.
Hark!

VOICE OF THE CRIER (distant and ringing).
Today at noon, because King Mark has found
Her faithless and untrue, shall Queen Iseult
Be given to the lepers of Lubin,--
A gift to take or leave. And, furthermore,
Lord Tristram, who was once her paramour,
Transgressed King Mark's decree by entering
His realm. Whoever catches him and brings
Him quick or dead unto the King shall have
One hundred marks of gold for his reward.
'Tis good King Mark's decree that every one
Should hear and know these things that I have cried.

A CHILD.
Oh, I'm afraid! Will he come here, that man?

THE GIRL.
I know it all by heart, and still he cries!

A MAN.
Ay, let him cry!

ANOTHER MAN.
Lord Tristram, he's a fox;
To catch him they must have a good deep pit
Or else he'll scratch them so that all their lives
They'll think thereon.

A GIRL.
Tristram's a noble lord,
I'd shield him an I could.

A SECOND GIRL.
I want to see
The Queen close by.

A THIRD GIRL.
Ay, so do I!

A FOURTH GIRL.
I'll strew
Some flowers in her path as she goes past.

1ST GIRL.
My father made her once a pair of shoes
Of fine white satin, bound with golden clasps
And crimson 'broidery. He says her feet
Are delicate and small; as white and slim
As are the Virgin Mary's in the shrine
That stands within Tintagel's lofty church
Above the great high altar.

4TH GIRL.
Poor, poor soul!

OLD WOMAN.
Ay, let her see where those white feet of hers
Have carried her!

3D GUARD (to a boy who has climbed upon the wall).
Hey, thou! Come down! The wall
And rocks are full an hundred fathoms high,
So, if thou fall, thy howling will not help.

THE BOY.
I want to sit here when the lepers come!

ANOTHER BOY.
A good place that! I'll climb up too.

A FOURTH BOY.
I too!

1ST GUARD.
Now none of you may stay within the court
To stare when Queen Iseult is given o'er
Unto the lepers. Mark has granted this
Unto the Queen since 'twas her only wish.
Ye all must go into the chur