(Rise outer curtain.) Pa**age near the Queen's apartments.
Enter DAGONET.
DAG. 'Tis little I can do, but I will mend
The devilment that I have helped to cause.
Hark, now they come! Here I will take my stand.
'Tis over my dead body, when they come,
That they'll come at her. Ho! stand without!
(sounds heard without)
Enter MORDRED, SIR AGRAVAINE and other Knights with torches and naked swords.
(draws) Where go you, masters?
MOR. We go this road; 'ware how you stop our way.
DAG. The man who goes this road goes o'er my body.
SIR AG. Louse! Take that! [Stabs DAGONET; he falls.
MOR. 'Tis the King's jester.
DAG. You have leeched my folly. Now is the jest ended. Vivien! [Dies.
A Knight. He was a man, after all.
MOR. Onward, knights, to better game than this,
Though little we know the tragedy that ended
When yon poor light went out! Come this way!
[Exeunt all.
(Rise inner curtain.) The Queen's apartment.
Enter LAUNCELOT and GUINEVERE.
LAUN. I come this night to bid you a long farewell,
Before I leave this kingdom's shores for ever.
This love doth hold me in a demon's grasp,
And my heart breaks to feel great Arthur's love,
And all the time we twain be meeting thus.
GUIN. Nay, nay, Launcelot, leave me not forlorn,
I cannot live without thee. Thy strong arms
And thy warm kisses are to me the one
Fair garden springing on this drearsome earth.
LAUN. Lady, I must go. My lands in France,
Tribute to my sword, I'll make a kingdom,
And pa** my days in memories of thee.
GUIN. Nay, nay, thou wilt not go! And if thou must
My heart will bleed for thee until my d**h.
UNID. (hurrying in) Madam, there is treason roused without.
Many armèd knights do come this way.
LAUN. Now is the end come I have long expected,
The grim fatality of all my fears,
The nightmare real at last. Quick, my sweet!
Kiss me your latest now! This is my d**h!
GUIN. Launcelot, hasten! save, oh, save thyself!
I will bar them with my body here.
They will but trample a dead, dishonored Queen,
Whom brute fatality made its pa**ing sport.
Quick! that way!
LAUN. Nay, nay, sweet love, but I will die with thee,
And show great love can make a greater d**h.
(draws) Would to God I had mine armor!
[Loud knocking heard at the door, and the voice of MORDRED heard without.
MOR. Come out, thou traitor, Launcelot, and show the world
The face of him who hath dishonored Arthur!
Come out, thou traitor!
GUIN. Launcelot, save thyself, there is time yet.
LAUN. Nay, love, I'll end me here, if be my fate.
Ho! Cowards without! I am a single man,
Devoid of armor, having but my sword;
Yet will I open and give you hell's glad welcome.
[Unbars the door; SIR AGRAVAINE rushes in.
Die, hound!
[Brains him. LAUNCELOT drags him aside and bars the door.
Quick! Help me to this armor!
[Takes the arms from SIR AGRAVAINE'S body and arms himself.
GUIN. (helping him) Aye, love, if prayers are aught, will mine clothe thee.
Voices outside. Open up, traitor, open up!
GUIN. Great God, Great God, help this poor Queen who prays!
[LAUNCELOT buckles his armor.
LAUN. Now am I ready. Fare thee well, sweet love!
Whatever haps—and we may meet no more
This side of darkness—carry to thy grave,
That Launcelot loved thee, thee, and only thee.
GUIN. O Launcelot, my heart breaks!
[They embrace. The Queen faints.
LAUN. (to the Maids) Take her back from this, protect her, keep her safe.
This work is not for her sweet presence. Now Heaven help
The man that meeteth Launcelot's blade this night!
Voices without. Coward! Traitor! wilt thou open up?
LAUN. Yea, traitors who forswore the name of knight,
When like some drunken rabble ye polluted
The gentle sacredness of these apartments!
And every man who shamed her ears to-night
(throws open the doors) Shall die! die! die! Come on, ye fiends!
[They rush in and then fall back in surprise.
Ha! ha! here's wine that Launcelot's blade would drink!
[Rushes forward, hacking fiercely with his sword; twelve knights fall one after the other.
MOR. God of heaven, let us back! This man be mad!
[Retreats with four knights; LAUNCELOT slays the rest.
LAUN. Come on, ye fiends of hell! I'll back me here!
Launcelot is indeed a man of honor!
CURTAIN.