Elaine, Deep in the heart of me, humbly and purely, I thank you for your love, for your sweet love; Sweet as a flower it is to my sore spirit. But I am one who, could I give such love As should be yours, the love that blesses both In the meeting lips of innocence, the love That’s honour, faith, truth--must be changed to what I am not. Did you know---- ELAINE I only know That if you will not love me, I must die. LAUNCELOT Let the months pass, and you shall smile at this. Life’s yet for you in the young leaf, Elaine, You’ll love some other man, some better man. And whosoever it be, I give you both A dowry of my treasure and my lands To you and to your heirs, and I will be Your own knight till I die. ELAINE None of all this, None of all this I want; only your love. Give me your love, or my good days are done. LAUNCELOT You know not what you ask, nor whom you ask. I have a sin heavy upon my soul. ELAINE What is that to me, who love you? LAUNCELOT It were better You thought of me all the evil that’s in men. Hate me! ELAINE I cannot. If I would, I cannot. LAUNCELOT Made I such pain when I was tasting only The sweet of the world? Now I have set my will On the hard path, I suffer and make suffer All that I touch. ELAINE Let me but suffer for you! Let me but follow where you go, my lord; However rough the roads, I’ll travel them; Though my feet bleed, that shall be sweet to me. LAUNCELOT Shall nothing but the truth content you then? My heart is given--lost! ELAINE Now you have told me. (_She sinks half fainting._) LAUNCELOT Lavaine, Sir Bernard, enter! SIR BERNARD, TORRE, and LAVAINE _re-enter_. TORRE Devil! She knows, And it will kill her. SIR BERNARD Child! Elaine! Look up. LAUNCELOT Sir Bernard, I have hurt her but to heal. Pardon me for this sorrow I have made. TORRE Did I not say that we should rue this man? She has seen to his black heart, and it will kill her. SIR BERNARD Peace, Torre! (_To Launcelot_) I doubt not you have used all kindness. We’ll pray that Time amend this in his fashion. Sir Launcelot, God be with you. LAUNCELOT And with you Would heaven that I could have requited her. LAVAINE I must go, father, with Sir Launcelot. _She_ understands well how it is with me. Father, your blessing (_kneels_). SIR BERNARD Have your will, my son. Seeing what has befallen, maybe it is best. Go, and be worthy of the house that bred you. LAUNCELOT Come then, Lavaine. I do but rankle here. LAVAINE