1198.‘Why laugh ye? that ye blew your boast in vain?’: Malory vii 11: ‘ “Fie, fie,” said the damosel, “that ever such a stinking knave should blow such a boast;” ’
1229. Thrown have I been, nor once, but many a time: as in Malory ix 4.
1236. wreak’d: executed, carried out.
1251. lusty: refreshed, renewed in strength.
1253. rated: scolded.
1266. Peradventure: by chance, by accident.
1274. agape: in an attitude or state of wondering expectation.
1275. ramp: to assume a threatening posture.
1281. Arthur’s harp: ‘Lyra’ (T.).
1284–5. A star shot: ‘Lo,’said Gareth, ‘the foe falls!”/An owl whoopt: ‘Hark the victor pealing there!’ ‘When the falling stars are shooting,/And the answer’d owls are hooting,/And the silent leaves are still/In the shadows of the hill/Shall my soul be upon thine/With a power and with a sign’ -Byron, Manfred I i 197–202.
1303. mouthpiece: spokesman.
1306. tare: tore.
1318. Instant: pressing, urgent, importunate.
1330. crimson: ‘sunrise’ (T.).
1331ff. Black, with black banner, and a long black homlBeside it hanging: Malory vii 6–7: ‘And then they came to a blacke laund, and there was a blacke hawthorne, and thereon hung a blacke baner, and on the other side there hung a blacke shield, and by it stood a blacke speare and a long, and a greate blacke horse covered with silke, and blacke stone fast by it. There sate a knight all armed in blacke harnies, and his name was the knight of the blacke laundes.’
1340. Malory vii 16: ’ “Sir,” said the damosell Lynet unto sir Beaumains, “looke that yee be mery and light, for yonder is your deadly enemy, and at yonder window is my lady my sister dame Lyones.” “Where?” said sir Beaumains. “Yonder,” saith the damosell, and pointed with her finger. “That is sooth,” said sir Beaumains, “she seemeth afarre the fairest lady that ever I looked upon, and truely,” said hee, “I aske no better quarrell then now to doe battaile, for truely shee shall bee my lady, and for her will I fight.”
1348. And crown’d with fleshless laughter. ‘With a grinning skull’ (T.).
1367. blink: shut the eyes to.
1372. throughly: thoroughly.
1392–4. Hallam Tennyson glosses this ‘Malory’ and ‘my father’.
The Marriage of Geraint
Published 1859, the first part of ’Enid’. Composition begun 16 April 1856. Completed by 5 November. The title ‘Enid’ was expanded to ‘Geraint and Enid’ in 1870; the poem was divided into two parts in 1873; and the final titles were given in 1886. Based on Geraint, Son of Erbin, in the Mabinogion, translated by Lady Charlotte Guest 1840, collected 1849, vol. ii.
2. tributary: dependent, paying tribute to.
4. Had married Enid: first reading ‘wedded’. ‘He found out that the “E” in “Enid” was pronounced short (as if it were spelt “Ennid”) and so altered the phrase in the proofs “wedded Enid” to “married Enid”’ (H.T.).
13. fronted: came before.
24–9. But when a rumour rose about the Queen… : added to Mabinogion, so that Tennyson could link these two idylls with his main theme.
33–41. He made his pretext: in Mabinogion, this is no pretext; Geraint needs ‘to protect his dominions and his boundaries, seeing that his father was unable to do so’.
41. marches: borders.
44–5. to the shores/Of Severn, and they past to their own land: ‘Geraint was at Caerleon, and would have to cross the Bristol Channel to go to Devon’ (T.). ‘I like the t- the strong perfect in verbs ending in s,p, and x-past, slipt, vext’ (T.).
46–68. Mabinogion: ‘He began to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one who was worth his opposing. And he loved his wife, and liked to continue in the palace, with minstrelsy and diversions. And for a long time he abode at home. And after that he began to shut himself up in the chamber of his wife, and he took no delight in anything besides, insomuch that he gave up the friendship of his nobles, together with his hunting and his amusements, and lost the hearts of all the host in his Court; and there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him among the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing so completely their companionship for the love of his wife… “There is nothing more hateful to me than this.” And she knew not what she should do, for, although it was hard for her to own this to Geraint, yet was it not more easy for her to listen to what she heard, without warning Geraint concerning it. And she was very sorrowful.’
60. uxoriousness: wife-worship.
69–108. Mabinogion: ‘And one morning in the summer time, they were upon their couch, and Geraint lay upon the edge of it. And Enid was without sleep in the apartment, which had windows of glass. And the sun shone upon the couch. And the clothes had slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he was asleep. Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his appearance, and she said, “Alas, and am I the cause that these arms and this breast have lost their glory and the warlike fame which they once so richly enjoyed!” ’ Tennyson adds words capable of misconstruction.
76–8. And arms on which the standing muscle sloped,/As slopes a wild brook o’er little stone,/Running too vehemently to break upon it; Tennyson remarks: ‘I made this simile from a stream, and it is different, though like Theocritus, Idyll xxii 48ff.:
έυ ςέ μύες στερεοίσι βραχίοσυι άχρου ύπ ωμου
έστασαυ ήύτε πέτροι όλοίτρχρι ούστε κυλίυςως
χειμάρρος ποταμός μεγάλαις περιέξεσε ςίυαις
(‘Moreover, the sinews upon his brawny arms upstood beside the shoulder like the boulder-stones some torrent hath rolled and rounded in his swirling eddies.’) Hallam Tennyson adds: ‘When some one objected that he had taken this simile from Theocritus, he answered: “It is quite different. Geraint’s muscles are not compared to the rounded stones, but to the stream pouring vehemently over them.” ’
86. all-puissant: omnipotent.
95. mightjul: mighty, powerful.
109–18. Mabinogion: ‘And as she said this, the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon his breast. And the tears she shed, and the words she had spoken, awoke him; and another thing contributed to awaken him, and that was the idea that it was not in thinking of him that she spoke thus, but that it was because she loved some other man more than him.’
121. manjul: characterized by manly courage and resolution.
124–33. Mabinogion: ‘And thereupon Geraint was troubled in his mind, and he called his squire; and when he came to him, “Go quickly,” said he, “and prepare my horse and my arms, and make them ready. And do thou arise,” said he to Enid, “and apparel thyself; and cause thy horse to be accoutred, and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress that thou hast in thy possession.”… So she arose, and clothed herself in her meanest garments. “I know nothing, Lord”, said she, “of thy meaning,” “Neither wilt thou know at this time,” said he.’
126. charger: a horse ridden in charging the enemy.
palfrey: small saddle-horse for ladies.
136. cedarn: made of cedar.
138. With sprigs of summer. ‘Lavender’ (T.).
146. old Caerleon upon Usk: ‘Arthur’s capital, castra Legionis, is in Monmouthshire on the Usk, which flows into the Bristol Channel’ (T.).
147–56. Mabinogion: ‘“I am one of thy foresters, Lord, in the forest of Dean… ” “Tell me thine errand,” said Arthur. “I will do so, Lord,” said he. “In the Forest I saw a stag, the like of which beheld I never yet.” “What is there about him,” asked Arthur, “that thou never yet didst see his like?” “He is of pure white, Lord, and he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness and pride, so royal is his bearing… ” “It seems best to me,” said Arthur, “to go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day; and to cause general notice thereof to be given to-night in all quarters of the Court.”… Then Gwenh
wyvar said to Arthur, “Wilt thou permit me, Lord,” said she, “to go to-morrow to see and hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke?” “I will, gladly,” said Arthur. “Then will I go,” said she.”’
149. notice: intimation, intelligence.
157–9. Mabinogion: ‘And Arthur wondered that Gwenhwyvar did not awake, and did not move in her bed; and the attendants wished to awaken her. “Disturb her not,” said Arthur, “for she had rather sleep than go to see the hunting.” ’ Tennyson’s addition stresses a theme of the Idylls.
160–83. Mabinogion: ‘…and Gwenhwyvar and one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses. And as they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and they looked behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal of mighty size; and the rider was a fair-haired youth, barelegged, and of princely mien, and a golden-hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes of leather upon his feet; and around him was a scarf of blue purple, at each corner of which was a golden apple… “From this place,” said she, “we shall hear when the dogs are let loose.” ’
176. queenhood: the rank or dignity of a queen. Tennyson’s coinage.
185. Cavali. mentioned as a hound of Arthur’s in Mabinogion.
186. hound of dee pest mouth: Tennyson compares Midsummer Night’s Dream IV i 122: ‘matched in mouth like bells’. See also I Henry VI II iv 12: ‘Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth.’
186–214. Following Mabinogion, but tempering details. See notes below.
190. haughtiest lineaments: The Princess ii 425. Disdainful look and bearing.
201. Mabinogion: ‘Then the maiden turned her horse’s head towards the knight; but the dwarf overtook him, and struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood coloured the scarf that Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand upon the hilt of his sword, but he took counsel with himself, and considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so he returned to where Gwenhwyvar was.’
215–31. As in Mabinogion.
217. earths: burrows.
239. Mabinogion: ‘And they went along a fair, and even, and lofty ridge of ground.’
242–55. Expanding Mabinogion.
255–92Mabinogion: ‘And every house he saw was full of men, and arms, and horses. And they were polishing shields, and burnishing swords, and washing armour, and shoeing horses.’ In Mabinogion, Geraint’s enemies (the knight, the lady and the dwarf) are warmly welcomed in the city.
274. pips: ‘a bird-disease’ (T.).
276. bourg: town under the shadow of a castle.
281. harbourage: lodging, shelter.
288. scantly: scarcely, hardly, barely.
293–325. Expanded from Mabinogion: ‘At a little distance from the town he saw an old palace in ruins, wherein was a hall that was falling to decay. And as he knew not anyone in the town, he went towards the old palace; and when he came near to the palace, he saw but one chamber, and a bridge of marble-stone leading to it. And upon the bridge he saw sitting a hoary-headed man, upon whom were tattered garments.’
293. spleenful: passionate, irritable.
304. So that: provided that.
317–19. ‘These lines were made at Middleham Castle’ (T.).
319. wilding: growing wild.
322–3. ‘Tintern Abbey’ (T.). These lines had originally been part of The Princess (Prologue in MS.).
326–60. Not in Mabinogion.
330. lander, one who lands or goes ashore. Tennyson’s coinage.
339coppice: small wood or thicket grown for the purpose of periodic cutting.
347—58. Hallam Tennyson notes: ‘This song of noble and enduring womanhood has its refrain in “Pero giri Fortuna la sua ruota,/Come le piace”’ (Dante, Inferno xv 95–6). Sir Charles Tennyson (Cornhill cliii (1936) 535) quotes from the Harvard MS. another version of the song:
Come in, the ford is roaring on the plain,
The distant hills are pale across the rain;
Come in, come in, for open is the gate.
Come in, poor man, and let the tempest blow.
Let Fortune frown and old possession go,
But health is wealth in high or low estate;
Tho’ Fortune frown thou shalt not hear us rail,
The frown of Fortune never turn’d us pale,
For man is man and master of his fate.
Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel with smile or frown,
With thy false wheel we go not up or down,
Our hoard is little but our hearts are great.
Smile and we smile, the lords of many lands,
Frown and we smile, the lords of our own hands,
For man is man and master of his fate.
The river ford will fall on yonder plain,
The flying rainbow chase the flying rain,
The sun at last will smile however late;
Come in, come in, whoever lingers there,
Nor scorn the ruin’d house and homely fare,
The house is poor but open is the gate.
360–68. Mabinogion: ‘And in the chamber he beheld an old decrepit woman, sitting on a cushion, with old, tattered garments of satin upon her; and it seemed to him that he had never seen a woman fairer than she must have been, when in the fulness of youth. And beside her was a maiden, upon whom were a vest and a veil, that were old, and beginning to be worn out. And truly, he never saw a maiden more full of comeliness, and grace, and beauty, than she.’
361. mount: an artificial mound of earth or stones.
364. vermeil-white: vermeil is a bright scarlet or red colour.
368. rood: ‘Rood (originally the same as “rod”) is the old word for cross’ (T.).
375–81. Not in Mabinogion.
382–9. Mabinogion: ‘And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, “There is no attendant for the horse of this youth but thyself.” “I will render the best service I am able,” said she, “both to him and to his horse.” And to the town went the maiden. And behold! the maiden came back and a youth with her, bearing on his back a costrel full of good purchased mead, and a quarter of a young bullock. And in the hands of the maiden was a quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet bread in her veil, and she came into the chamber.’
386. costrel: ‘a bottle with ear or ears, by which it could be hung from the waist (costrer, by the side), hence sometimes called “pilgrim’s bottle”’ (T.).
389. manchet bread: ‘little loaves or rolls made of fine wheat flour’ (T.).
396. trencher, plate or platter.
398. the wine made summer in his veins: cf. The Princess i 183: ‘The summer of the vine in all his veins.’
403–65. Expanded with reorganization from Mabinogion: ‘And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary-headed man, and he asked him in the first place, to whom belonged the palace that he was in. “Truly,” said he, “it was I that built it, and to me also belonged the city and the castle which thou sawest.” “Alas!” said Geraint, “how is it that thou hast lost them now?” “I lost a great Earldom as well as these,” said he, “and this is how I lost them. I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his possessions to myself; and when he came to his strength, he demanded of me his property, but I withheld it from him. So he made war upon me, and wrested from me all that I possessed.”’ Hallam Tennyson comments: ‘In the Mabinogion Earl Yniol is the wrong-doer, and has earned his reward; but the poet has made the story more interesting and more poetic by making the tale of wrong-doing a calumny on the part of the Earl’s nephew.’ He also notes another aspect of this rearrangement: ‘In the Idyll, for the greater unity of the tale, the nephew and the knight of the Sparrow-hawk are one.’
412. under-shapen: deformed and dwarfish. Tennyson’s coinage.
426–8. Not in Mabinogion. Geraint’s reputation was celebrated by the Welsh bards.
432. at Camelot: Arthur’s principal court; Geraint’s adventures relate to Caerleon.
437. grateful: agreeable, acceptable.
440. Limours: introduced from later in Mabinogion. However, Tennyson’s characterization is entirely his own.
465–73. Not in Mabinogion.
480–85. Mabinogion: ‘In the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be set up, and upon the forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a Sparrow-Hawk… and no man can joust for the Sparrow-Hawk, except the lady he loves best be with him.’
495–503. Mabinogion: ‘And if… thou wilt permit me, Sir, to challenge for yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from the tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live; and if I do not escape, she will remain unsullied as before.’
504–32. Not in Mabinogion.
522. coursed one another, followed one another.
531–2. She found no rest, and ever fail’d to draw/The quiet night into her blood: Hallam Tennyson compares Aeneid iv 529–31: ‘neque umquam/solvitur in somnos, oculisve aut pectore noctem/accipif’ (‘She never sinks to sleep, nor draws the night into eyes or heart’).
543. The chair of Idris: ‘Idris was one of the three primitive Bards. Cader Idris, the noblest mountain next to Snowdon in N. Wales’ (T.).
562–74. As in Mabinogion.
563. dishorsed: unhorsed, dismounted. Tennyson’s coinage.
565–6. and now and then from distant walls/There came a clapping as of phantom hands: ‘This is an echo of the sword-clash’ (T.).
567. breathed: paused, rested.
584—5. This addition to Mabinogion was necessitated by Tennyson’s changes.
592–6. Mabinogion later gives a detailed account of Edyrn’s return to the court, which suggested Tennyson’s handling of the close of ’Geraint and Enid’.
595–6. and fell at last/In the great battle fighting for the King: Tennyson’s addition.
609ff. Hallam Tennyson quotes Mabinogion: ‘“Where is the Earl Ynywl,” said Geraint, “and his wife, and his daughter:” “They are in the chamber yonder,” said the Earl’s chamberlain, “arraying themselves in garments which the Earl has caused to be brought for them.” “Let not the damsel array herself,” said he, “except in her vest and her veil, until she come to the Court of Arthur, to be clad by Gwenhwyvar, in such garments as she may choose.” So the maiden did not array herself.’ From this point Tennyson considerably expands, through to 1. 826.
Idylls of the King Page 36