[Soft and low laughter.] MARK. How's that? STR. JESTER. Because I am a fool for sorrow, not for mirth! [Laughter; the fool springs up.] And none shall laugh when he beholds my face! [Laughter; the fool seats himself again.] ISEULT (earnestly). How strangely speaks the fool! MARK. My friend, I think, That some one cut thee from the gallows! STR. JESTER (stares at ISEULT--slowly). Mark, How proud and cold a wife thou hast! Her name's Iseult, I think. Am I not right? MARK (smiling). Doth she Please thee. Sir Fool? STR. JESTER. Ay! ay! She pleases me. [Laughter.] Iseult the Goldenhaired!--I'm cold, King Mark! ISEULT. The fool is mad!--I like him not. UGRIN (to the Strange Jester). Thou hast Thine answer now! GIMELLA. Is this the first time thou Beheldst the Queen? MARK. Art thou a stranger, friend? STR. JESTER. Mayhap I've seen the Queen before; mayhap I never have.--I know not, Mark. [Laughter.] GIMELLA (laughing). A strange And curious jest, i' faith! (To those laughing at the other table.) Come here, my Lords, For this new jester is most wondrous strange. STR. JESTER (in rising grief). I had a sweetheart once, and she was fair! MARK (laughing). Ay! I believe thee, friend! STR. JESTER. Yea, she was fair, Almost as fair as Queen Iseult, thy wife. [Laughter.] I'm cold! ISEULT (angrily). Thou fool, why starest thou at me? Avaunt! STR. JESTER. Laugh once again at me, Iseult! Thy laugh was fair, and yet, methinks, those eyes Must be still fairer when they overflow With tears.--I wish that I could make thee weep, Iseult! [A silence.] UGRIN (going over to him). Ho, ho! Are those thy jokes! I'll fall A weeping straight, thou croaking raven! STR. JESTER (springing up). Take This fool away, or else I'll smite him dead! [UGRIN jumps backward.] MARK. Thou art a gloomy jester, boy! GIMELLA. His jests Are all of some new fangled sort. MARK. Speak, fool, Whom hast thou served till now? STR. JESTER. I've served King Mark In far off Cornwall--. [Laughter.] And he had a wife, And she was fair, with long and golden hair! [Laughter.] Why laughst thou Dinas, friend?