Chapter XVIII: Act III

The Inner Courtyard of the Castle.--In the foreground at the left is the Castle gate. In the background on the right, at the top of a broad flight of steps, under an arcade of columns, stands the door of the chapel. At the left of the gate entering the courtyard are some buildings, behind which may be seen the high castle walls surmounted by trees. The road from the Castle to the church is laid with carpets. In the middle of the stage, on the right, stands a stone well. In the background is a crowd of people held back by three armed guards. At the foot of the steps, one on each side, stand two men-at-arms.

SCENE I

1ST GUARD.
Back, crowd not there! Stand back!

2D GUARD.
The children may
Stand in the front, but hold them. There crawls one!

1ST GUARD (pushing the child back into the crowd).
My little friend, get back! Now see, I'll make
A line upon the ground, and if thy toes,
But by a hair's breadth, cross that line again,
I'll drop my spear on them and they shall be
As flat as any barley cake.

[Laughter.]

1ST GIRL.
Ha, Ha!

2D GIRL.
Hast thou become a baker, oh Gilain!

1ST GUARD (lifting his mailed hand).
Ay, wench, would'st see me knead my dough?

[Laughter.]

A BOY.
Be still
I hear the crier's voice from down below!

A GIRL.
He's wandered up and down the streets since dawn
And called until my blood runs cold!

THE BOY.
Hush.

THE GIRL.
Hark!

VOICE OF THE CRIER (distant and ringing).
Today at noon, because King Mark has found
Her faithless and untrue, shall Queen Iseult
Be given to the lepers of Lubin,--
A gift to take or leave. And, furthermore,
Lord Tristram, who was once her paramour,
Transgressed King Mark's decree by entering
His realm. Whoever catches him and brings
Him quick or dead unto the King shall have
One hundred marks of gold for his reward.
'Tis good King Mark's decree that every one
Should hear and know these things that I have cried.

A CHILD.
Oh, I'm afraid! Will he come here, that man?

THE GIRL.
I know it all by heart, and still he cries!

A MAN.
Ay, let him cry!

ANOTHER MAN.
Lord Tristram, he's a fox;
To catch him they must have a good deep pit
Or else he'll scratch them so that all their lives
They'll think thereon.

A GIRL.
Tristram's a noble lord,
I'd shield him an I could.

A SECOND GIRL.
I want to see
The Queen close by.

A THIRD GIRL.
Ay, so do I!

A FOURTH GIRL.
I'll strew
Some flowers in her path as she goes past.

1ST GIRL.
My father made her once a pair of shoes
Of fine white satin, bound with golden clasps
And crimson 'broidery. He says her feet
Are delicate and small; as white and slim
As are the Virgin Mary's in the shrine
That stands within Tintagel's lofty church
Above the great high altar.

4TH GIRL.
Poor, poor soul!

OLD WOMAN.
Ay, let her see where those white feet of hers
Have carried her!

3D GUARD (to a boy who has climbed upon the wall).
Hey, thou! Come down! The wall
And rocks are full an hundred fathoms high,
So, if thou fall, thy howling will not help.

THE BOY.
I want to sit here when the lepers come!

ANOTHER BOY.
A good place that! I'll climb up too.

A FOURTH BOY.
I too!

1ST GUARD.
Now none of you may stay within the court
To stare when Queen Iseult is given o'er
Unto the lepers. Mark has granted this
Unto the Queen since 'twas her only wish.
Ye all must go into the church.

A MAN.
May none
Then stay without and watch the lepers?

ANOTHER MAN.
's wounds!
Why then I came for nothing, all this way!

A WOMAN (indignantly).
Oh shame, thou beast, would'st gloat and make a show
Of that which one scarce dares to think of? Fie!
For such foul thoughts thou shouldst be thrown
To Husdent to devour!

2D GUARD.
Stop wrangling, there!

A GIRL.
Poor Queen! I pity her!

A SECOND GIRL.
King Mark's too harsh!

A MAN.
She's made a cuckold of him, Girl!

OLD WOMAN.
And now
He's tossing her with those new horns of his!

YOUNG SHEPHERD.
Is then the Queen Iseult so wondrous fair
As she is said to be?

A GIRL.
Hast thou not seen
The Queen?

SHEPHERD.
No, never yet!

A GIRL.
He's never seen
The Queen?

A BOY.
Behold, here's one who never saw
Our Queen!

A VOICE.
Who is he?

1ST GUARD.
Speak, where wast thou, friend,
When Queen Iseult stood bound here to the stake?

A GIRL.
All naked in her wondrous beauty--

ANOTHER GIRL.
All
For her great love.

THE BOY.
We all did see her then.

SHEPHERD.
I've come since then from Toste in the hills.

A WOMAN.
Here, let this fellow stand in front, that he
May see the Queen's fair face before this swarm
Of vultures has devoured it.

1ST GUARD.
Come here;
If thou hast never seen the Queen thou may'st
Stand here beside the steps.

SHEPHERD.
I thank thee.

A SOLDIER (drawing him beside him).
Here!

A VOICE.
Here come the soldiers!

A CHILD.
Lift me, father.

A VOICE.
Hsh--!

SCENE II

Soldiers march past and enter the church. The church door stays open.

A GIRL.
I pray thee, Gilain, who will lead the Queen?

1ST GUARD.
The hangman and King Mark.

THE GIRL.
Poor soul!

OLD WOMAN.
Why weep'st
Thou, girl?

OLD MAN (as a crucifix is carried past).
Friends, cross yourselves. The crucifix!

SHEPHERD (leans forward so that he can see across the
courtyard into the castle).
Behold, she comes! My God, how beautiful--!
An angel--!

THE SOLDIER (as GIMELLA passes).
That, my friend, is but her maid
Gimella.

2D GUARD.
Back! Stand back! Thou shalt not push!

SHEPHERD.
Oh there! Behold, she is a fairy! Yea,
And she is fairer than Gimella far!
I'll fall upon my knees when she goes past.
She's wondrous fair, ay, fairer than a flower,
A lily--See--!

THE SOLDIER (as BRANGAENE goes by).
Stand up, thou knave, for that's
Brangaene. She's our lady's faithful maid.

SHEPHERD.
She too was fair! Can one imagine then,
There's any one more beautiful than she?
What wondrous women Mark has at his court!
Such ladies have I never seen--There dwell
None such in Toste! See--! This one--! Oh, God!
Oh, God! The sun has fall'n--! Its blinding rays--!

[Falls on his knees.]

KARL HAIDER

THE SOLDIER (softly).
That was the Queen!

[ISEULT walks past between MARK and the
hangman. She is draped in a purple cloak;
her feet are bare. PARANIS follows her.
Part of the crowd kneels down.]

SHEPHERD (staring).
Oh, Queen Iseult! Iseult
The Goldenhaired!

A GIRL.
Oh fairest, dearest one!

ANOTHER GIRL.
Oh Queen, smile down upon us once again!

[A rattling sound is heard. The Strange
Leper steps from behind one of the columns.
His bearded face is hidden by the hood of
his cloak. The crowd draws away shuddering,
the procession halts. The leper kneels
before ISEULT and bows so low that his
forehead almost touches her feet.]

A VOICE.
A leper, see!

A GIRL.
Oh Virgin Mary, help!

A 2D GIRL.
Whence came he here!

A 3D GIRL.
He had concealed himself!

MARK (slowly).
--Thou cam'st too soon my friend!

[The leper disappears sidewise under the
steps. The procession goes into the
church, from which an organ begins to
sound. The soldiers and the crowd follow
after.]

A GIRL (covering her face with her hands).
Oh, our poor Queen!

A 2D GIRL.
She was like alabaster, cold and white!

A 3D GIRL.
Not once along the awful way she raised
Her eyes!

A 4TH GIRL.
She did not wish to see!

THE 1ST GIRL.
Oh fie,
That Mark should shame her so!

THE 2D GUARD.
Make haste, ye must
Go in!

1ST GUARD (to the kneeling shepherd).
Wake up! Thou too must go within
The church. Now come!

SHEPHERD.
The sun fell down!
It grazed my eyes!

A GIRL.
I'll pray with all my heart
For our poor Queen!

A 2D GIRL.
We all will pray--and curse
The King!

3D GUARD.
Thou slut, be still, and hold thy tongue!
Make haste into the church--go in!

1ST GUARD.
I hear
The lepers coming! hark!

3D GUARD.
Here, girl, thou'st dropped
Thy kerchief!

[He picks it up.]

THE GIRL.
Thanks!

1ST GUARD (taking the old man by the arm).
Take hold of me, old man.
Make haste.

[The doors of the church close: the stage
remains empty for a few seconds. The music
of the organ swells, and a hymn is heard.
Then, by snatches, first distantly, then
nearer, the rythmical rattling of the lepers
resounds.]

SCENE III

The lepers enter the courtyard. They are a wild pack dressed in gaudy rags, and rumpled, armless cloaks with hoods; carrying long staves and crutches; with colored cloths bound about their sinister foreheads. Their faces are sunburnt, their hair is snow-white and streams in the wind. Some have their heads shaved. Their arms and feet are bare. Altogether they present a motley appearance, though the hardships of their life, as a band forced to live together, give them the aspect of weather-beaten and dried chaff driven hither and thither by the wind. They stand shyly and rock unsteadily on their dried and shrunken legs--silent and restless. Like ghosts of the noonday, they try to hush their voices throughout the scene.

IWEIN (is the first to enter; the others file past him).
Come quick! They've all gone in!

A LEPER.
Right here
The cat shall catch the bird!

A YOUNG LEPER (wearing a wreath, made of three or four
large red flowers, in his dark hair).
Heisa! Heisa!

IWEIN.
Speak softly, there, lest ye disturb the mass.

AN OLD LEPER (feeble, and supporting himself on a crutch,
in the tone of the town crier, almost singing).
Today shall Queen Iseult, our good King's spouse
Be given to us, the lepers of Lubin--
So cried the herald!--

YOUNG LEPER.
Brother, brother, dance
With me, for I'm the bridegroom--Ah!--

OLD LEPER (in the same tone).
Today
Shall Queen Iseult--

[Every time that the old leper begins to
speak he is silenced by the others.]

YOUNG LEPER (striking him).
Thou fool!

(To a fourth leper.)

Come dance!

4TH LEPER.
Be still!
At noon to eat raw turnips, then at night
To have the Queen to sleep with in the straw!
Ha, ha! It makes me laugh!

A REDHAIRED LEPER.
King Mark shall give
Us wine to celebrate our wedding feast!

YOUNG LEPER (dancing).
Oh, brother, come and dance with me!

A SIXTH LEPER.
I want
To look at her and then get drunk!

YOUNG LEPER.
Come, then,
And dance with me, my little brother, dance!

IWEIN (coming from the gate).
Be still, and stand in order by the steps,
That we may see her when the hangman brings
Her forth.

1ST LEPER (sits down on the ground).
I will not stand.

IWEIN.
Then crawl, thou toad!

7TH LEPER.
Iseult the Goldenhaired!--The lepers' bride,
And Queen!

(He laughs.)

REDHAIRED LEPER.
Well spoken, friend! We'll call her that!

OLD LEPER.
Today shall Queen Iseult--

8TH LEPER. She shall be mine
I' the morning of all holidays!

1ST LEPER.
And I
Will have her late at night.

REDHAIRED LEPER.
I'll take her first!

6TH LEPER.
Not so; Iwein shall have her first for he's
Our King!

YOUNG LEPER (to redhaired leper).
Who? Thou?

9TH LEPER.
Thou have her first? Who art
Thou, then, thou redhaired knave?

10TH LEPER (calling out loudly).
Here's one who says
He'll tame the Queen!

1ST LEPER.
Oh, break his jaw!

YOUNG LEPER.
I want
Her now, my friends; my loins burn and itch
For her!

REDHAIRED LEPER.
I'll beat you, cripples, and I'll make
You all more cripple than ye are,
Unless ye give her me to kiss and hug
For one full week at least!

IWEIN.
What crowest thou,
Redheaded rooster!--Ye shall all draw lots
For who shall have her after me!

11TH LEPER.
Ay, let's
Draw lots.

REDHAIRED LEPER.
Plague on you all!

4TH LEPER.
It's on us now!
Come, let's draw lots!

6TH LEPER.
Draw lots!

OLD LEPER.
But first of all
I'll make her mend my clothes.

4TH LEPER (tearing up a cloth).
I'll tear the lots!

1ST LEPER.
Here, put them in my cloak! Now come, and draw!

12TH LEPER.
Look yonder! There's another one.

REDHAIRED LEPER.
Where! Where?

[As they crowd around, the Strange Leper
steps from behind the column.]

6TH LEPER.
There, yonder, see--?

10TH LEPER.
Who is he?

9TH LEPER.
Look!

YOUNG LEPER (goes to the steps).
Who art
Thou!

IWEIN.
Speak! Art thou a leper too, as we?

OLD LEPER (to the stranger).
Today shall Queen Iseult, our good King's spouse--

REDHAIRED LEPER.
Be still, old fool!

IWEIN.
Wilt thou not answer me?
I am Iwein, the Lepers' King; what wouldst
Thou here?

[The Strange Leper throws money among them.]

1ST LEPER (leaping, with the rest, to seize the money).
Holla!

10TH LEPER.
He's throwing money! See!

STR. LEPER.
I am a leper from Karesh and wish
To dwell among you here at St. Lubin.

4TH LEPER.
Thou'st smelt the bird from far, good friend!

REDHAIRED LEPER.
We will
Admit no new companion to our band!

9TH LEPER.
Go home, we'll none of thee!

11TH LEPER.
Hast thou more gold?

STR. LEPER (holding up a purse).
Iwein shall have it and distribute it
Among you, if ye'll take me in.

12TH LEPER.
Ha! 's death!
Thou art a rich young varlet!

1ST LEPER.
Let him stay!

4TH LEPER.
I care not if there be one more or less!

IWEIN.
Come down to us. What is thy name?

[The Strange Leper comes down from the
steps.]

7TH LEPER.
How tall
Thou art! If Godwin dares to threaten me
Thou'lt punish him.

YOUNG LEPER.
And what's thy name?

STR. LEPER.
Why, call
Me then the Sad One, for that is my name.

IWEIN.
Then come, thou Sad One, take thy place.
They'll keep
Us not much longer waiting for our spouse.

6TH LEPER (to the stranger).
King Mark's a kind and gen'rous King to think
Of giving us a wife!

OLD LEPER (to the stranger).
The herald cried
That Queen Iseult of Ireland, King Mark's
Own spouse today should be--

IWEIN.
Fool, hold thy tongue!
Let's all together make a noise, and shake
Our clappers as a sign.

[They shake their rattles.]

12TH LEPER.
The door! The door!

YOUNG LEPER.
Be still! Be still! She's coming now!

IWEIN.
Be still.

SCENE IV

The door of the church is partially opened. The hangman leads ISEULT out. The Strange Leper falls on his knees and bows deep to the ground.

YOUNG LEPER.
Let's fall upon our knees, Iwein!

[A few lepers kneel. The hangman takes
ISEULT'S crown and cloak away. She stands
there, draped only in her golden hair. Her
eyes are closed and she remains motionless.]

THE HANGMAN (kissing ISEULT'S foot).
Forgive
Me, Queen Iseult, for God's sweet sake!

[He goes back into the church. The door
closes and the organ sounds louder in the
silence.]

IWEIN.
We are
The lepers of Lubin, and thou, by Mark's
Decree, art now our bride. Come down that we--

[The Strange Leper, with a violent effort,
springs to his feet, and turns upon the
lepers.]

STR. LEPER.
Who spoke? Which one of you? Tell me, who spoke?
Scabs! Vultures! Curs, away! Be off! If one
Of you but speaks again I'll trample you
Beneath my feet and grind you in the dirt.
What wish ye here? Here's gold! Be off, ye curs!

[Only a few stoop to gather the gold he
throws among them.]

YOUNG LEPER (rushes at him; IWEIN holds him back).
Thou! Thou!

IWEIN.
Who art thou that insults us thus?

10TH LEPER.
Thou! Hold thy tongue, else will Iwein give thee
So sound a drubbing that thou shalt fall dead
Upon the ground!

8TH LEPER.
Iwein is strong!--He was
A mighty Lord!

STR. LEPER.
Will ye not go?

1ST LEPER.
Hark, thou,
This woman here is ours.

REDHAIRED LEPER (thrusting a stick into IWEIN'S hand).
Go, knock him down!

7TH LEPER.
Come on!

[The Strange Leper snatches the club from
the feeble leper so that he falls, knocks
IWEIN to the ground, and leaps into the
crowd dealing fierce blows right and left.
In his left hand he holds a sword which
he does not use. In the following scene,
also, the lepers' voices are hushed from
fear and surprise.]

STR. LEPER.
There lies Iwein! Be off, ye dogs!

OLD LEPER.
Ai! oh!

10TH LEPER.
He's killed Iwein!

4TH LEPER.
Lay hold of him!

7TH LEPER.
Thou, Red One, seize him by the throat--I'll leap
Upon him from behind!

[The Strange Leper knocks the Redhaired
Leper down.]

REDHAIRED LEPER.
Help! Help!

STR. LEPER.
There lies
Your Red One!

4TH LEPER.
Fly! He has a sword!

11TH LEPER (receiving a blow).
Oh help!

OLD LEPER.
Come, brothers, let us run.

6TH LEPER (struck).
Oh, oh!

STR. LEPER.
Away
With you! Be off!

7TH LEPER (struck).
Ai! Ai!

[Some of the lepers try to carry away the
wounded as they run.]

YOUNG LEPER.
Let's carry off
Iwein! Come, pick him up.

1ST LEPER.
And Godwin too!
Make haste!

11TH LEPER (struck).
Oh help!

STR. LEPER (driving the whole troupe to the gate).
Back, curs, back to your holes!
Crawl back into your noisome dens!

7TH LEPER (struck).
Oh! 'tis
Beelzebub himself!

10TH LEPER.
The devil!

9TH LEPER.
Hold!

12TH LEPER.
We go! We go!

6TH LEPER.
King Mark shall punish thee!

STR. LEPER (throwing the club after them).
Here, take your crutch and flee, ye curs!

VOICES OF THE LEPERS (outside).
Oh, oh!--
He wounded me!--Fly!--Fly!--

SCENE V

The Strange Leper, whose hood has fallen back during the conflict, goes quickly to the foot of the steps. His forehead is bound with a narrow band. ISEULT stands motionless with closed eyes.

STR. LEPER.
Iseult!

(Anxiously, wonderingly and imploringly.)

Iseult!

ISEULT (throws back her head, shuddering. She keeps
her eyes closed. Slowly and heavily.)
Thou beast! Thou dog!

STR. LEPER.
Iseult! 'Tis I who call!

ISEULT (hastily, as though to cover herself with the words).
I beg thee, beast, thou evil beast, speak not!
If in thy loathsome carcass there still dwells
Some remnant of a man, I pray thee slay
Me, but speak not!

STR. LEPER (uncertainly).
Iseult!

[He falls on his knees opposite the steps,
but at a distance from them; and leans
back until his thighs rest upon his heels.]

ISEULT.
Speak not! Be still,
And kill me now! They've left me not so much
As one small pin with which to kill myself!
Behold! I kneel to thee, and like some low
And humble maid, I beg thee, beast, to kill
Me, and I'll bless thee!

STR. LEPER.
Oh, Iseult, dost thou
No longer love Lord Tristram who was once
Thy friend?

ISEULT (stares at him for a moment).
Thou speak'st, thou speak'st, thou beast, and star'st!
Yet God shall punish thee since, though I beg,
Thou would'st not kill me now!

STR. LEPER (crying out despairingly).
Iseult, awake!
Oh Golden One, 'tis Tristram calls!

ISEULT.
Thou seekst
With scorn and biting words to martyr me,
And kill me then! Oh say that thou wilt kill
Me afterward--when thou hast railed enough!
--And thou wilt come no nearer than thou art?

STR. LEPER.
Iseult, awake! Awake, Iseult, and speak,
And tell me if thou lovest Tristram still!

ISEULT.
Ah, he was once my friend! Why dost thou use
The dagger of his name to prick my heart?
I loved him once, and 'tis for that I stand
Here!--Kill me now!

STR. LEPER (going to the foot of the steps).
God help me! Hear me speak,
Iseult, for I'm--

(His voice breaks with a sigh.)

I'm Tristram's messenger!
Thine erstwhile friend--Him whom thou loved'st!

ISEULT (angrily).
Would'st shame
Me in my shame? Thou beast!

STR. LEPER.
I wish to save
Thee now. Dost thou love Tristram still?

ISEULT (going down a few steps, slowly and carefully).
Thou art
A messenger of his?--And dost thou come,
Perchance, to take me to him?

(Breaking out.)

Does thy Lord
Desire me, to give me as a gift
From some strange land, to his new bride?

[The Strange Leper hides his face in his
hands.]

Am I
To sit within a cage and watch him kiss
Her? Listen to him call his wife "Iseult?"
Was this his sweet design, or does Iseult
The Snowy Handed crave my golden hair
To make a pillow for voluptuous hours?
How strange that Tristram should so long for me
That he sends forth his messengers! And will
He lay us both within the self-same bed?
Caress and kiss us both at once throughout
The night's long, heavy hours? In other days
More modest was thy Lord in his desires.

(Passionately.)

Now kill me, kill me, beast! I've lived enough.

STR. LEPER.
Iseult, dost thou not know me yet?

ISEULT.
How should
I know thee, beast, or in what roadside ditch
Lord Tristram found thee as he fled away
This morning through the Morois from a man
Who called upon him in my name?

STR. LEPER.
Oh, judge
Him not too quickly. Queen Iseult! He stood
And waited for the man, who in thy name
Had called!

ISEULT (in fierce anger).
He stood, say'st thou? Why then
He has not wed Iseult, white handed Queen?
I dreamed it all, and sobbed but in my dreams,
Perhaps? 'Twas then dream-tears I wept at this
Report?

STR. LEPER.
Be merciful to Tristram, Queen!

[ISEULT descends a few more steps; looks
at him searchingly, and speaks, in a way,
questioningly.]

ISEULT.
Wast thou his servant while he still was true,
And caught'st the plague while on his wedding trip?
Then weep for him, thou poor diseased beast!
I know thee not. And if thy master stood
Here too,--Lord Tristram, whom I once did love
And who returned my love in youthful years--
If he now stood before me here, I should
Not recognize his face behind the mask
Of cowardice which he has worn of late.
His faithlessness sticks to him like black slime!
Go tell him that!--I hate him in this mask!
He was so loving and so true when first
I knew and loved him! God shall punish him!

STR. LEPER.
Iseult, great God has punished him enough;
His soul is writhing in its agony
Before thy feet!

ISEULT.
His soul is leprous, ay!
And 'tis an awful thing when one's own soul
Is leprous grown!--I loathe and hate him now!

STR. LEPER (leaping up).
Iseult!

ISEULT (wildly).
Go call the Vultures, call them forth!
I want to dance in their white arms, and flee
From Tristram's leprous soul that has betrayed
And shamed me thus!

STR. LEPER.
May God in mercy help
Him, for he loves thee still, Iseult, in life
And death!

[He starts toward the gate.]

VOICE OF LORD DENOVALIN.
Let none go out! Draw up the bridge,
And close the castle gates! I'll catch the hound!

[Iseult staggers a few steps and collapses.]

STR. LEPER.
Denovalin, Iseult! Our hated foe
Denovalin! Quick, hide thy nakedness
Within this cloak!

[He covers her with his cloak and bends
over her.]

Dear lady I will kill
This man and then myself!

(Denovalin enters.)

DENOVALIN.
Thou, there! Who art
Thou? Speak, thou hound! Who dares thus brazenly
To set at naught King Mark's decreed commands?

STR. LEPER (who has sprung upon the curbing of the wall).
Denovalin, a second time thou shalt
Not flee from me!--Take heed, and guard thyself!

[He springs at DENOVALIN and overthrows
him. He then swings himself up on the
wall and stands there for a second; his
leper's garment is thrown back and he
appears in a coat of silver mail, shining
in the sunlight.]

DENOVALIN.
Tristram of Lyonesse!

STR. LEPER (pulling his cloth from his head).
Dost recognize
Him by the stroke? God help me now!

[He leaps down from the wall. The stage
remains for a time empty. The organ
sounds; the gates are opened and two
guards stand on either side of the steps.
The church is gradually emptied.]

SCENE VI

A SOLDIER (in subdued tones).
What? Dost
Thou weep, Forzin?

2D SOLDIER.
I'm not ashamed! There's none
But weeps, save Mark alone! The very stones
Must weep!

1ST SOLDIER.
It makes me shudder when I think
Of it.

2D SOLDIER.
Come, come, let's all go home.

A GIRL.
Oh hark!
Methought I heard one moan!

2D GIRL.
Oh God! Behold!
Here lies the Queen!

3D GIRL.
They've murdered her!

1ST SOLDIER (running to the spot).
The Queen!

2D SOLDIER.
My God!

1ST SOLDIER.
The King doth call!

A MAN.
She lives no more.

3D GIRL.
Here lies another!

1ST SOLDIER (running up).
Lord Denovalin!
Stone dead!

A VOICE.
Who? Where?

2D SOLDIER.
He bleeds and does not move!

PARANIS (rushes up and throws himself down beside ISEULT).
Oh God! My queen!

1ST SOLDIER (pulling him away).
Stand back there, boy!

PARANIS.
Oh let
Me kneel beside the Queen!--I always did!
Oh, Queen Iseult, how pale thou art!--But, see,
She breathes!

2D SOLDIER.
The Queen still breathes!

PARANIS.
She is not dead!

A GIRL.
Go call it out within that all may come,
She is not dead!

A KNIGHT.
Why shout ye so?

A BOY.
Behold,
The lepers would not have Iseult!

2D BOY.
Proclaim
It round about!

A MAN.
Be still, here comes the King!
Make room!

[Mark comes down the steps and stops on
the last one, motionless and staring.]

1ST SOLDIER.
King Mark, here lies the Queen Iseult.
She breathes, but shows no signs of life.

2D SOLDIER.
And here
Lies Lord Denovalin. He's dead, King Mark.

[Mark leans against a column to support
himself and stares down upon the scene.
The crowd groups itself and throngs the
door of the church behind him.]

GIMELLA.
What's this?

A BOY.
The lepers would not have Iseult.

A GIRL (to GIMELLA).
Here lies the Queen!

A MAN.
Untouched and pure!

A WOMAN.
A great,
And wondrous thing!--A judgment from the sky!

GIMELLA.
No one has touched her, see!

A VOICE.
Is she asleep?

A MAN.
See, one has wrapped her in a cloak!

SHEPHERD (calling aloud).
The cloak
Shall hang within the church!

A GIRL.
Brangaene, come!
She's smiling through her tears.

BRANGAENE (bending over ISEULT--softly).
Oh dear Iseult!
Beloved one!

GIMELLA.
She breathes as feverishly
And deep as does a sick and suffering child
At midnight in its sleep!

1ST SOLDIER.
I'll to the gate
And ask the guards if they have seen some sign
Or token how this miracle occur'd!

MARK (cries angrily).
I'll crucify the man who asks!

[All heads turn then in his direction and a
terrified expression comes over all
countenances. MARK speaks harshly and calmly.]

Dinas
Of Lidan? Is he here?

1ST GUARD.
Lord Dinas left
The castle gate today at dawn, my Lord.

MARK.
Did Lord Denovalin receive his wound
In front, or from behind?

1ST GUARD.
Here, at the throat.
The wound is small and deep, as though a shaft
Of lightning struck him there between the helm
And gorget--sharp and swift.

VOICES.
Oh listen! See,
'Twas God that struck Denovalin, since he
Had falsely testified against the Queen!
Then let the executioner strip off
His arms, and hang them in my armory,
So that the sun shall shine thereon. The corpse
Shall he bind to a horse's tail, and drag
It o'er the common land and let it rot!
Where lies the Queen!

SHEPHERD.
Stand back there, for King Mark
Would see the Queen in her pale beauty! Back!

[The crowd stands back and a space is
cleared around ISEULT. MARK looks down
upon her from above and speaks coldly
and slowly, controlling himself.]

MARK.
Let Queen Iseult be carried on that cloak
Within the castle. Place her there upon
Soft pillows. Strew fresh flowers round about
Her bed, and moisten all her robes and clothes
With sweetest perfumes. Kneel ye down and pray
When she doth speak to you, for she must be
In some way sacred, since God loves her thus.

(Almost shouting.)

And if she should be found in Tristram's bed
I'll kill the man who tells me of it, ay,
And let his body rot upon the ground!
Now saddle me a horse that I may go
To seek Lord Dinas, my most loyal friend!