Ralph Adams Cram - Excalibur - Act II, Scene II lyrics

SCENE II. Camelot. The terrace of Arthur's castle. Morgan le Fay is standing alone, gazing on Merlin's tower, which rises solitary in the background. Morgan. Thou black magician of the enchanted keep Builded of dreams by subtle sorcery To win dominion over all the world, How shall I baffle thee? Ringed 'round with cloud Thy frowning tower, four-square, impregnable, Fit symbol of thy pride, defies my will. High on the giddy ramparts of the keep Thy fell and fatal visage bends unseen Above the mystic lore of perished worlds For thou art sore bested. The puling boy Thou fain wouldst make thy catspaw, fails, thee sore, Most mighty Merlin, and thou knowest not What engine Morgan fashions for thy fall; Wherefore, affrighted, thou dost grope for aid. Strive thou amain, rive spell on evil spell From out the murky caverns of thy lore, Thou shalt not hinder me. (Enter Nimue) Ha, Nimue! I need thee, girl: art ready to my hand? Nimue. As restless sword that clamours for the fray Within the sluggard sheath of errant knight. Morgan. I'll hale thee shortly from thy scabbard; look! Where in his magic tower old Merlin sits, A bloated spider, spreading wide the web Wherein he thinks to catch us. Nimue. Like a fly I'll buzz and blunder 'gainst his very fangs, And when he springs, turn to a dragonfly And stab him! Morgan. Thou shalt spead thy wings anon, Thou subtle Nimue, for to my cost I know that we may trap the silly king Until our wit is withered, nor abate As by the weight of one least little cloud The curse that lets us, if we rest with that And curb not Merlin. Nimue. Merlin fears us not, For that the armour he has wrought him well Of spells and magic gives him leave to laugh At that we do. Morgan. I'll match him in his craft, Else know I nought of sorcery, and bind Him helpless in a sleep of living d**h. There is a potent spell the fayter knows, And only he, that grips in heavy sleep Beyond all power to waken, whosoe'er It falls on. Nimue. And thou'dst have me learn the rune To-night? Morgan. To-night, or after, if ye fail at first. This thing we must achieve, there is no choice. Win me the rune and England falls awrack. The way I leave to thee, but guard thyself; Thou tiltest not against an orgulous boy But in the front of awful wisdom. Nimue. Good: I sound my challenge! In the lists of life Flame-favoured Love has ever overthrown Sir Wisdom. Morgan. But not Merlin. He is armed In supple harness that will turn the point Of weapons deadly to the cringing king. Be wise and wakeful; strike with subtler tools Than serve against a man. Nimue. Is he not that? Mayhap the cloak of wisdom clothes him well But underneath is man. I strike at that. Morgan. Meanwhile I lime the twigs to catch a king, -- But look ye where she comes! The savoury bait Wherewith I lure him: Guenever. Nimue. Farewell, The night is moonless: ere the east is gray I'll cope with Merlin, and I win the rune! (Exit.) Morgan. How best to use this knotted skein of love Where Launcelot, the king, and Guenever Are sorely tangled? If the knight shall win What follows but the fixing of the king More strongly in his purpose to obey The crafty Merlin. But if Arthur gain And Launcelot yield nothing: -- Through the night That was so dark I see a little star, A little, distant star that waxes great And brightens to a ball of shrieking flame That shall with shame and slaughter overwhelm The king, the Court, and Merlin: Guenever I'll give the king, -- and later, Launcelot. A merry game and I can play it well; -- I call a greeting to thee, Guenever. (Enter Guenever.) Guenever. Who hails me from the dusky twilight dim? I cry thee pardon, lady, but the light Befriends me not. Morgan. It is the Queen of Gore. Guenever. Oh, ho! and Empress of the Magic Mere, The lady of two kingdoms. Morgan. Now, indeed, I know thou givest ear unto the tales Loose-hanging tongues set free in Camelot, But this I tell thee, girl; the shameless knights And wanton women wag forbidding heads, Miscall me witch and mock me with their japes, For that their witless folly likes me not And I am wise in lore of many things They know not of. Gray Merlin strikes them dumb, With bated breath they pa** him fearsomely, But I, that am a woman, rouse their wrath For matching Merlin. Guenever. And I blame them not; Were I to couch a lance along the lists, A she-knight thrusting in a fighter's field, I'd give them leave to mock me. Well content Am I that God has made me what I am, Content that He has made men as they are; My kingdom is mine own, I ask none else. Morgan. The which is folly. Yet I like thee well, And so let call a truce to warring words The while I counsel thee. Thou art a girl; An headstrong filly, heedless of the curb; Lawless, impatient; learn a thing of me That am well broken to the harness, wise In diverse things that thou shalt know anon. Guenever. That I may reign beneath the Magic Mere A queen of goblins? Keep thy learned lore, An earthly crown contents me. Morgan. Grasp it, girl, And thou art Queen of England! Guenever. First, meseems, I'd see it proffered. Thieving likes me not, Nor yet a beggar's usage, when a crown Is held for guerdon. Morgan. Hear me, Guenever! Witch am I, if it please the prating Court; Wise am I, maugre Court and king and thee; And this I know: thou art a**oted, girl, If thou dost think King Arthur loves thee not! Guenever. Fool am I, if it please the learnèd queen; Maid am I, maugre Court and king and thee; And so I knew King Arthur loved me well When first he saw me in Cameliard. Morgan. Then seize the crown he proffers with his heart. Guenever. The heart I see, but not as yet the crown. Morgan. Nathless he holds it forth. I know the king, And for a word thou shalt be crownèd queen. Guenever. Of England. Morgan. Aye, of England: of the world! Flout thou my wisdom if it pleaseth thee, But well I know that on before the king Stretches a path that rises to a height Of glory and dominion such as men As yet have never seen. Be thou the queen, Walk thou with Arthur toward the blinding flame Of fame and honour blazing in his path, And thou shalt reign the Queen of Christiantie! Guenever. And pay the hateful price! Morgan. Why dost thou gaze With wistful eyes into the crowding dark? The while with heavy sigh thou sayest slow "And pay the hateful price." Can'st read the crest Above the helmet of the drooping knight That mounts the steep upon a jaded steed? Nay, now I know! 'Tis Launcelot returned To Camelot from riding on the quest That quickly called him when the king returned And found thee come from far Cameliard. Dost sigh for him? Out on thee, Guenever! That weighs a king against a wanton knight. Guenever. Be silent, witch, and lightly quit my sight! Mock me no more, nor tempt me with the tale Of crown and kingdom purchased with the blood Of this my heart; I need thee not! Morgan. Farewell! I leave thee to Sir Launcelot, but mark The thing I say: the crown is for thy brow, Nor shall a knight let Arthur from his own. (Exit.) Guenever. Ah me, unhappy, that am like a ball Tossed back and forth across the tennis court; Forbid to rest in any friendly hand, But made the sport and pastime of a game. Would well I knew so much of Morgan's lore Or Merlin's, as would tell me why the heart And brain were made of God fierce enemies, Nor ever in accord. The crown is mine And at the price of one least little word, For Arthur loves me, fain would make me queen, To reign unchallenged; but Sir Launcelot Would make me wife, and bend me to his will A fawning slave. What woman halts for choice 'Twixt service and dominion? So, the crown Goes spinning down the vasty waste of night, A mocking bauble, meet for envious fools. The joust is over and the favour won, Sir Heart, thou art the victor in the lists, Sir Brain the recreant, I the warison! (Enter: below the terrace, Sir Launcelot. He remains for a time seated on his horse.) Sir Launcelot. Although the night were darker than the depths, Long since forgotten, of the nether hell Where damnèd souls, forsaken, howl for light, Yea, for the blazing of tormenting flame So that 'twere light --I'd know thee, Guenever! Guenever. And were the world resounding with the din Of rending heavens on the Judgment Day, I'd hear thy voice if thou didst call my name, O Launcelot! Sir Launcelot. Hide not within the night, I know the king is with thee. Hale him forth That I may see thy lover. Guenever. Launcelot! Sir Launcelot. So thou didst call me when I won thy love, Playing the maid to mock me for a churl; But now that thou art wanton to a king, Call me Sir fool! Guenever. I know not what thou art Or knave or madman, for thy words are wild As one a**otted. Sir Launcelot. Wouldst thou have me deal In honeyed words to match thy honeyed breath? I call thee as thou art. Guenever. Thou liest! Sir Launcelot. Peace! Nor think to mesh me in a web of words. Thou art the lightest lady in the Court, And I will prove it 'gainst whoever comes, Be he the king. Guenever. Thou layest in the glare Of some malignant moon, and thou art mad! Avoid my sight, I look on thee no more, Thou art distained forever. Sir Launcelot (dismounting and coming on the terrace). Guenever, 'Tis thou that art distained. I thought thee mine, Unsoilèd, faultless, and I find thee false As rotting d**h's head grinning through the casque That outwardly doth show the noble knight. Unwrast my helm, my hauberk rent away, My sword all shattered and my spear forhewn; A craven knight, forlorn I walk the world, Nor fall on worship whereso'er I go For that I loved her that betrayèd me. Guenever. Am I a wanton that I stand at speech And chaffer mouthings with a daffish churl? This is the end. If I do look on thee One only time in Camelot, beware! I'll charge thee with black treason to thy face, And call on every knight that loves the king Or holds me worshipful, to prove me clean, Upon thy craven body. Sir Launcelot. Stand thou there! I have a thing to say. I loved thee well And wore thy favour twined about my helm, Wherefore I grew a jest for all the Court. Thou wert King Arthur's, and they knew it well The while I doted, heeding not the fame That ran so lightly of thine evil ways. Girls mocked me, curled their lips and laughed me down; Knights tossed the shameful jest from hand to hand; The very pages round the royal throne Shrilled scornful laughter when I pa**ed them by, And still I loved thee. Then upon a day Meseemed I could no longer 'dure the Court And rode for silence in the tongueless wood. Right so I met a maid that bade me stay, And plucked me by the mantle, saying so, With railing words: "Wouldst thou then find the king? I pray thee of thy gentleness, Sir knight, Molest him not; he lies with Guenever Among the ferns beside a little brook, He needs us not." A quarrel from the bow I sped along the forest, drunk with wrath, Believing naught, yet half believing all: And then I saw thee. Through the leaning trees, Beside the king I marked thee moving slow, With willing eyes uplifted to his face. White lightning seared mine eyeballs, heavy night Shut down impenetrable, but I knew. (Enter King Arthur.) Guenever. For that thou art a faithless, miscreant knight, And like a buzzard fain of filthy food, All gorged with slander, I do owe thee nought, But this I tell thee, I am blameless here. By neither word nor act, nay, by no thought, No little fawning fancy has the king Done me disworship. King Arthur (coming forward.). It is soothly said, And I will prove the lie with mine own sword, Upon his body that with shameful tongue Says that thou art not spotless before God. What knave missays thee, Guenever? Guenever. Sir king, I pray thee, harm him not: a blighting spell Is over him, he knows not what he says, For e'er by magic he was driven mad, Thou knowest, king, he was a stainless knight. King Arthur. Speak, traitor to thy king and chivalry, That dost with bawdy mouth revile a maid! The darkness cloaks thee, let me see thy face, Stand forth, thou art no knight of Camelot! Sir Launcelot. My lord, I am no traitor! King Arthur. Launcelot! By Jesu's wounds, I would a thunderbolt Had riven Camelot and hurled it wide In rocky rain upon the blasted fields Or ever I had seen this dolorous day! Sir Launcelot. So say I, king, and hadst thou taken heed Of thine own knighthood, and the scarlet shame That like a broidered mantle thou hast cast Upon the body of thy paramour, Thou wouldst have halted in thy faithless quest. King Arthur. I know not by what dark and devious road Thou camest, Launcelot, unto this pa**, But that thou art a false, felonious knight Distained of treason, foul with calumny, Alas, I know. Deny thine evil words, Upon thy knees beseech of Guenever That she a**oil thee of thy damnèd sin Or thou dost fight thy king. Sir Launcelot. Right so, and now! King Arthur. A spell is cast around Pendragon's House; How other should a knight fight fierce and grim Against his brother? For I loved thee, sir, Aye, more than any man of all the Court, Yet I do love mine honour over all, Save only that of Guenever. Assay! Unsheathe thy sword and dress thy heavy shield, I have no harness; shieldless, void of helm, Armed only with my sword I meet thy stroke, For righteousness is hauberk to a king. Sir Launcelot. And to a knight in equal measure. So, I cast my helmet and my shield away, Naked I stand before thee. k** me, king, Or thou shalt die for thy sins warison. Guenever. For God's love, hold! My honour cannot weigh Within the balance 'gainst one little drop Of royal blood, nor yet against thy life, Sir Launcelot! -- King Arthur. Art ready? Sir Launcelot. Cry you on! (They fight.) Guenever. If ye do love me, sirs, I pray ye, stay! (Enter Sir Kay: with him pages bearing torches.) Sir Kay. Who dares defy the laws of Camelot And with rude weapons war against the peace Of Arthur, King of England? Stay your swords, Or rightwise shall I charge ye with offence And treason 'gainst the king. Ha, Guenever! What knights are these? Guenever. Woe to me, Seneschal, It is the king and Launcelot. (Enter: Sir Pelleas, Sir Tor, Ettard, and other Knights and Ladies, with them torch-bearers.) Sir Kay. Alas! I know not how to speak for dole and woe; Lord Arthur, of thy grace I pray thee stay! Sir Launcelot, give way before the king, Nor peril England with thy faithless blade. Guenever. Lords, make an end of this! My heart is torn That I, unhappy, am the sorry cause Of this forlorn debate. Sir Tor. What evil star Has risen over England? Sir Pelleas. How befell This wicked warfare twixt the hasty king And Launcelot? (Enter: Sir Ector, Morgan le Fay, Columbe, Ysed, and others.) Columbe. God's mercy, 'tis the king! Sir Kay, bestir! Let not this awful shame Fall blackening on the land. Sir Kay. Lord Arthur, see! Upon my knees I cry thee mercy. Hold! For God's love, hold. Think that thou art the king, Nor hazzard England for a traitor's blood. Morgan (aside). Too soon I see the fruit of my design Fall all untimely, yet I grasp it now. Ysed. See, see! King Arthur bleeds, and Launcelot Is pressing on him sorely! Sir Tor. Ha! the king Is smiting wonderly. The knight is lost, He falls! Sir Pelleas. No, no! He struck that blow aside; Look there! Sir Kay. My lord! Sir Ector. My God, this endeth here! (He draws and rushes on Launcelot.) King Arthur. Who lets me from the fight or strikes my foe, Hangs dead to-morrow on the castle wall! (Merlin has entered: he strides through the crowd, seizes Ector's sword, and with it strikes down the weapons with such force they fall on the ground.) Merlin. Then so I die, for so I end the fight. Lord Arthur, thou art king and thou art law; Thou art incarnate England, and thy word Is backed with all the majesty of God. Nathless through me speaks all the awful line Of perished kings that gave thee life and crown, And with a voice that brooks of no reply. Save thou thy sword for England's enemies! Morgan (aside). Again I meet thee; Merlin, thou shalt die! King Arthur. Am I the king, or thou, bold sorcerer? One word from me and I may see thee torn In horrid gobbets here before mine eyes! Merlin. That word knells England's doom. No earthly king Although he hold dominion streight from God, Sits on a steadfast throne unless he learn The wisdom that God gives not with a crown. King Arthur. And this I learn from thee, my master? Merlin. Aye, From me, King Arthur. I was grim with years When first thou gavest tongue, and when the king That did beget thee mouthed his mother's breast, Still aged was I. Be persuaded, king, By Merlin that did give Excalibur Into thy hand. King Arthur. So all my royalty Is but a pageant. I must let thee reign, Most potent master! Merlin. Ring thyself with knights And daunt the world with show of dreadful arms, Thou art a crownèd jester, if thou lack'st The prop of wisdom for thy majesty. King Arthur. Thou speakest well, and I am sore distained That with unwatchful heart I did forget The solemn warning thou didst bid me heed, Yet, by my knighthood, I could find no choice, For Launcelot did blacken Guenever With most ungentle slander, and the crown That guards the head clings not about the heart. Sir Launcelot. Thou hast not proved the slander on me, king, Nor blotted out the shame with thine own blood; Wherefore I stand my ground. Before the Court, Yea, Arthur, before God, with brimming tears, For that my heart is broken that my king Should deal dishonourably with a maid I loved with pa**ing worship, once again I do impeach thee of unknightly shame. Sir Tor. I challenge thee! Sir Ector. God's blood, I'll prove the lie Upon thy body! Omnes. Treason, treason! King Arthur. Hold! Gramercy for your loyalty, my knights, But neither words nor blood blot out a lie, The deed is all. Hear, lords and knights at arms, Sir Launcelot impeacheth me of shame; Take ye the answer. Lady, of thy grace I do beseech thee hear me. Thou art she That I do love in loyal, knightly wise, As I have loved thee since the blessèd day When first I saw thee in Cameliard. God knows, and thou, there is no bond of shame Betwixt us, maugre the scandal of the Court, And therefore, Guenever, wilt thou be queen Of Arthur and of England? Merlin. Stay! Guenever. My lord As I am stainless and all clean of sin -- I will be Queen of England. Morgan (aside). I have won! King Arthur. Bid all the trumpets blow, and let the flame Of flaunting beacons paint the sombre sky. England, thou hast a queen! Omnes. Hail, Guenever! Sir Launcelot (aside). Christ Jesu, of thy mercy, let me die! Merlin. So comes the terror stalking through the night. Morgan. Merlin, the fight is lost, and England falls. Merlin. Not in thy hands, black witch! King Arthur. Come, Launcelot: Thou hast impeached thy king and drawn a sword Against his sacred body. Stand thou forth; What chastisement befits thee? Sir Launcelot. Let me die. Guenever. In God's name, dear my lord -- King Arthur. Peace, Guenever. It needs not that thy heart should intercede For Launcelot. I am no orgulous fool To slay the knight that guards my lady's fame. Give me thy hand, the hand that heaved a sword Against thy king to shield a maid. I swear Thou didst win greater worship of me, sir, Than found I ever in all Camelot. I know thee now, a fearless champion Of maiden's honour, and a noble knight. Look thou, Sir Launcelot, that when the crown Of England tops the head of Guenever, Thou dost defend her honour to thy d**h, Yea, 'gainst the king himself. Sir Launcelot. I pray thee now Let me depart, my heart is like to break. King Arthur. Yet would I have thee by me, Launcelot, I need thy knightly heart. Come, Guenever. Merlin. One only word, King Arthur. When the sands Have told an hour of the pa**ing night, I wait for thee upon the battlements Of Merlin's Tower. Arthur. Lightly will I come. And now, lead on, Sir Kay. Unsheathe your swords, Hurl them in the air, my knights, and let the horns Declare the tidings unto all the world, The while with lusty voices ye acclaim Queen Guenever! Omnes. God save Queen Guenever! (Exeunt.) Morgan (alone). So pa**es Arthur to his destiny And I abide. Queen Morgan, thou art free! Curtain.