Chapter IV: Act IV

SCENE I.--(_Rise outer curtain._) _Passage near the_ QUEEN’S
_apartments. Enter_ DAGONET.

_Dagonet._ ’Tis little I can do, but I will mend
The devilment that I have helped to cause.
Hark, now they come! Here will I take my stand.
’Tis over my dead body when they come,
That they’ll come at her. Ho! stand without!

(_Sounds heard without. Enter_ MORDRED, SIR AGRAVAINE _and other_
Knights _with torches and naked swords_. DAGONET _draws_.)

Where go you, Masters?

_Mordred._ We go this road, ’ware how you stop our way.

_Dagonet._ The man who goes this road goes o’er my body.

_Sir Ag._ Louse! take that! (_Stabs_ DAGONET, _he falls_.)

_Mordred._ ’Tis the King’s jester.

_Dagonet._ You have leeched my folly. Now is the jest ended.
Vivien! (_Dies._)

_A Knight._ He was a man after all.

_Mordred._ Onward Knights to better game than this,
Though little we know the tragedy that ended
When yon poor light went out! Come this way!

[_Exit all._

(_Rise inner curtain._) _The_ QUEEN’S _apartment_, LAUNCELOT _and_
GUINEVERE.

_Laun._ I come this night to bid you a long farewell,
Before I leave this kingdom’s shores for ever.
This love doth hold me in a demon’s grasp,
And my heart breaks to feel great Arthur’s love,
And all the time we twain be meeting thus.

_Guin._ Nay, nay Launcelot, leave me not forlorn,
I cannot live without thee. Thy strong arms,
And thy warm kisses are to me the one
Fair garden springing on this drearsome earth.

_Laun._ Lady I must go. My lands in France,
Tribute to my sword, I’ll make a kingdom.
And pass my days in memories of thee.

_Guin._ Nay, nay thou wilt not go, and if thou must,
My heart will bleed for thee until my death.

_Unid._ (_Hurrying in._) Madam, there is treason without.
Many arméd knights do come this way.

_Laun._ Now is the end come I have long expected,
The grim fatality of all my fears,
The nightmare real at last. Quick! my Sweet!
Kiss me your latest now. This is my death!

_Guin._ Launcelot, save, save thyself,
I will bar them with my body here.
They will but trample a dead, dishonored Queen,
Whom brute fatality made its passing sport.
Quick! that way!

_Laun._ Nay, nay, sweet Love, but I will die with thee.
And show great love can make a greater death.
(_Draws._) Would to God I had mine armour.

(_Loud knocking heard at the door and the voice of_ MORDRED _heard
without_.)

Come out thou traitor Launcelot and show the world
The face of him who hath dishonored Arthur.
Come out thou Traitor.

_Guin._ Launcelot save thyself, there is time yet.

_Laun._ Nay, Love, I’ll end me here, if be my fate.
Ho! Cowards without! I am a single man,
Devoid of armour having but my sword,
Yet will I open and give you Hell’s glad welcome.

(_Unbars the door_, SIR AGRAVAINE _rushes in._)

_Laun._ Die Hound! (_Brains him_.) LAUNCELOT _drags him aside and
bars the door_.
Quick! Help me to this armour! (_Takes the arms from_ SIR
AGRAVAINE’S _body, and arms himself_.)

_Guin._ (_Helping him._) Aye, Love, if prayers are aught, will
mine clothe thee.

(_Voices outside._) Open up! Traitor! open up!

_Guin._ Great God, Great God, help this poor Queen who prays!
(LAUNCELOT _buckles his armour_.)

_Laun._ Now am I ready, fare thee well, sweet Love.
Whatever haps, and we may meet no more,
This side of darkness; carry to thy grave,
That Launcelot loved thee, thee, and only thee.

_Guin._ Oh, Launcelot, my heart breaks. (_They embrace, the_ QUEEN
_faints_.) (LAUNCELOT _to the maids_.) Take her back from this,
protect her, keep her safe.

This work is not for her sweet presence. Now heaven help
The man that meeteth Launcelot’s blade this night!

(_Voices without_.) Coward! Traitor! wilt thou open up?

_Laun._ Yea, Traitors who foreswore the name of knight,
When like some drunken rabble ye polluted
The gentle sacredness of these apartments.
And every man who shamed her ears tonight
(_Throws open the doors_) shall die! die! die! Come on Devils!
(_They rush in and then fall back in surprise._)

_Laun._ Ha! ha! here’s wine that Launcelot’s blade would drink.
Die, Devils! (_Rushes forward hacking fiercely with his
sword, twelve knights fall one after the other._)

_Mordred._ God of Heaven, let us back! This man be mad!
(_Retreats with four knights_, LAUNCELOT _slays the rest_.)

_Laun._ Come on, ye Fiends of Hell! I’ll back me here,
Launcelot is a man of honour!

SCENE II.--SIR LAUNCELOT’S _apartment, midnight. Enter several_
Knights _with torches and swords_.

_Sir Ban._ Hello there! wake up!

_Knights._ Hello! Within! Within! (_Loud knocking heard at the
doors. Enter several other knights. Enter_ SIR LAUNCELOT.)

_Laun._ What means this that ye be armed?

_Sir Ban._ Strange horrors woke us frozen from our beds.
Hideous nightmares beset us. Some heard moanings, some that
grave-bells rang, and others saw strange spectres, and I
myself heard clash of mighty arms, and quick each man found
himself leaped from his bed, naked blade in hand. What may it
portend? We be much affrighted!

_Laun._ ’Tis a true portent. Now the end hath come
Of peace and happiness for this dooméd kingdom.
To-night on private meeting with the Queen,
In her apartments, there was I surrounded,
And hounded traitor, slew so many knights,
There’s scarce one left to tell the King the story.

_Knights._ A most foul and dastard attack! The kingdom is
doomed.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Laun._ The Queen! quick! the Queen! what of her?

_Mess._ An order hath come in the King’s name;
She is to be burnt tomorrow noon.

_Laun._ Never! by my blade, she shall not die!

_Knights._ She shall not! she shall not! on our lives!

SCENE III.--_The_ KING’S _lodge in the forest_. ARTHUR _walking
back and forth_.

_Arthur._ Would I had not done this! Heaven this hour
Be kind to this poor king, suspend thy wrath.
For my past frailties judge me not too heavy.
Oh, were it dawning! Nay if it be shame,
Night roll for ever round your shrouding glooms,
Hide Arthur’s woe in your convenient black.
Rise not, O, pitiless Day with searching white,
Showing abroad catastrophe and doom.
Hark ’tis the messenger. Now my royal soul,
Is it black or white, is it death or life to thee?

(_Enter Messenger._) Sire!

_Arthur._ Speak! Is it calamity?

_Mess._ Yea, Sire, it is calamity, Sir Launcelot ta’en,--

_Arthur._ In the Queen’s chamber?

_Mess._ Yea, Sire.

_Arthur._ Then sable Night shut out the morning now.
O, Blackness, bury Arthur in thy shroud!
O, Calamities pelt, pelt your fire!
Sink now, proud Arthur, sink to rise no more.

_Enter_ MORDRED _and two_ KNIGHTS.

_Mordred._ We bring you evil news in sorry haste.
Launcelot ta’en by us in the Queen’s apartments,
When we, hailing him traitor, would bring him out,
Then he mad with a devil did issue forth,
And slay the most of us, so that we are scarce fled with our lives,
As these two knights do witness.

_Knights._ ’Tis true, King.

_Arthur._ Murder and Treason walk abroad this night.
Adultery and Incest leave their graves.
Arthur, Arthur thou art a king no more!

_Mordred._ We would arrest the Queen, did we know thy will.

_Arthur._ O, Night! Night! Night!

_Mordred._ ’Tis not an hour for grief and memories, Sire,
But action, instant action, is the word,
If thou wouldst keep thy kingdom. Sir Launcelot knoweth
That thou wert privy to this heavy matter,
And swearing direst vengeance on us all,
Buildeth a party for to help the Queen,
And oust thee from thy royalty.

_Arthur._ Dost thou not know I loved this Launcelot.
And had I chosen a brother or a son
It had been Launcelot! Oh thou cruel World!
Thou hast no cloud of evils brooding dire,
So much hath rained. Mordred take my crown,
To illegitimacy pass my glory now.

_Mordred._ Nay Sire! but be a king until thou takest
A King’s dread vengeance on thine enemies.

_Arthur._ Enemies thou sayest. Who so low,
To stoop to hate this cuckold, shaméd king.
I am a king no more, my Table Round
Is but a stall-yard where the swine of men
Will rend and snarl and tear my glory down.

_Enter_ GWAINE.

_Gwaine._ This is a bad and foolish matter, King,
And thou wert fool to fetch it to an issue.
But now thou makest bad worse. Didst thou send out
For Launcelot’s arrest and the Queen’s murder?

_Mordred._ The order hath gone out in the King’s name.
’Tis gone too far for compromises now.

_Gwaine._ ’Tis thou hast done all this, thou Plotter!

_Mordred._ Thou liest! ’Tis but the natural end of circumstance
that worked its issue. I tell thee, the King ordered this.

_Gwaine._ King, didst thou give these orders?

_Arthur._ Gwaine thy words were ever over-blunt,
But now they’re fitting. None need show me reverence.

_Gwaine._ Know I not reverence, but I would of facts.
Didst thou proclaim that Guinevere should die
Being found of treason foul against thy person,
And doom her to the stake tomorrow noon?

_Arthur._ The Queen! the queen! thou sayest, I’ll have no queens!
If there be a Queen tomorrow in this land,
She shall die the death! ’tis the King’s word!

_Mordred._ Now thou hast thine answer.

_Gwaine._ Then fear Sir Launcelot’s hate and split this kingdom,
Topple yonder King and bring him down,
As thou wouldst love to. Gwaine will none o’ this.
The Pope shall hear it! What’s a woman worth!
That truth, or untruth, she should wreck a kingdom?

_Enter a_ Messenger _in haste_.

_Mordred._ Speak!

_Mess._ Sir Launcelot and many Knights have rescued the Queen
and have taken her to Joyeous Guarde, and in the quick
struggle Sir Gareth, and Sir Lynnette were slain.

_Arthur._ More woes! More woes! Where will this end?

_Mordred._ (_To_ SIR GWAINE.) Now art thou satisfied?

_Gwaine._ (_To_ MESS.) What! Thou liest! tell me my brothers be
slain?

_Mess._ ’Tis true, Master, mine own eyes saw them dead.

_Gwaine._ Hell! who did the deed?

_Mess._ Sir Launcelot himself. He rode quick i’ the Court And
lighted and hacked without looking at whom he met, to reach
the Queen, whom bearing to horse, he stayed not to see who
were dead or wounded but straight rode away.

_Gwaine._ This world or the next, he will answer me!
Hell! mine own two brothers, and all for a damned wench!
Queen or no, King, thou shalt answer here.
Yea, all shall answer for this damnèd business.

_Mordred._ Yea, I will help thee. ’Twas most unnatural,
Who never harmed him, he should serve them so.

_Gwaine._ Launcelot, Launcelot, now I cast thee out,
One world won’t hold us!

_Mordred._ This works my way. O World, thou art moulding swift
To my poor vengeance!
(_To_ ARTHUR.) Sire what wilt thou do?

_Arthur._ To arms, to arms, we’ll siege him in his hold.
’Tis death that cures dishonor. He will reap
The swift dread harvest of Heaven’s retribution.

_Gwaine._ Would Launcelot were but two men, I’d slay him twice.
’Twould suit my feelings.

[_Curtain._

SCENE IV.--(_Rise outer curtain._) _Court at Camelot._

_Enter two_ Gentlemen.

_1st Gent._ Were I the weaker kind, I’d trickle tears
For this poor kingdom. Hast thou seen the Pope’s bull?

_2nd Gent._ Yea, forbidding the carrying on of this strange war,
And commanding Arthur to take back his Queen,
And give Sir Launcelot passage from the Kingdom.
He be a wondrous Knight, this Launcelot.
’Tis pity this love o’ercame him.

_Both pass out. Enter_ VIVIEN _and_ MORDRED.

_Vivien._ My heart grows hot to bring things to an issue.

_Mordred._ Patience! and thou wilt see the issue come.
Launcelot banished, Arthur follows after,
With blustering Gwaine, both ravening for war.
Arthur will leave me regent, then’s mine hour.

(_Both pass on._) (_Rise inner curtain._) (_Enter_ ARTHUR, _takes
his state_. Knights _and_ Ladies. _Trumpets blow without. Enter_
LAUNCELOT _with the_ QUEEN _draped in black, with her_ Ladies.
LAUNCELOT _leads the_ QUEEN, _who stands_. LAUNCELOT _kneels_.
ARTHUR _averts his face_. LAUNCELOT _speaks_.)

_Laun._ Sire! by order of the Pope of Rome
And your most royal promise, here I bring
Unto your keeping Guinevere the Queen,
And dares one knight within these royal precincts
Impugn her chastity or queenliness,
I meet him with my body.

_Arthur._ Madam, I acknowledge you as Queen.
It is the will of Heaven. I submit.
But loving wife thou art no more to me.
Not Pope nor Prince can white thy black in this.

(GUINEVERE _takes her state_.)

_Guin._ Arthur of Britain, I answer thee, the King,
I am no more thy wife nor ever was,
Nor am I shamed as Queen to own the love
I’ve borne for Launcelot. In the coming world
He will be mine, as I am truly his.
I wronged thee not great Arthur, but ’twas thou
And hellish circumstance have wrecked my days.
’Tis the Queen’s answer, she will speak no more.

_Arthur._ Sir Launcelot Du Lake, arise! (LAUNCELOT _stands_.)
Launcelot Du Lake, thou traitor knight,
Sinner against the honor of this realm,
I banish thee for ever from this kingdom,
On pain of foulest death, dost thou return.

_Laun._ Sire, I accept the issue.

_Mordred._ ’Tis but a gentle majesty that leans
To mercy such as this, were I thy king--

_Gwaine._ Yea, get thee quick. Fast as thou nearest France
We sail the faster. Thou shalt meet with Gwaine,
And pay his brothers’ spirits thou hast slain,
Thou foul lewd traitor!

_Laun._ Lord Arthur, thou hast reason to scorn me now,
And all thine anger stabs mine inward soul;
But now ’tis open I must tell thee true,
I love Queen Guinevere as mine own body,
And her alone will love unto my death,
As to none other. For this woeful love,
I’ll answer to my God who put it there,
And not to man, nor even to thee, proud King.
And yet I say it, yea with breaking heart,
I love thee, King, as doth no other man,
And did no hideous fate come in between
I had been thy Launcelot still.

_Arthur._ (_Aside._) Great God! Now my heart breaketh.
(_To_ LAUNCELOT.) Begone, false Knight. ’Tis enough.

_Laun._ Yea yet a little, Sire, it is the end.
If Gwaine would hearken I would answer him
For his two brothers.

_Gwaine._ Nay, nay I’ll not hearken.

_Laun._ ’Tis ended then, but I would say to thee,
That nothing next to this most heavy matter,
The most dread, sorrowful matter in this poor world,
Hath grieved me so as that I did that deed.
All blinded with my sorrow for the Queen,
I knew not ’twas your brothers that I slew.

_Gwaine._ Nay, nay, blood, blood alone will answer.

_Laun._ (_To the_ QUEEN.)
And thou sad Guinevere, thou Queen of women,
Sweetest of soul and form upon this earth,
I’ll look upon thy beauteous face no more.
Let womanhood blossom the days to come,
There never-more will be one like to thee.
(_Bends and kisses her hand._) (GUINEVERE _goes toward him._)

_Guin._ Launcelot, take me with thee, I am thine.

_Arthur._ And thou the Queen?

_Guin._ I am no Queen of realm save this man’s heart.
And where he treads, that land to me alone
Beloved of the kingdoms of this earth.
Oh! take me Launcelot, my Lord! my King!

_Arthur._ Ladies, the Queen to her apartments!

_Laun._ I would not shame thy kindness, Guinevere.
We were each others ere this world began,
And we together, unshamed yet will go
To meet our God, sweet Love farewell, farewell.

(_Hurries out. The_ QUEEN _borne slowly to her apartments weeping_.)

_Arthur._ Oh, black brute Evil, why was Arthur born?
Now is all loveliness gone out from life.
Yea, I will sink. Nay, I am Arthur still.
The Kingly still, defying Hell and Fate.
To arms! to arms! Red battle is my mood.

_Mordred._ Yea, battle!

_Gwaine._ Yea, blood, for blood! my brothers’ spirits call.

_Arthur._ My heart awakens! Mordred, as my regent,
I leave thee filial keeper of my crown,
My queen and kingdom, while I wed with war,
And bring as issue, yon foul Launcelot’s doom.
Make my forces ready. France! is the word.

_All._ (_Draw swords and shout._) Yea, battle! [_Curtain._

SCENE V.--_A Corridor in the Palace. Enter two_ Gentlemen.

_1st Gent._ Hast heard the news? Mordred’s usurped the kingdom,
hath seized the Queen, and backed by half the realm doth
challenge Arthur to a warm homecoming. ’Tis said he hath
plotted this long time and now hath proved his chances. How
stand you in this most bitter struggle?

_2nd Gent._ I’m for Arthur and now for Dover and France this
coming night.

_1st Gent._ Then I am with you. May we bring these shores
New peace from this usurper when we come. [_Exit both._

_Enter_ VIVIEN _with a dagger_.

_Vivien._ Nay he shall never make her Queen. Nay never!
She shall die first! No Queen but Vivien
Shall royal it while Mordred lifts the crown.
His slave, his creature, yea, in all save this.
I’ll make her beauty wan, I’ll curtain her lights.
Yea she shall Queen in Tartarus this night.

(_Sounds heard without_, VIVIEN _gets behind the tapestry_.)

_Enter_ MORDRED _as_ KING.

_Mordred._ Now have I reached the pinnacle of my revenge
In these uncertain heights of Arthur’s glory.
And even now I sicken of the struggle.
Even now I top a tower of fear.
A thousand swords, would leap at my command,
And swim this land in blood at my one word,
Would at a stronger power but turn and rend me.
The thousand throats that this morn shouted, “Mordred!”
Tomorrow morn may shout as loud for Arthur.
’Tis but a petty thing to be a King,
And strut an hour to crown a people’s will
And make them think they wield a majesty,
And hold a phantom rule; then pass and be
A little dust in a forgotten heap.
Nay, ’tis not worth the blacking of a soul,
The letting of a single human life,
The fouling o’er of youthful memory.
And I am now this self-contemnéd thing,
A man of truest sorrows who descended
From out the pedestal of nobler dreams,
And used the subtle intrigues of this world
To climb this pyramid of human weakness.
And now I hate it as I hate myself
Who stooped to gain it. Yet must Mordred king
This realm with a tyranny that fear
Wields o’er a monarchy that knows not love.
And burn his heart out for a woman’s scorn.
Yea she shall be my Queen if love can win her.

_Enter_ GUINEVERE _as a_ State Prisoner.

_Mordred._ Madam, I would detain you.

_Guin._ Usurper King! what means this bringing of me here?
I deemed the shelter of a sisterhood
Were not denied me.

_Mordred._ Madam, I would to you unfold this matter.
I am not all you think me in your scorn
Though I be born mis-shapen, yet my soul
Hath appetite for beauty like a man’s
That shows the inward in the outward mien.
Madam, I would lay the matter plainly,
I have long been a victim to thy beauties,
And would new-make thee Queen of this old Kingdom.

_Guin._ Never! Were Launcelot or Arthur standing by,
Insulter of thy Queen, thou wouldst die.
Make way! Make way!

_Mordred._ Madam, have compassion on my weakness!
A soul is lodged within this crooked body.
No man hath ever loved as Mordred loves.

_Guin._ Make way! this be hideous.

_Mordred._ Lady, let your own sorrow plead for Mordred’s sorrow.
As thou hast loved Launcelot unhappy,
So he loves thee.

_Guin._ Show thy love by closing this audience quickly.
I am all Launcelot’s in this world and the next,
As Heaven knoweth.

_Mordred._ Then thou wilt not have compassion.

_Guin._ I pity thee, but this may never be.

_Mordred._ Never?

_Guin._ As I am a Queen, never!

_Mordred._ Lady thy pity doth but little help me.
Yet will I show thee Mordred hath a heart.
Know then thou hast killed the spark of Mordred’s hope,
And silenced the music of this world for him,
Yet lady as rightful king of this great land
He grants thee safest passage where thou wilt.

_Guin._ I would go to a Nunnery.

_Mordred._ As thou wilt. Not one word? Not one token?

_Guin._ Prince, thou hast my respect and gratitude
For this thine act.

[_Exit_ GUINEVERE _and her_ train.

VIVIEN _comes forward_.

_Vivien._ Ha! Ha! Ha! King Mordred!

_Mordred._ (_Springs forward and draws._) Fiend! thou diest!
(_He clutches her, they stand confronting each other._) Nay,
nay and thou didst hear all? Nay, I will not kill thee. Thy
punishment hath been more than I could mete thee. I see
sharp agony in thine evil face. Yea, Woman thou hast suffered.

_Vivien._ Oh God! My love! My love! (_Would stab herself._)

_Mordred._ Nay, die not! (_Throws the dagger away._) Thou
deservest thy reward. Mordred will crown this farce and make
thee Queen.

_Vivien._ Me! thy wife?

_Mordred._ Nay, nay, nor mistress even, only Queen.

[_Curtain._

SCENE VI.--France--_A Tent on the Field near_ LAUNCELOT’S _Castle_.
ARTHUR _paces to and fro_.

_Arthur._ I would I were on British soil again
This leaguer goes but feebly. I am sick
Of losing battles to this Launcelot,
Whose strength and prowess in far kinder days,
Was my heart’s pride. Arthur thy star grows dark.
Thou canst not keep the love of woman. Nay,
Men’s friendships turn to traitor on the lips.
Oh, Merlin; couldst thou now but see thine Arthur.

_Enter_ Messenger.

_Arthur._ Well!

_Mess._ Sir Launcelot met Sir Gwaine beneath the wall.
And of all the bloody fights betwixt them two,
Which have enhorrored this ensanguined war,
This was the bloodiest.

_Arthur._ Speak on!

_Mess._ Sir Gwaine be mortal wounded, so it seemeth.

_Arthur._ Nay!

_Mess._ He even fought on after he was down,
Till his blade fell from out his palsied hand.

_Arthur._ This time maketh thrice that he hath been defeated,
And surely this will cool his fiery blood.
He is the strongest hater I have known
In all my royalty. He would as lief go
To Hell, so that his foe might forfeit Heaven.

_Enter_ GWAINE, _borne by_ Squires _and_ Attendants.

_Gwaine._ Let me forth--forth, I say! Hell! catiffs, I be better
now.
I would at him. Oh!

_Attendants._ Sire, if he rest not he will die.
The blood runneth from him in streams
So we cannot quench it, do he not lie still.

_Gwaine._ King, I be a shamed man. Damn this world!
I will shut it out o’ my knowledge. I be in pieces.

_Arthur._ Thou hast had enough, temper thy hates.
And do thy brothers more they lodge in Hell.
I am for England.

_Gwaine._ Nay, King, let me but once more.

_Arthur._ Thou canst scarce utter, thou wilt die.

_Gwaine._ Nay, I will stand his front so long as I may hold a
blade, and shake it at him!

_Enter a_ Messenger _in great haste_.

_Arthur._ Whence come you?

_Mess._ From England. Mordred hath made him King.

_Arthur._ Nay! nay!

_Mess._ ’Tis true, and seized the Queen.

_Arthur._ Great Heaven!

_Mess._ Even now he sitteth robed in thy late state,
And wieldeth puissance.

_Gwaine._ The damned hunchback!

_Arthur._ Oh World, would I were gone! My Queen untrue,
My heart’s best brother traitor, even my son,
Mine ill-got son doth rend me. Who would now
Hold fate with sunken Arthur?
(_To the_ Messenger.) Be there more?

_Mess._ Nay, Sire, I came in haste at the first news,
Though it is said that he would wed the Queen.

_Arthur._ A thousand devils take him!--Nay, not that
Not that most foul completion!
Ho! Sir Hake, Sir Mark. Ho Knights without!

_Enter_ Knights.

_Arthur._ Mordred’s usurped the kingdom. We must haste to
England now. The siege is raised. Yea I will blot him out or
make an end righting mine old glory.

_Gwaine._ (_Borne out._) Now are my chances gone. Gwaine is
disgraced. This is a world of woe. I’ll fight no more. But
one more bout, and my sword might ha’ done it.

[_Curtain._