256 ROUND THE YEAR 



That Tennyson's use of natural fact depends upon 

 real sympathy is clear to all who observe how the 

 animals and flowers which throng his written fancies 

 render each its due service. What desolation Tennyson 

 adds to " Aylmer's Field " by the mention of the shy 

 creatures which come back to their ancient haunts, 

 after the wilful lord has undone the last of his 



" And where the two contrived their daughter's good, 

 Lies the hawk's cast, the mole has made his run, 

 The hedgehog underneath the plantain bores, 

 The rabbit fondles his own harmless face, 

 The slow-worm creeps, and the thin weasel there 

 Follows the mouse, and all is open field." 



The stanza, 



" When rosy plumelets tuft the larch, 

 And rarely pipes the mounted thrush, 

 Or underneath the barren bush 

 Flits by the sea-blue bird of March," 



sets the larch and the kingfisher of early spring in their 

 corner of the canvas with the sprightliness and the sure 

 touch of Rosa Bonheur. The tapestry which hung 

 the rooms of the Palace of Art is a real gallery of 

 pictures, which many a lover of poetry knows by 

 heart I quote one verse only. 



" One showed an iron coast and angry waves. 

 You seemed to hear them climb and fall 

 And roar rock-thwarted under bellowing caves, 

 Beneath the windy wall." 



Among a crowd of other examples which press 



