Chapter 41

MARK. True, Lord Ganelun!

2D BARON (springing up). The King!

1ST BARON The King here! Pardon, sire!

MARK. I thank You all, my Lords, that ye were not enraged And angered at a weak old man, and came Again to me. I would not willingly Have spent this night alone.

2D BARON. Most cheerfully We came. The Queen's miraculous escape O'er joys us all.

1ST BARON. There lack but three to make The tale complete; those three, my Lords, who stood As sponsors of the bond.

MARK. They're coursing through The gloomy forest paths and seek to catch That which, since God hath spoken, cannot be Therein. I've sent my riders to recall Them here to me.

GANELUN. Give me thy hand, King Mark, For I am glad that thou didst err!

MARK (his voice is bitter and despairing). I, too, Am glad, for if this morning I appeared A wreckless youth, a foolish boy who dared In arrogant presumption to assert Himself and to rebel against your word, Forgive me. Passion is the heritage Of man; his deeds the natural consequence Of passion. Think ye not the same? And see, How God, now for the second time, has wrought, And sternly proved the truth! Is it, perchance, His will that I should learn unseeingly, Unquestioningly to revere His stars On which our actions here on earth depend? What think ye, sirs? for so it seems to me; And therefore hath He hid from me that which Most eagerly I wish to know, so that Before this veiled uncertainty, my blood Ran riot in my veins. But from this day I'll change my mode of life; I will regard My blindness and His unavoidable Decree; for wisdom lies in piety, As says an ancient proverb; hence I will, From this day on, learn piety that I Become a very sage for wisdom.

[Goes away.]

A KNIGHT. Calm Thyself!

UGRIN (calling to MARK). Ay, cousin, make thyself a monk!

MARK (turning back). And I will learn to laugh at God that He Should give Himself such trouble for a man Like me--poor fool! Enough! Forgive my wrongs In friendly wise, as I will overlook Your sins with all my heart. But, if a man Grown lately wise may counsel you, sin not; Your work is the beginning, God's the end.

UGRIN (calling out to him). Amen.

MARK. I've broken in upon your game My friends, and chattered on. Forgive it me; Resume your play and cups; drink on, I pray.

[He goes over to UGRIN.]

Thy jokes are empty of all wit today, Ugrin.

UGRIN. My wit has fallen off, say'st thou? Decay of time, believe me Mark; for wit Is wine, and wine is poured into a cup Of sparkling gold, and not into a crack'd Old jug, and thou, illustrious cousin, art Become a broken pot since noon today!

[Hands him his jester's sceptre.]

Here, hit thyself! Behold the ring is gone! My wit's too precious for a ringless cup. At Easter tide I'll seek me out as lord Some jovial soul who loves his wine; who plays Wild pranks, and gives his wife away when he Is tired of her!

MARK (sitting down on the stone bench). Friend Ugrin, I warn Thee, heed thy tongue!

UGRIN. Ay, cousin! Ay, 'twere best Since thou'st forsworn all quarreling!

MARK. I wish That I might put thee on the rack and have Thee whipped before I go to rest! Instead I'll give thee two broad marks of gold if thou Can'st move Iseult to laughter; and I'll give Besides the gold a brand-new cloak to wear In winter time!

UGRIN. Well lined?

MARK (takes him by both ears). I've set my heart Upon it that Iseult shall laugh, so do Thy best, my friend!

UGRIN (stands up). With some well-chosen words, Perhaps, I briefly might describe to her The leper's throng! What say'st thou, cousin?

MARK. Fool!

UGRIN. Or I might ask her what it's like when one's Own husband, from unfeeling jealousy, Ordains one to be burnt; or yet again I might, with due solemnity, implore Her to be kind--to love thee once again, Good cousin! Surely she must laugh at that!

MARK. Peace, fool! Thou weariest me.

UGRIN. If thou intend To grow thy beard in this new way I'll turn Thy barber! I shall serve thee better then Than now as fool! What say'st to this?

MARK. Oh fool, If only thou wast not a fool!

UGRIN (noticing ISEULT at the head of the stairs). No fool So great as thou thyself! Behold her now, The woman whom thou gav'st away! Oh fie! Fool cousin, art thou not ashamed?

(Sinks to his knees and calls out.)

The Queen Approaches! Queen Iseult!