1st Baron.
I feel an awful dread of this strange fool!
1st Knight (drawing).
I'll run him through the body with my sword!
Str. Jester. (tears the sword from his hand, and springs
upon the bench).
Take heed unto thyself! Come not too near!
I'll tear thee like a beast.
Iseult.
His words are not
So marvelously strange. Hast thou forgot,
King Mark, that once, before a heaped up pyre
Thou bad'st me stand, stark naked and exposed
Unto the rabble's gaze? It well may be
That this low jester cast his shaming eyes
Upon me then.
Dinas.
Saw'st thou the Queen when she
Stood on the burning pile?
Str. Jester.
I saw the Queen;
I stood beside her there!
Gimella.
Behold, that sight
Has made him lose his wits!
Brangaene.
Poor witless fool!
Str. Jester.
Glare not at me! I'm but a fool, a poor
Mad fool—a wretched fool that wished to tell
You tales to make you laugh!
(Almost screaming.)
For God's sake laugh!
[He throws the sword down. It falls clattering
on the floor. The First Guard enters while two
others stand outside the grating with the Strange
Knight.]