tled).
My God! He knows
My name as well!

1ST BARON.
'Tis passing strange!

2D BARON.
Thou!--Fool--!

GANELUN.
He's quick, and makes good use of what he hears!

ISEULT.
His jests are impudent,--I wish that he
Would go away! He wearies me.

MARK.
And yet
There's something in the knave that pleases me.
His madness lies still deeper than it seems--

UGRIN.
Ay, cousin, in his belly, for, methinks,
He has a stomachache!

MARK.
Come, friend, tell us
A tale.

STR. JESTER (starting up).
Why stare ye so at me, ye pack
Of rogues? Why mock ye me?

(In anguish.)

I'm but a fool!
A wretched fool! Send them away. King Mark,
And listen thou to me. We'll stay here all
Alone:--the Queen, and thou, and I, and then
I'll tell thee pretty things, sweet things,--so sweet
That one must shiver when one hears! Now send
Away the rest!

1ST BARON.
Take heed. Sir Fool, be not
Too bold.

2D BARON.
He should be soundly beaten!

MARK.
Leave
Him, Lords, in peace. I like his foolishness,
Because he does not crack the silly jokes
That other jesters do.

STR. JESTER.
I, too, was once
As good a knight as they--!

[Laughter.]

GANELUN (laughing).
I wish I'd seen
Thee, knave!

STR. JESTER (steadily).
Thou saw'st me many times and wast
My friend, Lord Ganelun!

[All step back nervously.]

1ST KNIGHT (crossing himself).
God save us, friends!
He knows us all by name!

ISEULT.
a gruesome fool!
Send him away. King Mark; he's mad.

MARK.
Speak on!

STR. JESTER.
My tongue cleaves to my gums; my throat is parch'd!
Give me to drink.

MARK (stands up and takes a goblet from the table).
I had forgot, poor fool!
But thou shalt drink wine from a golden cup.
Thy foolishness has touched my heart. At times.
My Lords, 'twould be an easy thing to turn