Volume 20 / Act 3 — SCENE I
Reading edition
1st GUARD. Back, crowd not there! Stand back!
2d Guard. The children may Stand in the front, but hold them. There crawls one!
1st Guard (pushing the child back into the crowd). My little friend, get back! Now see, I'll make A line upon the ground, and if thy toes, But by a hair's breadth, cross that line again, I'll drop my spear on them and they shall be As flat as any barley cake. [Laughter.]
1st Girl. Ha, Ha!
2d Girl. Hast thou become a baker, oh Gilain!
1st Guard (lifting his mailed hand). Ay, wench, would'st see me knead my dough?
[Laughter.]
A Boy. Be still I hear the crier's voice from down below!
A Girl. He's wandered up and down the streets since dawn And called until my blood runs cold!
The Boy. Hush.
The Girl. Hark!
Voice of the Crier (distant and ringing). Today at noon, because King Mark has found Her faithless and untrue, shall Queen Iseult Be given to the lepers of Lubin,— A gift to take or leave. And, furthermore, Lord Tristram, who was once her paramour, Transgressed King Mark's decree by entering His realm. Whoever catches him and brings Him quick or dead unto the King shall have One hundred marks of gold for his reward. 'Tis good King Mark's decree that every one Should hear and know these things that I have cried.
A Child. Oh, I'm afraid! Will he come here, that man?
The Girl. I know it all by heart, and still he cries!
A Man. Ay, let him cry!
Another Man. Lord Tristram, he's a fox; To catch him they must have a good deep pit Or else he'll scratch them so that all their lives They'll think thereon.
A Girl. Tristram's a noble lord, I'd shield him an I could.
A Second Girl. I want to see The Queen close by.
A Third Girl. Ay, so do I!
A Fourth Girl. I'll strew Some flowers in her path as she goes past.
1st Girl. My father made her once a pair of shoes Of fine white satin, bound with golden clasps And crimson 'broidery. He says her feet Are delicate and small; as white and slim As are the Virgin Mary's in the shrine That stands within Tintagel's lofty church Above the great high altar.
4th Girl. Poor, poor soul!
Old Woman. Ay, let her see where those white feet of hers Have carried her!
3d Guard (to a boy who has climbed upon the wall). Hey, thou! Come down! The wall And rocks are full an hundred fathoms high, So, if thou fall, thy howling will not help.
The Boy. I want to sit here when the lepers come!
Another Boy. A good place that! I'll climb up too.
A Fourth Boy. I too!
1st GUARD. Now none of you may stay within the court To stare when Queen Iseult is given o'er Unto the lepers. Mark has granted this Unto the Queen since 'twas her only wish. Ye all must go into the church.
A Man. May none Then stay without and watch the lepers?
Another Man. 's wounds! Why then I came for nothing, all this way!
A Woman (indignantly). Oh shame, thou beast, would'st gloat and make a show Of that which one scarce dares to think of? Fie! For such foul thoughts thou shouldst be thrown To Husdent to devour!
2d Guard. Stop wrangling, there!
A Girl. Poor Queen! I pity her!
A Second Girl. King Mark's too harsh!
A Man. She's made a cuckold of him, Girl!
Old Woman. And now He's tossing her with those new horns of his!
Young Shepherd. Is then the Queen Iseult so wondrous fair As she is said to be?
A Girl. Hast thou not seen The Queen?
Shepherd. No, never yet!
A Girl. He's never seen The Queen?
A Boy. Behold, here's one who never saw Our Queen!
A Voice. Who is he?
1st GUARD. Speak, where wast thou, friend, When Queen Iseult stood bound here to the stake?
A Girl. All naked in her wondrous beauty—
Another Girl. All For her great love.
The Boy. We all did see her then.
Shepherd. I've come since then from Toste in the hills.
A Woman. Here, let this fellow stand in front, that he May see the Queen's fair face before this swarm Of vultures has devoured it.
1st GUARD. Come here; If thou hast never seen the Queen thou may'st Stand here beside the steps.
Shepherd. I thank thee.
A Soldier (drawing him beside him). Here!
A Voice. Here come the soldiers!
A Child. Lift me, father.
A Voice. Hsh—!