SCENE II.--LAUNCELOT _discovered seated almost naked amid

swineherds_.

(LAUNCELOT _sings_.)

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

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

_Enter a_ Knight.

_Knight._ Who be this?

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

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

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

_Knight._ Ho there, who be thou?

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

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

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

_Knight._ ’Tis Summer now, thou Fool!

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

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

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

_Knight._ Not with thee.

_Laun._ Damn thee! thou wilt!

_Knight._ I tell thee I won’t.

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

_Knight._ Oh! oh! I am murdered!

_Laun._ More! more!

_Enter_ GWAINE.

_Gwaine._ Ha, at last, it seemeth!

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

_Gwaine._ How long hath he been like this?

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

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

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

_1st Swineherd._ Him want allus twa foight.

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

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

_Gwaine._ Yea I can.

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

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

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

_Gwaine._ With a merry good will.

_Laun._ Then lets to ’t.

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

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

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

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

_Gwaine._ Launcelot, dost know thyself now?

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

_Gwaine._ And dost thou know me?

_Laun._ Methinks thou art the moon.

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

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

_Gwaine._ Well, dost thou know me yet?

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

_Gwaine._ Be this Winter?

_Laun._ I be warm now.

_Gwaine._ An dost thou love a Queen?

_Laun._ What mean’st thou?

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

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

_Gwaine._ Art thou thyself now?

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

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

[_Exit both._