Lift me to see, distinguish, and be just.
The King must needs be just. Let me not fail,
Now when thou seest me humbled. I have lost her.
Have mercy upon us both. (_He rises._)
I am the King,
And therefore justice. If I fail, that fails
Which is of costlier essence than a King,
Which salts corruption. (_Goes towards table._)
GARETH _and_ GAHERIS _enter, and stand by the door_. ARTHUR _turns_.
Gareth and Gaheris, enter!
Fear not; come hither.
GARETH
We fear, my liege, what errand
This midnight summons, hailing us from sleep,
May mean.
ARTHUR (_signing and giving them a warrant_)
Fear not; go, seek Queen Guenevere,
And take her into ward, as one that must
Be judged. Then find Sir Launcelot, and take
Him too. Be armed. Have force with you. Go quickly.
GARETH
The King commands, and we must do his will.
GAHERIS
Yet it is sore against our own will, sir.
GARETH
And therefore we will take a guard of force,
But for ourselves, we pray you pardon us,
But we will not be armed, for we but do
The King’s commandment.
_Re-enter_ GAWAINE.
GAHERIS
Which ourselves would not.
ARTHUR
Are you all so stubborn? Get you gone, then; do
What I command; be it done instantly.
[GARETH _and his brother retire_.
GAWAINE
This is ill done, and no good comes of it.
ARTHUR
That which I do my will does; I am borne
Onward, and cannot stay. The graves are dug
For all mortality; our woes have been
Wept for from the beginning of the world.
I feel the creeping of the rust that dims.
Excalibur, and those lamenting Queens
That come to take me draw like shadows near
Upon the shores of time.
GAWAINE
This is ill done, and no good comes of it.
ARTHUR
What comes has come already.
BORS, LAVAINE, _and other friends of_ LAUNCELOT, _appear with drawn
swords in the doorway_.
Are you ghosts?
That visit me, so haggard, pale and silent?
Your swords are bare and in your eyes are looks
Of fear. This dim light has a ghastness in it
Making the vision of you strange.
BORS
Sire, pardon!
But some of us had terrors in our dreams
And leapt awake in sweat, and snatched our swords.
It was as if a cry rang in our ears.
We thought some danger happened to Launcelot;
And lo, we cannot find him.
GAWAINE
Launcelot!
BORS
Where is he! Tell us!
ARTHUR
Ask of the King’s foes.
Launcelot is a traitor.
BORS
Woe is me
The King should say it. Launcelot loves him more
Than all his friends.
ARTHUR
Choose: choose between your King
And Launcelot.
BORS
What miserable cloud
Is fallen about us, or what evil dream!
Gawaine!
GAWAINE (_shrugging his shoulders_)
All idle! Waves upon a rock.
ARTHUR
Choose: if your will be on the King’s side, stay:
But if on Launcelot’s, turn your faces from me.
It shall be battle when we meet again.
[BORS _and his friends look at each other, then silently
turn and go out_.
ARTHUR
So breaks my kingdom. It is gashed in two.
Oh, Gawaine! Gawaine! (_He falls upon_ GAWAINE’S _neck_.)
(A MAN-AT-ARMS _is heard without crying: “The King! Where
is the King?”_)
GAWAINE
Terror’s in that cry!
_The_ MAN _stumbles in breathless_.
MAN (_falling on his knee_)
Pardon me, King!
GAWAINE
My heart forebodes an evil.
MAN
I am come breathless.
ARTHUR
Speak!
GAWAINE
All news is ill.
ARTHUR
Tell all.
MAN
I am afraid.
ARTHUR
Your King commands.
MAN
The Queen.... Sir Launcelot.
ARTHUR
Taken?
MAN
They are fled.
Sir Launcelot has carried off the Queen.
ARTHUR (_starting up_)
Do you live and tell it to me?
MAN
Patience, my lord,
And I will tell you all. The dawn was breaking.
The guard had just relieved us. It was then
Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris summoned me
On the King’s business. I knew not what it was.
We went with them. They had no arms. We went;
We came to the Queen’s door, and it was open.
The Queen stood there, like one that waited us.
There was a lamp burning above her head;
Oh, very pale she seemed and very calm.
“Do you come at my lord’s bidding?” so she asked.
And then Sir Gareth bowed his head. He spoke
No word, nor did Sir Gaheris; not a word.
And we were awed by her, she was so calm.
ARTHUR
So calm! And after?
MAN
I am telling all.
The Queen said “I am ready,” and so she passed
Between Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris,
And we about them followed. It was dark
In the shadow by the walls. There was a mist,
A summer mist. The dawn was far above.
ARTHUR
And then?
MAN
We were all sorrowful at heart,
Knowing not----
ARTHUR
To the issue!
MAN
Some one cried
“Look where the Queen is taken to her death!”
Men had thronged up, and women; the cry passed
From lip to lip, “She is taken to her death.”
And sudden like a lion burst on us
Sir Launcelot.
ARTHUR
Ah!
MAN
I know not whence he came,
Out of the mist; his sword flashed in his hand,
But not so terrible as his eyes. They flamed,
You would have thought that when he saw the Queen
His very reason rushed right out of him.
GAWAINE
Ah, God defend my brothers!
MAN
He was mad,
Blood-mad he seemed; he knew not what he did,
He struck so sudden.
GAWAINE
My brothers!
MAN
Right and left
His sword was like a score of blades flashing.
I swear no man could have prevailed against him.
’Twas quicker than a hawk upon a hare.
Myself was thrown down. He had caught the Queen,
And borne her off--men say, to Joyous Gard.
ARTHUR
War! It is war!
GAWAINE
My brothers? Where are they?
Speak, wretch.
MAN
I know not.
GAWAINE
Speak.
MAN
Oh, my good lord,
Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris are dead.
GAWAINE (_utters a great cry_)
Launcelot slew them?
MAN
He knew not what he did.
GAWAINE
They had no arms!
ARTHUR
Woe is me!
GAWAINE
Launcelot!
He saw them and he slew them!
ARTHUR
Woe is me!
I let them go. Ah, Gawaine!
GAWAINE
Blood for blood!
I will believe all evil of him now,
I am with you now, my King, and he shall die.
My brothers! (_Sinking down._)
_A_ MESSENGER _enters hurriedly_.
MESSENGER
My lord, the King!
ARTHUR
What, more? Worse cannot be.
MESSENGER
Sir Mordred!
ARTHUR
Speak!
MESSENGER
He is fled.
ARTHUR
He, too! How fled?
GAWAINE
Who recks of Mordred! Drop him down the wind
To his own hell. But Launcelot that I loved
Has slain my brothers. Death to Launcelot!
ARTHUR
Sir Mordred?
MESSENGER
He has flown and taken all
His following with him; armed; an army!
ARTHUR
So,
He has shot his shaft and left it in the wound.
MESSENGER
My lord, the word goes openly about
Sir Mordred’s leagued with rebels in the West.
They have summoned him to head them, and revolt
Against your crown and kingdom.
ARTHUR
Gawaine, hear!
GAWAINE
I hear. But it’s from Launcelot I’ll have
Most bitter satisfaction.
ARTHUR
Northward now!
Summon my knights about me in the hall.
[_Exit_ MESSENGER.
Send a strong force on Mordred’s heels to hold
The traitor back. Ourselves will swiftly ride
To take the Queen from Launcelot. Day is come,
And friends are friends and foes are foes at last.
[_Exeunt._
SEVENTH SCENE
_The_ KING’S _Camp before Joyous Gard. Stormy weather. Black skies
against which the earth shows up white and livid. The towers of the
Castle appear above rising ground._
BEDIVERE
Black skies!
LUCAN
God’s anger.
BEDIVERE
How shall this end? Saw you the King?
LUCAN
But now he passed into his tent, slowly, with head dejected. His heart
is weary of this war.
BEDIVERE
Sick and sated. The heavy clouds seem to fall on us. One would say that
all the tempests of the world had gathered in that storm, which soon
will break about us.
LUCAN
There’s something monstrous in the season, a curse and an infection.
Storm after storm! The corn rots unripened, there’s mildew in the
orchards.
BEDIVERE
And here, unnatural strife. Arthur and the brother of his heart.
LUCAN
And the Queen betwixt them, like some baleful star.
BEDIVERE
And Gawaine mad with hate.
LUCAN
How long is it since we have besieged this Joyous Gard of Launcelot’s?
BEDIVERE
I cannot count the days.
LUCAN
This quarrel fills all Christendom. Men say the noise of it goes over
the seas even to Rome. Were it not for Gawaine, the King, I think,
would make his peace, and Launcelot deliver up his Queen to him.
BEDIVERE
Not while the King is fixed to bring the Queen to judgment. To that
Launcelot will never yield. So stands our wrestle in a deadlock;
meanwhile this dear realm splits in two.
LUCAN
And Mordred!
BEDIVERE
The wedge that drives into the crack.
LUCAN
I fear Mordred most. The rebel tribes gather to him in the West, while
we waste ourselves before Joyous Gard. We should have caught him before
he could join and head them.
BEDIVERE
The King’s force holds him at bay yonder.
LUCAN
Yet men begin to cry that with the King all is profitless fighting, but
with Mordred feasting and plunder.
BEDIVERE
Would God we were fighting him, not Launcelot.
GAWAINE _enters_.
GAWAINE
Where is the King?
BEDIVERE
He has passed into his tent. He rests.
GAWAINE
What, can remembrance sleep? The wrong that Launcelot has done is red
before my eyes, day and night. Can he forget?
BEDIVERE
The King were a glad man, if he could forget. At the bottom of their
hearts is a dear love one to the other.
GAWAINE
He shall not forget while I can sting remembrance.
BEDIVERE
Gawaine, if any man was your friend, it was Launcelot.
GAWAINE
The dearer friend, the dearer foe. It grows to madness in my brain,
that ever I held that traitor in my heart.
BEDIVERE
However it be, right or wrong, we are sore grieved to be against him.
LUCAN
Sore and sorrowful, Gawaine.
GAWAINE
It is you that are against the King, then?
BEDIVERE
We?
LUCAN
Never.
GAWAINE
I say you are against him. It is you that blunt his justice, it is you
that soften him with fond reluctances, like women looking backward. Who
would be a man, and in the cause he has espoused not trample down such
weakness?
BEDIVERE
Who would be a man and utterly forget the friendship of his friend?
GAWAINE
Forget! Forgotten! Never! And never forgiven! Had you but the flint in
you that a just cause strikes her flame from, we should have overturned
these proud towers long ago. But overturned they shall be. I’ll to the
King, and rouse him.
[_Exit._
BEDIVERE
How like a frenzy is his hatred!
LUCAN
He is narrowed to one point, vengeance. Look, what’s yonder?
BEDIVERE
A damsel riding hither from Joyous Gard.
LUCAN
Upon a milk-white ass! Look, a gleam follows her from the stormy
heaven. A happy omen!
BEDIVERE
She is in white; like a white dove; like peace. Go, Lucan, go to meet
her. (LUCAN _advances. A distant trumpet sounds from_ LAUNCELOT’S
_side_.) A trumpet sounds from Joyous Gard. Is it peace at last?
_The_ DAMSEL _enters_.
LUCAN
God be with you, maiden.
DAMSEL
Peace to you, fair lord.
LUCAN
Come you from Joyous Gard?
DAMSEL
I am Sir Launcelot’s herald. I go before him. He comes to parley with
King Arthur.
LUCAN
I will tell the King.
[_Exit._
BEDIVERE
Would that the issue might be gracious as the forerunner. What sends
Sir Launcelot? Is it peace? (_Trumpet sounds from the_ KING’S _side_.)
Hark! The King comes!
_The_ KING’S _knights come on, arrayed as for battle.
Trumpets answer from_ LAUNCELOT’S _side_. GAWAINE _enters,
and then the_ KING.
ARTHUR
I hear the trumpet blow from Joyous Gard;
Is a lily come against us?
GAWAINE
What’s this mockery?
What brought this maiden hither?
DAMSEL
Oh, most noble,
Noble King Arthur, graciously hear me!
Your servant, Launcelot, comes from Joyous Gard
And prays to parley with his lord, the King.
You see in me what gentle thoughts are his----
ARTHUR
White and fair! What avails?
GAWAINE
A treacherous trick,
To clothe his blackness white, and let it speak
In virgin syllables of gentleness.
ARTHUR
Softly. How is it with the Queen?
DAMSEL
The Queen weeps.
GAWAINE
Send her to her lord again.
(_Trumpet._)
DAMSEL
Sir Launcelot is here.
[LAUNCELOT _and his knights appear. Exit_ DAMSEL.
GAWAINE
No parley, King,
Let us out swords and make an end at once.
ARTHUR
Such embassy must have its honour.
GAWAINE
Nay.
ARTHUR
This is the royal office;
Usurp not----
LAUNCELOT
May I speak, my lords?
ARTHUR
Speak on!
LAUNCELOT
Fair lords, and you my own King----
GAWAINE
Perjurer!
LAUNCELOT
I make no war on you, my King. Assure me
With confirmation of your kingly oath
That harm come not to her that is your Queen,
And I restore her straightway and depart.
ARTHUR
Do you enjoin your terms upon your King?
GAWAINE
False once, false always!
LAUNCELOT
To my King I speak.
Make me that promise.
ARTHUR
Justice asks her due.
LAUNCELOT
Never, my lord, shall the Queen stand this charge
On testimony of that traitor Mordred.
GAWAINE
Yourself’s the traitor! We will take your towers
And you shall cry his pardon on your knees.
LAUNCELOT
Knights, lords of Britain, you’ll not take my towers;
And if I choose to come forth on the field
Soon shall I make an end, and that you know.
ARTHUR
An end, an end! But God shall make the end.
Bring all your boast of knights into the field,
Set your array, and sound your trumpets; then
The desolate seashores shall have renown
And you dishonour!
LAUNCELOT
Ah, my lord Arthur, God defend that ever
I should lift arms against my only King!
ARTHUR
Give me your enmity! We are met in storm
And under angry heaven, but were these clouds
Of imminent tempest rolled away, and light
Before us endless on a path of peace,
Our quarrel stretches to the world’s end still
And sleeps but in the grave. You have done that
Which time can never undo, never amend
Or alter into kindness, nor can words
That use old fondness reach their lodge again
Within this heart. Strike, you shall find it iron.
LAUNCELOT
Say what you will, with you I cannot strive.
ARTHUR
Ah, Launcelot, you have done me wrong enough----
LAUNCELOT
And I repent it sorely. It is too true,
Many of your best have spilt Life in this quarrel.
Yet, that I did, I did but in defence
Of your own Queen.
ARTHUR
My Queen whom you have taken,
And by force held.
LAUNCELOT
From death and cruel shame
I hold her and will hold her.
GAWAINE
He has said it!
Why parley here?
ARTHUR
Back to your towers then! Go,
Ere we set on. There is no ending here,
And no amending save through judgment.
LAUNCELOT
First
Listen!
Remember, my lord Arthur, how I vowed
Long ago, how I vowed, you smiling on,
To be your Queen’s true servant all my days.
Remember how it pleased her, and you too,
To cherish and uphold me more than all
And any of your knights; past my desert
Indeed, and yet some love did I deserve,
Who ever fought for you and for your Queen
In many another quarrel than my own.
Remember----
ARTHUR
Speak no more. It’s now; not then.
LAUNCELOT
Yet one word more! Had Mordred and his crew
Not set their miserable snare for me
That night----
ARTHUR
That night?
LAUNCELOT
You had been rid of me,
Rid of this abjured, exiled Launcelot,
And in a realm at peace.
ARTHUR
What mystery speaks
In such a protestation, I know not.
Your deeds have deafened us to that.
LAUNCELOT
My King,
Even while those felons feasted on the death
They plotted for me, out of hate for you,
Even when their shameful cries were at the door,
I had already made my hard farewell
And everlasting absence from your Queen,
Because of ill tongues, and because I knew
Their worst plot was to part us, and to rend
This realm of yours in twain.
ARTHUR
What avails words?
You stole her.
LAUNCELOT
Saved her! Could I leave her then
A prey to those fanged foxes? To the wrath
They were so cunning with their stratagems
To fire in you? I had vowed to be your Queen’s
Unalterable knight and steadfast sword.
Could I forswear her in her hour of danger?
(ARTHUR, _moved, is silent_.)
Speak!
ARTHUR
Yield her up.
LAUNCELOT
And she shall be unharmed?
ARTHUR
Justice must stand, and she abide by that.
LAUNCELOT
On the accusation of a miscreant
Proved false as hell? Arraigned in such a cause?
Never!
ARTHUR
Your own guilt, Launcelot, stands clear.
GAWAINE
Enough of words. To arms!
LAUNCELOT
Ere that my words
Be scattered in this tempest, hear me out.
Think of her dead.
Think of that royal beauty in its grave!
Did Guenevere, your Queen, lie here before you
With the eyes that see not, with the ears that hear not,
Ignorant of a pardon come too late,
Past beyond all repentance, cold to all
Tears of your supplication, locked away
In silence answerless, would that content you?
Oh, take her sorrow to your grace, my King,
Take that most noble lady to your grace,
And be it peace between us.
ARTHUR
Peace? Alas!
The dear cords that have bound us are all frayed
And ragged on the sore.
GAWAINE
Insolent thief!
The King shall have his Queen, despite of you.
LAUNCELOT
Put me to proof, Gawaine, put me to proof!
Hazard your force upon me, and I swear
It shall be easier for your single hand
To storm a barricaded city, than
By force or threat to take the Queen from me,
Except I have the King’s oath.
GAWAINE (_drawing his sword_)
Now and here!
Now and here! Put it to the proof.
ARTHUR
Gawaine,
Put up your sword!
(_Lightning._)
GAWAINE
The heavens strike at him.
ARTHUR
Launcelot!
LAUNCELOT
Arthur!
GAWAINE
I have stemmed my wrath
Too long! I have my quarrel in this cause
And no fond word shall end it. Murderer!
My blood is on you, you are spotted with it,
The blood of my young brothers whom you slew.
(_Thunder._)
Cover your eyes! You cannot shield your soul
From my full vengeance.
LAUNCELOT
All my soul is grief
For what I did that day, and did not know it.
Sooner than Gareth I’d have slain myself.
I loved him.
GAWAINE
And you butchered both defenceless!
Red in their blood I see you, hair to heel.
LAUNCELOT
If the King will, I shall do penance for it.
I will build chantries over all the land
From Cabelot to Dover, and will go
A barefoot pilgrim, praying for the souls
Of Gareth and of Gaheris whom I loved.
GAWAINE
You lie; you did it of your evil will
And devilish delight.
LAVAINE
You shall not say it.
Sir Gawaine, I loved Gareth and I know
Sir Launcelot killed him in pure ignorance.
ARTHUR
Cease, Gawaine, cease!
(_Lightning._)
GAWAINE
I will not cease, until
That innocent dear blood be wiped away.
BORS
Shall we endure this more?
LAVAINE
Speak, Launcelot!
(_Thunder._)
GAWAINE
Liar and traitor!
(_He throws his glove in_ LAUNCELOT’S _face. Trumpets from_
LAUNCELOT’S _side_.)
BORS
Out swords!
LAVAINE
We are ashamed.
GAWAINE
Blow, trumpets, blow my vengeance.
(_Thunder._)
ARTHUR
It is fated!
War and no peace; in earth and heaven, war.
(_The storm breaks with blinding violence as the battle
begins._ LAUNCELOT’S _knights defend him from_ GAWAINE’S
_fury, giving ground R. Confused fighting in darkness.
Cries of “Launcelot!” “Joyous Gard!” “Arthur!” and
“Gawaine!” A flash of lightning discovers_ GAWAINE _hewing
his way through the fighters_.)
GAWAINE
Gash this accursed darkness, flame of heaven,
And find me him.
(_He is borne backwards L. by superior force._)
I’ll find him, spite of you.
Spite of all.
(_More thunder. Confusion and fighting as before._)
A VOICE
Help!
ANOTHER
Christ and Arthur!
ANOTHER
Better call the fiend
That rides this tempest!
(_Thunder again._)
ANOTHER VOICE
Never was such war
Since the angels fell.
ANOTHER
We are stricken out of heaven.
MANY VOICES
Gawaine! Gawaine!
OTHERS
Launcelot! Launcelot!
A VOICE
Death to you!
ANOTHER
Brother! I have killed my brother,
Woe!
A VOICE
The King! Where is the King?
VOICES
The King is slain!
ANOTHER
We are lost!
ANOTHER
A curse, the curse of God!
BORS (_in the distance_)
Fight on!
Fight on!
VOICES
Joyous Gard! Joyous Gard!
BORS
Press!
VOICES
Where is Gawaine?
BORS
Now pursue, pursue;
They have no captain.
VOICES (_retreating_)
Lost, we are all lost!
(_The storm mitigates a little, and in the dim light_ BORS
_and_ ARTHUR _are seen confronting each other alone, the
fight having swept off to the L._)
BORS (_calling_)
Launcelot!
(_To_ ARTHUR) Yield you. There is none to aid.
ARTHUR
But that my heart is weary unto death
And my soul sadder than despair----
BORS
The King!
_Enter_ LAUNCELOT.
Launcelot, Launcelot! Shall I make an end?
It is the King.
(_He lifts his sword._ ARTHUR _stands motionless, leaning
on his sword_.)
LAUNCELOT
On your life’s peril, hold,
O friend, against that sacred head!
BORS
Yet here
Should end all quarrels.
LAUNCELOT
Down that impious sword,
Or never breathe again.
My King! Is there a hurt?
ARTHUR
Not in my flesh.
It is of stone, and feels not any more.
(_A long-drawn note is sounded by a distant trumpet._)
LAUNCELOT
What strange note blows upon that trumpet?
BORS (_looking down the slope_)
See,
The fighting ceases, and the fighters all
Stand motionless.
LAUNCELOT
Go, Bors, and bring me word.
[_Exit_ BORS.
ARTHUR
Oh, Launcelot, would this war had never been!
(_Thunder retreating._)
Hark! how the heavens groan over us. Out of me,
Had I capacity for utterance, would
Like storm of woe from this dark bosom burst,
Filling the world.
LAUNCELOT
Oh, Arthur! Oh, my King,
Had we but met before, thus, face to face!
Arthur, you trusted me; and though I guard
Your Queen from death, I have not failed you since.
But now, since we are met as naked souls
Beneath dark heaven, I will confess me. I
Have done you wrong that nothing can undo,
Not though this thunder cracked the frame of things
And spilled the molten world. Since first my eyes
Saw Guenevere, I loved her.
ARTHUR
Launcelot!
LAUNCELOT
Oh!
With wrestlings and with torture, yet with such
Extreme necessity of love as bound me,
Blinded! Against that storm I was not strong;
I was a madman, rushing on a spear
In rapture. Take your Queen back to your heart,
Forgiven, but as for me--lift up your sword
And claim this forfeit soul.
(_A distant chanting is heard._)
ARTHUR (_raising his sword_)
I have good cause.
I loved, and you have shamed me; more, undone
My life, my hope, my kingdom! (_Letting his point fall._) No, I cannot.
Were we but met in the hot battle’s blood
I’d kill you for that cause. Now I am numbed;
And something from within me stays my hand.
Take my Queen pardoned to my heart, you plead.
Ah, Launcelot! were it merely man and woman,
Love should be wide and infinite as air
To meet her at the world’s end with my arms,
Even at the farthest erring. There’s no help.
A man may pardon, but the King may not.
The King is justice, or no more a King.
LAUNCELOT
Forgiveness is yet kinglier. Harden not
Your heart for ever.
ARTHUR
Were there but a sign
From this charged heaven----
LAUNCELOT
Look!
(_A gleam has appeared in the paling sky and the chant
grows nearer._)
ARTHUR
Is there light
On earth again?
LAUNCELOT
What strange stillness has seized upon the host?
What chant is that?
VOICES
The King! The King! A wonder! Rome! Rome!
(_Certain knights of either party return on the scene, and
in their midst a white banner preceding a_ BISHOP, _with
a train of priests chanting. With a last remote peal of
thunder the storm passes away_.)
BISHOP
Peace! Peace to you all! In the name of our Lord Jesu, peace! Our Holy
Father on the seat of St. Peter hath sent me hither with his commands.
Hasting I come even among your swords and spears; And this is the
command that I am charged with. Launcelot shall render his Queen again
to King Arthur; she shall not be harmed: And King Arthur shall be
accorded with Sir Launcelot. This, upon pain of interdiction of the
whole realm of Britain, is the high commandment of God’s regent upon
earth, our Holy Father in Rome. My sons, will you obey?
(ARTHUR _and_ LAUNCELOT _bow their heads_.)
ARTHUR
So far as it be peace betwixt us, I obey.
LAUNCELOT
I go to bring the Queen.
(_He goes away R. as_ GAWAINE _is brought in wounded,
leaning on two of his knights_.)
GAWAINE
Ah, there! Let me but reach him; hurt though I be, I will satisfy my
vengeance.
BISHOP
Man of blood, your hour is past. Exorcise from you this vain rage and
lust of vengeance. Bethink you of your sins, and of God’s peace. The
King receives his Queen again and is accorded with Sir Launcelot.
GAWAINE
Not all the priests in Christendom shall force
My will to this. I’ll say naught of the Queen;
But him will I proclaim still to the world
Traitor.
ARTHUR
Ah, Gawaine, have we not enough
Of hatred?
GAWAINE
Though I seek him through seven realms
I’ll have my retribution, death for death.
(_He faints._)
ARTHUR
He has swooned. Bear him to his tent.
(GAWAINE _is borne off by his friends_.)
BISHOP
Pass now.
My errand is performed. Peace be upon you.
[_The priests resume their chant, and the_ BISHOP _and his
train pass off_.
ARTHUR
Look, where she comes.
LAUNCELOT _returns, leading_ GUENEVERE _by the hand_.
LAUNCELOT
My King, I bring to you your Queen again.
(_They kneel down before_ ARTHUR, _then_ LAUNCELOT _raises_
GUENEVERE.)
ARTHUR
Guenevere!
GUENEVERE
Oh, my lord!
ARTHUR
What shall I say?...
With a sore heart I took this battle up
Which now is ended. Launcelot, I loved you,
Cherished and honoured you before all others.
But now is parting. My reproach is dulled,
Fall’n out of use and anger,
Like a spent arrow.
LAUNCELOT