DINAS. Ay, many days, Iseult. ISEULT. Hast thou forgot Tintagel's King and Queen? 'Twas not so once. GANELUN. I've been at Arthur's court Nigh on two years, and there have taken part In many deeds of high renown. 'Tis this Has kept me from Tintagel and from home. DINAS. And I, fair Queen Iseult, am growing old; I've left the saddle for the pillow's ease. (Pointedly.) I see the chess-board stands prepared and so, If Mark permits, 'tis I who in his place Will lead the crimson pawns today, as we Were wont to do in former days. I love The game but have no friend with whom to play. MARK. Ay, Dinas, good it is to have some one Who loves us near us in our twilight years; So play today with Goldenhaired Iseult. Perchance it may amuse her too, for oft She seemeth sad, and mourns as women do Who have no children.--God forgive us both! But come, my lords, first let us drink a pledge Of greeting, and permit this man to make His peace with my fair queen. I hate long feuds. Come, friends, come, let us drink, for all this day We'll spend together in good fellowship. [He leaves the room with DINAS and GANELUN by the door on the right. ISEULT and DENOVALIN stand opposite each other, some distance apart, silent and motionless.] SCENE V DENOVALIN (calmly and insinuatingly). Am I a vulture, Queen Iseult, that thou Art silent when I am within thy cage? ISEULT (angrily). My Lord Denovalin, how dar'st thou show Thyself thus brazenly before me here? DENOVALIN. Harsh words the Queen Iseult is pleased to use! ISEULT. And I shall beg the King that he forbid Thee to appear within a mile around The castle with thy visor raised. DENOVALIN. King Mark Is not my over-lord. I'm not his liege. ISEULT. And I tell thee, my Lord Denovalin, Thy face is more abhorred by me than plague; More hateful than dread leprosy! Away! DENOVALIN. More measured should'st thou be in thy reproof. (Much moved.) It was for thee I came today, harsh Queen! ISEULT. When last thou stoodst before my face, my Lord, Naked I was, and men at arms prepar'd The glowing pyre whereon thy jealousy Had doomed my youthful body to be burned! Calm wast thou then; no quiver moved thy face, Untroubled by thy deed. Dost thou forget? DENOVALIN. And Tristram stood beside thee then, as he Had stood, when I accused thee to King Mark, And when I see him standing next to thee, My eyes grow dim and all the world seems red With blood. 'Twas him I saw, not thee, Iseult, Else had I died of sorrow and of shame.