Nail that into his soul Red-hot as searing iron the flesh; Then what a weapon is a righteous cause! He will be just. King Arthur is most just. But when the gall is in him, when he has smelt The wormwood up into his brain, and dyed His very dreams black--Launcelot shall be banished, And half of Arthur’s bravest go with him: Or Launcelot defies him: either way The realm’s in pieces; and my hour is come. AGRAVAINE Mordred, you are a devil. MORDRED On the instant we make certain of the King And Launcelot’s sentence, post we to the West. There from our vantage we can launch our powers Ripe to the moment, and the throne is mine. AGRAVAINE I’d liefer have my steel in Launcelot’s heart. MORDRED Calm now; no hot words, and no hasty hand Flying to the sword-hilt! Watch me and the Queen. Wine shall be drunk to-night, and with the wine, It may be, the truth spilt upon the floor! (_Curtains draw back and disclose the Round Table spread for a banquet. The knights are already assembling._ MORDRED _and his brother joins them. Harpists attending._) MORDRED Good evening to Sir Gawaine! GAWAINE You are gay, Sir Mordred. MORDRED Why not? Bright eyes match a feast. Have you no smiles? GAWAINE What have you heard? MORDRED I? Nothing. GAWAINE I hear the King sits not at table with us. MORDRED Indeed? For what cause? GAWAINE There came news to-night. MORDRED Ill news? GAWAINE Who knows? News from the West, Mordred. MORDRED Is trouble afoot there, too? But all’s secure, Now we have Launcelot back. Is he not here? GAWAINE He is with the King. MORDRED But I see friends of his. Greeting to you, Sir Bors, and you, Sir Kay. AGRAVAINE (_to_ COLEGREVANCE) Colegrevance, be wary. COLEGREVANCE (_going apart with him_) What’s afoot? AGRAVAINE (_They whisper together._) Be wary. _Enter_ BEDIVERE BEDIVERE I come straight from the King: the Queen to-night Presides for him. Lucan, array the guests. The Queen approaches. (_The guests arrange themselves. Harps. The_ QUEEN _enters attended by her ladies. All are standing._) GUENEVERE