MARK (springing up). Oh, drive this man outside the walls, and bid Him ride with speed! I feel a great Desire to dip my hands in his foul blood After this awful marriage feast! And if A second time the Lord shall testify 'Gainst thee, Denovalin, then shalt thou die! I swear it! Thou shalt die! DENOVALIN (calmly). My castle walls Are high and strong, oh Mark! ISEULT. What loathsome brutes, What wretched beasts lust makes of men! Behold Thyself, Oh Mark, thou that art wise and kind; How deep consumed by lust! Thou wilt not let Me live, but dost thy best to shame. That which Thou lovest most, thou castest forth to be A prey to vultures, and thou think'st the while Thou hatest me! Oh Mark, how thou dost err In thinking that thou hatest me! Behold, I pity thee! And shall I now beseech, And wring my hands, humbling myself to thee? I do not know how women nobly born Can live on through the loathsome leper test, And will not think thereon, for 'tis enough To make a woman die, yet, once again, Before you all; before my God I swear, And will repeat my solemn oath, and then, When I have sworn it, He will send His help Or let my flesh be torn between the dogs And leprous human vultures of Lubin. I swear that I have never thrilled with love But for that man who elapsed me in his arms, A maiden still, as clean and pure as snow New-fallen on a winter's morn. This man, And this man only, have I loved with all The faith and passion of my womanhood. I gave myself to him with all my soul; My heart was full of dancing and of song; My love was wreathed in smiles as some May-morn Laughs softly on the mountain tops. This man I loved; no other have I loved, though he May grieve, and shame me, and deceive!--King Mark! MARK (almost screaming). Oh shield me, he that loves me, from her oaths! DENOVALIN (turns calmly to ISEULT). Lead back the Queen into her chamber, page! ACT III The Inner Courtyard of the Castle.--In the foreground at the left is the Castle gate. In the background on the right, at the top of a broad flight of steps, under an arcade of columns, stands the door of the chapel. At the left of the gate entering the courtyard are some buildings, behind which may be seen the high castle walls surmounted by trees. The road from the Castle to the church is laid with carpets. In the middle of the stage, on the right, stands a stone well. In the background is a crowd of people held back by three armed guards. At the foot of the steps, one on each side, stand two men-at-arms. SCENE I 1ST GUARD. Back, crowd not there! Stand back!