We will
Admit no new companion to our band!

9TH LEPER.
Go home, we'll none of thee!

11TH LEPER.
Hast thou more gold?

STR. LEPER (holding up a purse).
Iwein shall have it and distribute it
Among you, if ye'll take me in.

12TH LEPER.
Ha! 's death!
Thou art a rich young varlet!

1ST LEPER.
Let him stay!

4TH LEPER.
I care not if there be one more or less!

IWEIN.
Come down to us. What is thy name?

[The Strange Leper comes down from the
steps.]

7TH LEPER.
How tall
Thou art! If Godwin dares to threaten me
Thou'lt punish him.

YOUNG LEPER.
And what's thy name?

STR. LEPER.
Why, call
Me then the Sad One, for that is my name.

IWEIN.
Then come, thou Sad One, take thy place.
They'll keep
Us not much longer waiting for our spouse.

6TH LEPER (to the stranger).
King Mark's a kind and gen'rous King to think
Of giving us a wife!

OLD LEPER (to the stranger).
The herald cried
That Queen Iseult of Ireland, King Mark's
Own spouse today should be--

IWEIN.
Fool, hold thy tongue!
Let's all together make a noise, and shake
Our clappers as a sign.

[They shake their rattles.]

12TH LEPER.
The door! The door!

YOUNG LEPER.
Be still! Be still! She's coming now!

IWEIN.
Be still.

SCENE IV

The door of the church is partially opened. The hangman leads ISEULT
out. The Strange Leper falls on his knees and bows deep to the ground.

YOUNG LEPER.
Let's fall upon our knees, Iwein!

[A few lepers kneel. The hangman takes
ISEULT'S crown and cloak away. She stands
there, draped only in her golden hair. Her
eyes are closed and she remains motionless.]

THE HANGMAN (kissing ISEULT'S foot).
Forgive
Me, Queen Iseult, for God's sweet sake!

[He goes back into the church. The door
closes and the organ sounds louder in the
silence.]

IWEIN.
We are
The lepers of Lubin, and thou, by