d head and closed eyes he hums
very softly as if in his sleep. The body
of the Strange Jester under the black
cloak that covers it is shaken by sobs
of anguish.]

"Lord Tristram, my friend, is unfaithful,
And God's wrath on him shall descend;
Though cruelly he has betrayed me--"

ACT V

Same as Act IV.--The first glow of dawn shines through the grated door
and windows, becoming brighter until the end of the Act. The Strange
Jester sits cowering on the steps of the dais. BRANGAENE comes
hesitatingly down the steps; she carries an oil-lamp in her hand.

SCENE I

BRANGAENE (her voice is muffled by fear).
Art thou still here, thou ghastly being? Ghost
Of awful midnight hours?

STR. JESTER.
Brangaene I
Am here, and here I shall remain.

BRANGAENE (looking for something on the ground).
Methought
King Mark had paid thy jests with whips and had
Then driven thee away; and yet thou sitst
Here in the self-same place and starest still
With blear'd and fish-like eyes. Dost thou not know
That day is come? Fool, if thou hast a heart
Through which the warm blood flows, I pray thee go!
Go ere the Queen come down and see thee here!
Begone!

STR. JESTER.
What seekest thou?

BRANGAENE.
I seek the ring;
The ring that Queen Iseult let fall last night.

STR. JESTER.
The ring is mine; I picked it up!

BRANGAENE (angrily).
Iseult
Desires the ring! Str. Jester. I will not give it up!

BRANGAENE.
The Queen will have thee hung unless thou give
The ring to her. She wants the ring!

STR. JESTER.
Iseult
Received the ring; she cast my gift away,
As she threw me away. I'll keep it now.
But if she wishes it so earnestly
Let her then come and beg the ring of me.

BRANGAENE.
Audacious knave! How vauntest thou thyself!
Give me the ring, and then begone, thou fool,
Ere Mark awake!

STR. JESTER.
To Queen Iseult herself
I'll give the ring, and to none else. She shall
Not let me die in misery as she
Desires God may help her in her grief!

BRANGAENE (going up the stair