Iseult.
Because I love a life, and better still
A death, that's great from savage unrestraint,
Such as I found in mighty Tristram's love,
'Tis not thy fault. And formerly when thou
Didst lend me thine own maiden smock to wear
Upon my bridal night with Mark, since mine
Was torn when I set foot on Cornish ground,
Thou didst fulfill what, as my guardian friend,
Thou hadst foreseen in earlier days. Weep not
Because I weep; Lord Tristram's treachery
Is his, not ours. For this it is I weep.
Brangaene.
Thou shouldst not say, he is not faithful still.
Dear sister. What know we of him or his?
Iseult.
That he has married!
Brangaene.
Ay, her name's Iseult.
Iseult.
My name! I shudder when I think thereon.
And lo, his perjured tongue rots not, nor cleaves
Unto his teeth, nor does the name he calls
Her by choke in his throat and strangle him.
Brangaene.
Mark me, Iseult, I had not meant to speak,
But now I must: a servant of King Mark's
Spoke lately of that ship we saw sail in
And then cast anchor 'neath Tintagel's walls.
A merchant ship it is, he said, and hails
Direct from Arundland. Now send
And bid these merchants leave their ship and come,
That they may tell what they have seen or heard
Of Tristram and his fate.
Paranis (runs in and leaps upon the window-sill).
Oh Queen, there come
Three Gaelic earls! Dinas of Lidan first.
Brangaene (hastening to his side).
Come then, Iseult, and from the casement here
Behold the faithful Dinas, Tristram's friend!
Paranis.
The one in coat of mail who rides behind
Who is the man, Brangaene, canst thou see?
Brangaene.
Oh God! Denovalin, ill-omened bird
Of grim Tintagel.