Chapter 23

ISEULT turns quickly as her page comes in by the right hand door. He carries a chess-board and sets it down on the table in the foreground.

ISEULT.

Were then thy dreams too painfully like this life, Paranis, that thou hast outstripped the sun And now, with eyes all red and swollen, star'st So heavily?

PARANIS. Your pardon. Queen Iseult, I could not sleep. Oh lady, what a night! I tremble still!

ISEULT. The night indeed was wild.

PARANIS. Ay, like the sea the gale whips up. The wind Swept all the covers from my bed and left Me cold and trembling. Branches beat the wall Above my head like demons of the storm. The owls kept screaming in the groaning eaves And whispered like lost souls in agony! Hark! Hear him roar! Oh God, it's Husdent! Oh listen to him roar. I never heard A hound thus howl before!

ISEULT. Peace, child. He cries Thus every night since he has lost his lord.

PARANIS. What? Every night and yet King Mark can sleep?

ISEULT. King Mark can sleep as all good knights can sleep At any time and any where, while we, Poor souls, must like a beggar sue for sleep As for an alms.

(To BRANGAENE.)

The mirror and the cloak.

PARANIS. Pray tell me, Queen Iseult, why came we here With good King Mark and left Tintagel's halls? Why journeyed we to St. Lubin? The place Is gloomy and an awful wood grows round The castle walls. Oh 'tis an awful wood. I am afraid, Iseult.

ISEULT. Yea, boy, the wood Is black and gloomy here. Give me some oil, Brangaene, for my lips are parched and dried From weeping all this never-ending night.

PARANIS (goes to the casement). Above Tintagel, lo, the sky was blue; The sun shone on a foreign ship that came Across the seas and lay at anchor there And made it look like gold. The ship came in As we rode through the gate. I wish that I Were at Tintagel once again and saw That ship. For here black clouds obscure the sun And hang close to the ground; they fly along Like mighty ghosts. The earth smells damp and makes Me shiver--Ugh--!

ISEULT (steps to the casement beside him and puts her arm about his neck). Nay, not today, for see, The sun will shine and pour its golden rays E'en o'er the Morois.

[She leans out until her head is overflowed by the sunlight.]

Oh, it's very hot!

PARANIS (falling on his knees). Oh Queen Iseult pray take the fairy dog Into thy hands and it will comfort thee-- That wondrous brachet, Tristram's latest gift. For, lo, since from Tintagel we have come My heart is troubled by a wish to ask Of thee a question, for Brangaene says That when thou think'st of certain things thou weep'st But I have never felt the like.

ISEULT. Poor boy! I lay awake the whole night through and yet Not once did I take Petikru to me, So ask, my child! What wouldst thou know! Mine eyes Are dry, for all my tears are spent, and gone.

[She has returned to the dressing table.]

PARANIS. Is this the wood where thou and Tristram dwelt, As people say, when ye had fled away?

ISEULT. 'Tis true this wood once sheltered us.

PARANIS (at the casement). This wood? This fearful wood? 'Twas here that thou, Iseult Of Ireland, Iseult the Goldenhaired, Took refuge with Lord Tristram like a beast Hard pressed by dogs and men? There hang, perhaps. Among the branches still some tattered shreds From robes thou wor'st; and blood still tints the roots Thou trod'st upon with bare and wounded feet! 'Twas here thou say'st? Within this wood?

ISEULT (rising). Yes, child, And this the castle--

[BRANGAENE takes the cloak from ISEULT'S shoulders and helps her put on a loose flowing garment. ISEULT'S hair is hidden beneath a close-fitting cap.]

PARANIS (steps nearer, in great surprise). Where ye fled from Mark's Abom'nable decree? The castle makes Me shudder and the wood that grows around.

BRANGAENE (quoting the decree). "And if from this day on Lord Tristram dares To show himself within my realm--he dies, And with him dies Iseult of Ireland ..."

ISEULT (quoting). "And witness here my name signed with my blood--"

[She goes to the table on the right and sets up the chess-men. PARANIS sits on a cushion at her feet. BRANGAENE clears the dressing table.]

PARANIS. Is it since that day thou hast wept, my Queen?

ISEULT. Thou know'st my secret boy and yet canst ask!

BRANGAENE. Inquire not too much, Paranis, lest A deeper knowledge of such things consume Thy soul, and leave in place a cinder-pile.

PARANIS. There's more they say, yet I believe no more.

ISEULT. And what do people say, Paranis?

PARANIS. Why, They say Lord Tristram, since he fled away To save his life, and, ay, to save thine too. Forgot thee. Queen Iseult, and thy great love And wed another in a foreign land.

ISEULT. They call her Isot of the Fair White Hands.

[A pause.]

PARANIS. When I'm a man, and wear my gilded spurs I'll love and serve thee with a truer love Than Tristram did.

ISEULT. How old art thou, my child?

PARANIS. When I first came to serve thee as a page Thirteen I was; that was a year ago. I'm fourteen now, but when I dream, I dream That I am older and I love thee then In knightly fashion, and my sword is dull'd And scarred by blows that it has struck for thee. My heart beats high when I behold thy face; My cheek burns hot or freezes ashen pale. And then, at other times, I dream that I Have died for thee, only to wake and weep That I am still a child!

ISEULT. Listen to me, Paranis. Once, wandering, a gleeman came Two years agone and sang a lay in Mark's High hall; but, see! I said not it applied To us, this song of his. A song it was And nothing more. This lay told of a queen, A certain queen whose page once loved her much, With all the courtesy of Knighthood's laws; Whose every glance was for his lady's face; Whose cheeks alternately went hot and cold When she was near. But when the King perceived His changing color and his burning looks, He slew the boy, and, tearing out his heart, Now red, now pale, he roasted it, and served It to his queen and told her 'twas a bird His favorite hawk had slain that day.

PARANIS. Tell me, I pray, my lady, when a Knight has won His spurs may he write songs?

ISEULT. Ay, that he may.

PARANIS. Since that is so, I'd rather sing than fight. I'll go from court to court and sing in each How Tristram was untrue to Queen Iseult! I will avenge thy wrongs in songs instead Of with the sword, and every one who hears My words shall weep as thou, my queen, has wept. I like the lay about that page's heart Thou toldst me.

ISEULT. Remember it, my child; Brangaene knows the melody thereof. And she shall teach it thee that thou mayst learn The lay.

PARANIS (at the window). The King's awake; I hear him call His hounds.

ISEULT. Then go, Paranis, bear to him My morning and my wifely greeting; say I rested well this night; that thou hast left Me overjoyed and happy that the day Is fair. Now haste thee, boy, for soon The Gaelic barons through the gates shall ride Coming to pay their homage to King Mark, Delay not, child, and if the King shall grant Thee spurs, with mine own hands I'll choose thee out The finest pair, and deep my name shall stand Engraved in the gold. Go greet the King.

[PARANIS kisses the hem of her robe and goes.]