2-982-063 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Scene from Tennyson's "Queen Mary" at the Lyceum Theatre, 1876. London stage production. 'The Laureate has been careful to depict the more human relations, in which the King of Spain and the Queen of England stood towards each other. Both persecutors of heretics, they were nevertheless husband and wife, and are thus redeemed within the limits of general sympathy...[Tennyson] attributed to Mary the utmost devotion and constancy to her haughty lord. Our Illustration presents a scene between them in which she pleads for his pity and compassion, for some return of love for love. It is one that stands for many. Philip humiliates his Queen by making her dependant on the wily Renard for his decision whether his Majesty has leisure for a single day to postpone the affairs of the state for the sake of his wife, and an indulgence of matrimonial sentiment'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.