ANOTHER BOY. A good place that! I'll climb up too. A FOURTH BOY. I too! 1ST GUARD. Now none of you may stay within the court To stare when Queen Iseult is given o'er Unto the lepers. Mark has granted this Unto the Queen since 'twas her only wish. Ye all must go into the church. A MAN. May none Then stay without and watch the lepers? ANOTHER MAN. 's wounds! Why then I came for nothing, all this way! A WOMAN (indignantly). Oh shame, thou beast, would'st gloat and make a show Of that which one scarce dares to think of? Fie! For such foul thoughts thou shouldst be thrown To Husdent to devour! 2D GUARD. Stop wrangling, there! A GIRL. Poor Queen! I pity her! A SECOND GIRL. King Mark's too harsh! A MAN. She's made a cuckold of him, Girl! OLD WOMAN. And now He's tossing her with those new horns of his! YOUNG SHEPHERD. Is then the Queen Iseult so wondrous fair As she is said to be? A GIRL. Hast thou not seen The Queen? SHEPHERD. No, never yet! A GIRL. He's never seen The Queen? A BOY. Behold, here's one who never saw Our Queen! A VOICE. Who is he? 1ST GUARD. Speak, where wast thou, friend, When Queen Iseult stood bound here to the stake? A GIRL. All naked in her wondrous beauty-- ANOTHER GIRL. All For her great love. THE BOY. We all did see her then. SHEPHERD. I've come since then from Toste in the hills. A WOMAN. Here, let this fellow stand in front, that he May see the Queen's fair face before this swarm Of vultures has devoured it. 1ST GUARD. Come here; If thou hast never seen the Queen thou may'st Stand here beside the steps. SHEPHERD. I thank thee. A SOLDIER (drawing him beside him). Here! A VOICE. Here come the soldiers! A CHILD. Lift me, father. A VOICE. Hsh--! SCENE II Soldiers march past and enter the church. The church door stays open. A GIRL. I pray thee, Gilain, who will lead the Queen? 1ST GUARD. The hangman and King Mark. THE GIRL. Poor soul! OLD WOMAN. Why weep'st Thou, girl? OLD MAN (as a crucifix is carried past). Friends, cross yourselves. The crucifix!