[Iseult starts and stares across at him.]
Mark (goes back laughing to his seat. Ugrin follows him).
Ha! ha! The jest
Is poor. Hast thou no better ones, my friend?
Blanchefleur was mine own sister. She begat
No fool like thee!
Str. Jester.
'Twas then some other one
Who bore the self-same name and me the pain
And sorrow, Mark. What matters it to thee?
[Laughter.]
1st Knight (laughingly).
Our jesting rogue grows bitter in his mirth!
Iseult.
Let this strange jester stand a little forth
That we may see him in the light.
Dinas.
Come here,
Sir Fool, and stand before the Queen.
Ugrin.
He is
An ass as awkward as I e'er beheld!
So cousin, judge by contrast 'twixt us two,
And see the priceless thing thou hast in me!
Dinas.
Go, fool, be not afraid.
Str. Jester (steps in front of the stone bench on the
left, opposite Iseult's table).
—I'm cold!—I'm cold!