Mariana in the South
244 Words
First printed in 1833.
This poem had been written as early as 1831 (see Arthur Hallam's letter, 'Life', i., 284-5, Appendix), and Lord Tennyson tells us that it "came to my father as he was travelling between Narbonne and Perpignan"; how vividly the characteristic features of Southern France are depicted must be obvious to every one who is familiar with them. It is interesting to compare it with the companion poem; the central position is the same in both, desolate loneliness, and the mood is the same, but the setting is far more picturesque and is therefore more dwelt upon. The poem was very greatly altered when re-published in 1842, that text being practically the final one, there being no important variants afterwards.
In the edition of 1833 the poem opened with the following stanza, which was afterwards excised and the stanza of the present text substituted.
[Footnote 1: 1833 From her warm brow and bosom down.]
[Footnote 2: 1833. On either side.]
[Footnote 3: Compare Keats, 'Eve of St. Agnes', "her maiden eyes divine".]
[Footnote 4: 1833. "Madonna," with melodious moan Sang Mariana, etc.]
[Footnote 5: 1833. When the dawncrimson changed.]
[Footnote 6: 1833.
[Footnote 7: 1833.
[Footnote 8: 1835. Most false: he was and was not there.]
[Footnote 9: 1833. The sick olive. So the text remained till 1850, when "one" was substituted.]
[Footnote 10: 1833.
[Footnote 11: 1833.
[Footnote 12: This stanza and the next not in 1833.]
[Footnote 13: 1833.
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