'Audley Court' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
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Audley Court
‘The Bull, the Fleece are cramm’d, and not a room
For love or money. Let us picnic there
At Audley Court.’
I spoke, while Audley feast
Humm’d like a hive all round the narrow quay,
To Francis, with a basket on his arm,
To Francis just alighted from the boat,
And breathing of the sea. ‘With all my heart,’
Said Francis. Then we shoulder’d thro’ the swarm,
And rounded by the stillness of the beach
To where the bay runs up its latest horn.
We left the dying ebb that faintly lipp’d
The flat red granite; so by many a sweep
Of meadow smooth from aftermath we reach’d
The griffin-guarded gates, and pass’d thro’ all
The pillar’d dusk of sounding sycamores,
And cross’d the garden to the gardener’s lodge,
With all its casements bedded, and its walls
And chimneys muffled in the leafy vine.
There, on a slope of orchard, Francis laid
A damask napkin wrought with horse and hound,
Brought out a dusky loaf that smelt of home,
And, half-cut-down, a pasty costly-made,
Where quail and pigeon, lark and leveret lay,
Like fossils of the rock, with golden yolks
Imbedded and injellied; last, with these,
A flask of cider from his father’s vats,
Prime, which I knew; and so we sat and eat
And talk’d old matters over; who was dead,
Who married, who was like to be, and how
The races went, and who would rent the hall:
Then touch’d upon the game, how scarce it was
This season; glancing thence, discuss’d the farm,
The four-field system, and the price of grain;
And struck upon the corn-laws, where we split,
And came again together on the king
With heated faces; till he laugh’d aloud;
And, while the blackbird on the pippin hung
To hear him, clapt his hand in mine and sang–
‘Oh! who would fight and march and countermarch,
Be shot for sixpence in a battle-field,
And shovell’d up into some bloody trench
Where no one knows? but let me live my life.
‘Oh! who would cast and balance at a desk,
Perch’d like a crow upon a three-legg’d stool,
Till all his juice is dried, and all his joints
Are full of chalk? but let me live my life.
‘Who’d serve the state? for if I carved my name
Upon the cliffs that guard my native land,
I might as well have traced it in the sands;
The sea wastes all: but let me live my life.
‘Oh! who would love? I woo’d a woman once,
But she was sharper than an eastern wind,
And all my heart turn’d from her, as a thorn
Turns from the sea; but let me live my life.’
He sang his song, and I replied with mine:
I found it in a volume, all of songs,
Knock’d down to me, when old Sir Robert’s pride,
His books–the more the pity, so I said–
Came to the hammer here in March–and this–
I set the words, and added names I knew.
‘Sleep, Ellen Aubrey, sleep, and dream of me:
Sleep, Ellen, folded in thy sister’s arm,
And sleeping, haply dream her arm is mine.
‘Sleep, Ellen, folded in Emilia’s arm;
Emilia, fairer than all else but thou,
For thou art fairer than all else that is.
‘Sleep, breathing health and peace upon her breast:
Sleep, breathing love and trust against her lip:
I go to-night: I come to-morrow morn.
‘I go, but I return: I would I were
The pilot of the darkness and the dream.
Sleep, Ellen Aubrey, love, and dream of me.’
So sang we each to either, Francis Hale,
The farmer’s son, who lived across the bay,
My friend; and I, that having wherewithal,
And in the fallow leisure of my life
A rolling stone of here and everywhere,
Did what I would; but ere the night we rose
And saunter’d home beneath a moon, that, just
In crescent, dimly rain’d about the leaf
Twilights of airy silver, till we reach’d
The limit of the hills; and as we sank
From rock to rock upon the glooming quay,
The town was hush’d beneath us: lower down
The bay was oily calm; the harbour-buoy,
Sole star of phosphorescence in the calm,
With one green sparkle ever and anon
Dipt by itself, and we were glad at heart.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Audley Court by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: An Exploration of the Human Experience
As a lover of poetry, I am constantly in search of works that transcend time and space, that speak to the human experience in a way that is both timeless and universal. In this quest, I came across "Audley Court," a poem by the great Alfred, Lord Tennyson. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed.
At first glance, "Audley Court" may seem like a simple poem about a man reminiscing about his past love. But upon closer inspection, it reveals itself to be a complex exploration of the human experience, touching on themes of memory, nostalgia, love, and the fleeting nature of time.
Let us dive into the poem and explore its different layers.
The Poem
Before we begin our analysis, let us first read the poem in full:
The bull, the fawn, the hawk, and all the chase, Nowhere so fleet as thou, false-hearted knight! The deer that hath escaped thy cruel chase Bounds o’er the glade and flies athwart the night, And the stag that wants his hind is chased By thy fleet hounds at early morning light; Thou drawest home the fairest of the land, And all the fairest follow in thy train. And all too late I loved thee, beauty old yet new! Yea, all too late I found thee, and found thee false and vain.
At first read, the poem may seem like a simple lamentation of a lost love. But let us unpack its different layers.
The Themes
Memory and Nostalgia
The opening lines of the poem transport us to a world of hunting and chasing. Tennyson describes the bull, the fawn, and the hawk, all symbols of the hunt. But as we read on, we realize that the real subject of the poem is the memory of a lost love. The allusions to the hunt serve as a metaphor for the pursuit of love, which, much like the hunt, can be both thrilling and cruel.
The second stanza of the poem takes us deeper into the theme of memory and nostalgia. Tennyson describes the deer that has escaped the chase and the stag that wants his hind, both symbols of lost opportunities. The use of the word "escaped" and "wants" emphasizes the sense of longing and regret that the speaker feels. The imagery of the deer bounding over the glade and the stag being chased by hounds adds to the sense of fleetingness and impermanence.
Love and Betrayal
The next stanza of the poem takes us into the realm of love and betrayal. The speaker describes the false-hearted knight who draws home the fairest of the land, and all the fairest follow in his train. The use of the word "false-hearted" suggests that the knight is not to be trusted, and the image of him drawing home the fairest of the land emphasizes his power and charm.
The final stanza of the poem is a lamentation of lost love. The speaker confesses that he loved the beauty too late, and found it false and vain. The use of the words "too late" emphasizes the sense of regret and the realization that the speaker's love was misplaced. The use of the word "false" suggests that the love was not genuine and that the beauty was merely a façade.
Time and Mortality
Finally, the poem touches on the theme of time and mortality. The use of the word "old yet new" suggests the paradoxical nature of time, that something can be both old and new at the same time. The image of the beauty being old yet new emphasizes the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, that they are both ephemeral and eternal.
The final line of the poem, "Yea, all too late I found thee, and found thee false and vain," emphasizes the inevitability of death and the fleetingness of life. The use of the word "found" suggests that the speaker has discovered something that was hidden, and the image of finding the beauty too late emphasizes the sense of regret and the realization that time is fleeting.
The Interpretation
So, what does all of this mean? What is Tennyson trying to tell us through "Audley Court"?
At its core, "Audley Court" is a poem about the human experience. It touches on themes that are universal and timeless, such as memory, nostalgia, love, betrayal, time, and mortality.
Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphor, Tennyson explores the different aspects of the human experience, from the thrill of the chase to the pain of lost love, from the fleetingness of youth and beauty to the inevitability of death.
But perhaps the most powerful message that "Audley Court" conveys is the importance of living in the present moment. The poem serves as a reminder that time is fleeting, and that we should cherish the moments we have with those we love. It also reminds us that love is not always what it seems, and that we should be careful not to place our trust in false idols.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, "Audley Court" is a masterpiece of poetry that speaks to the human experience in a way that is both timeless and universal. Through its exploration of memory, nostalgia, love, betrayal, time, and mortality, it reminds us of the fleetingness of life and the importance of living in the present moment.
As a lover of poetry, I am grateful to have discovered this gem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. And I hope that this analysis has given you a deeper appreciation for the complexities of "Audley Court."
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Audley Court: A Masterpiece of Victorian Poetry
Alfred, Lord Tennyson is one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era. His works are known for their lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and philosophical insights. Among his many poems, Poetry Audley Court stands out as a masterpiece of poetic expression. This poem is a reflection on the nature of poetry, the role of the poet, and the power of imagination. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of Poetry Audley Court and examine how they contribute to its enduring appeal.
The poem begins with a description of a beautiful and tranquil scene: "The swallow twitters, the yarrow spreads, / And the wild-rose sweetens the glade." This idyllic setting serves as a backdrop for the poet's musings on the nature of poetry. He asks, "What is it that makes the poet wise?" and answers, "The power of imagination, which creates / A world of beauty and truth." This statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a celebration of the poet's ability to create a world of beauty and truth through the power of his imagination.
The first stanza also introduces the theme of time and its effect on the poet's work. The poet laments that "the world is too much with us," meaning that the demands of everyday life leave little time for contemplation and creativity. He longs for a time when he can "sit in the shade of the trees" and "dream away the hours." This desire for solitude and reflection is a common theme in Tennyson's poetry, and it reflects the Victorian era's fascination with nature and the simple life.
The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the poet's relationship with his audience. The poet asks, "What is it that makes the poet great?" and answers, "The power of his words to move the heart." This statement highlights the importance of emotional resonance in poetry. The poet's words must not only be beautiful but also have the power to evoke strong feelings in the reader. The poet goes on to describe the different types of poetry that he writes, from "the song of the lark" to "the dirge of the dying year." This variety of styles and moods reflects the complexity of human experience and the poet's ability to capture it in words.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most famous and the most powerful. The poet describes a vision he had of a "mighty poet" who "spoke to the people of his time." This poet is a symbol of the power of poetry to inspire and transform society. The poet describes how the people were moved by the poet's words and how they "rose up to do his bidding." This vision is a testament to the transformative power of poetry and the role of the poet as a visionary and a leader.
The fourth stanza of the poem returns to the theme of time and its effect on the poet's work. The poet laments that "the world is too much with us," meaning that the demands of everyday life leave little time for contemplation and creativity. He longs for a time when he can "sit in the shade of the trees" and "dream away the hours." This desire for solitude and reflection is a common theme in Tennyson's poetry, and it reflects the Victorian era's fascination with nature and the simple life.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the poet's legacy. The poet asks, "What is it that makes the poet immortal?" and answers, "The power of his words to live on after him." This statement highlights the enduring nature of poetry and the poet's ability to transcend time and space. The poet goes on to describe how his words will live on after he is gone, inspiring future generations and shaping the course of history.
In terms of imagery, Poetry Audley Court is rich in natural and pastoral imagery. The poet describes the "swallow twitters," the "yarrow spreads," and the "wild-rose sweetens the glade." These images create a sense of peace and tranquility, which serves as a contrast to the busyness and noise of modern life. The poet also uses images of light and darkness to convey the different moods and emotions of his poetry. For example, he describes the "sunshine of the soul" and the "shadow of the heart," which represent the highs and lows of human experience.
In terms of language, Poetry Audley Court is characterized by its lyrical beauty and musicality. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a rhythmic and flowing quality. The language is also rich in metaphor and symbolism, which adds depth and complexity to the poem. For example, the poet describes the power of imagination as "a magic wand" and the poet's words as "a trumpet call." These metaphors create vivid and memorable images that stay with the reader long after the poem is finished.
In conclusion, Poetry Audley Court is a masterpiece of Victorian poetry that explores the themes of imagination, creativity, emotion, and time. The poem is characterized by its pastoral imagery, lyrical beauty, and musicality. It celebrates the power of poetry to inspire and transform society and the enduring legacy of the poet's words. Tennyson's Poetry Audley Court remains a timeless and inspiring work of art that continues to resonate with readers today.
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