Oh God, how easy was it then!--See what Befell! There, 'twixt their bodies lay a sword, All naked, ay, and sharp-- 'Twas Morholl's sword! --Then silently I took it, and I left Mine own, and, like a fool, I wept at their Great purity! 2D BARON. Was Tristram so much moved By this exchange of swords that he gave back Thy wife Iseult? MARK (violently). And, God! I took her! See His cunning counsel circumvented then The red hot steel and made her innocence Seem more apparent, and her hands shone white, Unburned, and all unscarred like ivory After the test! My nephew Tristram fled, Exiled, and the decree that ye all know Was sealed. So harken now, ye witnesses Of the decree: if Tristram were to break The bond and secretly, and in disguise Return to Cornwall-- 3d BARON. God forbid! 4TH BARON. Yet if Lord Tristram should do this and break the bond, And thus endanger both his life and Queen Iseult's-- 5TH BARON. If such the case they lied to thee, King Mark, and unto God! MARK. They lied! They lied! Ay, man, they lied to me and unto God! And now I need no longer feel my way Nor tap about me in the dark, nor bump My soul against my blindness! Ay, they lied! My bed was foul; my life a jest for knaves, For they had lied. But then, behold, that man There came,--Denovalin I hate thee!--came And said Lord Tristram broke the bond-- [The Barons spring up.] 1ST BARON. How so? 2D BARON. What knows he? 3D BARON. Speak, Denovalin! GANELUN. Thou say'st Lord Tristram broke the bond that holds his life? 5TH BARON. I'll not believe it! 4TH BARON. Tristram wed, ye know, The daughter of King Kark of Arundland. 3D BARON. Denovalin must bring us proofs! MARK. Gently, My Lords. Before the high tribunal shall He speak. Go, call the Queen. [The man-at-arms goes.] DINAS. King Mark, Why dost thou hasten to believe this tale? Remember, 'tis Denovalin who speaks. MARK. 'Tis not a matter of belief, my friend, I wish to know if for her sake he came; To see her once again--no more. The rest I know, and I know, too, the end of this; This game that's played about my life, my blood. Mine honor! SCENE III The guardsman announces the queen who enters the hall followed by PARANIS. She remains in the background. The barons rise as she appears.