Vivien，isoneofthatdubiouscompanyofLadiesoftheLake，nowfriendly，nowtreacherous。ProbablytheseladiesarethefairiesofpopularCeltictradition，takenupintothemoreelaboratepoetryofCymricliteratureandmediaevalromance。MrRhystracesVivien，orNimue，orNyneue，back，throughaseriesofpalaeographicchangesanderrors，toRhiannon，wifeofPwyll，akindofladyofthelakehethinks，buttheidentificationisnotverysatisfactory。Vivieniscertainly\"oneofthedamselsofthelake\"
inMalory，andthedamselsofthelakeseemtobelakefairies，withalltheirbeguilementsandstrangeunstableloves。\"AndalwaysMerlinlayabouttheladytohavehermaidenhood，andshewaseverpassingwearyofhim，andfainwouldhavebeendeliveredofhim，forshewasafraidofhimbecausehewasadevil\'sson……SobyhersubtleworkingshemadeMerlintogounderthatstonetoletherwitofthemarvelsthere，butshewroughtsothereforhimthathecameneveroutforallthecrafthecoulddo。AndsoshedepartedandleftMerlin。\"ThesympathyofMaloryisnotwiththeenchanter。IntheIdylls，asfinallypublished，Vivienisbornonabattlefieldofdeath，withanatureperverted，andaninstinctivehatredofthegood。WhereforesheleavestheCourtofKingMarktomakemischiefinCamelot。Sheis，infact，theidealminx，acharacternotelsewheretreatedbyTennyson:-
\"Shehatedalltheknights，andheardinthoughtTheirlavishcommentwhenhernamewasnamed。
Foronce，whenArthurwalkingallalone，VextatarumourissuedfromherselfOfsomecorruptioncreptamonghisknights，Hadmether，Vivien，beinggreetedfair，WouldfainhavewroughtuponhiscloudymoodWithreverenteyesmock-loyal，shakenvoice，Andflutter\'dadoration，andatlastWithdarksweethintsofsomewhoprizedhimmoreThanwhoshouldprizehimmost；atwhichtheKingHadgazeduponherblanklyandgoneby:
Butonehadwatch\'d，andhadnotheldhispeace:
ItmadethelaughterofanafternoonThatVivienshouldattempttheblamelessKing。
Andafterthat，shesetherselftogainHim，themostfamousmanofallthosetimes，Merlin，whoknewtherangeofalltheirarts，HadbuilttheKinghishavens，ships，andhalls，WasalsoBard，andknewthestarryheavens；
Thepeoplecall\'dhimWizard；whomatfirstSheplay\'daboutwithslightandsprightlytalk，Andvividsmiles，andfaintly-venom\'dpointsOfslander，glancinghereandgrazingthere；
Andyieldingtohiskindliermoods，theSeerWouldwatchheratherpetulance，andplay，Ev\'nwhentheyseem\'dunloveable，andlaughAsthosethatwatchakitten；thushegrewTolerantofwhathehalfdisdain\'d，andshe，Perceivingthatshewasbuthalfdisdain\'d，Begantobreakhersportswithgraverfits，Turnredorpale，wouldoftenwhentheymetSighfully，orall-silentgazeuponhimWithsuchafixtdevotion，thattheoldman，Tho\'doubtful，felttheflattery，andattimesWouldflatterhisownwishinageforlove，Andhalfbelievehertrue:forthusattimesHewaver\'d；butthatotherclungtohim，Fixtinherwill，andsotheseasonswent。\"
Vivienismodernenough——ifanytypeofcharacterismodern:atalleventsthereisnosuchBlancheAmoryofagirlintheoldlegendsandromances。IntheseMerlinfatiguestheladybyhislove；shelearnshisarts，andgetsridofhimasshecan。HisforebodingsintheIdyllcontainamagnificentimage:-
\"Therelaysheallherlengthandkiss\'dhisfeet，Asifindeepestreverenceandinlove。