Chapter XIX: Act IV

The High Vaulted Hall of the Castle.--In the middle of the hall on the left opens a high, wooden staircase. In the background on the left, bay-windows; on the right, a broad, barred door. Through the grating one sees the outer court. In the middle of the wall on the right is a wide fireplace on each side of which jut out low stone benches. In front of the windows stands a table at which DINAS and GANELUN, the First and Second Barons, are playing chess. In the foreground, a table on which chess-boards stand prepared for play. The table by the stone-bench stands on a dais which is shut off from behind by a railing. On the dais and on the floor are carpets. Servants take wine-flagons from a sideboard which stands on the left beside the stairs, and place them in front of the players. In front of the raised table UGRIN, the King's Jester, is asleep. The oil-torches give only a dim light. For a moment the players continue their game in silence.

SCENE I

1ST BARON.
Take heed unto thy queen, Lord Ganelun,
Unless thou willingly dost sacrifice
Her to my pawns, as Mark gave Queen Iseult
Unto his lepers!

GANELUN.
Wait! for see, I move
My bishop back.

2D BARON.
Check! Dinas, check and mate!
Thou mad'st it easy, friend. Thou never shouldst
Have sacrificed the knight, for thus my rook
Escaped, attacking thee.

DINAS.
Forgive; my thoughts
Were troubled, ay, and wandered from the game.

[Two knights come in from the courtyard.]

1ST KNIGHT.
I cannot make one ray of sense from all
These strange occurrences, my Lords! I greet
Thee, Ganelun!

[Shakes hands with the Barons.]

2D KNIGHT (shaking hands).
At chess! At chess my Lords!
Your blood must run full slowly in your veins!

[Comes forward.]

GANELUN.
King Mark has bid us play, and order'd wine
For us to drink, since otherwise 'twould be
A dull and sombre evening here tonight
Within the castle hall, for Queen Iseult,
I ween, will stay in her retirement.

1ST KNIGHT.
King Mark bade us come hither too.

UGRIN.
"Oh God!
Men! Men! Bring lights and let me see the face
Of human beings 'round about!" So cried
My cousin Mark not half an hour agone,
As one on whom the mirth of loneliness
Falls all too heavily!

2D BARON.
What think ye, Lords,
Of this most wondrous thing?

2D KNIGHT.
And do ye know
That Kaad, King Mark's old stable groom, beheld
St. George leap from the battlement where wall
And rock drop off an hundred fathom sheer?

[The Barons stand up and crowd about him.]

1ST BARON.
St. George?

GANELUN.
What's that thou say'st?

DINAS.
Dost thou know more?

2D KNIGHT.
I know but what old Kaad himself recounts;
That, as he led Mark's charger down to drink,
There suddenly appeared before his eyes
The lofty shape of good St. George, erect,
Upon the wall!

1ST BARON (crossing himself).
God save my soul!

2D BARON.
And then?
What happened then?

2D KNIGHT.
Kaad thought at first
He was some mortal man and cried to him
To heed; but in that selfsame moment leapt
The holy knight, and cleared the wall, and fell
The hundred fathoms. But when Kaad ran up,
With all the speed he might unto the spot,
St. George had vanished and had left no trace.

1ST BARON.
No trace?

2D BARON.
'Tis strange!

DINAS.
A wondrous thing!

GANELUN.
But say,
By what did Kaad first recognize the saint?

2D KNIGHT.
I know not, but he says 'twas he; and all
The people, are rejoicing at this new
And wondrous miracle of good St. George.

1ST KNIGHT.
What says King Mark about this miracle,
This saving of the Queen by God Himself?
Hast seen him, Dinas?

DINAS (returning to the table).
Ay, his heart and mind
Are heavy and his soul distressed.

2D KNIGHT.
And Queen
Iseult?

1ST KNIGHT.
What said the King of her?

GANELUN.
The King
Refused to see her, or to speak with her,
Since neither dares to speak of this foul deed
Which has occurred; its memory still throbs,
And tingling flows throughout their blood.

2D BARON.
And yet
He sent the Queen, and without message too,
The head that pledged a perjured oath today,
Upon a silver shield. And well he did.

2D KNIGHT.
My Lord Denovalin a victim fell
Unto a saintly and a holy hand,
But died ingloriously!

DINAS.
As he deserved
So died he. Sir.

[The Barons and Knights sit down again
at the table. King MARK, unnoticed by
the others, comes slowly down the steps,
and walks about. He is oppressed and
agitated. At length he stops, and, leaning
against the end post of the bannister,
listens to the conversation of the others.]

1ST KNIGHT.
A leper has been stoned
Because he cried throughout Lubin that 'twas
The devil who had done the thing.

DINAS.
Such leaps
By God or devil can alone be done.

GANELUN.
'Tis true, my Lords, no mortal man can spring
An hundred fathoms.

[Mark steps up to the table and lays his
arm about Dinas' neck.]

SCENE II

MARK.
True, Lord Ganelun!

2D BARON (springing up).
The King!

1ST BARON
The King here! Pardon, sire!

MARK.
I thank
You all, my Lords, that ye were not enraged
And angered at a weak old man, and came
Again to me. I would not willingly
Have spent this night alone.

2D BARON.
Most cheerfully
We came. The Queen's miraculous escape
O'er joys us all.

1ST BARON.
There lack but three to make
The tale complete; those three, my Lords, who stood
As sponsors of the bond.

MARK.
They're coursing through
The gloomy forest paths and seek to catch
That which, since God hath spoken, cannot be
Therein. I've sent my riders to recall
Them here to me.

GANELUN.
Give me thy hand, King Mark,
For I am glad that thou didst err!

MARK (his voice is bitter and despairing).
I, too,
Am glad, for if this morning I appeared
A wreckless youth, a foolish boy who dared
In arrogant presumption to assert
Himself and to rebel against your word,
Forgive me. Passion is the heritage
Of man; his deeds the natural consequence
Of passion. Think ye not the same? And see,
How God, now for the second time, has wrought,
And sternly proved the truth! Is it, perchance,
His will that I should learn unseeingly,
Unquestioningly to revere His stars
On which our actions here on earth depend?
What think ye, sirs? for so it seems to me;
And therefore hath He hid from me that which
Most eagerly I wish to know, so that
Before this veiled uncertainty, my blood
Ran riot in my veins. But from this day
I'll change my mode of life; I will regard
My blindness and His unavoidable
Decree; for wisdom lies in piety,
As says an ancient proverb; hence I will,
From this day on, learn piety that I
Become a very sage for wisdom.

[Goes away.]

A KNIGHT.
Calm
Thyself!

UGRIN (calling to MARK).
Ay, cousin, make thyself a monk!

MARK (turning back).
And I will learn to laugh at God that He
Should give Himself such trouble for a man
Like me--poor fool! Enough! Forgive my wrongs
In friendly wise, as I will overlook
Your sins with all my heart. But, if a man
Grown lately wise may counsel you, sin not;
Your work is the beginning, God's the end.

UGRIN (calling out to him).
Amen.

MARK.
I've broken in upon your game
My friends, and chattered on. Forgive it me;
Resume your play and cups; drink on, I pray.

[He goes over to UGRIN.]

Thy jokes are empty of all wit today,
Ugrin.

UGRIN.
My wit has fallen off, say'st thou?
Decay of time, believe me Mark; for wit
Is wine, and wine is poured into a cup
Of sparkling gold, and not into a crack'd
Old jug, and thou, illustrious cousin, art
Become a broken pot since noon today!

[Hands him his jester's sceptre.]

Here, hit thyself! Behold the ring is gone!
My wit's too precious for a ringless cup.
At Easter tide I'll seek me out as lord
Some jovial soul who loves his wine; who plays
Wild pranks, and gives his wife away when he
Is tired of her!

MARK (sitting down on the stone bench).
Friend Ugrin, I warn
Thee, heed thy tongue!

UGRIN.
Ay, cousin! Ay, 'twere best
Since thou'st forsworn all quarreling!

MARK.
I wish
That I might put thee on the rack and have
Thee whipped before I go to rest! Instead
I'll give thee two broad marks of gold if thou
Can'st move Iseult to laughter; and I'll give
Besides the gold a brand-new cloak to wear
In winter time!

UGRIN.
Well lined?

MARK (takes him by both ears).
I've set my heart
Upon it that Iseult shall laugh, so do
Thy best, my friend!

UGRIN (stands up).
With some well-chosen words,
Perhaps, I briefly might describe to her
The leper's throng! What say'st thou, cousin?

MARK.
Fool!

UGRIN.
Or I might ask her what it's like when one's
Own husband, from unfeeling jealousy,
Ordains one to be burnt; or yet again
I might, with due solemnity, implore
Her to be kind--to love thee once again,
Good cousin! Surely she must laugh at that!

MARK.
Peace, fool! Thou weariest me.

UGRIN.
If thou intend
To grow thy beard in this new way I'll turn
Thy barber! I shall serve thee better then
Than now as fool! What say'st to this?

MARK.
Oh fool,
If only thou wast not a fool!

UGRIN (noticing ISEULT at the head of the stairs).
No fool
So great as thou thyself! Behold her now,
The woman whom thou gav'st away! Oh fie!
Fool cousin, art thou not ashamed?

(Sinks to his knees and calls out.)

The Queen
Approaches! Queen Iseult!

SCENE III

The Knights and Barons rise; MARK springs up and steps back a pace. ISEULT remains standing on the bottom step. BRANGAENE, GIMELLA and PARANIS are behind her.

ISEULT.
I beg of you,
My Lords, consider what is past as 'twere
A dream, since otherwise we could not find
Fit words or proper sentiments to stand
Before each other with unblushing cheek,
For very shame and horror at this deed.

[She steps down into the hall.]

My Lords, I bid you welcome, one and all!

GANELUN.
I kiss thy mantle's hem, oh Queen!

1ST BARON.
So do
We all who stand before thee now. We feel
That thou art holy, Queen Iseult!

ISEULT.
Ye do
Me wrong in praising me too much, good friends.
I did but swear the truth and keep what I
Had sworn. Continue now your play. I would
Not hinder you!

[She turns to MARK; both stare at each
other for a moment and then ISEULT
speaks timidly, almost childishly.]

I wish to play at chess
--With Mark and Dinas--that true, loyal friend--

MARK (after a short pause, quietly and kindly).
Play thou with Dinas first, since I, this morn,
Did interrupt thy game. I promised him
That he should play with thee.

[He goes to the chest.]

(Breaking out.)

I'll choose Ugrin
As my opponent! Come, Sir Fool, and play
With me! [Sits down on the chest.]

ISEULT.
So be it, Mark. Friend Dinas, come;
And thou Gimella play with Ganelun.

(To BRANGAENE.)

Stand thou beside me here and help me worst
Mine adversary. Come.

[She seats herself with DINAS at the raised
table. BRANGAENE stands beside the table
and leans over the bannister. PARANIS
seats himself at ISEULT'S feet. GIMELLA
takes her place at the other table. The
Strange Jester slinks across the court
and presses his pale, beardless face,
drawn with suffering, against the bars
of the grating. His head is shaved and
his clothes are torn and ragged.]

UGRIN.
Laugh at me, Queen.

ISEULT.
Tell me, Ugrin, why should I laugh at thee?

UGRIN.
I beg thee laugh; most fondly I implore
Thee laugh at me, Iseult. My cousin here
Hath promised me much gold if I can make
Thee laugh at me but once--I want that gold
So much!--Come, laugh at me, Iseult!

ISEULT.
First earn
Thy gold, good fool. Be off and let us play.

UGRIN (kneels down by MARK beside the chest).
Thy wife's not in her sweetest mood today,
Good cousin. Know'st thou why perhaps?

MARK.
A truce
To thy dull jokes! Come, play the game. Sir Knave!

ISEULT. I'll take thy castle, Dinas! Heed thy game.

UGRIN (humming).
Oh once there was a mighty King,
Who had a lady fair.
This King did love his beauteous dame
As though his wife she were--

ISEULT.
Thy castle falls--

(Softly.)

I hardly see the squares!
They sway and rock like billows on the sea.

DINAS.
Why weepest thou?

ISEULT.
I am not happy, friend.

PARANIS (softly).
Oh God!--There, see! Through yonder window's bars
There peers a man.

DINAS.
Where, boy?

PARANIS.
There! There!

STR. JESTER (calling through the grating).
Holla!
King Mark! Holla!

DINAS.
What's that!

MARK (rising).
Who storms outside
My door? Such noises in the night I will
Not brook! Who's there?

[UGRIN runs to the grating.]

STR. JESTER.
A jester, King; a poor
And witless fool. Let me come in! I'll crack
New jokes to make thee laugh!--Let me come in.

UGRIN.
A fool!

GIMELLA.
How came he here?

BRANGAENE.
He startled me!

ISEULT.
Indeed we weary of Ugrin's stale jests.

STR. JESTER.
I'm a poor jester that would come to thee,
So let me in. King Mark.

MARK (going to the grating).
The fools, it seems,
Smell out my door as carrion-vultures smell
A corpse.

UGRIN.
Cousin; let him be driven out!
I beg thee, have him whipped.

1ST GUARD (from without).
I've caught thee, rogue!

MARK.
How came this strange fool past the gates, Gilain?
Wast thou asleep?

1ST GUARD.
King Mark, this man has slunk
About the gate since it grew dark. He says
He wants to see thee. Many times have we
Already driven him away, but still
He sticks like pitch about the gate.

STR. JESTER.
I am
A jester from a foreign land--I wish
To come to thee. King Mark!

1ST GUARD.
Behold the fool!
He cries like that unceasingly.

MARK.
Speak, fool,
What need hast thou of me?

STR. JESTER.
Mark, let me in!
I'll make such jests that thou, and all thy lords
And ladies die from laughing at my wit.

GIMELLA (laughing).
The merry jests!

ISEULT.
This wandering knave intrudes
Too boldly!

UGRIN.
Rogue! Oh shameless one. I'll give
Thee such a drubbing as thou ne'er hast felt.

MARK.
Know'st thou, in truth, new jests.

STR. JESTER.
Ay, Mark, new jests
To make thee laugh or weep. Ay, merry jests!

SCENE IV

MARK opens the grating and lets the Strange Jester in. The Jester advances a few feet on the right, and stops to stare at ISEULT. UGRIN walks about him, examining him.

MARK.
Then come, thou jail-bird. Hark, Gilain, let now
The guard be doubled at the lower gate
That none, unnoticed, may come in.

STR. JESTER.
But should
A stranger King arrive,--a stranger King,
The master of this stranger fool--let him
Come in, Gilain.

ISEULT.
Play, Dinas, play thy game!
Their chatter wearies me.

MARK.
Now tell me, rogue,
Why clamorest thou so loudly at my gate?
What wouldst thou? Speak.

STR. JESTER.
I wish to stay with thee.

[Laughter.]

2D BARON.
What cooked they in thy kitchen, Mark, tonight
That all the fools have smelt it out?

STR. JESTER.
I saw
The fire glowing in thy hall; I saw
The light and so I came--I'm cold.

UGRIN.
Then wrap
Thyself more closely in thy cloak, thou fool!

STR. JESTER.
I've given it away.

BRANGAENE (laughing).
It seems thou art
A tender hearted fool!

GIMELLA.
And yet it does
Not seem as though thou couldst give much away!

MARK (looking at the fool carefully).
Whence comest thou, Sir Fool!

STR. JESTER.
I come from there--
From there outside, from nowhere else--

(Looking at ISEULT and in a soft voice--
almost singing.)

And yet
My mother was Blanchefleur!

[ISEULT starts and stares across at him.]

MARK (goes back laughing to his seat. UGRIN follows him).
Ha! ha! The jest
Is poor. Hast thou no better ones, my friend?
Blanchefleur was mine own sister. She begat
No fool like thee!

STR. JESTER.
'Twas then some other one
Who bore the self-same name and me the pain
And sorrow, Mark. What matters it to thee?

[Laughter.]

1ST KNIGHT (laughingly).
Our jesting rogue grows bitter in his mirth!

ISEULT.
Let this strange jester stand a little forth
That we may see him in the light.

MARK.
Come here,
Sir Fool, and stand before the Queen.

UGRIN.
He is
An ass as awkward as I e'er beheld!
So cousin, judge by contrast 'twixt us two,
And see the priceless thing thou hast in me!

MARK.
Go, fool, be not afraid.

STR. JESTER (steps in front of the stone bench on
the left, opposite ISEULT'S table).
--I'm cold!--I'm cold!

ISEULT (after looking at him for a moment breaks
into a clear and relieved laugh).
A sorry sight to look upon!

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

GIMELLA (springing forward).
The Queen
Is laughing--see!

BRANGAENE.
Made he some witty jest?

GIMELLA.
Why laughst thou so, Iseult?

DINAS.
'Tis horrible
To see the fool's distorted face!

ISEULT.
He looks
So pitifully at me! it makes me laugh!

UGRIN.
I'm angry with thee, Queen Iseult! Oh fie!
For shame, how couldst thou laugh at that strange fool?

(Turning to MARK.)

I pray thee, Mark, good cousin, wilt thou give
To him the two whole marks of gold?

[During this time the Strange Jester sits
on the railing which joins the bench to the
fireplace. He rests his elbows on his
knees and his face on his hands. He
stares at ISEULT.]

BRANGAENE.
Rejoice!
The King will give thee a reward since thou
Hast cheered the Queen.

STR. JESTER (without changing his attitude).
Would that I'd make her weep,
This Queen, instead of laugh!

[Soft and low laughter.]

MARK.
How's that?

STR. JESTER.
Because
I am a fool for sorrow, not for mirth!

[Laughter; the fool springs up.]

And none shall laugh when he beholds my face!

[Laughter; the fool seats himself again.]

ISEULT (earnestly).
How strangely speaks the fool!

MARK.
My friend, I think,
That some one cut thee from the gallows!

STR. JESTER (stares at ISEULT--slowly).
Mark,
How proud and cold a wife thou hast! Her name's
Iseult, I think. Am I not right?

MARK (smiling).
Doth she
Please thee. Sir Fool?

STR. JESTER.
Ay! ay! She pleases me.

[Laughter.]

Iseult the Goldenhaired!--I'm cold, King Mark!

ISEULT.
The fool is mad!--I like him not.

UGRIN (to the Strange Jester).
Thou hast
Thine answer now!

GIMELLA.
Is this the first time thou
Beheldst the Queen?

MARK.
Art thou a stranger, friend?

STR. JESTER.
Mayhap I've seen the Queen before; mayhap
I never have.--I know not, Mark.

[Laughter.]

GIMELLA (laughing).
A strange
And curious jest, i' faith!

(To those laughing at the other table.)

Come here, my Lords,
For this new jester is most wondrous strange.

STR. JESTER (in rising grief).
I had a sweetheart once, and she was fair!

MARK (laughing).
Ay! I believe thee, friend!

STR. JESTER.
Yea, she was fair,
Almost as fair as Queen Iseult, thy wife.

[Laughter.]

I'm cold!

ISEULT (angrily).
Thou fool, why starest thou at me?
Avaunt!

STR. JESTER.
Laugh once again at me, Iseult!
Thy laugh was fair, and yet, methinks, those eyes
Must be still fairer when they overflow
With tears.--I wish that I could make thee weep,
Iseult!

[A silence.]

UGRIN (going over to him).
Ho, ho! Are those thy jokes! I'll fall
A weeping straight, thou croaking raven!

STR. JESTER (springing up).
Take
This fool away, or else I'll smite him dead!

[UGRIN jumps backward.]

MARK.
Thou art a gloomy jester, boy!

GIMELLA.
His jests
Are all of some new fangled sort.

MARK.
Speak, fool,
Whom hast thou served till now?

STR. JESTER.
I've served King Mark
In far off Cornwall--.

[Laughter.]

And he had a wife,
And she was fair, with long and golden hair!

[Laughter.]

Why laughst thou Dinas, friend?

[The laughter dies suddenly; the Barons
and Knights, who, with the exception of
those at the Queen's table, had formed a
circle around the Strange Jester, shrink
back.]

DINAS (startled).
My God! He knows
My name as well!

1ST BARON.
'Tis passing strange!

2D BARON.
Thou!--Fool--!

GANELUN.
He's quick, and makes good use of what he hears!

ISEULT.
His jests are impudent,--I wish that he
Would go away! He wearies me.

MARK.
And yet
There's something in the knave that pleases me.
His madness lies still deeper than it seems--

UGRIN.
Ay, cousin, in his belly, for, methinks,
He has a stomachache!

MARK.
Come, friend, tell us
A tale.

STR. JESTER (starting up).
Why stare ye so at me, ye pack
Of rogues? Why mock ye me?

(In anguish.)

I'm but a fool!
A wretched fool! Send them away. King Mark,
And listen thou to me. We'll stay here all
Alone:--the Queen, and thou, and I, and then
I'll tell thee pretty things, sweet things,--so sweet
That one must shiver when one hears! Now send
Away the rest!

1ST BARON.
Take heed. Sir Fool, be not
Too bold.

2D BARON.
He should be soundly beaten!

MARK.
Leave
Him, Lords, in peace. I like his foolishness,
Because he does not crack the silly jokes
That other jesters do.

STR. JESTER.
I, too, was once
As good a knight as they--!

[Laughter.]

GANELUN (laughing).
I wish I'd seen
Thee, knave!

STR. JESTER (steadily).
Thou saw'st me many times and wast
My friend, Lord Ganelun!

[All step back nervously.]

1ST KNIGHT (crossing himself).
God save us, friends!
He knows us all by name!

ISEULT.
a gruesome fool!
Send him away. King Mark; he's mad.

MARK.
Speak on!

STR. JESTER.
My tongue cleaves to my gums; my throat is parch'd!
Give me to drink.

MARK (stands up and takes a goblet from the table).
I had forgot, poor fool!
But thou shalt drink wine from a golden cup.
Thy foolishness has touched my heart. At times.
My Lords, 'twould be an easy thing to turn
To such a fool. Iseult! Come pledge the cup
That he may have somewhat of which to dream
On cold and thirsty nights. Grant him this
boon.

[He gives Iseult the cup.]

ISEULT.
I pledge--

STR. JESTER (jumping down from the bench).
Drink not! Drink not!--She drank!

[He waves aside the cup.]

I will
Not drink.

GIMELLA.
A brazen knave!

BRANGAENE.
Fie, fie! For shame!

STR. JESTER.
I'll not drink with a woman from one cup
The self-same wine again.

MARK.
What hinders thee?

STR. JESTER.
Ask Queen Iseult.

ISEULT (angrily and fearfully).
Oh, Mark! He mocks me. Send
The fool away!

STR. JESTER (he throws himself on the ground before the
dais and whispers low and tensely to ISEULT).
"For they who drink thereof
Together, so shall love with every sense
Alive, yet senseless--with their every thought,
Yet thoughtless, too, in life, in death, for aye--
Yet he, who having known the wond'rous bliss
Of that intoxicating cup of love.
Spits out the draught disloyally, shall be
A homeless and a friendless worm,--a weed
That grows beside the road"--So spake my love,
And handed me a golden cup of wine
And bade me drink,--But evil came thereof--.

[During his speech ISEULT sits up in her
chair, and bending backward, stares down
at him in horror.]

PARANIS.
The Queen turns pale!

BRANGAENE.
Iseult! My God! Iseult!

GANELUN.
He conjures!

1ST BARON.
'Twas a magic spell!

2D KNIGHT.
Lay hold
Of him! He is a conjurer.

[A few men start to seize the jester--he
jumps upon the bench.]

ISEULT (trembling with fright).
Excuse--
My weakness--'tis--'tis but--let be--this fool's
Strange jesting is most ghastly--it revolts my soul
And--made me faint--.

MARK.
Thou knave! I'll have thee whipped!
Tell me thy name--Who art thou? Speak!

STR. JESTER.
Come not
Too near!

MARK.
I have a dungeon deep and strong,
And I can have thee thrown to Husdent. He
Will tear thee limb from limb, thou conjurer!
Who art thou?

UGRIN (in a friendly tone).
Answer, friend, our Cousin Mark
Speaks not in jest!

MARK.
Call in the guards!

[A Knight tries to lay hold of the Strange
Jester.]

STR. JESTER.
Let go!
I'm but a wretched fool!--I have no name!
What matters it to you? I've smirched my good
And noble name--so now I have no name.
I had one once that rang full true and high!
I've twisted it about, and broken it!

(In rising agitation.)

I broke my name, and throwing up the bits
I caught them as they fell, and threw them up
Again; and so I played with my fair name
Until the fragments rang again and fell
At last back to my hand, deformed and changed,
To stick, and make a name that is no name--
So call me Tramtris.

ISEULT.
--Tramtris--!

[UGRIN claps his hands and rolls laughing
on the ground.]

MARK.
Fool, what ails
Thee now?

UGRIN.
The jester jesteth. Seest thou not?
Why, turn it 'round! Tramtris--Tristram!
He says
He was Lord Tristram! Ho!

[Laughter.]

GANELUN.
That was the jest
That he so cunningly devised!

1ST BARON.
This shaft
Of irony has struck the mark and hits
This day and thee, King Mark!

2D KNIGHT.
A clever fool!

MARK (laughing softly).
I wish Lord Tristram saw the knave!

2D BARON.
He'd laugh!

ISEULT (trembling with anger).
Let not thy nephew Tristram's knightly fame
And noble name serve as a mockery
To such a ghoul!

MARK (gaily).
Forgive me, fair Iseult;
And yet it makes me laugh to think that this
Poor fool went mad from thinking that he was
My noble nephew Tristram. Speak, thou toy of fate,
Wast thou Lord Tristram once!

STR. JESTER (almost timidly).
Ay, Mark, I was;
And often was I with Iseult, thy wife!
Forgive it me!

[Laughter.]

ISEULT.
Dost thou permit that he
Should heap such insults on thy wife's fair
name?

MARK (gaily).

Heed not his words; the people love such jests.

(To the jester.)

Give us a sign, Sir Fool.

UGRIN.
A sign! A sign!

1ST BARON.
Ay, let the fool describe the Queen. Give ear.

UGRIN.
'Twill be a royal sport! And first he shall
Describe her feet! Speak on!

[UGRIN sits on the ground. ISEULT hides
her face in BRANGAENE'S breast.]

GIMELLA (to ISEULT laughingly).
He'll liken thee
Unto his wench!

MARK.
Why dost thou hesitate?
I grant thee jester's freedom, Fool. Begin!

STR. JESTER (softly and hesitatingly).
From pedestals white snowy columns rise
Of ivory, draped in softly whispering silk,
That arched, and all immaculate, stretch up,--
The swelling pillars of her body's frame--

MARK.
A graceful speech, my friend. Canst thou go on?

STR. JESTER (in rising agitation and feverish emotion).
Her body is a gleam of silvery light
Cast by the full moon in the month of May
Changed to the snowy marvel of herself.
Thou art a garden wild wherein there grow
Deep purple fruits that stupefy and yet
That make one burn! Thy body is a church
Of rarest marble built--a fairy mount
Where sounds the music of a golden harp;
A field of virgin snow! Thy breasts are buds
Of the most sacred plant that flowering grows
Within the garden,--swelling fruits that wait
To suck the honeyed dew of summer moons!
Thy neck is like a lily's stem! Thy arms
Are like the blossoming branches of a young
And tender almond-tree, directing us
Within that Paradise where rules the chaste
Perfection of thy rounded limbs, enthroned
Within thy wondrous body like a God
Who threatens from on high. Thou art--

MARK.
Oh hear
How this impostor talks! The token, fool!

STR. JESTER (softly, trembling and feverishly).
Below the left breast of this master-piece
Of His creation God has set his mark--
A darkened cross--!

MARK (hoarsely).
O seize the knave! The cross
Is there.--She bears the mark!

GANELUN.
Christ save my soul!

1ST BARON.
I feel an awful dread of this strange fool!

1ST KNIGHT (drawing).
I'll run him through the body with my sword!

STR. JESTER. (tears the sword from his hand, and springs
upon the bench).
Take heed unto thyself! Come not too near!
I'll tear thee like a beast.

ISEULT.
His words are not
So marvelously strange. Hast thou forgot,
King Mark, that once, before a heaped up pyre
Thou bad'st me stand, stark naked and exposed
Unto the rabble's gaze? It well may be
That this low jester cast his shaming eyes
Upon me then.

MARK.
Saw'st thou the Queen when she
Stood on the burning pile?

STR. JESTER.
I saw the Queen;
I stood beside her there!

GIMELLA.
Behold, that sight
Has made him lose his wits!

BRANGAENE.
Poor witless fool!

STR. JESTER.
Glare not at me! I'm but a fool, a poor
Mad fool--a wretched fool that wished to tell
You tales to make you laugh!

(Almost screaming.)

For God's sake laugh!

[He throws the sword down. It falls clattering
on the floor. The First Guard enters while two
others stand outside the grating with the Strange
Knight.]

MARK.
Whom bring'st thou there?

1ST GUARD.
King Mark, thy messengers
Have found the witnesses that signed the bond
Too late, for in the forest they had caught
A man whom they have sent to thee. The man
Is wounded; when they called on him to stand
He fled. His horse fell dead. They know him not.
He is a stranger in the land.

MARK.
How heavily
God's wrath descends upon my head. This blood
I've spilled was innocent!

1ST GUARD.
This man is near
His end; his dying wish is to behold
The Queen Iseult. He much desires it.

GIMELLA.
Poor soul!

MARK.
Bring in the man. How things mischance!
My castle is a gruesome place today.
An idiot first, and then a corpse have knocked
To crave admittance to my hall! My Lords,
I pray you to forgive my sins.

PARANIS.
There comes
The wounded Knight.

[The Strange Knight is led before ISEULT.
He walks firmly, standing erect.]

STR. KNIGHT.
--Art thou Iseult?--Iseult
The Goldenhaired? May God be merciful
Unto thy soul!

STR. JESTER (crouches on the bench, taking no interest in
what is said).
My brother Kuerdin!
Dear friend! In a disastrous hour went
We forth. I pity thee!

[The Strange Knight turns and looks at
him searchingly.]

GANELUN (angrily and oppressed).
Will death not close
Thy mouth, thou cur!

MARK.
Dost thou then know this man?

STR. JESTER.
I've said so, Mark! I'll sit beside him here
Until he dies. I'll be his priest.

KARL HAIDER

STR. KNIGHT.
Keep off.
This babbling fool; his chatter shames my death.

DINAS.
Methinks this was the man I saw at dawn
Today as I rode through the wood, and yet
He bore a shield on which I thought I saw
Lord Tristram's arms.

MARK.
Unhappy man, who art
Thou?

STR. KNIGHT (calmly and quietly).
One who knoweth how to die. Lay me
On yonder bench and wrap me in my cloak.

[He is laid on the bench near the chimney,
and lies there like an effigy.]

MARK (to the First Guard).
Where are his shield and arms?

STR. KNIGHT.
I bore the shield
Of Tristram, Lord of Lyonesse, since we,
For our great love, exchanged our arms. I am
His brother, for my sister is his wife.
Lord Tristram greets thee, Mark.

MARK (to him passionately).
Speak, friend, and put
An end unto the quandary in which
I stand. God shall reward thee soon. Where is
Lord Tristram?

STR. KNIGHT (groaning).
With his wife whom he holds dear.

STR. JESTER.
Thou liest, brother, yet thou speak'st the truth!

MARK.
God mocks me, Lords! God mocks me!

STR. JESTER.
I will watch
By him and guard his body through the night.

GANELUN.
Be still, thou toad! Be still!

1ST GUARD.
King Mark, the Knight
Upon his left hand wears a ring--a stone
Rich set in gold. Shall he retain the ring
Upon his hand?--He's dead.

STR. JESTER (seizing the ring).
The ring is mine!
I gave it him!

GANELUN (striking him).
Away! Thou damned thief!

STR. JESTER.
The ring is mine, I say. My love once gave
It me and sware thereon; but now I'll give
It as a jester's gift unto the Queen.
I pray thee take the ring, Iseult.

[ISEULT takes the ring, looks at it a moment
and lets it fall. She totters.]

Cast not
Away my gift!

BRANGAENE.
Help! Help! The Queen.

ISEULT (in great agitation).
Oh God,
I pray Thee open now mine eyes, and set
Me free! I know not if I am alive!
There lies a corpse--There stands a ghost and I
Between them, here! I hear a moaning sound
Pass whimpering through the halls--!

[She runs to the stairs.]

Let me go up!
Brangaene, come, and thou Gimella, too!

[Half way up the stairs she turns.]

Be not too angry with me, Mark, for thou
Hast set a loathsome ghost to mock and jeer
At me to make thee laugh. He makes my heart
Grow cold with horror! Come, my ladies, come!
Stand by me now--this awful game has made
Me shudder.

[She hastens up the stairs.]

STR. JESTER (springs onto the table to look after her).
Queen Iseult, thou fairest one.
Have pity on my leper's soul!

GANELUN.
Be still,
Thou croaking raven!

1ST BARON.
Smite him dead and spit
Upon his corpse!

2D BARON.
Thou filthy worm!

MARK.
Lay hold
Upon the jester! Hold him fast. Thou fool,
Thou base-born cur, how dar'st thou vex my wife
So bitterly with thy presumptuous wit?

STR. JESTER.
Mark, heed thy words!

1ST KNIGHT (catching his wrists from behind).
I have the knave!

MARK.
The Guards
Shall whip the rogue for his bold impudence,
And cast him from the castle gates. Let loose
The dogs upon him if he does not run,
And leave my walls as though they were on fire!
Away with him!

UGRIN (in greatest haste and agitation).
King Mark, oh good King Mark,
Behold, he is my brother in my kind,
A much abused and crazy fool who means
No evil with his foolish jests! See now
How pitiful his mien! He strove to make
Thee laugh in his poor way as I in mine.
Forgive the knave, and drive him not away
Into the darkness like a snarling cur
That whines about the house! He hungers, too,
For thou hast given him naught to eat or drink
Since he has been beneath thy kingly roof.
I am an old, old man, King Mark; he is
My brother, and a jester like myself;
I pity him! I pray thee let me keep
Him here with me until tomorrow's morn,
That he may sleep with me within my bed.
Then, when the sun shall shine upon his road,
He shall depart and seek a dwelling place.
'Twas thou thyself encouraged him to jest;
Judge then thy guilt and his with equal eye.
He is a fool, a crazy, blundering fool,
Yet drive him not away! I pray thee let
Him sleep beside me here a while that he
Refresh himself! He looks so pitifully!

MARK.
Why, Ugrin, friend, 'tis new for thee to act
The part of charity!

UGRIN.
I serve thee, Mark,
With foolishness and jests--and thou but knowest
Me by my services.

MARK.
I still can make
One person glad tonight! Keep, then, thy fool
But thou stand'st surety for him if he should
Attempt to burn the castle or to do
Some other mischief in his madness.

[The Knight lets the Strange Jester go; he
crouches on the dais.]

UGRIN.
Mark,
Thou art indeed my dear, kind, cousin, still!
Good-night, fair cousin, go and sleep. Thou needst
It sorely--and--I pray that thou forget
Not my new wisdom!

MARK.
Sirs, I wish you all
A restful night for this has been a day
Of many cares and many tribulations.
Tomorrow shall we bury this brave Knight
With all the honors due his noble rank,
For he was innocent.

GANELUN.
Sleep well. King Mark!

1ST BARON.
May God watch o'er thee, Mark!

[The Barons go up the stairs; the Knights
and guards go out. The servants extinguish
all but a few of the lights.]

MARK (on the stairs).
Come, Dinas, come
With me, and we will watch a little while.
My heart is sorrowful tonight!

DINAS (following him up the stairs).
I'll stay
With thee until the morning break if thou
Desire it so.

UGRIN (calling after them).
And cousins take good heed
Ye catch not cold!

[They leave the stage, the moon shines
through the grating, and the shadow of
the bars falls into the hall. The Strange
Jester crouches motionless. UGRIN turns
to him.]

SCENE VI

UGRIN.
Ay, so they are! "Whip, whip the fool!"
We wrack
Our weary brains to make a jest and then,
In payment, we are whipped if they so feel
Inclined! They treat us more like dogs than men!

[He goes to the table where the food stands,
and takes a bite.]

Art hungry, brother? Wait, I'll bring my cloak.
For thou art cold.

[He draws a cloak from under the stairs.]

'Tis here, beneath the stairs,
I sleep.--A very kennel! 'Tis a shame.

[He eats again.]

Wilt thou not eat a morsel of what's left
Upon the table here? Nor drink a drop?
'Tis not forbidden, friend; our cousin lets
Us eat and drink of what is left.

[He goes into the middle of the hall and
bends down to look into the Strange
Jester's face.]

Art sad
Dear brother? Speak to me! Come, come, look not
So sorrowful!

[Bending over the corpse of the dead Knight.]

This man is colder still

Than thou! Art thou afraid? He'll not awake.

[Comes close to the Strange Jester.]

I'll wrap thee close within my cloak that thou
May'st sleep. Dost thou not wish to sleep!
Why then I'll sing a song to make thee sleep. Alas!
I know but joyous, silly songs! Come lay
Thee down.

[He sits on the bench and draws the head
upon his lap.]

Thou look'st not happy, brother. Hast
A sorrow? Tell it me; here canst thou rest
At ease, and I will sing a song. Thou seemst
A child to whom one must sing songs to make
It sleep. I'll sing the song that Queen Iseult
Is wont to sing at even when she thinks
Of Tristram, her dear friend, sitting beside
Her open casement. 'Tis a pretty song.

[With bowed head and closed eyes he hums
very softly as if in his sleep. The body
of the Strange Jester under the black
cloak that covers it is shaken by sobs
of anguish.]

"Lord Tristram, my friend, is unfaithful,
And God's wrath on him shall descend;
Though cruelly he has betrayed me--"