all her life-currents, pure, and fresh, and sparkling, as they were,
and we must suppose that she than sank slowly and uncomplainingly away.
What a deep pathos there is in "then all smiles stopped together"! *

--
* "I gave commands" certainly must not be understood to mean
commands for her death, as it is understood by the writer of the articles
in `The Saint Paul's Magazine' for December, 1870, and January, 1871.
{See Preface: Note to the Third Edition.}
--

The contemptible meanness and selfishness of jealousy
were never exhibited with greater power, than they are exhibited in
this short monologue -- a power largely due to the artistic treatment.
The jealousy of Leontes, in `The Winter's Tale', of Shakespeare,
is nobility itself, in comparison with the Duke's. How distinctly,
while indirectly, the sweet Duchess is, with a few masterly touches,
placed before us! The poet shows his artistic skill especially
in his indirect, reflected portraitures.

This short composition, comprising as it does but fifty-six lines,
is, of itself, sufficient to prove the poet a consummate artist.
Tennyson's TECHNIQUE is quite perfect, almost "faultily faultless",
indeed; but in no one of his compositions has he shown an equal degree
of art-power, in the highest sense of the word.


{`My Last Duchess'}

"That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,