SCENE IV.--(_Enter_ Court-ushers _with trumpets_, Soldiers _and

_Knights. _Enter the_ KING: _takes his State. Enter the_ QUEEN _in a black robe surrounded by her_ Women, _comes to the foot of the Throne, falls on her face_.)

_Guin._ Arthur, thou wilt save me?

_Arthur._ My Queen, as the king I may not. My heart is hell. Put thy trust in Heaven.

_Guin._ ’Tis a dread death.

_Arthur._ Madam, could Arthur save thee he would. If thou diest so doth my joy in this world--keep thy heart.

_Guin._ ’Fore God, I am innocent.

_Arthur._ Thou must trust to Heaven.

_Guin._ That I do. (_Rises and takes her state._)

_Court Chamberlain._ Guinevere, Queen of Britain, of this dread crime whereof thou art accused what hast thou to say?

_Guin._ (_Rises._) That I Guinevere, Queen of Britain, am innocent of this most foul charge of which I am here accused, and here call on Heaven to prove on the body of that foul knight mine accuser.

Marshalls _enter and trumpets are blown_.

_Court-Chamberlain._ Doth no knight assoil the Queen?

_Guin._ Heaven help me!

_Arthur._ Do no knights approach?

_Page._ Nay, Sire.

_Arthur._ Then has the hour of my life’s sorrow come.

_Enter_ SIR MADOR _doffs to the_ KING.

_Sir Mador._ Sire, the time hath almost passed and I demand a knight to do no battle, or that the Queen be burnt.

_Guin._ (_Aside._) Merciful Heaven!

_Arthur._ (_To the_ Page.) Do none come?

_Page._ Nay, Sire.

_Dagonet._ Were I not bound to Vivien body and soul, I would state the truth. Nay I am accursed. There is but one way. (_Staggers to the front of the throne the throng presses back in wonder._)

_Dagonet._ (_Kneels._) Sire!

_Arthur._ (_In voice of thunder._) Well fool?

_Dagonet._ Didst thou not once make me a knight?

_Arthur._ Yea, in a moment of jest.

_Dagonet._ Then would I take this gage!

_Guin._ Nay, nay, death, death, but not this insult! What base knight of this court hath prompted this?

_Dagonet._ None, none my Lady, ’tis my wish.

_Arthur._ Take him out! Now is Arthur shamed!

Knights _hurry_ DAGONET _out_.

_Dagonet._ (_Aside._) Now is Hell indeed my portion.

_Guin._ Sire, I would now die.

_Arthur._ Yea, my Queen, so would Arthur.

_Sir Mador._ Sire, the time be up. And, I, as the accuser, now ask that thou, as King, wilt command that Guinevere, Queen of Britain, who standeth there, be taken from hence and burnt till she be dead.

_A commotion without_, LAUNCELOT _rushes in draws and faces_ SIR MADOR.

_Laun._ And I say, nay!

[_Curtain._