Chapter 42

The Knights and Barons rise; MARK springs up and steps back a pace. ISEULT remains standing on the bottom step. BRANGAENE, GIMELLA and PARANIS are behind her.

ISEULT. I beg of you, My Lords, consider what is past as 'twere A dream, since otherwise we could not find Fit words or proper sentiments to stand Before each other with unblushing cheek, For very shame and horror at this deed.

[She steps down into the hall.]

My Lords, I bid you welcome, one and all!

GANELUN. I kiss thy mantle's hem, oh Queen!

1ST BARON. So do We all who stand before thee now. We feel That thou art holy, Queen Iseult!

ISEULT. Ye do Me wrong in praising me too much, good friends. I did but swear the truth and keep what I Had sworn. Continue now your play. I would Not hinder you!

[She turns to MARK; both stare at each other for a moment and then ISEULT speaks timidly, almost childishly.]

I wish to play at chess --With Mark and Dinas--that true, loyal friend--

MARK (after a short pause, quietly and kindly). Play thou with Dinas first, since I, this morn, Did interrupt thy game. I promised him That he should play with thee.

[He goes to the chest.]

(Breaking out.)

I'll choose Ugrin As my opponent! Come, Sir Fool, and play With me! [Sits down on the chest.]

ISEULT. So be it, Mark. Friend Dinas, come; And thou Gimella play with Ganelun.

(To BRANGAENE.)

Stand thou beside me here and help me worst Mine adversary. Come.

[She seats herself with DINAS at the raised table. BRANGAENE stands beside the table and leans over the bannister. PARANIS seats himself at ISEULT'S feet. GIMELLA takes her place at the other table. The Strange Jester slinks across the court and presses his pale, beardless face, drawn with suffering, against the bars of the grating. His head is shaved and his clothes are torn and ragged.]

UGRIN. Laugh at me, Queen.

ISEULT. Tell me, Ugrin, why should I laugh at thee?

UGRIN. I beg thee laugh; most fondly I implore Thee laugh at me, Iseult. My cousin here Hath promised me much gold if I can make Thee laugh at me but once--I want that gold So much!--Come, laugh at me, Iseult!

ISEULT. First earn Thy gold, good fool. Be off and let us play.

UGRIN (kneels down by MARK beside the chest). Thy wife's not in her sweetest mood today, Good cousin. Know'st thou why perhaps?

MARK. A truce To thy dull jokes! Come, play the game. Sir Knave!

ISEULT. I'll take thy castle, Dinas! Heed thy game.

UGRIN (humming). Oh once there was a mighty King, Who had a lady fair. This King did love his beauteous dame As though his wife she were--

ISEULT. Thy castle falls--

(Softly.)

I hardly see the squares! They sway and rock like billows on the sea.

DINAS. Why weepest thou?

ISEULT. I am not happy, friend.

PARANIS (softly). Oh God!--There, see! Through yonder window's bars There peers a man.

DINAS. Where, boy?

PARANIS. There! There!

STR. JESTER (calling through the grating). Holla! King Mark! Holla!

DINAS. What's that!

MARK (rising). Who storms outside My door? Such noises in the night I will Not brook! Who's there?

[UGRIN runs to the grating.]

STR. JESTER. A jester, King; a poor And witless fool. Let me come in! I'll crack New jokes to make thee laugh!--Let me come in.

UGRIN. A fool!

GIMELLA. How came he here?

BRANGAENE. He startled me!

ISEULT. Indeed we weary of Ugrin's stale jests.

STR. JESTER. I'm a poor jester that would come to thee, So let me in. King Mark.

MARK (going to the grating). The fools, it seems, Smell out my door as carrion-vultures smell A corpse.

UGRIN. Cousin; let him be driven out! I beg thee, have him whipped.

1ST GUARD (from without). I've caught thee, rogue!

MARK. How came this strange fool past the gates, Gilain? Wast thou asleep?

1ST GUARD. King Mark, this man has slunk About the gate since it grew dark. He says He wants to see thee. Many times have we Already driven him away, but still He sticks like pitch about the gate.

STR. JESTER. I am A jester from a foreign land--I wish To come to thee. King Mark!

1ST GUARD. Behold the fool! He cries like that unceasingly.

MARK. Speak, fool, What need hast thou of me?

STR. JESTER. Mark, let me in! I'll make such jests that thou, and all thy lords And ladies die from laughing at my wit.

GIMELLA (laughing). The merry jests!

ISEULT. This wandering knave intrudes Too boldly!

UGRIN. Rogue! Oh shameless one. I'll give Thee such a drubbing as thou ne'er hast felt.

MARK. Know'st thou, in truth, new jests.

STR. JESTER. Ay, Mark, new jests To make thee laugh or weep. Ay, merry jests!