Chapter 34

Soldiers march past and enter the church. The church door stays open.

A GIRL. I pray thee, Gilain, who will lead the Queen?

1ST GUARD. The hangman and King Mark.

THE GIRL. Poor soul!

OLD WOMAN. Why weep'st Thou, girl?

OLD MAN (as a crucifix is carried past). Friends, cross yourselves. The crucifix!

SHEPHERD (leans forward so that he can see across the courtyard into the castle). Behold, she comes! My God, how beautiful--! An angel--!

THE SOLDIER (as GIMELLA passes). That, my friend, is but her maid Gimella.

2D GUARD. Back! Stand back! Thou shalt not push!

SHEPHERD. Oh there! Behold, she is a fairy! Yea, And she is fairer than Gimella far! I'll fall upon my knees when she goes past. She's wondrous fair, ay, fairer than a flower, A lily--See--!

THE SOLDIER (as BRANGAENE goes by). Stand up, thou knave, for that's Brangaene. She's our lady's faithful maid.

SHEPHERD. She too was fair! Can one imagine then, There's any one more beautiful than she? What wondrous women Mark has at his court! Such ladies have I never seen--There dwell None such in Toste! See--! This one--! Oh, God! Oh, God! The sun has fall'n--! Its blinding rays--!

[Falls on his knees.]

SHEPHERD (staring). Oh, Queen Iseult! Iseult The Goldenhaired!

A GIRL. Oh fairest, dearest one!

ANOTHER GIRL. Oh Queen, smile down upon us once again!

[A rattling sound is heard. The Strange Leper steps from behind one of the columns. His bearded face is hidden by the hood of his cloak. The crowd draws away shuddering, the procession halts. The leper kneels before ISEULT and bows so low that his forehead almost touches her feet.]

A VOICE. A leper, see!

A GIRL. Oh Virgin Mary, help!

A 2D GIRL. Whence came he here!

A 3D GIRL. He had concealed himself!

MARK (slowly). --Thou cam'st too soon my friend!

[The leper disappears sidewise under the steps. The procession goes into the church, from which an organ begins to sound. The soldiers and the crowd follow after.]

A GIRL (covering her face with her hands). Oh, our poor Queen!

A 2D GIRL. She was like alabaster, cold and white!

A 3D GIRL. Not once along the awful way she raised Her eyes!

A 4TH GIRL. She did not wish to see!

THE 1ST GIRL. Oh fie, That Mark should shame her so!

THE 2D GUARD. Make haste, ye must Go in!

1ST GUARD (to the kneeling shepherd). Wake up! Thou too must go within The church. Now come!

SHEPHERD. The sun fell down! It grazed my eyes!

A GIRL. I'll pray with all my heart For our poor Queen!

A 2D GIRL. We all will pray--and curse The King!

3D GUARD. Thou slut, be still, and hold thy tongue! Make haste into the church--go in!

1ST GUARD. I hear The lepers coming! hark!

3D GUARD. Here, girl, thou'st dropped Thy kerchief!

[He picks it up.]

THE GIRL. Thanks!

1ST GUARD (taking the old man by the arm). Take hold of me, old man. Make haste.

[The doors of the church close: the stage remains empty for a few seconds. The music of the organ swells, and a hymn is heard. Then, by snatches, first distantly, then nearer, the rythmical rattling of the lepers resounds.]