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Surely the finest exbibitiou of the poet's skill is shewn in depicting 

 states of mind bordering on insanity. In the morbid state we may best 

 discover the pi'oper functions of the healthy mind; as some truths are 

 best learned by carefully investigating the antagonistic error. Observe 

 too, how here, as in Shakspeare's dramas, the freedom of human will, 

 the perfect law of liberty, is shewn and vindicated : no victim of irresis- 

 tible fate is here ; the development of the plot is shewn in the natural 

 results of the causes in operation, and the mixed motives and feelings 

 of humanity are manifested with perfect truth. 



Maud herself, as seen in this slight sketch, appears to lis as one of 

 those bright conceptions of the poet's art which may well excite our 

 admiration. In all the happy joyousness of early life, with an apparent 

 unconsciousness of her own worth and beauty, she beams upon us with 

 all the greater power, from her unpretending simplicity, so true is it, 

 that he that is content to lose his life shall find it ; and in her willing- 

 ness to recognise her true mission, Maud finds her truest happiness. 

 It may be objected that this poem has received too tragic a termination 

 ju the death of JNIaud, that it would have been better to have represen- 

 ted her as ultimately united to the man whose fate had been changed by 

 her " gentle will : " but as in " Romeo and Juliet," Shakspeare in their 

 death shews us the earthly suffering and -ruin of the humanly noble 

 and beautiful, which has fallen a prey to human weakness ; so Tennyson, 

 in the death of Maud, has manifested a higher conception of his art 

 than those objectors can discover. 



We must now consider the passages in which the hero denounces, 

 with intensity of heart, the social woe he finds around him, and the 

 aspect of those passages viewed in connection -with the war which has 

 been waged so lately, and which occupied with so absorbing an interest 

 the public mind. We think, however, that it would be wrong to 

 suppose that this poem was ever intended by Tennyson as the Poet 

 Laureate's contribution to the literature of his country on the special 

 subject of the war ; for exception has been taken to it on the ground 

 tliat it does not answer the expectation of what Tennyson might have 

 (lone on so great a theme ; we think, however, that these critics judge 

 it from a false point of view, judging that as its essence which is in 

 reality only an accident. Wc take it that Tennyson only intended to 

 write a poem which might exhibit the mind of such a one as he has 

 ihosen for his hero when subjected to the influences which he has 

 [lortrayed, and that the war is simply introduced as one incident which 

 may fairly be alluded to among other subjects of interest at the time. 



But wc do maintain that the view of peace and war which is here 

 • n undated is substantially true, and that a great lesson is hero taught. 



