ee
And its fulfilment from thy head?

ISEULT (angrily).
How can
An alien woman's spouse affect my life?

DINAS.
I go to stem with all the strength I have
This current of perdition. Fare thee well.

[As DINAS goes out, three armed guards
step into the room and stand on either
side of the door.]

ISEULT.
And fare thee well, thou truest of the true!

(To the guards.)

And ye, what seek ye here?

GUARD.
King Mark has bid
Us guard thy door; thou may'st not go abroad
Till Mark has bid thee come.

PARANIS (falls on his knees).
Gawain lies bound;
Brangaene's cast into a prison cell,
And something awful's taking place within
The castle walls!--I know not what it is!

ISEULT.
Paranis, child, be still.

ACT II

The High Hall of St. Lubin Castle.--Bay windows. On the right, in the
background is a wide double-door. On the left, in the background, and
diagonally to it stands a long table surrounded by high-back chairs.
The chairs at either end of the table are higher than the others and
are decorated with the royal arms. Against the wall on the left stands
a throne.

Four Gaelic barons stand, or sit about the table. LORD GANELUN enters.

SCENE I

A BARON.
And canst thou tell us now. Lord Ganelun,
What's taking place that we are summoned here
In council while our legs are scarcely dry
From our long ride?

2D BARON.
A welcome such as this
I like not, Lords!

GANELUN.
I know no more than ye,
My lords, who are but lately come.

3D BARON.
And where
Is Mark, the King?

2D BARON.
Instead of greeting us
He sends a low born knave, and bids us wait
Within these dry and barren walls.

1ST BARON (stands up).
By God,
I feel a wish to mount my horse and ride
Away!

5TH BARON (entering).
Do ye, my Lords, know why King Mark
Lets Tristram's savage hound, old Husdent live?
It needed but a little that it caused
My death!

4TH BARON.
Just now?

5TH BARON.
As I rode by its cage
It leap'd aga