To such a fool. Iseult! Come pledge the cup
That he may have somewhat of which to dream
On cold and thirsty nights. Grant him this
boon.

[He gives Iseult the cup.]

ISEULT.
I pledge--

STR. JESTER (jumping down from the bench).
Drink not! Drink not!--She drank!

[He waves aside the cup.]

I will
Not drink.

GIMELLA.
A brazen knave!

BRANGAENE.
Fie, fie! For shame!

STR. JESTER.
I'll not drink with a woman from one cup
The self-same wine again.

MARK.
What hinders thee?

STR. JESTER.
Ask Queen Iseult.

ISEULT (angrily and fearfully).
Oh, Mark! He mocks me. Send
The fool away!

STR. JESTER (he throws himself on the ground before the
dais and whispers low and tensely to ISEULT).
"For they who drink thereof
Together, so shall love with every sense
Alive, yet senseless--with their every thought,
Yet thoughtless, too, in life, in death, for aye--
Yet he, who having known the wond'rous bliss
Of that intoxicating cup of love.
Spits out the draught disloyally, shall be
A homeless and a friendless worm,--a weed
That grows beside the road"--So spake my love,
And handed me a golden cup of wine
And bade me drink,--But evil came thereof--.

[During his speech ISEULT sits up in her
chair, and bending backward, stares down
at him in horror.]

PARANIS.
The Queen turns pale!

BRANGAENE.
Iseult! My God! Iseult!

GANELUN.
He conjures!

1ST BARON.
'Twas a magic spell!

2D KNIGHT.
Lay hold
Of him! He is a conjurer.

[A few men start to seize the jester--he
jumps upon the bench.]

ISEULT (trembling with fright).
Excuse--
My weakness--'tis--'tis but--let be--this fool's
Strange jesting is most ghastly--it revolts my soul
And--made me faint--.

MARK.
Thou knave! I'll have thee whipped!
Tell me thy name--Who art thou? Speak!

STR. JESTER.
Come not
Too near!

MARK.
I have a dungeon deep and strong,
And I can have thee