BRANGAENE. He startled me! ISEULT. Indeed we weary of Ugrin's stale jests. STR. JESTER. I'm a poor jester that would come to thee, So let me in. King Mark. MARK (going to the grating). The fools, it seems, Smell out my door as carrion-vultures smell A corpse. UGRIN. Cousin; let him be driven out! I beg thee, have him whipped. 1ST GUARD (from without). I've caught thee, rogue! MARK. How came this strange fool past the gates, Gilain? Wast thou asleep? 1ST GUARD. King Mark, this man has slunk About the gate since it grew dark. He says He wants to see thee. Many times have we Already driven him away, but still He sticks like pitch about the gate. STR. JESTER. I am A jester from a foreign land--I wish To come to thee. King Mark! 1ST GUARD. Behold the fool! He cries like that unceasingly. MARK. Speak, fool, What need hast thou of me? STR. JESTER. Mark, let me in! I'll make such jests that thou, and all thy lords And ladies die from laughing at my wit. GIMELLA (laughing). The merry jests! ISEULT. This wandering knave intrudes Too boldly! UGRIN. Rogue! Oh shameless one. I'll give Thee such a drubbing as thou ne'er hast felt. MARK. Know'st thou, in truth, new jests. STR. JESTER. Ay, Mark, new jests To make thee laugh or weep. Ay, merry jests! SCENE IV MARK opens the grating and lets the Strange Jester in. The Jester advances a few feet on the right, and stops to stare at ISEULT. UGRIN walks about him, examining him. MARK. Then come, thou jail-bird. Hark, Gilain, let now The guard be doubled at the lower gate That none, unnoticed, may come in. STR. JESTER. But should A stranger King arrive,--a stranger King, The master of this stranger fool--let him Come in, Gilain. ISEULT. Play, Dinas, play thy game! Their chatter wearies me. MARK. Now tell me, rogue, Why clamorest thou so loudly at my gate? What wouldst thou? Speak. STR. JESTER. I wish to stay with thee. [Laughter.] 2D BARON. What cooked they in thy kitchen, Mark, tonight That all the fools have smelt it out? STR. JESTER. I saw The fire glowing in thy hall; I saw The light and so I came--I'm cold. UGRIN. Then wrap Thyself more closely in thy cloak, thou fool! STR. JESTER. I've given it away.