Volume 20 / Act 3 — SCENE V

The Strange Leper, whose hood has fallen back during the conflict, goes quickly to the foot of the steps. His forehead is bound with a narrow band. Iseult stands motionless with closed eyes.

Str. Leper. Iseult!

(Anxiously, wonderingly and imploringly.)

Iseult!

Iseult (throws back her head, shuddering. She keeps her eyes closed. Slowly and heavily.) Thou beast! Thou dog!

Str. Leper. Iseult! 'Tis I who call!

Iseult (hastily, as though to cover herself with the words). I beg thee, beast, thou evil beast, speak not! If in thy loathsome carcass there still dwells Some remnant of a man, I pray thee slay Me, but speak not!

Str. Leper (uncertainly). Iseult!

[He falls on his knees opposite the steps, but at a distance from them; and leans back until his thighs rest upon his heels.]

Iseult. Speak not! Be still, And kill me now! They've left me not so much As one small pin with which to kill myself! Behold! I kneel to thee, and like some low And humble maid, I beg thee, beast, to kill Me, and I'll bless thee!

Str. Leper. Oh, Iseult, dost thou No longer love Lord Tristram who was once Thy friend?

Iseult (stares at him for a moment). Thou speak'st, thou speak'st, thou beast, and star'st! Yet God shall punish thee since, though I beg, Thou would'st not kill me now!

Str. Leper (crying out despairingly). Iseult, awake! Oh Golden One, 'tis Tristram calls!

Iseult. Thou seekst With scorn and biting words to martyr me, And kill me then! Oh say that thou wilt kill Me afterward—when thou hast railed enough! —And thou wilt come no nearer than thou art?

Str. Leper. Iseult, awake! Awake, Iseult, and speak, And tell me if thou lovest Tristram still!

Iseult. Ah, he was once my friend! Why dost thou use The dagger of his name to prick my heart? I loved him once, and 'tis for that I stand Here!—Kill me now!

Str. Leper (going to the foot of the steps). God help me! Hear me speak, Iseult, for I'm—

(His voice breaks with a sigh.)

I'm Tristram's messenger! Thine erstwhile friend—Him whom thou loved'st!

Iseult (angrily). Would'st shame Me in my shame? Thou beast!

Str. Leper. I wish to save Thee now. Dost thou love Tristram still?

Iseult (going down a few steps, slowly and carefully). Thou art A messenger of his?—And dost thou come, Perchance, to take me to him?

(Breaking out.)

Does thy Lord Desire me, to give me as a gift From some strange land, to his new bride?

[The Strange Leper hides his face in his hands.]

Am I To sit within a cage and watch him kiss Her? Listen to him call his wife "Iseult?" Was this his sweet design, or does Iseult The Snowy Handed crave my golden hair To make a pillow for voluptuous hours? How strange that Tristram should so long for me That he sends forth his messengers! And will He lay us both within the self-same bed? Caress and kiss us both at once throughout The night's long, heavy hours? In other days More modest was thy Lord in his desires.

(Passionately.)

Now kill me, kill me, beast! I've lived enough.

Str. Leper. Iseult, dost thou not know me yet?

Iseult. How should I know thee, beast, or in what roadside ditch Lord Tristram found thee as he fled away This morning through the Morois from a man Who called upon him in my name?

Str. Leper. Oh, judge Him not too quickly. Queen Iseult! He stood And waited for the man, who in thy name Had called!

Iseult (in fierce anger). He stood, say'st thou? Why then He has not wed Iseult, white handed Queen? I dreamed it all, and sobbed but in my dreams, Perhaps? 'Twas then dream-tears I wept at this Report?

Str. Leper. Be merciful to Tristram, Queen!

[Iseult descends a few more steps; looks at him searchingly, and speaks, in a way, questioningly.]

Iseult. Wast thou his servant while he still was true, And caught'st the plague while on his wedding trip? Then weep for him, thou poor diseasèd beast! I know thee not. And if thy master stood Here too,—Lord Tristram, whom I once did love And who returned my love in youthful years— If he now stood before me here, I should Not recognize his face behind the mask Of cowardice which he has worn of late. His faithlessness sticks to him like black slime! Go tell him that!—I hate him in this mask! He was so loving and so true when first I knew and loved him! God shall punish him!

Str. Leper. Iseult, great God has punished him enough; His soul is writhing in its agony Before thy feet!

Iseult. His soul is leprous, ay! And 'tis an awful thing when one's own soul Is leprous grown!—I loathe and hate him now!

Str. Leper (leaping up). Iseult!

Iseult (wildly). Go call the Vultures, call them forth! I want to dance in their white arms, and flee From Tristram's leprous soul that has betrayed And shamed me thus!

Str. Leper. May God in mercy help Him, for he loves thee still, Iseult, in life And death! [He starts toward the gate.]

Voice of Lord Denovalin. Let none go out! Draw up the bridge, And close the castle gates! I'll catch the hound!

[Iseult staggers a few steps and collapses.]

Str. Leper. Denovalin, Iseult! Our hated foe Denovalin! Quick, hide thy nakedness Within this cloak!

[He covers her with his cloak and bends over her.]

Dear lady I will kill This man and then myself!

(Denovalin enters.)

Denovalin. Thou, there! Who art Thou? Speak, thou hound! Who dares thus brazenly To set at naught King Mark's decreed commands?

Str. Leper (who has sprung upon the curbing of the wall). Denovalin, a second time thou shalt Not flee from me!—Take heed, and guard thyself!

[He springs at Denovalin and overthrows him. He then swings himself up on the wall and stands there for a second; his leper's garment is thrown back and he appears in a coat of silver mail, shining in the sunlight.]

Denovalin. Tristram of Lyonesse!

Str. Leper (pulling his cloth from his head). Dost recognize Him by the stroke? God help me now!

[He leaps down from the wall. The stage remains for a time empty. The organ sounds; the gates are opened and two guards stand on either side of the steps. The church is gradually emptied.]