Mother of God, Mother.... She is dead; And yet she triumphs and she humbles me. I _will_ pray. O thou seven-times wounded one, Because thou didst so suffer, look on me; Look in my heart, thou hadst a bleeding heart; Thou knowest how I sinned, but how I suffer.... I cannot pray. I only see that face Dead, with the joy on it. I want, I want---- LAUNCELOT _enters with a cloak wrapped about his head_ Who is it? LAUNCELOT (_showing his face_) I. I came the secret way. I come from burying the dead. Elaine Is laid in earth. She sleeps. I have no sleep. GUENEVERE Hush! (_She goes to the window_) It is gone! LAUNCELOT What is it? GUENEVERE A dark shape, That stood within the shadow of the wall This hour past. LAUNCELOT I saw nothing. GUENEVERE If it be Mordred, or Mordred’s spy? Launcelot, go Now, or we are both lost. LAUNCELOT What’s Mordred’s hate but a nettle on a dunghill? What is it to me, that go from you for ever? Look on me, Guenevere, for the last time. The hard hour’s here, the bitter moment’s come; To-morrow I hoist for Brittany. GUENEVERE Not yet! Oh no, not yet! LAUNCELOT (_embracing her_) Once, once again, and then never again! GUENEVERE Never? Never? (_She half swoons in his arms._) LAUNCELOT O Queen, Queen of the World! Endure! Dear God, Have pity on her Thou madest beautiful With such a beauty as those burning stars In the waste heavens. GUENEVERE Launcelot! LAUNCELOT Guenevere! Oh for a stream in a wood beneath the stars! A stream to bathe our souls in, Guenevere! I wish I had a giant’s strength to break This walling world down, hurl it stone from stone, Break from this dungeon into burning life, Free--lost, but free! GUENEVERE (_pushing him from her_) Go now, or I shall keep you For ever in my arms. (_As they gaze silent on one another, voices are heard without. A knocking at the door; then the voice of_ AGRAVAINE _calling aloud_.) AGRAVAINE Launcelot! Traitor knight! GUENEVERE What voice is that? VOICES Traitor! Come forth! GUENEVERE What insolent clamour at my very door! I am a Queen, and daughter of a Queen. (_A laugh and voices._) AGRAVAINE Traitor, come forth to us. LAUNCELOT It’s Agravaine! AGRAVAINE You are taken! OTHER VOICES Taken, traitor; taken at last! AGRAVAINE Come you out, Launcelot; there is no escape. GUENEVERE Ah, Launcelot, they are come to murder you! VOICES Come out! Come out! LAUNCELOT