Chapter 31

The guardsman announces the queen who enters the hall followed by PARANIS. She remains in the background. The barons rise as she appears.

GUARDSMAN. Place! Iseult the queen comes! Place!

ISEULT (quietly and gently). Ye called me, sirs; now speak, for I am here.

MARK (takes an angry step toward her, checks himself, and stares at her a moment. He speaks slowly and Without moving).

Lord Dinas, bid Iseult of Ireland draw near!

[ISEULT, without waiting for DINAS, steps to the middle of the hall. MARK does not move and speaks louder.]

Lord Dinas, bid Iseult of Ireland draw near! And sit there by the board--there at the head And facing me.

ISEULT. And may I ask thee now What this extraordinary custom is, That twice thou dost repeat it, Mark? In mine Own land of Ireland I never saw A man thus treat his wife. So, if it suits Thy will,--I'll stand!

[Neither MARK nor the barons move. Anxiously.]

Will no one speak to me?

MARK. My Lords, sit down.

[He walks in front of the table. PARANIS kneels beside ISEULT, who lays her hand upon his head as on the head of a dog.]

ISEULT. Thou call'dst me, Mark, and bad'st Me come in terms full stern and harsh--I came, For 'tis my heartfelt duty to obey. Since thou art good to me and kind. Thou know'st This hall, these men, that stand around, awake Full many a painful memory in my heart, And so I crave a swift reply. What will Ye of me here?

MARK (roughly). Why was Gawain sent forth In secret to Tintagel from Lubin?

ISEULT. He went not secretly, but openly. My Lord, and that because some merchant-men Came to Tintagel from across the seas With merchandise. I wished to bid them come To me that I might choose me from their stock the wares That pleased me and the many things I need.

MARK (scornfully). The purchase must be made at once, I trow! Since here, more than elsewhere, thou need'st such things. 'Tis true that fifteen beasts of burden stayed Behind, all laden with thy things alone, Unnoticed by a well beside the road, Iseult, I recollect me now!

ISEULT. Nay, Lord, Yet St. Lubin brings me full many a sad And weary hour. I, therefore, thought to gain Some slight diversion and amusement too To soothe my woe. Thou know'st the joy I have Of mingled masses of bright colored things Both strange and rare!

(Anxiously.)

The rustling silks; the gold--; Th' embroidery of robes; the jewel's flash;-- Furs, chains and golden girdles, needles, clasps! To see, and in my hands to hold such things O'erjoys me much!--A childish whim, perhaps, But thou thyself this pleasure oft procured'st And sent the merchants to my bower. What Wonder is it then that I myself should think Of this same thing?

MARK. 'Tis so, I wronged thy thoughts, For I myself have often brought such men To thee. These peddlers and these mountebanks Are famous friends! I see it now! They come From far and wide; they travel much; they are Both wise and cunning--apt, indeed, to serve As messengers!

ISEULT. Ay, Mark, thou didst me wrong. But greater to Brangaene and Gawain! I pray thee set them free; they but obeyed My will.

MARK (angrily). Bring forth the pair, and set them free These go-betweens Brangaene and Gawain!

[The soldier goes.]

Tell now, my Lord Denovalin, thy tale, And speak thy words distinctly, ay, and loud! And ye, my Lords, I pray you, listen well; A pretty tale!

[He crouches on the steps of the throne, and stares at ISEULT. DENOVALIN steps forward from behind the table.]

DENOVALIN. I rode today at dawn, And, coming through the Morois, saw, while yet The mist was hanging in the trees, around A curving of the road, a man who rode. Full proud and straight he sat upon his steed, But yet he seemed to wish that none should see Him there, for carefully did he avoid The clearer spots, and peering round about, He listened and he keenly watched, then turned Into a thicket when afar he heard The hoof-beats of my horse. I followed him, And soon I was as near as a man's voice Will carry. Loud and haughtily I called To him, but then he drove the spurs so deep Into his steed that, like a wounded stag, It sprang into the air and dashed away. I followed close behind, and bade the man In knightly and in manly honor stand. He heeded not my words and fled away, And then I cried aloud that he should stand, And called him by Iseult the Goldenhaired.

ISEULT (passionately and firmly). And at my name Lord Tristram stood.

(Anxiously.)

Did he Not stand and wait?

(Imploringly.)

Oh, say that at that call Lord Tristram stood!

(Passionately.)

And I will bless thy lips.

MARK (cries out in a muffled voice). Iseult!

ISEULT. I'll kiss thy hand, my Lord, and I--

DENOVALIN. Who says, proud Queen Iseult, the man I saw Was Tristram, noble Lord of Lyonesse?

ISEULT (her voice becomes proud and cold). My Lord Denovalin, I'll kiss thy hands If thou wilt say my husband's nephew stood And bided you, for sorely would it vex My heart if such a knight should flee from such A man as thou! 'Twould shame me much, for know, My Lord Denovalin, I scorn and hate Thee as a cur!

DENOVALIN (suppressing his emotion). If Tristram stood or fled From me, I do not say.

ISEULT. That vexes me Indeed, for now, my Lords, I turn to you With deeper and more serious complaints Against Lord Tristram that so rashly he Has broken Mark's decree, thus forcing me To share a guilt of which my soul is clean!

MARK (crouches on the steps of the throne groaning). Oh see how well her Irish tongue can twist Her words to suit her will! Her words are smooth; So smooth that when one grasps them they escape The hand like shining, slippery, squirming snakes! And she has subtle words, caressing words, And words that set the mind on fire; hot words That burn, and haughty ones that swell and puff Like stallions' nostrils, and toss high their heads! Oh she has words, and words, and many words With which to frame her lies!

(He takes a step toward ISEULT. Angrily.)

And see her eyes! Those wondrous eyes! Eyes for deceit! She has Deceived me with those eyes and lips of hers since first She set her foot upon the Cornish shore!

ISEULT (trembling with shame and anger). Thy words are like the shame of women, Mark! Like filthy hands! Irish I am, but there, In word and deed, polite restraint prevails And courteous measuredness; there fiery wrath Becomes ne'er master of the man! And so I was not taught in early youth to guard Myself from drunkenness of wrath!

MARK. O hark! That was a sample of her haughty words! Iseult the Goldenhaired of Ireland Didst thou with thine own hand and blood sign this?

ISEULT. Ay, Mark, I signed the bond.

(With closed eyes quoting.)

"And if from this Day on Lord Tristram dares to show himself Within my realm, he dies, and with him dies Iseult of Ireland"--I signed my name And wrote it with my blood.

MARK. Denovalin Most solemnly has pledged his head and soul That he has seen my nephew Tristram, Lord Of Lyonesse within my realm, and so, If none stand forth to contradict, Iseult Of Ireland shall die.

DINAS (stands up). Denovalin Has lied!

MARK. Dinas of Lidan!

GANELUN. Well said, good Dinas!

DINAS. I, too, did meet a man today At early dawn whom I first held to be Lord Tristram, nephew of King Mark. Since from the east I rode and thou, my Lord Denovalin, came through the Morois land From thy good castle in the west, and since Lubin stood as a central point between Us both, Lord Tristram must have been two-fold That in the east and in the west he crossed My path, and at the self-same hour, the road Of Lord Denovalin. This cannot be And so one of the men was not the true Lord Tristram; one of us was therefore wrong. And if 'twas one, then why not both My Lord Denovalin and I?

MARK. Dinas, Had I not known thee from thy youth I might Have held thee guilty with Iseult! Has she Ensnared thee too with perjured oaths and false And lying countenance, that thou dost seek To die for her so eagerly? Thy hair Is gray like mine. Thou dreamest, man, Denovalin has pledged his word that he Has seen Lord Tristram! Ponder well ere thou Take up his downflung glove.

2D BARON. Yet Dinas may Be right.

3D BARON. I think so too.

5TH BARON. There cannot be Two Tristrams in the Morois wood.

DENOVALIN (springing up). My Lords, I've pledged my word! Take heed unto your tongues!

GANELUN. It seems but right to me that Queen Iseult Should not be put to death until the true Lord Tristram, quick or dead, be found.

2D BARON. Well said Lord Ganelun!

3D BARON. So think we all. King Mark!

ISEULT. By God! my Lords, it is enough! ye sit Discussing here in calm indifference If I shall live or die, as though I were An animal! My race is nobly sprung; I will that ye bow down before my blood, Since ye do not bow down to womanhood! I will that ye permit me to return To my apartments and that ye do not Here keep me standing like a haltered beast! King Mark may let me know your will when ye Decide. And now I wish to go.

MARK (in swelling anger). Oh hear her, My Lords, hear her, does she not make one wish. Groaning, to cast oneself before her feet; To kiss her very shoes when she can find Such noble sentiments and words! Behold Her there! Is she not fuller than the whole Wide world of smiles and tears. And when she laughed With that fair mouth, entrancing and all pale, Or silvery bright that God's whole world did dance And sing in God's own hand, 'twas not on me She smiled. And when upon her lowered lids There trembled tears like drops of pearly dew Upon a flower's brim, 'twas not for me She wept! A phantom hovered over us In all the sweet dark hours; 'twas for this ghost, The phantom likeness of Lord Tristram's self, She wept and smiled, true to her soul, though all The while her soulless body lay all cold Within mine arms deceiving me with smiles And tears! She shall not die till Tristram can Be found. Bethink you, Lords, the minutes that Ye grant that mouth to smile! The minutes that Ye grant those eyes to weep! Whom will it not Deceive,--her laughter and her tears! Both you, And me, and God! But I will change her smiles To tears; her weeping to the bitter laugh Of hideousness, that we at last may rest, And be secure from all her woman's wiles! And since she shall not die, then I will give her As a gift! This surely is my kingly right, For I am Mark, her lawful spouse and lord. Today at noon, when in the sun her hair Shall shine the brightest in the golden light Unto the leprous beggars of Lubin I'll give her as a gift!

DINAS. Mark, art thou mad?

PARANIS. The Queen! Oh help!

ISEULT (recovering herself). 'Tis nought; I'm better now.

GANELUN. Thou speak'st a thing, in sorrow and in wrath, A thing so terrible one fears to think Thereon!

1ST BARON. Bethink thee, Mark!

2D BARON. Thou ravest, King.

4TH BARON. Thou dost a most foul thing;--recall thy words!

MARK (crouches on the steps of the throne with his back to the barons). At mid-day shall the lepers of Lubin Collect, and wait within the court.

DINAS. Farewell, King Mark, I'll stay with thee no more!

GANELUN. I go With thee.

1ST BARON. And I.

2D BARON. We leave thee, one and all!

MARK (turns his head, almost smiling). Will no one stay with me?

DENOVALIN (stepping forward). I will, King Mark.

MARK (springing up). Oh, drive this man outside the walls, and bid Him ride with speed! I feel a great Desire to dip my hands in his foul blood After this awful marriage feast! And if A second time the Lord shall testify 'Gainst thee, Denovalin, then shalt thou die! I swear it! Thou shalt die!

DENOVALIN (calmly). My castle walls Are high and strong, oh Mark!

ISEULT. What loathsome brutes, What wretched beasts lust makes of men! Behold Thyself, Oh Mark, thou that art wise and kind; How deep consumed by lust! Thou wilt not let Me live, but dost thy best to shame. That which Thou lovest most, thou castest forth to be A prey to vultures, and thou think'st the while Thou hatest me! Oh Mark, how thou dost err In thinking that thou hatest me! Behold, I pity thee! And shall I now beseech, And wring my hands, humbling myself to thee? I do not know how women nobly born Can live on through the loathsome leper test, And will not think thereon, for 'tis enough To make a woman die, yet, once again, Before you all; before my God I swear, And will repeat my solemn oath, and then, When I have sworn it, He will send His help Or let my flesh be torn between the dogs And leprous human vultures of Lubin. I swear that I have never thrilled with love But for that man who elapsed me in his arms, A maiden still, as clean and pure as snow New-fallen on a winter's morn. This man, And this man only, have I loved with all The faith and passion of my womanhood. I gave myself to him with all my soul; My heart was full of dancing and of song; My love was wreathed in smiles as some May-morn Laughs softly on the mountain tops. This man I loved; no other have I loved, though he May grieve, and shame me, and deceive!--King Mark!

MARK (almost screaming). Oh shield me, he that loves me, from her oaths!

DENOVALIN (turns calmly to ISEULT). Lead back the Queen into her chamber, page!