STR. JESTER (in rising agitation and feverish emotion). Her body is a gleam of silvery light Cast by the full moon in the month of May Changed to the snowy marvel of herself. Thou art a garden wild wherein there grow Deep purple fruits that stupefy and yet That make one burn! Thy body is a church Of rarest marble built--a fairy mount Where sounds the music of a golden harp; A field of virgin snow! Thy breasts are buds Of the most sacred plant that flowering grows Within the garden,--swelling fruits that wait To suck the honeyed dew of summer moons! Thy neck is like a lily's stem! Thy arms Are like the blossoming branches of a young And tender almond-tree, directing us Within that Paradise where rules the chaste Perfection of thy rounded limbs, enthroned Within thy wondrous body like a God Who threatens from on high. Thou art-- MARK. Oh hear How this impostor talks! The token, fool! STR. JESTER (softly, trembling and feverishly). Below the left breast of this master-piece Of His creation God has set his mark-- A darkened cross--! MARK (hoarsely). O seize the knave! The cross Is there.--She bears the mark! GANELUN. Christ save my soul! 1ST BARON. I feel an awful dread of this strange fool! 1ST KNIGHT (drawing). I'll run him through the body with my sword! STR. JESTER. (tears the sword from his hand, and springs upon the bench). Take heed unto thyself! Come not too near! I'll tear thee like a beast. ISEULT. His words are not So marvelously strange. Hast thou forgot, King Mark, that once, before a heaped up pyre Thou bad'st me stand, stark naked and exposed Unto the rabble's gaze? It well may be That this low jester cast his shaming eyes Upon me then. MARK. Saw'st thou the Queen when she Stood on the burning pile? STR. JESTER. I saw the Queen; I stood beside her there! GIMELLA. Behold, that sight Has made him lose his wits! BRANGAENE. Poor witless fool! STR. JESTER. Glare not at me! I'm but a fool, a poor Mad fool--a wretched fool that wished to tell You tales to make you laugh! (Almost screaming.) For God's sake laugh! [He throws the sword down. It falls clattering on the floor. The First Guard enters while two others stand outside the grating with the Strange Knight.] MARK. Whom bring'st thou there?