23 OCTOBER 1897, Page 16

TENNYSON.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.']

SIR,—Lord Tennyson is in his Life (Vol. II., p. 14) reported to have said : "I never put two s's together in any verse of mine. My line is not, as often quoted- ' And freedom broadens slowly down,'

but—

And freedom slowly broadens down.'"

On reading this I opened my Tennyson casually, and the first piece I saw was "Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere," which, contains four instances of the double "s," namely :—

"Sometimes the linnet piped his song."

"She seemed a part of joyous spring."

"As she fled." "As she swayed."

The next piece is "The Farewell," which has the line,— " No more by thee my steps shall be."

The next piece is "The Beggar Maid," which has the con- secutive lines,— " As shines the moon in clouded skies, She in her poor attire was seen."

Thinking that perhaps Lord Tennyson referred to his blank verse, I turned to the "Dedication of the Idylls," in which I find these two lines :—

" Or how should England dreaming of his sons,"

and—

"Till God's love set thee at his side again."

Lord Tennyson must, I think, have been misreported.—I am, Sir, &c., United University Club, October 13th. W. W. WARD.