Chapter 27

ISEULT. Oh God, how bitter are his words! They cut Like sharpen'd swords and burn like hissing flames! What is his will? His speech, though witless, ay, And senseless too, insults and threatens me.-- It warns me too--of what?--Oh God, I quake! If but Brangaene came, or Dinas came! They come not and this creeping fear--how hard It grips my soul!--More Gaelic barons come--! How often have I stood concealed here And seen him come proud riding through the gate! My friend that comes no more! How grand he was! His lofty stature did o'ertop them all! How nobly trod his steed!--Dear Tristram, friend. Does thy new Isot's heart beat quick as mine At but the thought of thy dear step?

(Kneels down in front of the little shrine.)

And thou, Oh little brachet, thinks thy lord of me, As I of him!--"For they who drink thereof Together so shall love with every sense Alive, yet senseless--with their every thought Yet thoughtless too, in life, in death, for aye--. Yet he, who once has known the wond'rous bliss Of that intoxicating cup of love, Spits out the draught disloyally, shall be A homeless and a friendless worm--a weed That grows beside the road." Oh Tristram, Lord.

DINAS enters. ISEULT rushes toward him.

Dinas of Lidan! Dearest friend, most true! With what has this man threatened me? Of what, Then, warned?--friend, speak, for round me whirls the world; My brain is dizzy with each thought!

DINAS. My Lord Denovalin has bid me come to thee To play at chess. He said thou wast in haste. And has he, as Mark ordered him, made peace With thee?

ISEULT. Made peace with me! I told Thee, Dinas, that he has stirred up the past With gloomy words and threatened me. He spoke Forebodingly of coming days--; I fear His words and know not what is brewing o'er My head!

DINAS. Denovalin has threatened thee! That bodes no good!

ISEULT. What think'st thou, Dinas? Speak!

DINAS. It makes me almost fear that I was not Deceived this morn as through the mist I rode.

ISEULT. Oh Dinas!

DINAS. For I saw a man who rode As secretly, and stole along the way Concealed in the murky mists of dawn. I--

ISEULT. Dinas!

DINAS. Tristram's in the land, Iseult!

ISEULT. Oh Dinas, speak! (Softly.) My friend. Lord Tristram came At dawn today--? The man who loved me so! My dearest Lord--! Oh Dinas, Dinas, didst

(recovering herself)

Thou speak to him?

DINAS (sternly). Twice called I him. He fled.

ISEULT. Oh, why didst thou not call him in my name? He would have stood thee answer then, for that He swore to me he'd do, by day or night At any place....

DINAS. I called him in thy name, And yet he fled away.

ISEULT. He fled from thee?

(Angrily.)

It was not Tristram then! How dar'st thou speak Such slander 'gainst my Lord!

DINAS. I swore that I Would be thy friend, and for thy sake, Iseult, His friend. But now I say Lord Tristram broke The oath he swore to thee, and on this day Hath wronged thee grievously, Iseult.

ISEULT (heavily and brokenly). The spouse Of Isot of the Fair White Hands appeared To thee, say'st thou, and broke his parting oath. The last he swore to Iseult Goldenhaired?

PARANIS (enters in ill-suppressed excitement). Lord Dinas, from King Mark I come. He bids Thee come to him straightway with all despatch, For in the name of justice calls he thee.

ISEULT. Oh Dinas, Dinas, Tristram broke his oath--! Lord Tristram broke his oath--!

DINAS. And dost thou know, My queen, that we must now attempt to ward The consequences of King Mark's decree And its fulfilment from thy head?

ISEULT (angrily). How can An alien woman's spouse affect my life?

DINAS. I go to stem with all the strength I have This current of perdition. Fare thee well.

[As DINAS goes out, three armed guards step into the room and stand on either side of the door.]

ISEULT. And fare thee well, thou truest of the true!

(To the guards.)

And ye, what seek ye here?

GUARD. King Mark has bid Us guard thy door; thou may'st not go abroad Till Mark has bid thee come.

PARANIS (falls on his knees). Gawain lies bound; Brangaene's cast into a prison cell, And something awful's taking place within The castle walls!--I know not what it is!

ISEULT. Paranis, child, be still.