[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."1
SIR,—It is, I think, impossible that Tennyson can have meant to write "In Love the indifference to be," as Mr. Mayor seems to suggest. That, surely, would require a comma. at the end of the preceding line. Even as it is, we should almost have expected this. Compare the last two lines of the second stanza :
"Within the green the moulder'd tree, And towers fall'n as soon as built."
These seem to explain the construction of the two lines under discussion; the " moulder'd tree " is seen " within" the green one; the towers, as soon as they are built, are seen (as) fallen. So " in " life prolonged is seen "true life no more" ; Love is seen (as) the indifference it will be. Life and "true life" may or may not coexist in one person, but love and indifference are incompatible ; even God cannot see indifference in love while it lasts, though He may see it fallen to indifference. This may be too curious a consideration, but the passage needs explanation, and is perhaps only to be satisfactorily explained in this way.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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