Unclasp your hands; I am a man again! The secret way! Farewell, my Queen! GUENEVERE (_stopping him_) Wait. That shape I saw in the shadow! If they have set A watch below? Stay an instant. Let me look. (_She looks out, and her appearance is met with a hoarse and mocking laugh from below._) LAUNCELOT Trapped! Is there no armour, not a coat of mail? Nothing? GUENEVERE Alas, nothing. VOICES Out, come out! LAUNCELOT Not a sword even? GUENEVERE Alas, not even a sword. LAUNCELOT I would to God I had my armour on me. (MORDRED _laughs_.) Mordred’s laugh. It is he that has done this. MORDRED In the King’s name, we come to avenge the King And the King’s honour. VOICES Recreant knight, come out. LAUNCELOT God strike them! Such shameful crying at your very doors! Better death straight. GUENEVERE Let them kill me, so that they let you go. LAUNCELOT Heaven defend me from such shame as that. No, I’ll sell life as dearly as I may, But I would sooner have my armour on me And a sword within my hand than all the crowns Of Christendom. Then, then would I have done Some deeds that men might tell of. (MORDRED _and his men have brought a bench and begin to batter at the door_.) GUENEVERE They will break in the door. COLEGREVANCE Come out to us, And let us kill you. LAUNCELOT That was the voice Of Colegrevance. He has the wits of an ox. Be still. Muffle the light. I have a thought. If I am slain, my Queen, pray for my soul. GUENEVERE (_muffles the lamp_) You will not open to these hounds of blood? LAUNCELOT Be still. (_He opens the door a little._ COLEGREVANCE _comes in, and_ LAUNCELOT _shuts the door and bolts it in an instant_.) COLEGREVANCE There is no light. (LAUNCELOT _with a great buffet stuns_ COLEGREVANCE. _He draws_ COLEGREVANCE’S _sword and thrusts it into his throat_.) LAUNCELOT (_to_ GUENEVERE) The lamp. (GUENEVERE _uncovers the lamp_.) Now help me. Quick! Help me to arm. (_He tears off_ COLEGREVANCE’S _coat of mail and puts it on_.) Why, what a girth is here. Yet it shall serve. AGRAVAINE Colegrevance! Colegrevance! LAUNCELOT Now I can defy them. AGRAVAINE Vengeance! We’ll break the door, and drag you out. False fighter! You are caught, for all your wiles. LAUNCELOT Listen! Cease your slanderous clamour! Listen! Go from this door, each of you get you home. To-morrow come you all before the King. There I will meet you and there answer you. That’s my last word. AGRAVAINE