olf!--Go!

DENOVALIN.
There was a time when I, too, heard the song
Of birds in spring-time; but the fragrant breath
Thy golden hair exhales,--that hair which I
Have seen flow rippling through Lord Tristram's hands--
Has made me hard and rough--a very beast!
I live pent up within my castle walls
As some old wolf! I sleep all day and ride
At night! Ay, ride until my steed comes home
With gasping nostril and with bloody flank,
And lies as dead when morning comes! My hounds
Fall dead along the road! And yet, may be,
That long before the earliest cock has crowed
I cry aloud upon thy name each day
Like one who swelters in his own life's blood!
Remember this, for hadst thou once, Iseult,
Beside me ridden ere the night grew dark,
Perchance this hatred of all living things
Had never got such hold upon my soul.
Remember this, throughout the many things
Which shall, ere evening, come to pass.
And evening comes to thee, Iseult,--to me,
To all! And so 'tis best thou understand
The secret of the past fairly to judge.
This is the peace I fain would have with thee.

ISEULT.
I am afraid--afraid--of thee!

DENOVALIN.
Thou shouldst
Not fear, Iseult, these words so seemingly
Devoid of sense!

(Changing the subject.)

At dawn today I rode
Along the Morois.

ISEULT.
Ay, since that's the road
That leads the straightest from thy lofty hall
To St. Lubin.--

DENOVALIN.
I met a quarry there!
A quarry wondrous strange! Shall I, Iseult,
Go bring it bound to thee?

ISEULT (in great anxiety).
I wish no fur,
Or pelts slain by thy hand, Denovalin--

DENOVALIN.
That I believe, Iseult, yet it might please King Mark.

(Breaking out passionately.)

It might be that once more
Thou felt'st the burning touch of death, all hot
And red. And if no safe retreat there were
For thee in Cornwall, save my castle walls,
And not a man in Cornwall stood to shield
Thy golden tresses from the hangman's hand
Except myself! If such the case what wouldst
Thou do if I said "come?"

ISEULT (wild with terror and despair).