98 March — Tennyson 's use of Reeds* 



of their former self remains, all ghastly in the twilight 

 So Tennyson says : — 



' Ever the zveary wind went on, 

 And took the reed-tops as it went/ 



And farther on in the same poem the song of the 

 dying swan is associated with 



1 The wavy swell of the soughing reeds.' 



And in the 4 Morte d' Arthur,' where the poet has 

 sought every circumstance which could heighten the ef- 

 fect of melancholy sublimity, — the ' dark strait of barren 

 land,' the sea-wind singing ' shrill, chill, with flakes of 

 foam,' ' the winter moon,' — he has not failed to remem- 

 ber the poetical use of reeds : — 



1 Better to leave Excalibur conceaPd 

 There i?i the many -knotted water/lags 

 That whistled stiff and dry about the marge* 



And a few lines farther on, — 



1 " I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, 

 And the wild water lapping on the crag." 



To whom replied King Arthur, faint and pale, 

 u Thou hast betrayed thy nature and thy name." ' 



This reference to the reeds occurs a second time with 

 the effect of a mournful refrain : — 



' Then spoke King Arthur, breathing heavily, 

 " What is it thou hast seen, or what hast heard ? " 



And answer made the bold Sir Bedivere, 

 " I heard the water lapping on the crag, 

 And the long ripple washing in the reeds." ' 



Even in Mrs. Browning's fine little poem, ' A Musical 



