The thought leapt to my mind but now. SIR BERNARD Sir Launcelot? TORRE Launcelot, the Queen’s paramour. SIR BERNARD Shame, Torre! Shame! The King’s friend. LAVAINE The best knight That wears a sword upon this earth. TORRE A traitor! LAVAINE He serves the Queen, and the Queen chooses him To be her peerless champion in the lists; Therefore the vile think evil. TORRE You are a boy; Talk like a boy, think like a boy. SIR BERNARD You know This is Sir Launcelot? He has told it to you? Many a knight will hide his name for cause Of some adventure, or some secret vow. TORRE Is it not three months since this guest of ours Was found in the forest with an arrow through him---- Found by Elaine? Would God that hunter’s arrow Had split his heart in two! SIR BERNARD This rage is madness. TORRE It’s he. The herald told me of a scar Upon Sir Launcelot’s forehead. You have seen it. Look at Elaine, pacing beside him. Watch How her cheek changes, how she listens---- LAVAINE Well, He is not so graceless not to bid good-bye To her that’s been his hostess and his nurse. What harm in that? TORRE What harm? To lose her heart And make a pastime for the filcher of it! Queen, country maid--all’s practice to his lures. SIR BERNARD You anger me: so rank in your suspicions. You read him backward, as the witches do The holy writ. Whether Launcelot or no, This is a true man. TORRE Father, he is false. LAVAINE You slander one that’s better than yourself. TORRE He goes. I’ll to the herald now, and I’ll Proclaim him found. LAVAINE And when he goes, I go. I’ll follow such a man to the world’s end. TORRE Lavaine, you shall not. LAVAINE And I say, I will. TORRE He is the lover of Queen Guenevere. LAUNCELOT _enters quietly_. TORRE None in the Court but knows it, save the King. SIR BERNARD Now shame upon you, Torre. Our guest is here. TORRE Let me speak, father. SIR BERNARD Will you shame our house And me too? Peace. TORRE I must speak out my heart, Guest or no guest. Sir, will it please you to ask This guest of ours why he has hid a name Men know, whether for good or ill---- SIR BERNARD