SCENE I.--(_Rise outer curtain._) _Passage near the_ QUEEN’S

_apartments. Enter_ DAGONET.

_Dagonet._ ’Tis little I can do, but I will mend The devilment that I have helped to cause. Hark, now they come! Here will I take my stand. ’Tis over my dead body when they come, That they’ll come at her. Ho! stand without!

(_Sounds heard without. Enter_ MORDRED, SIR AGRAVAINE _and other_ Knights _with torches and naked swords_. DAGONET _draws_.)

Where go you, Masters?

_Mordred._ We go this road, ’ware how you stop our way.

_Dagonet._ The man who goes this road goes o’er my body.

_Sir Ag._ Louse! take that! (_Stabs_ DAGONET, _he falls_.)

_Mordred._ ’Tis the King’s jester.

_Dagonet._ You have leeched my folly. Now is the jest ended. Vivien! (_Dies._)

_A Knight._ He was a man after all.

_Mordred._ Onward Knights to better game than this, Though little we know the tragedy that ended When yon poor light went out! Come this way!

[_Exit all._

(_Rise inner curtain._) _The_ QUEEN’S _apartment_, LAUNCELOT _and_ GUINEVERE.

_Laun._ I come this night to bid you a long farewell, Before I leave this kingdom’s shores for ever. This love doth hold me in a demon’s grasp, And my heart breaks to feel great Arthur’s love, And all the time we twain be meeting thus.

_Guin._ Nay, nay Launcelot, leave me not forlorn, I cannot live without thee. Thy strong arms, And thy warm kisses are to me the one Fair garden springing on this drearsome earth.

_Laun._ Lady I must go. My lands in France, Tribute to my sword, I’ll make a kingdom. And pass my days in memories of thee.

_Guin._ Nay, nay thou wilt not go, and if thou must, My heart will bleed for thee until my death.

_Unid._ (_Hurrying in._) Madam, there is treason without. Many arméd knights do come this way.

_Laun._ Now is the end come I have long expected, The grim fatality of all my fears, The nightmare real at last. Quick! my Sweet! Kiss me your latest now. This is my death!

_Guin._ Launcelot, save, save thyself, I will bar them with my body here. They will but trample a dead, dishonored Queen, Whom brute fatality made its passing sport. Quick! that way!

_Laun._ Nay, nay, sweet Love, but I will die with thee. And show great love can make a greater death. (_Draws._) Would to God I had mine armour.

(_Loud knocking heard at the door and the voice of_ MORDRED _heard without_.)

Come out thou traitor Launcelot and show the world The face of him who hath dishonored Arthur. Come out thou Traitor.

_Guin._ Launcelot save thyself, there is time yet.

_Laun._ Nay, Love, I’ll end me here, if be my fate. Ho! Cowards without! I am a single man, Devoid of armour having but my sword, Yet will I open and give you Hell’s glad welcome.

(_Unbars the door_, SIR AGRAVAINE _rushes in._)

_Laun._ Die Hound! (_Brains him_.) LAUNCELOT _drags him aside and bars the door_. Quick! Help me to this armour! (_Takes the arms from_ SIR AGRAVAINE’S _body, and arms himself_.)

_Guin._ (_Helping him._) Aye, Love, if prayers are aught, will mine clothe thee.

(_Voices outside._) Open up! Traitor! open up!

_Guin._ Great God, Great God, help this poor Queen who prays! (LAUNCELOT _buckles his armour_.)

_Laun._ Now am I ready, fare thee well, sweet Love. Whatever haps, and we may meet no more, This side of darkness; carry to thy grave, That Launcelot loved thee, thee, and only thee.

_Guin._ Oh, Launcelot, my heart breaks. (_They embrace, the_ QUEEN _faints_.) (LAUNCELOT _to the maids_.) Take her back from this, protect her, keep her safe.

This work is not for her sweet presence. Now heaven help The man that meeteth Launcelot’s blade this night!

(_Voices without_.) Coward! Traitor! wilt thou open up?

_Laun._ Yea, Traitors who foreswore the name of knight, When like some drunken rabble ye polluted The gentle sacredness of these apartments. And every man who shamed her ears tonight (_Throws open the doors_) shall die! die! die! Come on Devils! (_They rush in and then fall back in surprise._)

_Laun._ Ha! ha! here’s wine that Launcelot’s blade would drink. Die, Devils! (_Rushes forward hacking fiercely with his sword, twelve knights fall one after the other._)

_Mordred._ God of Heaven, let us back! This man be mad! (_Retreats with four knights_, LAUNCELOT _slays the rest_.)

_Laun._ Come on, ye Fiends of Hell! I’ll back me here, Launcelot is a man of honour!