Chapter III: Act III

SCENE I.--ARTHUR, MORDRED, DAGONET, _and Nobles_.

_Enter the_ QUEEN _in great trouble_.

_Enter_ KNIGHTS _bringing in a dead body and crying Treason!
Treason!_

(_The Queen takes her State._)

_Arthur._ Who would accuse the Queen?

_Sir Mador._ ’Tis I, my Liege.

_Arthur._ What be the substance of thine accusation?

_Sir Mador._ Murder! Sire, murder! most foul and treacherous!

_Other Knights._ Yea, murder, foul and treacherous!

_Arthur._ On whom?

_Sir Mador._ On the body of this knight, my brother, Sir
Patrise, whom thou knowest to have been a courteous knight of
much steadfastness to thee and the Court.

_Arthur._ It is most strange. Relate the circumstances.

_Sir Mador._ ’Twas at the banquet, Sir King, where we all
invited of thy Queen, the Madam Guinevere, who sitteth there,
and after meat, she with much courtesy of seeming, did press
on us to partake of some fruit, the which on partaking of,
my brother, this dead knight, did fall in agony so extreme
and mortal, that his soul went out, and now he lieth as thou
see’st him.

_Other Knights._ Yea, ’tis true, ’tis as he saith, a most foul
and damnable murder.

_Arthur._ (_Turns to the queen._) Madam, what sayest thou to
this accusation?

_Guin._ ’Tis a false foul lie. I am innocent of this deed.

_Dagonet._ (_Aside._) Yea, ’tis true!

_Arthur._ Thou see’st this dead knight here and these
witnesses, as I am King I must see justice, even against
thee. Hast thou no other defence to offer?

_Guin._ Nay, my lord, as I am the Queen, ’tis a most damnable
lie. ’Fore Heaven, I am innocent of this strange murder.

_Dagonet._ (_Aside._) Now is my soul in flames!

_Sir Mador._ According to our ancient laws, when a guest dies
in this most suspicious manner, where proof of grievous
intent is present, the accused is condemned to be burnt at
the stake.

_Guin._ Great Heaven!

_Arthur._ ’Tis a foul punishment.

_Sir Mador._ But for a foul crime.

_Other Knights._ Yea, ’tis but justice.

_Arthur._ There is also a trial.

_Mordred._ Yea, Sire, the accused being a woman must have a
knight to prove her innocence by his body on the body of the
accuser ere the time of death be accomplished.

_Arthur._ Then be it so. The law must follow on the weight of
these many witnesses. (_Turning to the Queen._) Guinevere,
Queen of Britain, I believe thee guiltless of the crime
whereof thou art accused, as thou hast said. As King I am
not free to prove thine innocence with my body, but as the
King, unless thou procurest a knight to assoil thee ere the
time appointed, I here condemn thee to be taken hence to a
place of public note and there be burnt to death, as the law
requireth.

_Guin._ Oh Great Heaven! (_Falls in a swoon._)

_Arthur._ Sir knight, art thou satisfied?

_Sir Mador._ Yea, on my body.

_Arthur._ Then clear the Court. [_Exit_ Knights.
Madam, this is the heaviest hour of all my life.

_Guin._ (_Supported by her ladies._) Yea, my lord, thou wilt
save me?

_Arthur._ That I will, in all justice. Ho, there, without!

_Enter a_ Page.

Bring me Sir Hake on the instant. (_Enter_ SIR HAKE.)

_Arthur._ I command that this stern sentence on the body of
the noble Queen be proclaimed widely, and that messengers be
sent, on pain of death, to find Sir Gwaine and Sir Launcelot,
that if they be not procured here within the present month,
that the messengers pay the penalty with their bodies.

_Sir Hake._ Yea Sire, it will be done. [_Exit._

_Arthur._ And thou, my Queen, retire to your apartments, I will
come shortly to you. Keep up thy heart, as thou art innocent
so will Heaven help thee.

_Guin._ Yea, my Lord, thou wilt save me, as I am innocent.

[_Exit_ GUINEVERE _and her_ ladies.

_Arthur._ Ho, Page, bring wine, (_aside_) I would forget my sorrow.
Bring wine! I say, and send hither my fool! [_Exit_ Page.

_Enter_ DAGONET.

_Arthur._ Fool, I would forget my heaviness. Make me merry.

_Dagonet._ (_Aside._) Oh God! (_To the King._) Yea, Sire, what
would’st thou have?

_Arthur._ Some music.

_Dagonet._ Yea, Sire. (_Sings._)

Blue is the summer morning’s sky,
And birds are glad and merry.
And Anna’s eyes are sweet and sly,
Her cheeks like any cherry;--
Her lips like dewy rosebuds are
Upon the gladsome morning.
She is my love, my heart’s glad star,
In spite of all her scorning.

So fill the cup of gladness up
And drink to youth and morning.
Let sadness go with evening sup,
I’m hers for all her scorning.

_Arthur._ Would I had thy merry heart, Fool.

_Dagonet._ Yea, Sire!

SCENE II.--LAUNCELOT _discovered seated almost naked amid
swineherds_.

(LAUNCELOT _sings_.)

Once there was a castle hall,
Fair, fair to see,
Armored dight, and splendored all,
Filled with shout o’ revelry.
Came the hosts o’ fate and rage
Thundered on its walls amain.
Sunken now like ruined age,
Never laughs its light again.
I loved a Queen and she loved me.
Aye, that were long ago!
Come now wrack, come now woe,
Strike now lightning, beat now snow!
Memory, I’ll ha’ none o thee!

Ha! ha! Cowards, who’ll fight? (_Rises_.) Ha! Ha!

_Enter a_ Knight.

_Knight._ Who be this?

_1st Swineherd._ Him be mad though him hurt us not, for us be soft
wi’ him, him tend a’ swine.

_2nd Swineherd._ Him mun fight, but us not answer. Him be o’er
hulk a man twa hanle a staff.

_Laun._ Winds are cold and flowers are dead. All is past, past!

_Knight._ Ho there, who be thou?

_Laun._ ’Tis an old world, an old, old world. I tell thee truth,
I loved a Queen, but that be long past.

_Knight._ His wits be dull.--Who art thou fellow?

_Laun._ It hath been never Summer this many a year. Can’st tell
me why?

_Knight._ ’Tis Summer now, thou Fool!

_Laun._ Nay nay, ’tis but Winter. I loved a Queen----

_Knight._ Oh, damn thy Queen! who art thou?

_Laun._ Yea, damn all Queens, I am with thee, Friend,--wilt thou
fight?

_Knight._ Not with thee.

_Laun._ Damn thee! thou wilt!

_Knight._ I tell thee I won’t.

_Laun._ Then damn thee! take that! (_Knocks him down._)

_Knight._ Oh! oh! I am murdered!

_Laun._ More! more!

_Enter_ GWAINE.

_Gwaine._ Ha, at last, it seemeth!

_1st Swineherd._ Have care, Master! Him be dread.

_Gwaine._ How long hath he been like this?

_2nd Swineherd._ ’Tis some time agone. At first him did tear the
earth
An’ bite hisself, but him be better now.

_Laun._ I chased the moon the silly moon,
Ahind a willard tree.
I knocked the stars like nine-pins down,
One, two, three.
I loved a Queen. Ha! ha! ’tis Winter.

_Gwaine._ And this be he, the best o’ Arthur’s Court,
A ragged ninny, mouthing wanton froth,
The sport o’ pig-folk, this be love’s good work,
Oh Love! thou hast much to answer!

_1st Swineherd._ Him want allus twa foight.

_Gwaine._ Yea, he spoileth for a bout, ’tis often a right cure.
I will try it, God give it may bring him round.
(_To_ LAUNCELOT.) Ho there, Fellow!

_Laun._ Ho thyself, Windbag. Thou hast a fine voice, Friend.
Can’st thou call back memory?

_Gwaine._ Yea I can.

_Laun._ Can’st thou find Spring time? I loved, I loved,--

_Gwaine._ Oh damn love--dost thou know me?

_Laun._ Know thee? know thee? I know thou art a man. Wilt thou
fight, Friend?

_Gwaine._ With a merry good will.

_Laun._ Then lets to ’t.

_Gwaine._ (_Takes a quarter staff, they fight hard and long._)
GWAINE _belabors_ LAUNCELOT _on the head, back and shoulders_.

_Laun._ Ha, it raineth thoughts now. Come on Hell, come on.

_Gwaine._ Yea, am I coming, (_Hits him harder._) If I beat that
damned love out o’ him I will do him a good deed. How’s that
and that?

_Laun._ And that, and that. (_Both fight till exhausted._)

_Gwaine._ Launcelot, dost know thyself now?

_Laun._ Methinks I partly do, under a cloud.

_Gwaine._ And dost thou know me?

_Laun._ Methinks thou art the moon.

_Gwaine._ Damn, this love! If I be the moon thou shalt find me
no honeymoon. (_Hits him again, they fight fiercer._)

_Laun._ Come on, thou art welcome. Oh!

_Gwaine._ Well, dost thou know me yet?

_Laun._ Methinks thou art one named Gwaine. Oh my bones!

_Gwaine._ Be this Winter?

_Laun._ I be warm now.

_Gwaine._ An dost thou love a Queen?

_Laun._ What mean’st thou?

_Gwaine._ I would rid thee of this damned love.

_Laun._ Then wouldst thou rid me of this life. Gwaine, thou art
a noble soul, but thou can’st not do that.

_Gwaine._ Art thou thyself now?

_Laun._ Methinks I am--Yea I have been mad.

_Gwaine._ Yea and I have cured thee. Come, this be no place.
Let us go.

[_Exit both._

SCENE III.--_Another part of the forest._--LAUNCELOT and GWAINE.

_Gwaine._ Launcelot, thou art a fool. Thou art the King’s man,
and the best. Thou hast an arm and a sword on it. Thou must
come. I will no longer here.

_Laun._ I may not, this hurt be too deep.

_Gwaine._ Damn thy hurt, man! thou art sound as I.

_Laun._ ’Tis a deep hurt, Launcelot fights no more. Here will I
die.

_Gwaine._ Better go a Monk, thou art a fool, Man. This love is
a girl’s folly. Fighting is a man’s trade and his sword his
true mistress. Gwaine will have no other. Come, thou art not
dead yet.

_Laun._ Aye Gwaine thou wastest words, Launcelot is ended.

_Gwaine._ Damn thee! I gave my word I would bring thee, will I
have to go foresworn else carry thee on my back. Have I cured
thy madness but for this?

_Laun._ Nay, nay, make peace best thou canst. Thou art a good
fellow, but I cannot. Launcelot will die here.

_Gwaine._ I say, damn thee, thou shalt come!

_Laun._ Thou liest! (_Both spring to their feet and draw._)
(_Trumpets without._) (_Enter the_ KING’S Messengers.)

_Gwaine._ Who comes?

_Mess._ From the King.

_Gwaine._ What want ye?

_Mess._ We seek two knights, Sir Launcelot and Sir Gwaine.

_Gwaine._ We be thy men--what be thy message?

_Mess._ The King desireth thee in great haste, the Queen be in
great peril.

_Laun._ Nay!

_Mess._ Yea, of her life. She be condemned to the stake if a
knight assoil her not with his body on her accuser tomorrow
noon.

_Laun._ Dread Heaven!

_Gwaine._ What be the accusation?

_Mess._ Murder on the body of Sir Patrise.

_Laun._ Enough! hast thou brought horses?

_Mess._ Yea.

_Laun._ Then quick! on your lives! lead us hence!

[_Exit_ LAUNCELOT and Messengers.

_Gwaine._ The foul fiend take this love! It be a queer sickness
indeed. Anon it made him like to luke water, and now he be
all fire. It bloweth now up now down, like the wind i’ a
chimney. Yea I love that man like a father his child. There
is no sword like to his i’ the whole kingdom. An’ a wench
that be a queen leadeth him like a goss-hawk. (_Voices
without._)

Yea, I am coming. [_Exit._

SCENE IV.--(_Enter_ Court-ushers _with trumpets_, Soldiers _and
_Knights. _Enter the_ KING: _takes his State. Enter the_ QUEEN _in
a black robe surrounded by her_ Women, _comes to the foot of the
Throne, falls on her face_.)

_Guin._ Arthur, thou wilt save me?

_Arthur._ My Queen, as the king I may not. My heart is hell.
Put thy trust in Heaven.

_Guin._ ’Tis a dread death.

_Arthur._ Madam, could Arthur save thee he would. If thou diest
so doth my joy in this world--keep thy heart.

_Guin._ ’Fore God, I am innocent.

_Arthur._ Thou must trust to Heaven.

_Guin._ That I do. (_Rises and takes her state._)

_Court Chamberlain._ Guinevere, Queen of Britain, of this dread
crime whereof thou art accused what hast thou to say?

_Guin._ (_Rises._) That I Guinevere, Queen of Britain, am
innocent of this most foul charge of which I am here accused,
and here call on Heaven to prove on the body of that foul
knight mine accuser.

Marshalls _enter and trumpets are blown_.

_Court-Chamberlain._ Doth no knight assoil the Queen?

_Guin._ Heaven help me!

_Arthur._ Do no knights approach?

_Page._ Nay, Sire.

_Arthur._ Then has the hour of my life’s sorrow come.

_Enter_ SIR MADOR _doffs to the_ KING.

_Sir Mador._ Sire, the time hath almost passed and I demand a
knight to do no battle, or that the Queen be burnt.

_Guin._ (_Aside._) Merciful Heaven!

_Arthur._ (_To the_ Page.) Do none come?

_Page._ Nay, Sire.

_Dagonet._ Were I not bound to Vivien body and soul, I would
state the truth. Nay I am accursed. There is but one way.
(_Staggers to the front of the throne the throng presses back
in wonder._)

_Dagonet._ (_Kneels._) Sire!

_Arthur._ (_In voice of thunder._) Well fool?

_Dagonet._ Didst thou not once make me a knight?

_Arthur._ Yea, in a moment of jest.

_Dagonet._ Then would I take this gage!

_Guin._ Nay, nay, death, death, but not this insult!
What base knight of this court hath prompted this?

_Dagonet._ None, none my Lady, ’tis my wish.

_Arthur._ Take him out! Now is Arthur shamed!

Knights _hurry_ DAGONET _out_.

_Dagonet._ (_Aside._) Now is Hell indeed my portion.

_Guin._ Sire, I would now die.

_Arthur._ Yea, my Queen, so would Arthur.

_Sir Mador._ Sire, the time be up. And, I, as the accuser, now
ask that thou, as King, wilt command that Guinevere, Queen of
Britain, who standeth there, be taken from hence and burnt
till she be dead.

_A commotion without_, LAUNCELOT _rushes in draws and faces_ SIR MADOR.

_Laun._ And I say, nay!

[_Curtain._

SCENE V.--_Enter_ MORDRED.

_Mordred._ Now cursed be the womb that gave me birth!
Thrice cursed be the paps that gave me suck!
That I but made for hellish plots and hates,
And inky thoughts and moods and black despairs,
The most unhappy man in this dread world,
Should house in me a dream of womanhood
Such as doth dwell in all the milk-white glory
And glamored stateliness of Arthur’s Queen.
Yea would I now forego all I hold dear
In this life and the next, if such there be,
My chance of Heaven thrust to darkest Hell,
One hour like Launcelot to know her love.
Hell! Hell! I laugh at Hell, such flames I burn
Would scorch the northern ice-seas in their beds.
So deep a hell I hold me in my thoughts
Of madness for her love.--Yea I am turned
A very subtle Satan that will plot
High Arthur’s downfall, Launcelot’s banishment,
And all the ruin of this present kingdom.
Yea, I will be a King and perch a crown
In its unsteady poisings on this brow,
So that by very glamor of my power
And inner majesty of mine iron soul,
I build in her a fancy for my person.
For I am Mordred, in this hour I’m great
In subtle cunning far beyond these days
Of mere brute strength and stature physical.--
Yea I was born upon an evil time
Of evil parentage of sin and shame
Thrice cursed in the inner soul and form,
What sportive fate gave me the gifts I bear?
But I am willed to use them to my use.
Yea I will use all deviltries and lies,
All plots and counter-plots to gain mine end.
This misbegotten now doth hold the key
To this doomed kingdom.

_Enter_ VIVIEN.

We are well met. Thou art upon the hour.
The plot grows closer to our waited end.
The net is weaving closer mesh by mesh
That traps the leopard and the lioness.
I have by long connivance, secret planned,
Built round me many knights who hold my weal,
Jealous of Launcelot and Arthur’s glory.
These will be with me when the stroke comes down.
A thousand swords will leap their scabbard mouths
At shout of Mordred! Yea a thousand throats
Will cry me King when my fate topples Arthur.

_Vivien._ Now art thyself, this be thy natural mood.
Yea Mordred when thou kingest it, there will be
A splendid thraldom to true kingliness.
For thou wilt sink a terror in men’s hearts
Of King’s prerogatives will make them fear
The very sound and rumor of thy name.
And there will go before thee waves of will
Presaging thunders of thy royal coming.
But wilt thou then, my Lord, remember Vivien,
When thou dost come unto thy royalty,
Her who did place thy footsteps in the way
That led thee to these gateways of success,
And bade thee trample on thy youthful fears,
And doubts and milksop fancies of the mind,
And gave into thy hand an iron mace,
And bade thee use it? Wilt thou think on her,
The only one who loved thee for thyself,
The single soul that knew thee in the dark,
And loved thee for thy nobler qualities?

_Mordred._ What wouldst thou have me promise?

_Vivien._ I would be a Queen!

_Mordred._ Ha! thou climbest high!
Be careful or thy stairway
In toppling over carry thee to Hell. (_Aside._)
This be her trend I must match cunning with cunning,
And tie this serpent in her venomed coils.
Were she a man, I would admire her much,
But not as woman! She be Mordred’s Queen,
When Queen of women there be one Guinevere!
(_To_ VIVIEN) When I am King thou wouldst then be the Queen?
’Tis a daring thought!

_Vivien._ Not more than that thou bearest,
That Mordred, squat and monster, lorn, despised,
Misgotten, friendless save to such as me,
Should rise in dreams to heights of Arthur’s glory,
And even lust to bed with Guinevere.

_Mordred._ What now? Thou devil!

_Vivien._ Ha! Now I stabbed thy longings to the quick,
And probed thine ink-heart.--Thou dost love the Queen,
Thou, who doth dwell so far below her scorn!

_Mordred._ Witch-hag or Devil! Wert thou but a man,
And I would quickly send thee to that hell
Where thou belongest.

_Vivien._ Nay, I fear thee not.
I am too much a part of all thy plans
For thee to quarrel with. Stab me and thou stabbest
The life of all thy longings. Let my blood,
And with it flows the making of thy dreams.

Mordred. (_Aside._) ’Tis as she says. She’s woven in my web
And I must keep her, devil though she be.
Yea, Mordred! Mordred! (_To_ VIVIEN.)
Vivien thou art hasty,
In dreaming Mordred would do thee an evil.
’Twas but the sudden mantling of the blood.
Yea, I indeed do owe thee overmuch,
And Mordred will pay thee with what gratitude
Of words and acts as such as he possesses.
Yea, when my mind dwells on the what I was,
And that which I now am, an admiration
Sudden and great, comes o’er me at the change,
And the swift transformation thou hast made.
Thou took’st a youth from out his sickly longings,
Vague undefined with musings on this world,
And sick with evil of a shadowed fate,
Dried up his kindness, showed him he was iron,
And gave the keys of cruelty to his hand
Wherewith to pick the lock of this poor kingdom.
Yea, I am wrapt in admiration vast.
Then I would shudder did an evil thought,
Wandering vaguely through my caverned mind,
But stop and grin me. Now it seems mine act
Would neck and neck with Hell’s most foul desire.
Yea, thou hast right in pride of workmanship
In building from material thou hadst
So deft a moulded villain to thy hand.
Yea, Vivien, fear not Mordred will forget,
When every waking moment on his bed,
And every devil knocking on his sill,
Mindeth him of cause for gratitude.

_Vivien._ Wilt thou promise?

_Mordred._ Nay, I will never promise!
What right have I for pledges in this world,
Save pledge that I will topple all to ruin.
This give I Fate, as sure as I am Mordred.
I tell thee, Woman, I am thy slave no more,
Nor slave to any, be it man or devil.

_Vivien._ What art thou then?

_Mordred._ I am thy master. Thou wilt be my slave,
Thou cunning plotter, schemer to my hand,
To be my dagger, poison, flaming brand,
My very slave, convenience, creature, tool;
And if thou art not, I’ll trample, trample thee.
I tell thee I will thrust this kingship out;
Will spin these actors round my crooked thumb,
Until this devil Mordred walketh king.
Little didst thou dream, what demon thou wert raising,
When thou didst conjure Mordred.

_Vivien._ Darest thou me?

_Mordred._ Yea, look into my glass and ask thyself,
What Mordred hath in life to hope or fear?
But I do tell thee, Woman, Mordred in hell
Will be no tortured creature spinning round,
But himself the very devil.
To show my power of evilment, I tell thee,
I know thy fatal liking for myself.
’Tis the one part of thee that now can suffer,
The only part of thee that holdeth good.

_Vivien._ Nay, I will not hearken.

_Mordred_ (_Seizes her wrist._) I’ll bind thee on the rack as thou
hast me,
Or rather finding me there, stretched my sorrows,
And show thee all the devil thou hast roused.
Then hear me, I do scorn that love of thine;
Do trample on, despise, as I do thee!

_Vivien._ (_Falls on her face._) Nay Mordred, thou breakest my
heart,
Nay, curse me not.

_Mordred._ Yea, ask the rack for mercy when it racks,
Or seek for honey in the aspick’s sting!
Yea, more, I tell thee plainly to thy face,
Guinevere makes hell within my breast,
And thou, my slave, wilt help me to her arms.

_Vivien._ One little smile, one little word of peace.

_Mordred._ Nay, silence, or a curse! Wilt thou do this?

_Vivien._ Thou knowest I will, let me but touch thy hand!
Trampled on, despised, I love thee still.

_Mordred._ Now to the point, Launcelot goes this night
To secret assignation with the Queen,
This saving of her life hath patched their quarrel,
And thou must find for me the hour of meeting,
Must intercept the trusted messenger,
And bring me secret knowledge of the time.
I go now with some knights unto the King,
To force his leave for this our undertaking,
And put their secret love to open shame.
Thou must watch near the apartments of the Queen,
And take by fraud or force knowledge of the hour,
And bring it to my ears with thy best speed.

_Vivien._ Yea, I will. [_Exit_ MORDRED.
He hath read true, I am his slave at last,
Aye, what a splendid devil he doth make,
There is no man like him in all this world.
I’ll see him crowned, climb he there o’er my body.

[_Curtain._

SCENE VI.--_An audience room in the Castle. Enter_ MORDRED, SIR
AGRAVAINE _and other_ Knights.

_Mordred._ ’Tis a delicate business we be come upon,
Though one of grave importance, therefore I
Will stand i’ the background, thou Sir Agravaine,
Being a kinsman not o’ the sinister side,
May speak the plainer. Let it fall on me.
Yea, I will answer with my body here.

_Sir Ag._ Yea, I will put it plainly to the King,
And show the evil placed upon our house,
And that foul insult tendered King and kingdom,
By overbearing Launcelot and the Queen.

_Other Knights._ Yea, we are with you.

_Enter a_ Page.

_Sir Ag._ We would see the King.

_Exit_ Page, _enter_ ARTHUR.

_Arthur._ What means this sudden assembling of knights
At this strange hour?

_Sir Ag._ We would bring a matter to thy hearing, King,
Of grave import unto thyself and us
Of thine own household, who’d uphold thy pride.
Yea, one affecting the dignity of this land.

_Arthur._ What be this matter?

_Sir Ag._ The matter is one which toucheth thine own honor,
And hath to do with Launcelot and the Queen.

_Arthur._ Dost thou insult thy King? (_Draws._)

_Sir Ag._ Nay, thou dost insult thyself and us,
Doth thou not listen!

_Other Knights._ Yea, King, ’tis true.

_Arthur._ ’Tis treason, damnable treason ’gainst my Queen,
’Gainst myself and ’gainst this noble kingdom.

_Sir Ag._ Wilt thou hear me, King?

_Other Knights._ Yea, hear him.

_Arthur._ Then I will hear thee further, but ’tis plain,
You prove this on your bodies to the death.
If this strange lie be not as true as Heaven,
Each man who thinks this damnéd treason dies!

_Knights._ ’Tis just King, we will prove it on our bodies.

_Sir Ag._ We think, Lord Arthur, thou art over-blind
To certain things that compromise thine honor,
And some of us have reason to suspect
Sir Launcelot holdeth commerce with the Queen.

_Arthur._ Stop! Catiff!

_Sir Ag._ Wilt thou not hear it?

_Arthur._ Have ye forgotten that my name is Arthur?
Or is this nobleness a vanished dream?
’Tis damnable!

_Sir Ag._ We would prove this same upon our bodies,
By taking of them in the very act.

_Arthur._ No more! by heaven, no more! I say, no more!
Or by my crown, I’ll cleave thy catiff tongue,
And spatter thine evil brains on yonder pavement,
That dared impeach my royalty of such dis-honor.

_Sir Ag._ Nay, King, we will die for the truth of this matter.

_Knights._ Yea, Lord Arthur, we are so prepared.

_Arthur._ Nay, ye are mad, blind, besotted mad.

_Sir Ag._ Nay, King, here is Sir Mordred who will show
The truth whereof we speak. [MORDRED _comes forward_.

_Arthur._ Ha! And it is thou that art at the bottom o’ this
matter!

_Mordred._ Sire, I would but do my duty to this kingdom,
And to the honor of your kingly place.
Sir Agravaine is over-blunt in speech,
And speaketh sudden on a cruel matter;
Yet he hath but the right in this grave question,
Nor doth dishonor thee in this respect
More than do any of these royal knights,
But rather would show wherein thine honor lieth.
If dishonor lies therein, it doth not lie
On them who’d prove the evilment suspected,
But rather on those who by their treasonable act
Hath brought this shame upon us. It would seem
That thou dost love Sir Launcelot even more
Than the unsullied honor of thy Queen.

_Arthur._ Nay! Speak no more! Thou hast insulted Arthur.
If but one thousandth part of this be true,
Then is great Arthur’s glory brought to ground.

_Mordred._ Sire!

_Arthur._ No more of words! What wouldst thou have me do?

_Mordred._ Sire, we would that thou give the opportunity
To prove the cruel substance of our coming
By taking the doers in the very act,
And trapping Launcelot in the Queen’s apartment.

_Arthur._ Go on! Death! Speak on! Accursed me!

_Mordred._ If thou wilt go abroad this coming night,
And advertise thy going, and grant to us
Sufficient knights to make the matter proof,
We will fulfil this matter with our lives.

_Knights._ We will.

_Arthur._ And it hath come to this!

_Mordred._ Sire, wilt thou grant this?

_Arthur._ Yea, I will grant it, but by Arthur’s honor,
The knight returning from such vile ambushment
Without full proof unto the open world
Of that which spills the sea of Arthur’s glory,
Shall die the foulest death this kingdom lends!
On this condition only do you go.

_Mordred._ Yea, we accept the conditions.

_Knights._ Yea, we do. [_Curtain._

SCENE VII.--_A passage near the Queen’s apartments._

_Enter_ VIVIEN.

_Vivien._ Now slave but do the bidding of thy master,
And soon the boding hour will draw anigh
When Guinevere will queen a royal hunch-back.
Now serve me well my wits until I play
The issue of this matter to my mind.
[_Retires into an alcove._

_Enter_ UNID _the_ QUEEN’S Maid, _with a ring_.

Now drat that page! What can the matter be?
This ring must go but who will be the bearer,
It bothereth me to discover?

[_Passes out on left._

_Enter_ DAGONET _on right_.

_Dagonet._ O me! me! me! that ever I did that deed.
(_To spirit._) Nay! nay! Spirit, come not here!
Hide, hide that woeful face. Sleep, sleep
Quiet ’i the grave! Dagonet meant it not.
Ha! ha! I’ll laugh and be merry. ’Tis but my wits.
I’ll think on Vivien.--Nay, nay, not that face!
I slew thee not. Away! away!
’Tis but a fancy, but it lifts the hair
In frosty bristles, makes the eyeballs stare,
And turns me to a horror. Away! Away!

_Re-enter_ Maid.

What play is now, Sir Fool, that thy wit playeth?

_Dagonet._ Oh! ’tis thou!

_Unid._ ’Tis said that thou art looking at the Queen,
And wouldst oust Sir Launcelot. Thou art a bold fool.

_Dagonet._ Nay, nay, ’tis thou sweet Unid rendeth my heart.

_Unid._ Now art thou a kind fool.

_Dagonet._ Is the Queen within?

_Unid._ She sleepeth.

_Dagonet._ I will sing thee a song. (_Sings._)

It rose upon the month o’ May,
When woods were filled with laughter,
Came Margery tripping up the way,
And Jock a stealing after.
(_To spirit._) Away! away!

It rose in Autumn’s afternoon
When love was dead and laughter,
That Jock went striding ’neath the moon,
And Margery pining after.
(_To spirit._) Away! I say, away!

_Unid._ Well acted, Fool, and well sung.

_Dagonet._ Yea, it is a part of me.

_Unid._ (_Aside_) He will do. (_To_ DAGONET) Fool, wilt thou
deliver a message for me?

_Dagonet._ Yea, by my love.

_Unid._ It be a pressing business, and a private one.
[_Speaks in a low voice._
Thou seest this ring. It is the Queen’s. Thou needs must find
Sir Launcelot, and deliver it to him privately and say! “This
night afore midnight.”

_Dagonet._ What doth it mean?

_Unid._ It meaneth, do thy part, and shut thy ears and mouth,
and put a padlock on thine inward thoughts. Wilt thou do it?

_Dagonet._ Yea that I will, ’tis for the Queen, (_to spirit_)
Away! away! Haunt me not!

_Unid._ What aileth thee?

_Dagonet._ Did I speak?

_Unid._ Thou spokest as to someone.

_Dagonet._ ’Tis but an infirmity.

_Unid._ ’Tis a queer one. Thou wilt be speedy and private?

_Dagonet._ That I will. Not one kiss?

_Unid._ Away! away! Haunt me not.
[_Exit._

[VIVIEN _comes from the alcove_.

_Vivien._ Ha! thou false lover!

[DAGONET _drops the ring_.

_Dagonet._ ’Tis thou!

_Vivien._ Caught in the act, soft words and lovers songs,
And rings exchanged, and even kisses proffered. Thou
Double-Dealer! Thou wouldst seek my love?

_Dagonet._ I tell thee thou art wrong. ’Tis the appearances are
at fault.

_Vivien._ Thou liest! Didst thou not offer to buss her?

_Dagonet._ ’Twas but a sally to cover mine inward thoughts.

_Vivien._ Thou liest again. What were those low words she
spake, when she took thy hand?

_Dagonet._ ’Twas but a message she gave me on a private matter.

_Vivien._ Oh! oh! very private! Dagonet, very private!

_Dagonet._ I cannot tell thee of its import.

_Vivien._ Nay, thou canst not, for thou liest.

_Dagonet._ I tell thee, Vivien, thou wilt madden me.
I tell thee, I love thee only, and thou knowest it.

_Vivien._ What was the substance of that message?

_Dagonet._ If thou must have it, and thou draggest my heart
out, it was from the Queen. The words, “tonight afore
midnight.”

_Vivien._ A true story! To thee?

_Dagonet._ Nay, to Sir Launcelot.

_Vivien._ Thou liest! Canst thou explain that ring she gave
thee? (_Picks it up._)

_Dagonet._ ’Tis the Queen’s.

_Vivien._ Ho! ho! And thou the trusted messenger! ’Tis a likely
story. Wouldst have me believe it?

_Dagonet._ Vivien, I tell thee that I love thee, and am in Hell
for thee, aye, in Hell!

_Vivien._ Thou forgettest thine important message, thou most
trusted lover and messenger.

_Dagonet._ Vivien, wilt thou not believe me?

_Vivien._ Go, go, I tell thee, I will see thee again.

[_Exit_ DAGONET.

_Vivien._ Now cometh the hour when my revenge approacheth,
Now winds my web about doomed Camelot,
An angered fate hangs o’er these castle walls.
There will be bloody deeds abroad tonight.
Rise Spirits of old vengence and affright!
Vivien conquereth. Wait! wait! [_Curtain._