Part 3
Your tongues speak trippingly of breaking hearts, Yet of your courtesy remember this: A woman has no armour, has no sword; And absent, how shall she defend herself? If tongues be sharp with malice, A woman must be silent. If defamers Stab at her honour in the dark--why, still She must be silent. I am a woman, a Queen; And yet, how can I fight with evil tongues? I count you all as friends, all of you here; And if your Queen on any day should need Armour and sword, she gives to you her honour; The dearest thing she has she gives to you.
GAWAINE
Now may the lightning scorch the lips that made Our loyal oaths, if we forget. In peace As in the hour of peril, we are yours In service absolute; and we will shed Our bosom’s last blood to defend our Queen. Do I not speak for all?
BEDIVERE (_raising his cup_)
For all! The Queen!
ALL KNIGHTS
We pledge her.
GAWAINE
Sword and life!
ALL KNIGHTS
Hail to the Queen!
BORS
To the most gracious lady in the land!
LUCAN
To the glory of this isle!
KAY
The Western star!
MORDRED
The radiant rose of Britain and the world!
GAWAINE
Happily spoken. Mordred hits the mark: “The radiant rose of Britain and the world.”
ALL KNIGHTS
The radiant rose of Britain and the world.
(_A great flourish from the horns._)
GUENEVERE
Thanks to you all, thanks from my heart that glows Great in my bosom to be pledged so queenly, To have such praises like a crown upon me More golden than this circlet; for I feel Your voices are like swords upon my side Flashing about me. Sir Mordred, specially I thank you, since Too seldom have we seen you grace our table. Honour us more!
MORDRED
I am honoured past desert. Let me again pledge that most royal beauty Dimming the fame of queens dead and renowned. Drink yet again, knights, to our Queen.
ALL KNIGHTS
Our Queen!
(_Another flourish._)
MORDRED
Yet something, give me pardon, something lacks Your feast, Queen Guenevere.
GUENEVERE
Speak your desire. I blame my entertainment that it lacks----
MORDRED
Sir Launcelot!
GUENEVERE
I have word the King requires him In council.
MORDRED
A light is wanting by your side When Launcelot is absent. You have spoken Of the division that an envy breeds. Lives one who envies not Sir Launcelot? If it be fault, I must confess to it. Fame he has and love, And therefore stands the envy of the world. Where is the man’s hand can prevail against him, Or where the heart of woman? When in the bright lists Launcelot rode on me How was I dazzled? Not by him alone; I marvelled at the red sleeve which he wore, Beauty’s proud badge. That smote me in the eyes. My Queen, it was your red sleeve conquered me.
GUENEVERE
A red sleeve? Launcelot?
MORDRED
Knights, Red wine to the red sleeve! (_A pause._) Does no one drink? Have I said aught amiss?
GUENEVERE
What does Sir Mordred rave of?
BEDIVERE
Queen, excuse. It is but some extravagance of phrase.
LAVAINE (_shyly_)
Sirs, This red sleeve is my sister’s.
MORDRED
Not the Queen’s?
(_A pause._)
COLEGREVANCE
Out of the mouth of babes!
MORDRED
Oh, pardon me If in my innocence I have offended.
GUENEVERE
Sir Launcelot wore a red sleeve yesterday? And this sleeve was your sister’s?
LAVAINE
Yes, my Queen. She supplicated him to wear it.
GUENEVERE
She Has healed him of his wound. For gratitude He could have done naught else.
MORDRED
But this is marvel. Never did Launcelot take such badge before Of any lady. More than gratitude This surely meant.
GAWAINE
Mordred, the Queen has spoken. You slight her word.
MORDRED
Nay, for the Queen must joy With all her knights in so surpassing news. We shall see Launcelot bring to Court at last A bride. Sirs, drink with me to Launcelot and his bride!
AGRAVAINE, COLEGREVANCE, PATRICE, AND MADOR
To Launcelot and his bride!
GUENEVERE
I also drink to Launcelot’s fair bride. And now, sirs, I will pray you pardon me. (_To_ SIR LUCAN) Sir Lucan, bid my woman to attend me.
(_Pause._)
GAWAINE (_in a low voice_)
Mordred, this marring of the feast is yours.
MORDRED
I spoke but praises.
GAWAINE
Honey, dropping venom.
AGRAVAINE
Gawaine, you are ever shaping taunts at us.
BEDIVERE
Sirs, sirs, the Queen!
MORDRED
I spoke no word but what should honour her.
BORS
Sir Mordred, we That are the friends of Launcelot know not you So fond a lover of his fame; so pardon If phrases of such fashion seemed to taste ... I say no more. Yet be assured, if ill Be meant to Launcelot, rue to him that means it.
COLEGREVANCE
A threat! By Uther’s beard, we’ll not be threatened.
MORDRED
Colegrevance, be still. What said the Queen. Accord old feuds, be friends. Which of us now shows her obedience?
KAY
Were Launcelot here----
AGRAVAINE
Launcelot, Launcelot! Must we be ever plagued with Launcelot?
BORS
Yesterday, Agravaine, you had some cause.
(_A laugh from_ LAUNCELOT’S _friends_.)
AGRAVAINE
I defy you all.
BEDIVERE
The Queen!
AGRAVAINE
The Queen, it seems, Has bidden us to be gibed at.
MORDRED
Peace, sirs, peace. The Queen bade us be merry. I ask your pardon if I spoke amiss, I marvel that a sleeve, a mere red sleeve----
GAWAINE, BEDIVERE, BORS, KAY
Mordred!
GUENEVERE (_rising in wrath_)
Unmannerly dastard!
(_Pause and a low laugh from_ AGRAVAINE.)
Nay, forgive me, sirs; I am not all recovered from my sickness: Pardon me if I leave you; stir not. Come.
[_Exit with ladies._
GAWAINE (_after a pause, to_ MORDRED)
What devil pricked your tongue to speak of that?
MORDRED
Why should I not?... Were it not injury to think such thoughts I would say----
GAWAINE
To your meaning, and be done.
MORDRED (_slowly_)
I would say Gawaine hints of some dishonour, Some secret that must not be told abroad. Would Gawaine say the Queen Is jealous because Launcelot----
GAWAINE
Slanderer!
MORDRED
It was not I that hinted.
LAVAINE
The red sleeve, I tell you again, Sir Mordred, was my sister’s. For Elaine’s sake and in mere courtesy Sir Launcelot wore it.
MORDRED
Needs the Queen these defenders?
COLEGREVANCE
What fool boy’s talk is this? A paramour The more, say I.
AGRAVAINE
False to one, false to all.
LAVAINE
Liar!
AGRAVAINE
I will have blood for that.
COLEGREVANCE
And I.
BEDIVERE
For shame! Be silent. Here in the King’s hall!
AGRAVAINE
Off, masks! We have slobbered phrases long enough. The Queen confessed, you know it by her eye And cheek of flame that spoke clear as a trumpet “Launcelot is mine! None else shall have his love While I have breath and can deceive the King.” Shall the King be deceived?
BORS
Drag him away!
AGRAVAINE
To the King!
COLEGREVANCE, MADOR, PATRICE
To the King!
BEDIVERE, LUCAN, KAY, BORS
To the King? No.
GAWAINE
Silence! To the King? And shame The very floor we stand on? To the King, And with what pitiable pretext? Why, But that the wine is flown into your brains, What colour is in this tale? The morning air Will blow it into nothing.
AGRAVAINE
That we’ll see.
BEDIVERE
Mordred, you vowed devotion to the Queen.
MORDRED
I have said naught against her.
BORS
Hypocrite!
AGRAVAINE
Do you dare insult my brother?
LUCAN
Are Britain’s peers Grown tavern brawlers?
KAY
Launcelot shall hear you And prove upon your bodies that you lie.
AGRAVAINE
The truth is out, and Launcelot shall die For all his champions.
PATRICE
Come we to the King.
BEDIVERE
Are knightly vows then turned to drunkards’ oaths?
KAY
Is loyalty in the gutter?
GAWAINE
Shame on all If one word come to the King’s ear of this.
BEDIVERE
And with this hubbub we affront the Queen Most shamefully. Remove we all, at once.
(_The knights pass out in great turmoil_, MORDRED _lingering last_.)
MORDRED
I have pulled the sluice. Now let the torrent stream.
[_Exit._
GUENEVERE _enters with one of her women_.
GUENEVERE
Sir Launcelot, have you found him?
WOMAN
He is here.
(GUENEVERE _dismisses the woman with a gesture_. LAUNCELOT _enters, grave and preoccupied_.)
LAUNCELOT
My Queen!
GUENEVERE
Perjurer! The truth leaps to light at last! Ah God, Launcelot, that I trusted you, Loved you with such a love, such a mad love, So weak! But now my heart turns into hate And all my blood into one river of scorn. Oh, that I were the lightning and could strike To the false heart of you; there, there, Behind the lips that vowed me endless love To the false heart that laughed those vows away, False as the sea, cruel and false with smiles And sighs and perjured protestation.
LAUNCELOT
Queen!
GUENEVERE
Who fills your secret bosom, fires your thought? Who speeds her champion’s onset in the lists? Not I, but she whose dear red sleeve you wore.
LAUNCELOT
Guenevere, hear me!
GUENEVERE
A milky-hearted maid, A tender maid, the maid of Astolat, She for whose sake you did what never yet You did for any woman. And you came Fresh from her clasp, and her cold kiss, to me! Get to her, haste to her. Run to that adoration of meek eyes----
LAUNCELOT
Guenevere, Guenevere! you are much deceived.
GUENEVERE
Deceived indeed! Ah, did you ever love? Is all that sweetness, ah God, all that seemed So sweet, it tortures me to think of it, Ashes and dust? Horrible! Now I know Why you came sainted and exalted back-- Loyalty and compunction on your lips, But in your heart a love you dared not own. It is this girl that’s changed you. Go to her!
LAUNCELOT
I am not changed, my Queen. It is you change.
GUENEVERE
I?
LAUNCELOT
Has some devil entered into you That you rave slander? Speak not, for you shall hear me. You have wronged One that you know not, and me too you wrong That never loved any but you, have spent Blood for you, fought for you, have many times Been in death’s peril for you, and would to God, If so I am requited, would to God That I had never loved.
GUENEVERE
Ah, you have said it.
LAUNCELOT
I love her not, you know it.
GUENEVERE
Yet you wore Her sleeve, her favour.
LAUNCELOT
What I did, I did For pity, and for the shielding of your name. I would not wear your favour for that cause.
GUENEVERE
And yet you never did so much for love.
LAUNCELOT
She had won me back from death. How otherwise Could I requite her, since I could not love? So earnestly she asked me for that boon.
GUENEVERE
It was a token to the world you loved her. You had no thought of me, never a thought.
LAUNCELOT
Rack me no more! Day and night, night and day, The image of your eyes and voice and hair Burns me; you are twisted in my heart strings, I have sought To cut love from my bosom, but I cannot, I cannot; and because it saps, divides, Undoes this realm, and wrongs the King I love-- Never can I enough repent that wrong----
GUENEVERE
Ah, false and faithless, you will go to her.
(_At the height of this scene, suddenly from the right a barge appears with the body of_ ELAINE _upon it. It is steered by a very old dumb servant. It glides very slowly to the steps which lead down to the river._ LAUNCELOT _alone sees it first_.)
GUENEVERE
What comes into your eyes and sends you pale?
LAUNCELOT
Is it a vision?
GUENEVERE (_to the steersman_)
Whom do you bring, cold on her bier, so strangely? (_To_ LAUNCELOT) Why does he speak no word?
LAUNCELOT
What need of words?
GUENEVERE
Is it she?
LAUNCELOT
Yes.
GUENEVERE
What have you done to her?
LAUNCELOT
Speak! Can you answer nothing?
(_The steersman signs that he is deaf and dumb_)
He is dumb.
(_The steersman points to the letter_)
GUENEVERE
There is a folded paper in her hand.
(LAUNCELOT _steps into the barge, and unties the letter and reads it_.)
LAUNCELOT
“Most noble Launcelot, I was your lover, though you would not love me. You could not love me, and therefore I can endure no longer. I was called the Fair Maid of Astolat, and yet I was not loved. So I make my lament to all fair ladies, and to the Queen Guenevere. Sir Launcelot, since you would not come to me, now come I to you. Bury this my body that is dead for love of you. This is the last thing that I ask of you who would not love me. And, Sir Launcelot, as you are a knight peerless, pray for my soul.”
ARTHUR _appears, entering slowly_
ARTHUR
What wonder’s here?
LAUNCELOT
The wonder of a death; The wonder and the beauty and the sorrow.
ARTHUR
Who is this maid?
LAUNCELOT
One that loved overmuch; It is Elaine.
ARTHUR
The maid of Astolat That healed your wound? How comes she dead?
LAUNCELOT
Read here.
(ARTHUR _reads the letter to himself_.)
GUENEVERE (_Gliding away with bowed head_)
Pardon, pardon, pardon!
ARTHUR
Is love so terrible? I did not know. I would that you had married her.
LAUNCELOT
I could not.
ARTHUR
Why, Launcelot?
LAUNCELOT
I could not, Love cannot be constrained. Love must be free. Where love is bound, it breaks free.
ARTHUR
It breaks free Where it is bound. Bound, and breaks free! Think you That other women can love like to this?
LAUNCELOT
Doubt it not.
ARTHUR
Even to death?
LAUNCELOT
Even to death.
(_A pause, each thinking his own thoughts._)
ARTHUR
It is as if a flame had leapt from her And stung me in the brain. Lives such a world of fire in Guenevere And I have never known it? She is smiling, yet she suffered even to death. Heart of a woman! Is a realm so strong, Armies, or battlements? Is faith? Is justice?
LAUNCELOT
I pray you let me go apart awhile For I am charged with a burial.
ARTHUR (_with a change of tone_)
Be it so, There’s something hidden from me. Why that clamour And then the silence when I came among them? (_Going away, he turns_) Launcelot, I have trusted you.
LAUNCELOT
My King, Trust me still.
[ARTHUR _goes out_.
There’s no end now but exile, I must hence, Back with to-morrow’s dawn to my own land, To Brittany. (_He motions to the steersman, and steps into the barge._) Steer down the stream, and I Will bring you to that place Where this must leave the light. Have mercy, Jesu, on that wounded heart! Give me a soul so constant, flight so straight! Some angel of compassion bear her now Where innocence may haven, far from me! Steer on!
(_The barge passes down stream._)
FIFTH SCENE
_The_ QUEEN’S _tower. Night. At the back a bolted door. At one side a prie-dieu, with a footstool before it. A single lamp burning on a tripod._ GUENEVERE _stands by a window, holding the curtain and peering out_.
GUENEVERE
It has not moved.... It’s nothing; fancy’s fever, That shapes the shadows into forms of fear! And yet there is a shadow among those shadows, And I could swear that shadow had human eyes, Watching. It stirs not. Is it a tree-stem Gives body to the dark? No tree was there.
(_She drops the curtain._)
Can someone have found out the secret way And even now be spying on Launcelot? Pray Heaven he comes not! Why is the air so still With such a mortal stillness? There’s the owl again, crying, and there again! As if it knew the secret of the night And called me warning notes. Was that a step? I am all imagination and sick scares; And that dead face returns, ever returns-- Elaine’s face, smiling cold upon her bier. She burnt her very heart out. Yet her face Had peace on it, and joy! Dead! Did she love Better than I?
(_She looks out again._)
It has not moved. It must be fear’s invention.
(_She throws herself before the Virgin’s image._)
Mother of God, Mother.... She is dead; And yet she triumphs and she humbles me. I _will_ pray. O thou seven-times wounded one, Because thou didst so suffer, look on me; Look in my heart, thou hadst a bleeding heart; Thou knowest how I sinned, but how I suffer.... I cannot pray. I only see that face Dead, with the joy on it. I want, I want----
LAUNCELOT _enters with a cloak wrapped about his head_
Who is it?
LAUNCELOT (_showing his face_)
I. I came the secret way. I come from burying the dead. Elaine Is laid in earth. She sleeps. I have no sleep.
GUENEVERE
Hush!
(_She goes to the window_)
It is gone!
LAUNCELOT
What is it?
GUENEVERE
A dark shape, That stood within the shadow of the wall This hour past.
LAUNCELOT
I saw nothing.
GUENEVERE
If it be Mordred, or Mordred’s spy? Launcelot, go Now, or we are both lost.
LAUNCELOT
What’s Mordred’s hate but a nettle on a dunghill? What is it to me, that go from you for ever? Look on me, Guenevere, for the last time. The hard hour’s here, the bitter moment’s come; To-morrow I hoist for Brittany.
GUENEVERE
Not yet! Oh no, not yet!
LAUNCELOT (_embracing her_)
Once, once again, and then never again!
GUENEVERE
Never? Never?
(_She half swoons in his arms._)
LAUNCELOT
O Queen, Queen of the World! Endure! Dear God, Have pity on her Thou madest beautiful With such a beauty as those burning stars In the waste heavens.
GUENEVERE
Launcelot!
LAUNCELOT
Guenevere! Oh for a stream in a wood beneath the stars! A stream to bathe our souls in, Guenevere! I wish I had a giant’s strength to break This walling world down, hurl it stone from stone, Break from this dungeon into burning life, Free--lost, but free!
GUENEVERE (_pushing him from her_)
Go now, or I shall keep you For ever in my arms.
(_As they gaze silent on one another, voices are heard without. A knocking at the door; then the voice of_ AGRAVAINE _calling aloud_.)
AGRAVAINE
Launcelot! Traitor knight!
GUENEVERE
What voice is that?
VOICES
Traitor! Come forth!
GUENEVERE
What insolent clamour at my very door! I am a Queen, and daughter of a Queen.
(_A laugh and voices._)
AGRAVAINE
Traitor, come forth to us.
LAUNCELOT
It’s Agravaine!
AGRAVAINE
You are taken!
OTHER VOICES
Taken, traitor; taken at last!
AGRAVAINE
Come you out, Launcelot; there is no escape.
GUENEVERE
Ah, Launcelot, they are come to murder you!
VOICES
Come out! Come out!
LAUNCELOT
Unclasp your hands; I am a man again! The secret way! Farewell, my Queen!
GUENEVERE (_stopping him_)
Wait. That shape I saw in the shadow! If they have set A watch below? Stay an instant. Let me look.
(_She looks out, and her appearance is met with a hoarse and mocking laugh from below._)
LAUNCELOT
Trapped! Is there no armour, not a coat of mail? Nothing?
GUENEVERE
Alas, nothing.
VOICES
Out, come out!
LAUNCELOT
Not a sword even?
GUENEVERE
Alas, not even a sword.
LAUNCELOT
I would to God I had my armour on me.
(MORDRED _laughs_.)
Mordred’s laugh. It is he that has done this.
MORDRED
In the King’s name, we come to avenge the King And the King’s honour.
VOICES
Recreant knight, come out.
LAUNCELOT
God strike them! Such shameful crying at your very doors! Better death straight.
GUENEVERE
Let them kill me, so that they let you go.
LAUNCELOT
Heaven defend me from such shame as that. No, I’ll sell life as dearly as I may, But I would sooner have my armour on me And a sword within my hand than all the crowns Of Christendom. Then, then would I have done Some deeds that men might tell of.
(MORDRED _and his men have brought a bench and begin to batter at the door_.)
GUENEVERE
They will break in the door.
COLEGREVANCE
Come out to us, And let us kill you.
LAUNCELOT
That was the voice Of Colegrevance. He has the wits of an ox. Be still. Muffle the light. I have a thought. If I am slain, my Queen, pray for my soul.
GUENEVERE (_muffles the lamp_)
You will not open to these hounds of blood?
LAUNCELOT
Be still.
(_He opens the door a little._ COLEGREVANCE _comes in, and_ LAUNCELOT _shuts the door and bolts it in an instant_.)
COLEGREVANCE
There is no light.
(LAUNCELOT _with a great buffet stuns_ COLEGREVANCE. _He draws_ COLEGREVANCE’S _sword and thrusts it into his throat_.)
LAUNCELOT (_to_ GUENEVERE)
The lamp.
(GUENEVERE _uncovers the lamp_.)
Now help me. Quick! Help me to arm.
(_He tears off_ COLEGREVANCE’S _coat of mail and puts it on_.)
Why, what a girth is here. Yet it shall serve.
AGRAVAINE
Colegrevance! Colegrevance!
LAUNCELOT
Now I can defy them.
AGRAVAINE
Vengeance! We’ll break the door, and drag you out. False fighter! You are caught, for all your wiles.
LAUNCELOT
Listen! Cease your slanderous clamour! Listen! Go from this door, each of you get you home. To-morrow come you all before the King. There I will meet you and there answer you. That’s my last word.
AGRAVAINE
Say your prayers now, and we will cry Amen Before we kill you.
LAUNCELOT
Is that your answer? Then Look to yourselves!
(_He sets open the door suddenly, sword in hand._ AGRAVAINE, MADOR, PATRICE, _and_ MORDRED _enter. There is a rush and furious combat._ AGRAVAINE _falls mortally wounded within the room_.)
VOICES
Have at him!
LAUNCELOT
Mouths of shame!
GUENEVERE
Ah, Jesu, help!
AGRAVAINE
I am dead. Mordred, Mordred!
PATRICE (_falling_)
It is the fiend.
LAUNCELOT
To the black heart of you!
(MORDRED _falls wounded, but rises and escapes_.)
MADOR
Help, Mordred, help! The fiend is in him. He has seven swords.
(MADOR _falls_.)
LAUNCELOT
Bring me the lamp.
(GUENEVERE _brings lamp_.)
Ah, never more to insult you now, my Queen.
(_He turns over the body of_ AGRAVAINE.)
It is Agravaine, not Mordred!
(_He holds the lamp over the other bodies._)
Patrice! and Mador! Mordred’s fled, the coward! Why did I not make sure? Fled!
GUENEVERE
Save yourself! Launcelot, from this hour all’s war and ruin. I forsee it, I that made it. It has come, Doom! Doom!
LAUNCELOT
I’ll to the King.
GUENEVERE
Your enemy!
LAUNCELOT
Arthur, my enemy?
GUENEVERE
From this night forth. Away! Gather your friends. Mordred is working while you linger. Ride. Ride without rein to your castle in the North, To Joyous Gard.
LAUNCELOT
To fight against my King? I cannot.
GUENEVERE
Will you then be taken? Mordred Will be before you with the King. Hasten! Arm; gather every sword that’s on your side.
LAUNCELOT
I cannot fight against my King.
GUENEVERE
Then fly!
LAUNCELOT
Fly and desert my Queen? Fly in her hour Of utmost peril?... Ah, Guenevere, what’s done nothing revokes, Neither repentance, nor new deeds, nor tears. See, we had parted: the great joy we had Was over; all was anguish and farewell. And now, and now, when we had torn asunder, We are driven together, and we cannot part.
GUENEVERE
But part we must. This blood all cries against us. Save yourself, I have wrought you wrong enough.
LAUNCELOT
I’ll to the King. He trusted me; and I must tell him all. I am more to him than many Mordreds.
GUENEVERE
Blind! But if it must be, go this very night, Now! Dawn will soon be upon us.
LAUNCELOT
Call your women, And lock yourselves within some inner room, That no harm come, till I have seen the King. I’ll rouse my friends that should have sailed with me For Brittany to-morrow. With my friends I’ll go to Arthur. Guenevere, if a hair upon your head Be threatened, I’ll not suffer it.
GUENEVERE
Away!
SIXTH SCENE