SCENE II.—Launcelot discovered seated almost naked amid swineherds.
(Launcelot sings.)
Once there was a castle hall,
Fair, fair to see,
Armored dight, and splendored all,
Filled with shout o’ revelry.
Came the hosts o’ fate and rage
Thundered on its walls amain.
Sunken now like ruined age,
Never laughs its light again.
I loved a Queen and she loved me.
Aye, that were long ago!
Come now wrack, come now woe,
Strike now lightning, beat now snow!
Memory, I’ll ha’ none o thee!
Ha! ha! Cowards, who’ll fight? (Rises.) Ha! Ha!
Enter a Knight.
Knight. Who be this?
1st Swineherd. Him be mad though him hurt us not, for us be soft wi’ him, him tend a’ swine.
2nd Swineherd. Him mun fight, but us not answer. Him be o’er hulk a man twa hanle a staff.
Laun. Winds are cold and flowers are dead. All is past, past!
Knight. Ho there, who be thou?