10TH LEPER. The devil! 9TH LEPER. Hold! 12TH LEPER. We go! We go! 6TH LEPER. King Mark shall punish thee! STR. LEPER (throwing the club after them). Here, take your crutch and flee, ye curs! VOICES OF THE LEPERS (outside). Oh, oh!-- He wounded me!--Fly!--Fly!-- SCENE V The Strange Leper, whose hood has fallen back during the conflict, goes quickly to the foot of the steps. His forehead is bound with a narrow band. ISEULT stands motionless with closed eyes. STR. LEPER. Iseult! (Anxiously, wonderingly and imploringly.) Iseult! ISEULT (throws back her head, shuddering. She keeps her eyes closed. Slowly and heavily.) Thou beast! Thou dog! STR. LEPER. Iseult! 'Tis I who call! ISEULT (hastily, as though to cover herself with the words). I beg thee, beast, thou evil beast, speak not! If in thy loathsome carcass there still dwells Some remnant of a man, I pray thee slay Me, but speak not! STR. LEPER (uncertainly). Iseult! [He falls on his knees opposite the steps, but at a distance from them; and leans back until his thighs rest upon his heels.] ISEULT. Speak not! Be still, And kill me now! They've left me not so much As one small pin with which to kill myself! Behold! I kneel to thee, and like some low And humble maid, I beg thee, beast, to kill Me, and I'll bless thee! STR. LEPER. Oh, Iseult, dost thou No longer love Lord Tristram who was once Thy friend? ISEULT (stares at him for a moment). Thou speak'st, thou speak'st, thou beast, and star'st! Yet God shall punish thee since, though I beg, Thou would'st not kill me now! STR. LEPER (crying out despairingly). Iseult, awake! Oh Golden One, 'tis Tristram calls! ISEULT. Thou seekst With scorn and biting words to martyr me, And kill me then! Oh say that thou wilt kill Me afterward--when thou hast railed enough! --And thou wilt come no nearer than thou art? STR. LEPER. Iseult, awake! Awake, Iseult, and speak, And tell me if thou lovest Tristram still! ISEULT. Ah, he was once my friend! Why dost thou use The dagger of his name to prick my heart? I loved him once, and 'tis for that I stand Here!--Kill me now! STR. LEPER (going to the foot of the steps). God help me! Hear me speak, Iseult, for I'm-- (His voice breaks with a sigh.) I'm Tristram's messenger! Thine erstwhile friend--Him whom thou loved'st!