Play thou with Dinas first, since I, this morn,
Did interrupt thy game. I promised him
That he should play with thee.

[He goes to the chest.]

(Breaking out.)

I'll choose Ugrin
As my opponent! Come, Sir Fool, and play
With me! [Sits down on the chest.]

ISEULT.
So be it, Mark. Friend Dinas, come;
And thou Gimella play with Ganelun.

(To BRANGAENE.)

Stand thou beside me here and help me worst
Mine adversary. Come.

[She seats herself with DINAS at the raised
table. BRANGAENE stands beside the table
and leans over the bannister. PARANIS
seats himself at ISEULT'S feet. GIMELLA
takes her place at the other table. The
Strange Jester slinks across the court
and presses his pale, beardless face,
drawn with suffering, against the bars
of the grating. His head is shaved and
his clothes are torn and ragged.]

UGRIN.
Laugh at me, Queen.

ISEULT.
Tell me, Ugrin, why should I laugh at thee?

UGRIN.
I beg thee laugh; most fondly I implore
Thee laugh at me, Iseult. My cousin here
Hath promised me much gold if I can make
Thee laugh at me but once--I want that gold
So much!--Come, laugh at me, Iseult!

ISEULT.
First earn
Thy gold, good fool. Be off and let us play.

UGRIN (kneels down by MARK beside the chest).
Thy wife's not in her sweetest mood today,
Good cousin. Know'st thou why perhaps?

MARK.
A truce
To thy dull jokes! Come, play the game. Sir Knave!

ISEULT. I'll take thy castle, Dinas! Heed thy game.

UGRIN (humming).
Oh once there was a mighty King,
Who had a lady fair.
This King did love his beauteous dame
As though his wife she were--

ISEULT.
Thy castle falls--

(Softly.)

I hardly see the squares!
They sway and rock like billows on the sea.

DINAS.
Why weepest thou?

ISEULT.
I am not happy, friend.

PARANIS (softly).
Oh God!--There, see! Through yonder window's bars
There peers a man.

DINAS.
Where, boy?

PARANIS.
There! There!

STR. JESTER (calling through the grating).