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King Arthur - Joseph Comyns Carr · William Tell Told Again

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Prologue of King Arthur, A drama in a prologue in
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: four acts by Joseph Commons Carr. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Cast
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: of characters narrated by Adrian Maskill.
• 0:23
  Speaker 2: King Arthur rid by L. G. Pague.
• 0:27
  Speaker 3: Sir Launcelot read by Mike Scherlinger.
• 0:30
  Speaker 4: Sir Mordred read by Rick f Sir Kay read by Draconis.
• 0:37
  Speaker 5: Sir Gawayne read by Alan Mapstone.
• 0:41
  Speaker 2: Sir Bedivere read by Grace Garrett.
• 0:45
  Speaker 6: Sir Agravaine read by Brett W.
• 0:47
  Speaker 7: Downey, Sir Percival read by Eden.
• 0:50
  Speaker 8: Ray Hedrick, Sir Lavaine read by David Warner.
• 0:55
  Speaker 9: Sir dagon Ay read by Peter macOS.
• 0:58
  Speaker 10: Merlin read by Tom Messenger, read by Elizabeth Clatt.
• 1:04
  Speaker 11: Jailer read by Jessam Mills.
• 1:07
  Speaker 12: Guenevere read by Amanda Friday.
• 1:11
  Speaker 10: Elaine read by Elizabeth Klatt.
• 1:14
  Speaker 13: Morgan le Fay read by Libby Gone.
• 1:18
  Speaker 14: Clarasant read by Bethany Baldwin.
• 1:22
  Speaker 15: Spirit of the Lake read by Chalotte Ducats.
• 1:25
  Speaker 12: Lake Spirits read by Amanda Friday read by Eden Ray.
• 1:30
  Speaker 10: Hendrick read by Elizabeth Clatt read by Libby.
• 1:34
  Speaker 12: Gone Maidens read by Amanda Friday.
• 1:38
  Speaker 15: Read by Bethany Baldwin, read by Charlotte Ducats read by
• 1:43
  Speaker 15: Eden Ray Hendrick.
• 1:44
  Speaker 11: Knights read by Jessam.
• 1:45
  Speaker 10: Mills read by Elizabeth Klatt, read.
• 1:48
  Speaker 7: By Todd, read by Eden Ray Hendrick.
• 1:52
  Speaker 16: Chorus read by.
• 1:53
  Speaker 17: Todd, read by Brett Downey read by Elizabeth Klatt read
• 1:58
  Speaker 17: by Eden Ray Hendrick, King Arthur the prologue ex Caliber
• 2:06
  Speaker 17: scene the magic mirror, a wide lake with a rocky path.
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: Descending to the shore. As the curtain rises, there is
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: a faint glimmer on the horizon which gradually spreads over
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: the water to an effect of dawn. Chorus of lake spirits.
• 2:22
  Speaker 15: Singing dawn and daytime turn to night, darkness, wake to
• 2:27
  Speaker 15: morning light. All the uncounted hours go by swift as
• 2:31
  Speaker 15: clouds cross the sky, while we maidens of the mere,
• 2:35
  Speaker 15: heedless to the change of year guard the sword Excalibur.
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: During the concluding bars of the chorus, Arthur, accompanied by Merlin,
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: appears on the summit of the rocky path.
• 2:47
  Speaker 2: What short is this? Haunted by mystic sounds that are
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: not earthly.
• 2:51
  Speaker 16: Tis no earthly shore, Nor till this hour have mortal
• 2:55
  Speaker 16: eyes beheld these very sands.
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: Then thou short, go you alone, For here perchance thy
• 3:02
  Speaker 2: magic gods have power to lure my soul.
• 3:06
  Speaker 16: Nay, Arthur, have no fear. A mightier power than mine
• 3:10
  Speaker 16: had led thy feet there where I found thee sleeping
• 3:13
  Speaker 16: by the lake. For whilst I watched, a star fell
• 3:17
  Speaker 16: in the sky, and from the vacant space of heaven
• 3:20
  Speaker 16: there came a voice that cried, awake the hour hath struck.
• 3:24
  Speaker 16: Now guide him Merlin, to that caverned home where dwells
• 3:29
  Speaker 16: the sacred sword Excalibur.
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: What is this sword?
• 3:34
  Speaker 16: Look well, and thou shalt see.
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: As he speaks. An arm rises from the lake, holding
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: alofted jeweled sword set in its scabbard, which gleams with
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: supernatural light.
• 3:47
  Speaker 18: Sword no mortal shall withstand, fashioned by no mortal hand.
• 3:52
  Speaker 18: Longly await thou shalt bring England, England King, he shall
• 3:58
  Speaker 18: wield Galiber.
• 4:01
  Speaker 16: What thinkest thou, Arthur.
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: Nay, I have no word? Whence comes this.
• 4:07
  Speaker 16: Sd long time ere time began twas forged beneath the sea.
• 4:15
  Speaker 16: Its glittering blade was tempered by the waves sea maidens
• 4:19
  Speaker 16: rot is jeweled scabbard. And that warrior king whose arm
• 4:23
  Speaker 16: is strong to wield it in the fight, shall rule
• 4:26
  Speaker 16: a kingdom that shall rule the.
• 4:27
  Speaker 2: Sea well such a sword, farewell to give the world
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: with such a sword, twarewell to rule the world.
• 4:37
  Speaker 16: Who is this king, nay list, And thou shalt hear.
• 4:43
  Speaker 18: Warrior knight into the hand, monarch of a mighty land,
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  Speaker 18: that in unborn years shall be monarch of the mightier
• 4:53
  Speaker 18: se great son to be we shall yield EXCaliber.
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: The the sword again slowly sinks into the lake.
• 5:03
  Speaker 2: Who is been Dragon's son?
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  Speaker 16: Thou art the man and Dragon's son, albeit thou knowest
• 5:09
  Speaker 16: it not, For at thy birth I took thee from
• 5:12
  Speaker 16: the court deep in the woods a flower amid the flowers,
• 5:17
  Speaker 16: I watched beside thee, heard thine infant tongue first lisp,
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  Speaker 16: responsive to the woodland birds, And by thy cradle swung
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  Speaker 16: beneath the stars, taught thee the wisdom that thou should
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  Speaker 16: fit a throne. Now art thou called, stand forth and
• 5:32
  Speaker 16: take thy sword, whose might alone can stay these wasting wars,
• 5:37
  Speaker 16: whose might alone can bring the realm of peace.
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: Arthur rising.
• 5:42
  Speaker 2: Then was my dream no dream. For while I slept,
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  Speaker 2: I heard the noise of battle, and I saw the
• 5:49
  Speaker 2: flashing of innumerable spears lightning the dark of heaven. Then
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: I rose and rode into the strife, And where I led,
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: the mightiest fell before me, and men cried, it is
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: the king. Yet did I heed them not, For in
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: mine ears there rang a clarion voice which said, nay,
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: stay not till the end is won. Fight on, thine
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: arm is mightier than theirs. Fight on an unborn empire,
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  Speaker 2: claims thy sword. Fight on, they strike for glory, thou
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: for peace. Long time the battle lasted, and the end
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: seem'd to far off. Yet at the end it came,
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: and ere my arm grew weary. I could hear a
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: hush upon the thunder, and the noise and cry of
• 6:40
  Speaker 2: war grew fainter till it fell to echoing silence. Then
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: far off I saw set in a reddening sky of
• 6:49
  Speaker 2: blood and fire, a face most fair that wore an
• 6:54
  Speaker 2: angel smile. And down the unending avenue of spears, it
• 6:58
  Speaker 2: drew towards me, seeming as it came like a white
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: rose leaf borne upon the tide of crimson war. Whereat
• 7:07
  Speaker 2: I knelt and said, I have fought for THEE. Thou
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: hast the smile of peace, Yet answer made she none,
• 7:15
  Speaker 2: And I awoke, Ah, Thou who know'st the secrets of
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: the stars, Tell me whose face I saw? Nay, ask
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  Speaker 2: not that I will be answer'd. Oh, the world to
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: me dwells in that smile.
• 7:30
  Speaker 16: Then look upon thy fate.
• 7:33
  Speaker 1: As he speaks, a vision of Gwenevere appears Arthur Kneels, who.
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: Art thou speak?
• 7:41
  Speaker 16: Listen and thou shalt hear.
• 7:44
  Speaker 1: At this a chorus of unseen spirits is heard, feriform.
• 7:48
  Speaker 18: Of all the earth, Joy and sorrow at on earth,
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  Speaker 18: love and beauty, hope and fear.
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  Speaker 12: Wait for THEE.
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  Speaker 16: Love and beauty, hope and fear, wait for THEE in Guinevere,
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  Speaker 16: Thou hearest, Arthur, Nay.
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  Speaker 2: I do but see a form too fair for this
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  Speaker 2: rough world's embrace, fit for a kingdom that no sword
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: can win. Yet would I win THEE? Take THEE for
• 8:17
  Speaker 2: my queen, Ah, say she shall be mine.
• 8:21
  Speaker 16: Fate answers THEE. Yet in that gift of beauty lurks
• 8:25
  Speaker 16: thy doom.
• 8:27
  Speaker 18: Love and beauty, hope and wait for these.
• 8:33
  Speaker 2: Fairy tongues are folks, for see she bears the emblems
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  Speaker 2: of the spring. All the new world leaps into flower
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  Speaker 2: about her, and the maid trails its white blossom round
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  Speaker 2: those stainless brows.
• 8:48
  Speaker 16: Yet thou shouldst know, for many a poisonous weed grows
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  Speaker 16: rank amid the blossoms of the May.
• 8:54
  Speaker 18: Love and hate are born. In may love the bird
• 8:58
  Speaker 18: on the wing hate, the word bowing all yesterday, wait
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  Speaker 18: for THEE.
• 9:08
  Speaker 16: The vision fads, all love's flowers of yesterday, Wait for THEE.
• 9:14
  Speaker 2: In Guinevere, thou wilt not stay, then I will seek
• 9:18
  Speaker 2: for THEE, and through the world. If thou art of
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  Speaker 2: the world, I'll find THEE. Crown THEE. Guinevere, my Queen.
• 9:29
  Speaker 18: All flowers yesterday day, wait for THEE.
• 9:34
  Speaker 2: And Yet those mystic voices chaunt of doom. Ah, Thou,
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  Speaker 2: whose vision spans futurity, hath not thy magic art all
• 9:44
  Speaker 2: power to stay the hand of fate.
• 9:47
  Speaker 16: Our knowledge is not power. Who knows the end of
• 9:50
  Speaker 16: life hath reached the end? His wisdom is but death.
• 9:53
  Speaker 16: While ye, who stand eager to thread the winding naze
• 9:57
  Speaker 16: of the world, led on by faith, more than angels,
• 10:01
  Speaker 16: dare such destiny is thine. For thy right arm out
• 10:06
  Speaker 16: of this mound of earth shall raise a throne whose
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  Speaker 16: glory echoes through on acted time. Wherefore I charge thee,
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  Speaker 16: ask no more of fate. The hand of doom is patient,
• 10:17
  Speaker 16: and the sword that flashes in the glimmering light of
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  Speaker 16: dawn falls not till nightfall. Thou shalt rule thy day.
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  Speaker 2: I'll ask no more. I do but crave my sword.
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: The spirit of the lake appears, and at the same
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  Speaker 1: time the sword rises again from the lake.
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  Speaker 16: Thy prayer is answered.
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  Speaker 15: She will give it thee Arthur, England's chosen Lord. Fear
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  Speaker 15: not fate, but take thy sword, Thou the first whose
• 10:46
  Speaker 15: mortal hand ever hath touched this mystic brand. Sword and scabbard,
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  Speaker 15: both of thine. Sword and scabbard both divine. Guard them
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  Speaker 15: well and use them well, so that after time shall
• 10:58
  Speaker 15: tell of thy kingdom in the sea blazoned on whose
• 11:02
  Speaker 15: shields shall be right and might and liberty.
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  Speaker 1: Arthur makes a movement towards the.
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  Speaker 15: Sword, but beware times beat and wing, restless and untir
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  Speaker 15: ring speeds a long time's endless way. Bravely, thou shalt
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  Speaker 15: rule thy day. And at last, when day is gone,
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  Speaker 15: those three queens of Avalon rulers of the Knight, who
• 11:24
  Speaker 15: keep in their charge the keys of sleep far across
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  Speaker 15: this mystic mere. Silently thy bard shall steer till thy
• 11:32
  Speaker 15: wearied eyes have won endless sleep in Avalon, he who
• 11:36
  Speaker 15: would rule.
• 11:37
  Speaker 2: The day must greet the dawn. There is no hour
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  Speaker 2: to lose. Give me my sword for echoing through the night,
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  Speaker 2: I too can hear the voice of England, like a
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  Speaker 2: sobbing child that longs for day, and gathering in night sky,
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  Speaker 2: I see that throng of England's unborn sons, whose glory
• 11:57
  Speaker 2: is her glory, prisons souls with faces pressed against the
• 12:02
  Speaker 2: bars of time, waiting their distant hour. Give me my sword,
• 12:07
  Speaker 2: that I may lose times bonds and set them free.
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  Speaker 1: The chorus is heard, and the picture is held till
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  Speaker 1: the fall of the curtain.
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  Speaker 18: Author, thou shalt rule from C to C England that
• 12:25
  Speaker 18: is yet greatgon.
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  Speaker 1: Son, end of prolog Act one of King Arthur, a
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  Speaker 1: drama in a prologue and four acts by Joseph commons Car.
• 12:46
  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
• 12:49
  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
• 12:53
  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Act one the Holy Grail scene
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: the Great Hall at Camelot, a wide opening breast high
• 13:05
  Speaker 1: at the back, flanked by marble columns, through which is
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: seen a view of blue hills against a sunset sky.
• 13:14
  Speaker 1: Sir Kay, Sir Agravain, and Sir Bedevere, to whom enters,
• 13:18
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot.
• 13:20
  Speaker 4: Sir Launcelot. This falls well of late our king, Hath
• 13:24
  Speaker 4: oftentimes asked for thee, and thou shalt learn the noise
• 13:28
  Speaker 4: of thy great deeds. Hath far outstripped Thy good Steed's
• 13:32
  Speaker 4: swiftest course, waiting thee here to swell Love's welcome home?
• 13:36
  Speaker 4: What news from Wales?
• 13:38
  Speaker 3: In Wales, men speaking whispers yet dis known that Ryance
• 13:42
  Speaker 3: lately joined his secret league with Mark of Cornwall. Doth
• 13:46
  Speaker 3: but wait the hour to strike at Arthur's throne.
• 13:48
  Speaker 6: This news comes pat not three days past. Deep in
• 13:52
  Speaker 6: the belt of wood that circles round Carlian's clustering towers,
• 13:56
  Speaker 6: Sir Gawaine's huntsmen chanced upon two spies who now lie
• 14:00
  Speaker 6: fast in chains.
• 14:01
  Speaker 4: And at this hour the king holds counsel and shall
• 14:03
  Speaker 4: straight declare if they may live or die.
• 14:06
  Speaker 6: Should Gawayne speak and Arthur listen, they were dead ere night,
• 14:10
  Speaker 6: that is most sure, Which way doth Mordred tend truth
• 14:15
  Speaker 6: that were hard to tell? His subtle tongue still weaves
• 14:18
  Speaker 6: a web to catch the thought of others and hide
• 14:21
  Speaker 6: his own.
• 14:21
  Speaker 3: And what then saith the king?
• 14:24
  Speaker 4: He waits upon the word of Gwenevere.
• 14:26
  Speaker 5: I dare be sworn? This thing hath troubled him.
• 14:30
  Speaker 4: What should he fear, though Mark and Ryans, joined with
• 14:32
  Speaker 4: all the hosts of Colwell and Wales knocked at our gates.
• 14:36
  Speaker 3: Nay, sirs, he knows not fear whose warrior heart was bred,
• 14:41
  Speaker 3: where spears have grown thick as the river reads. Yet
• 14:45
  Speaker 3: in that heart dwells a fond nursling. Hope this news
• 14:49
  Speaker 3: will slay. For since the coming of Queen Guinevere, the
• 14:53
  Speaker 3: sword Excalibur hath hung at rest within its jeweled scabbard,
• 14:56
  Speaker 3: and he dreamed the lust of blood was past?
• 15:00
  Speaker 4: Would that were all? King Arthur grieves, But tis with
• 15:03
  Speaker 4: graver cause?
• 15:05
  Speaker 3: What cause?
• 15:06
  Speaker 4: What cause?
• 15:07
  Speaker 5: In truth we do forget, Sir. Launcelot knows not that
• 15:11
  Speaker 5: at vesper time a hundred knights of Arthur's fellowship take
• 15:16
  Speaker 5: a long leave of Camelot, and the king.
• 15:20
  Speaker 4: Bound on what quest no earthly quest is theirs, who
• 15:23
  Speaker 4: have taken a vow to seek the Holy Grail.
• 15:26
  Speaker 3: To seek the Grail. Now, sirs, you mock at me,
• 15:30
  Speaker 3: for who of mortal born shall hope to find, searching
• 15:34
  Speaker 3: through all the world, that holy cup charged with Christ's blood,
• 15:41
  Speaker 3: That cup no eye hath seen since long ago to
• 15:44
  Speaker 3: this wide isle, twas born by Joseph, who had filled
• 15:48
  Speaker 3: it at a cross. What Heaven hath hid No man
• 15:51
  Speaker 3: may dare to seek, save by a sign from Heaven.
• 15:55
  Speaker 4: Heaven's sign hath come in miracle in wonder. Three nights past,
• 15:59
  Speaker 4: when all our company satin meat, above the murmur of
• 16:02
  Speaker 4: the feast, there leapt the crack and cry of thunder
• 16:04
  Speaker 4: in the roof was cloven as with a sword. Then
• 16:07
  Speaker 4: down the hall, a slant upon a bar of light
• 16:09
  Speaker 4: that gleamed as though the sun would turn to molten gold,
• 16:13
  Speaker 4: pasted a white angel, bearing in her hands the sacred
• 16:16
  Speaker 4: vision of the Cup of Christ.
• 16:19
  Speaker 3: What like was it to see?
• 16:21
  Speaker 1: During the following speech?
• 16:23
  Speaker 4: The hall darkens that none may tell, For dimly veil
• 16:27
  Speaker 4: in a cloth of white, it went as it had come,
• 16:30
  Speaker 4: unseen of all. Yet while it passed it left, though
• 16:33
  Speaker 4: none knew how the witness of its presence in men's eyes,
• 16:36
  Speaker 4: and dumbly gazing each the other, found the stamp of
• 16:40
  Speaker 4: some new glory. Then up rose our youngest knight, Sir Perceval,
• 16:44
  Speaker 4: and cried, now, thanks for what hath been and what
• 16:46
  Speaker 4: shall be? For here I vow to rest not till
• 16:49
  Speaker 4: these eyes have openly beheld the cup itself, and as
• 16:53
  Speaker 4: one note at dawn will wake the woods. Voice after
• 16:56
  Speaker 4: voice re echoed percevals, till one by one a hundred
• 17:00
  Speaker 4: of our knights had joined themselves unto this holy quest.
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  Speaker 3: If this be.
• 17:04
  Speaker 5: So, why sir, twas in this hole and.
• 17:08
  Speaker 4: Close upon this hour?
• 17:09
  Speaker 1: A peal of thunder is heard, followed by a lightning flash.
• 17:13
  Speaker 3: What cry was that?
• 17:15
  Speaker 4: Nay setis here again?
• 17:16
  Speaker 1: As he speaks, a slanting ray of light falls through
• 17:20
  Speaker 1: the hall, enfolding the form of a maiden bearing the cup,
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: from the center of which a red light strikes like
• 17:26
  Speaker 1: a star through the transparent veil that covers it. Sir
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: Launcelot kneels as the vision passes and disappears.
• 17:34
  Speaker 3: I go not yet tis gone? And did mine eyes
• 17:39
  Speaker 3: not vouch twas here that say it was a dream?
• 17:42
  Speaker 3: For never yet hath mortal vision gazed on aught so
• 17:45
  Speaker 3: fair didst thou not note how all the air was
• 17:49
  Speaker 3: filled with sweetest odors?
• 17:51
  Speaker 5: So it was before, say we not.
• 17:53
  Speaker 1: Truth, Launcelot rising.
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  Speaker 3: Ay, And by this I know that age of long
• 18:01
  Speaker 3: ago foretold by Merlin, when he built out table round
• 18:04
  Speaker 3: hath come at loss, and we lived to day shall
• 18:08
  Speaker 3: witness one as great and terrible shaking the earth, until
• 18:12
  Speaker 3: that happy hour when he whom God hath chosen of us,
• 18:15
  Speaker 3: All with mortal eyes shall pierce Heaven's mystery and see
• 18:20
  Speaker 3: the grail itself.
• 18:21
  Speaker 5: Twas said last night, that he alone shall win this
• 18:25
  Speaker 5: saving grace. Whose heart stands clear of sin Ay.
• 18:30
  Speaker 3: Sir tis so, and he alone, who wills it so
• 18:34
  Speaker 3: can pierce the secrets of our hearts. Not all may win.
• 18:39
  Speaker 3: Yet straining at the gold, there's none can lose the
• 18:41
  Speaker 3: grace that comes of strife.
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: Mordred has entered unseen during the last speech, carrying a
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: scroll in his hand.
• 18:49
  Speaker 19: How now, sir knights, ye do forget thee hour? Have
• 18:54
  Speaker 19: ye not heard that they whose names are duly herein rolled,
• 18:57
  Speaker 19: bound by their vows to seek the holy gra within
• 19:00
  Speaker 19: a breathing space, shall take their leave of Arthur and
• 19:04
  Speaker 19: his court.
• 19:05
  Speaker 3: I pray you, Sir, of your good grace, add my
• 19:08
  Speaker 3: name to the role.
• 19:10
  Speaker 19: Hast thou considered well.
• 19:12
  Speaker 3: My Lord, I have and shall be ready when the
• 19:15
  Speaker 3: list is called.
• 19:16
  Speaker 1: Exit Launcelot.
• 19:18
  Speaker 4: So Launcelot goes, I dare be sworn he will not Nay,
• 19:23
  Speaker 4: though his oath were loudest of them all, yet Arthur's
• 19:25
  Speaker 4: love will hold him mordred.
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: Turning fiercely upon Kay, who.
• 19:30
  Speaker 19: Dares speak so gross a treason gainst our Lord the
• 19:33
  Speaker 19: King in truth, Sir Kay I thought thee worthier of
• 19:38
  Speaker 19: Arthur's love.
• 19:39
  Speaker 4: Nay, Sir, I did but think that Launcelot, who is
• 19:42
  Speaker 4: worthier than us, all, would go a stay as that
• 19:44
  Speaker 4: same love commands.
• 19:46
  Speaker 19: And thou and thou yet think ye that the King,
• 19:50
  Speaker 19: who loves him best and knows him worthiest, would bid
• 19:53
  Speaker 19: him break his vow. Now harkye sirs, ye know not him,
• 19:58
  Speaker 19: Ye worship, and your praise is but vapor that doth
• 20:02
  Speaker 19: hide the sun. But ye shall know him. Nay, Sirs,
• 20:07
  Speaker 19: tarry not, but see that all is ready for the king.
• 20:11
  Speaker 4: Be sure, my lord, we shall not fail the.
• 20:12
  Speaker 1: King exeant Kay and other knights.
• 20:16
  Speaker 19: Yea Arthur's love would hold him, but it shall not.
• 20:20
  Speaker 19: Launcelot shall go, and in that vacant seat where now
• 20:25
  Speaker 19: his heart sits, guardian to the king and venomed hate,
• 20:28
  Speaker 19: shall keep a closer watch. Laincelot shall go enter Morgan
• 20:33
  Speaker 19: Ah mother, thou art here? What saith the queen?
• 20:38
  Speaker 13: She doth attend the council? And her voice is cheering
• 20:42
  Speaker 13: to plead for Mercy.
• 20:44
  Speaker 19: Tis well for Arthur heeds no voice save hers. These
• 20:49
  Speaker 19: dogs whose tongues I feared will now go free.
• 20:52
  Speaker 13: Then tell me, boy, what tidings did they bear?
• 20:55
  Speaker 19: The gathered hosts of Cornwall and of Wales wait, But
• 20:59
  Speaker 19: my sign.
• 21:00
  Speaker 13: They shall not wait for long.
• 21:02
  Speaker 20: The year grows green, and may day comes again, day
• 21:06
  Speaker 20: of thy birth, and day of.
• 21:07
  Speaker 19: Arthur's doom, of Arthur's doom.
• 21:10
  Speaker 13: Ay, for twas so foretold ere, yet thine eyes had
• 21:14
  Speaker 13: opened on the world, that he whose hand should strike
• 21:18
  Speaker 13: at Arthur's heart on May Day must be borne, And
• 21:21
  Speaker 13: thou art he for in thy veins, an avenging poison
• 21:25
  Speaker 13: flows distill'd in that dark hour when Merlin's lips hailed
• 21:29
  Speaker 13: Arthur as Pendragon's rightful air and left me bastard.
• 21:34
  Speaker 19: Aye, yet one thing lacks think you will Launcelot join
• 21:39
  Speaker 19: this holy quest.
• 21:41
  Speaker 13: What should you fear, though Launcelot go or stay?
• 21:44
  Speaker 19: I fear yet know not what his loyal love twines
• 21:48
  Speaker 19: around Arthur like a coil of steel that turns the
• 21:51
  Speaker 19: keenest edge. YEA well, I know that while Sir Launcelot stays,
• 21:56
  Speaker 19: the King is safe.
• 21:58
  Speaker 13: The fool the King were safer if he went.
• 22:02
  Speaker 19: What dost thou say?
• 22:03
  Speaker 13: I say what thou shouldst know? The King doth love
• 22:07
  Speaker 13: Sir Launcelot, aye too well, too well in truth? For
• 22:12
  Speaker 13: next the King stands one who loves him more than well.
• 22:17
  Speaker 19: Not Gwenevere. I she this is thy malice, think'st thou?
• 22:22
  Speaker 13: So trust me? Tis true? A woman hath no wiles
• 22:27
  Speaker 13: to hide her secret from a woman's gaze whose eyes
• 22:29
  Speaker 13: are never blindfolded. Dost forget when the news came of
• 22:33
  Speaker 13: Launcelot's heavy wound, how she did weep and wail?
• 22:37
  Speaker 19: So did the king?
• 22:39
  Speaker 13: Ay truth, so did the king. Yet that's not all
• 22:43
  Speaker 13: For later, when the happier tidings came that tended by
• 22:47
  Speaker 13: a laine, his wound was whole. Hadst thou but seen her?
• 22:51
  Speaker 13: Then the King made glad. But Gwenevere's white lips could
• 22:55
  Speaker 13: shape no smile. Her jealous heart was torn.
• 22:59
  Speaker 19: If this be so, and a launcelot loves her too,
• 23:03
  Speaker 19: than all are trapped.
• 23:05
  Speaker 13: Nay, take it not from me, look for thyself.
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: Harald's trumpet heard without, But see she comes, Take heed
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: and God thy tongue. Enter Guinevere, Madam.
• 23:18
  Speaker 19: What saith the king?
• 23:20
  Speaker 12: Hast thou not heard thy mother's prayer for mercy hath prevailed?
• 23:25
  Speaker 12: The spies are pardoned?
• 23:27
  Speaker 19: Why then tis to thee they owe their right to live?
• 23:31
  Speaker 12: Nay to the King, who, knowing not to fear, fears
• 23:36
  Speaker 12: not to spare where weaker hearts would slay. Today and
• 23:39
  Speaker 12: eve our knights ride forth upon a holy quest at
• 23:42
  Speaker 12: such a season. Then it was not fit that on
• 23:45
  Speaker 12: their spotless banners there should rest the smirch of hireling blood.
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: Madam, The King enter Arthur was knights attending.
• 23:55
  Speaker 2: Oh, faithful knights, do know? The appointed are?
• 23:58
  Speaker 19: My Lord? They wait to your call.
• 24:01
  Speaker 2: Give me the.
• 24:02
  Speaker 1: Roll mordred hand scrolled to the king.
• 24:06
  Speaker 2: Is old complete.
• 24:08
  Speaker 19: Nay, truth I had forgot. One name is lacking there?
• 24:13
  Speaker 2: Whose name is that stand? There? Not here enough of
• 24:16
  Speaker 2: goodly knights that I must lose our great fellowship but
• 24:20
  Speaker 2: ye would cry for.
• 24:21
  Speaker 19: More your pardon, sire, I did, but learn it now
• 24:26
  Speaker 19: within the hour, Sir Launcelot hath returned.
• 24:30
  Speaker 1: Well, Sir, what then, Guinevere.
• 24:33
  Speaker 12: Starting, Sir Launcelot, home, Morgan approaching her, I, Madam, he.
• 24:38
  Speaker 2: Is here, Launcelot is welcome home.
• 24:41
  Speaker 19: Yet tis to fear he comes, but to depart?
• 24:46
  Speaker 2: What mean you, sir?
• 24:47
  Speaker 19: He too, my lord would join this holy quest.
• 24:52
  Speaker 2: Sir Launcelot. Nay you jest, this shall not be go
• 24:58
  Speaker 2: straight and send him here, my lord, I will exit.
• 25:03
  Speaker 12: Mordred Morgan, thou hast our leave.
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: Exitant Morgan. Ladies of the court and knights.
• 25:11
  Speaker 12: Nay, good, my lord, this troubles thee.
• 25:14
  Speaker 2: It would, and it were true, For as each added
• 25:17
  Speaker 2: name summed up the list, methought, though all should go,
• 25:21
  Speaker 2: yet one remains, flower of all knighthood lads Alot, Thou
• 25:26
  Speaker 2: at least shalt stand beside thy king.
• 25:29
  Speaker 12: Yet should he go, Thou still hast that which serves
• 25:32
  Speaker 12: thee more than all Thy sword Excalibur, whose mystic blade
• 25:37
  Speaker 12: hath carved this island empire from the sea. Thou hast thy.
• 25:41
  Speaker 2: Goodly sword, ay, and my Queen, whose dear commands are
• 25:45
  Speaker 2: set as Heaven's high voice, lifting me nearer Heaven.
• 25:50
  Speaker 12: Trust thy sword, twill serve thee better.
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: Far long time gone by, when the same sword, by
• 25:57
  Speaker 2: magic hands was given old male, and said, take heed
• 26:02
  Speaker 2: and guard it well. Yet guard the scabbard too, for
• 26:06
  Speaker 2: that is more e'en than the blade it sheathes. I
• 26:09
  Speaker 2: knew not then if he spoke false or true. I
• 26:13
  Speaker 2: know it now, For at thy coming, Guinevere, my Queen,
• 26:17
  Speaker 2: the havoc turn'd harvest at thy feet. From out the
• 26:21
  Speaker 2: bellowing throat of war, there came a sweeter, softer music,
• 26:26
  Speaker 2: and the earth, new christened by thy smile broke forth.
• 26:30
  Speaker 2: In flower thou art our scabbard, and in thy pure
• 26:34
  Speaker 2: soul were only peace made Well. Our sword lies sheath'd.
• 26:40
  Speaker 2: Yet that which thou thy father gave with thee, that
• 26:43
  Speaker 2: image of the world, our table, round a kingdom's heart,
• 26:48
  Speaker 2: set in a rim of steel, forg'd of the spears
• 26:51
  Speaker 2: of all the goodliest knights of all the earth, that
• 26:54
  Speaker 2: too must count for much. And if he now should fail,
• 26:59
  Speaker 2: that out of all hath shown himself the mightiest, then
• 27:02
  Speaker 2: I think our day draws to its end. Enter Launcelot,
• 27:07
  Speaker 2: most welcome home. It was. But now I learned from
• 27:11
  Speaker 2: Mordredge's lips, thou too wouldst join this quest. Tis so,
• 27:16
  Speaker 2: my lord, If that same word by other lips were spoken,
• 27:20
  Speaker 2: I'd say it his fotes. Dost thou so lightly count
• 27:24
  Speaker 2: our long tried love that without word or sign, thou'dst
• 27:28
  Speaker 2: quit outside? Nay, but I wrong thee there, for we
• 27:32
  Speaker 2: are one and happy. Thou hast told thy purpose to
• 27:35
  Speaker 2: the queen.
• 27:36
  Speaker 12: Not so indeed I heard it not till.
• 27:38
  Speaker 3: Now, Nay hear me, Arthur, I have no life, no
• 27:43
  Speaker 3: soul that is not thine, no heart, but waits some
• 27:46
  Speaker 3: fitting hour to bleed in thy great cause. Yet coulst
• 27:51
  Speaker 3: thou see that heart, know its present sickness? Thou wouldst say, Launcelot,
• 27:57
  Speaker 3: right forth, Thou hast our willingness.
• 28:00
  Speaker 2: Leave, thinkest thou, sir, will speak of this again.
• 28:05
  Speaker 3: Thy voice alone shall bid me go or stay.
• 28:09
  Speaker 1: Exit Launcelot, and.
• 28:11
  Speaker 2: Thou shalt stay for now? I do divine this sickness
• 28:15
  Speaker 2: at thy heart?
• 28:16
  Speaker 1: Turning to guinevere?
• 28:17
  Speaker 2: Canst thou not guess?
• 28:19
  Speaker 12: Indeed? I cannot?
• 28:21
  Speaker 2: Tis some cause of love that bids him go guinevere?
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: Starting of love?
• 28:26
  Speaker 2: Ay, dear of love? Didst think that our two hearts
• 28:31
  Speaker 2: had to drained love's springs. Thou hast not heard, but
• 28:35
  Speaker 2: ere thy coming hither? Twas known that Launcelot wooed the
• 28:38
  Speaker 2: fair Elaine, twas she.
• 28:41
  Speaker 12: That nurst him when his wound was sore.
• 28:43
  Speaker 2: Aye, true twas she. But even then their loves had
• 28:47
  Speaker 2: drifted wide asunder. And of late he has not breathed
• 28:51
  Speaker 2: her name.
• 28:52
  Speaker 12: Why then, tis sure he loves her?
• 28:54
  Speaker 2: Not in love? There's nought that sure? Yet is he
• 28:57
  Speaker 2: framed in such a constant mode? The true I believe
• 29:00
  Speaker 2: he loves her. Still, some little knot hath reveled up
• 29:04
  Speaker 2: the skein that links their hearts. There needs a woman's
• 29:07
  Speaker 2: wit to set the tangle.
• 29:09
  Speaker 12: Straight, a woman's wit, Aye, dear, and thine, indeed, I
• 29:14
  Speaker 12: think not so.
• 29:16
  Speaker 2: Indeed it tis so mid Launcelot come to thee. Thy
• 29:20
  Speaker 2: tongue will find the charm that may unlock the guarded
• 29:23
  Speaker 2: secret of his chiefing heart.
• 29:25
  Speaker 1: Guenevere does not move.
• 29:26
  Speaker 2: Nay, thou wilt do it. If our all happy love
• 29:30
  Speaker 2: hath known no jar, they must research them more to
• 29:33
  Speaker 2: find the missing note. For those whose souls are not
• 29:36
  Speaker 2: so finely.
• 29:37
  Speaker 12: Tuned, then thou art sure thou art all happy?
• 29:41
  Speaker 2: Nay, how canst thou ask?
• 29:43
  Speaker 12: A little field flower lighted by a star stands but
• 29:47
  Speaker 12: a tiny speck beneath that lamp which shines o'er half
• 29:50
  Speaker 12: the world. Yet once it dreamed that this great beacon
• 29:54
  Speaker 12: night was all its own? Tis long since thou hast
• 29:57
  Speaker 12: spoken of thy love? Dost know how long?
• 30:00
  Speaker 2: That is? The fate of kings whose lives are as
• 30:03
  Speaker 2: a picture for the world, not for their own content.
• 30:07
  Speaker 2: When we were wed, I dreamt of many an hour
• 30:10
  Speaker 2: when we would sit thy hand in mine, recalling that
• 30:14
  Speaker 2: sweet day when like a flash of sunlight through the trees,
• 30:18
  Speaker 2: I saw thy face at Camelliad. But now the busy
• 30:22
  Speaker 2: hours slip by. Each new day brings its burden of
• 30:26
  Speaker 2: new duty, and our loves are too long, silent yet full.
• 30:31
  Speaker 1: Will thou knowest approaching her Gwenevere interrupting him and making away, Yes.
• 30:37
  Speaker 12: Yes, I know, heed, not my idle words. It was
• 30:40
  Speaker 12: a foolish thought that slipped my tongue. I'll do thy
• 30:43
  Speaker 12: bidding straight.
• 30:45
  Speaker 13: Enter Morgan, your pardon, madam. But the fair elane is
• 30:48
  Speaker 13: newly come from Astolat's and craves an audience with the Queen.
• 30:52
  Speaker 2: Now this falls well, so you shall plead for both.
• 30:55
  Speaker 1: Guinevere to Morgan, I'll see her here.
• 30:59
  Speaker 12: Go tell so Longlauncelot, I would speak with him.
• 31:02
  Speaker 1: Exit Morgan.
• 31:03
  Speaker 2: And later, when Sir Launcelot's name is called tis, thou
• 31:06
  Speaker 2: shalt bid him stay till then farewell.
• 31:10
  Speaker 1: Exit Arthur Gwenevere is left alone.
• 31:15
  Speaker 12: Farewell? Am I so weak that every random word can
• 31:20
  Speaker 12: shake my heart? When Arthur said, but now it is
• 31:23
  Speaker 12: some cause of love, bids Launcelot go, I tremble like
• 31:27
  Speaker 12: a thief that's trapped at night. For in his godlike
• 31:30
  Speaker 12: gaze I thought I saw the searching eyes of God
• 31:33
  Speaker 12: piercing my soul, where lurks the shameful secret of my
• 31:37
  Speaker 12: love that none must know. Ah me. If Launcelot knew how,
• 31:42
  Speaker 12: he would spurn me, but he shall not know Wherefore
• 31:45
  Speaker 12: it were better he should go away, For while he
• 31:48
  Speaker 12: was away within my heart, his image dwelt securely like
• 31:52
  Speaker 12: a star hung high above me in a stainless sky,
• 31:55
  Speaker 12: a lamp illumined with a fireless flame that wrought no ill.
• 32:00
  Speaker 12: But now when he is by the light grows blinding
• 32:04
  Speaker 12: in its fiercer rays consume my very soul.
• 32:07
  Speaker 1: She stands rapt in thought as enter Elaine.
• 32:11
  Speaker 10: Thy pardon Madam Morgan bade me come.
• 32:15
  Speaker 1: She kneels as Gwenevere turns to her.
• 32:17
  Speaker 12: Indeed, but she is fair.
• 32:20
  Speaker 1: Nay, do not kneel Elaine rises?
• 32:23
  Speaker 12: What wouldst thou with me?
• 32:25
  Speaker 10: Twas but yester Eve, within thy garden by the castle wall.
• 32:29
  Speaker 10: For the first time I saw thee with thy maids,
• 32:32
  Speaker 10: where amidst them all, thy prouder beauty seemed to wear
• 32:35
  Speaker 10: the gentlest smile. Twas then I thought, could I but
• 32:40
  Speaker 10: see the queen? I tell my heart and win her favor.
• 32:46
  Speaker 10: Now methinks I erred, has then my face so changed,
• 32:50
  Speaker 10: sweet lady? No yet in thy presence, my poor lips
• 32:55
  Speaker 10: are dumb.
• 32:57
  Speaker 12: Then now I must speak, for thee sit near me.
• 32:59
  Speaker 1: Here he Lane sits at her feet.
• 33:02
  Speaker 12: So thou art she our great Sir Launcelot loves I
• 33:06
  Speaker 12: do not wonder.
• 33:08
  Speaker 10: I did think so once.
• 33:10
  Speaker 12: Be sure he loves thee?
• 33:11
  Speaker 10: Still, ah would twere?
• 33:14
  Speaker 5: So?
• 33:14
  Speaker 12: Was then his love so sweet? Tell me how sweet?
• 33:18
  Speaker 10: I scarce knew then for all the uncounted joys of
• 33:23
  Speaker 10: that brief time seemed but in earnest paid from love's
• 33:26
  Speaker 10: unbounded store. Now when all's lost, remembrance feeds my grief,
• 33:35
  Speaker 10: and drowned in tears, brings back each little token of
• 33:38
  Speaker 10: his love that passed unheeded.
• 33:40
  Speaker 12: Then there's joy in that he loved thee once. Methinks,
• 33:45
  Speaker 12: I know some hearts would take thy sorrow's burden, but
• 33:48
  Speaker 12: to win what thou dost still possess. But tell me more,
• 33:52
  Speaker 12: such love, if love it were, could not so end
• 33:55
  Speaker 12: without a cause. Perchance the fault was thine.
• 33:59
  Speaker 10: I think so too, And yet I know not how
• 34:03
  Speaker 10: the end came all so swiftly. On that day when
• 34:06
  Speaker 10: he rode forth, I do remember well, I scarce was sad.
• 34:10
  Speaker 10: Our parting was so sweet. But when he came again,
• 34:15
  Speaker 10: it was as though the night had fallen at noontide?
• 34:18
  Speaker 10: All was changed? What time was that, ah madam? Thou
• 34:23
  Speaker 10: canst date my sorrow with thy joy?
• 34:27
  Speaker 1: Guinevere rising suddenly?
• 34:29
  Speaker 12: What dost thou.
• 34:29
  Speaker 10: Say, nay be not angered? So it chanced to fall
• 34:34
  Speaker 10: in that same hour when thou new crown to queen?
• 34:38
  Speaker 10: Didst come from Camelliard as Arthur's bride? My love was
• 34:42
  Speaker 10: lost twas Launcelot brought thee here?
• 34:47
  Speaker 12: Ay was it so in truth I had forgot Yes,
• 34:51
  Speaker 12: sure twas he, And now thou thinkest that I can
• 34:54
  Speaker 12: win thy love again? How should that be?
• 34:57
  Speaker 10: Hold Launcelot to thy side? I ask, but that let
• 35:02
  Speaker 10: him not go to day upon this quest, whence none
• 35:05
  Speaker 10: perchance shall live to win his way back to King
• 35:08
  Speaker 10: Arthur's court. I bind him here, that so my love,
• 35:13
  Speaker 10: by some sweet chance, may find the path it missed before,
• 35:18
  Speaker 10: and creep again back to that heart that once did
• 35:21
  Speaker 10: seem its home. Thou dost not answer.
• 35:25
  Speaker 12: Hush, what sound is that?
• 35:28
  Speaker 11: Look not to thy sword?
• 35:30
  Speaker 2: Fame wrath?
• 35:32
  Speaker 21: That all reward brings THEE only death. Rise and go
• 35:38
  Speaker 21: forth with us who seek the grail. Winning for reward,
• 35:42
  Speaker 21: say shall fail?
• 35:45
  Speaker 1: Elaine, who has gone to the back.
• 35:47
  Speaker 10: It is the chant of those who seek the grail.
• 35:51
  Speaker 10: See they make ready, Launcelot is not there.
• 35:55
  Speaker 12: Go leave me now, for I must speak with him,
• 35:58
  Speaker 12: and think what I may do to serve THEE best.
• 36:01
  Speaker 10: Elaine kissing her head, Ah, would I own thy crown
• 36:05
  Speaker 10: that may command ert thou my love that so he
• 36:09
  Speaker 10: needs must yield?
• 36:11
  Speaker 1: Exit, Elaine?
• 36:13
  Speaker 12: And would I ne'er had seen thee? For thy words
• 36:15
  Speaker 12: have set my heart on fire? Can it be so
• 36:19
  Speaker 12: that then, when first we met, his love did change.
• 36:23
  Speaker 12: It is not so, And his own lips shall speak
• 36:25
  Speaker 12: and say tis false, or else I shall go mad.
• 36:29
  Speaker 1: Enter launcelot Ah, thou art here?
• 36:32
  Speaker 12: Why is thy mind so bent to leave the court?
• 36:35
  Speaker 12: The king would know the cause? Thinkest thou, because thy
• 36:38
  Speaker 12: favor stands so high and fame of earthly deeds, that
• 36:42
  Speaker 12: thou shalt win this heavenly crown.
• 36:44
  Speaker 3: Indeed I think not so. His eyes alone shall see
• 36:48
  Speaker 3: that holy cup, whose soul stands clear of sin?
• 36:52
  Speaker 12: What boots it then to adventure all upon a hopeless quest.
• 36:56
  Speaker 3: A hopeless for I may not touch the goal. Yet, once,
• 37:01
  Speaker 3: when I lay stricken nigh to death, by this same
• 37:04
  Speaker 3: vessel of the sun grail, my hurt was cured. Now,
• 37:09
  Speaker 3: when my heart is pierced, though by no mortal stroke
• 37:12
  Speaker 3: of sword or spear, perchance again that same sweet miracle
• 37:17
  Speaker 3: may heal my deeper wound.
• 37:19
  Speaker 12: I know thy wound that.
• 37:21
  Speaker 3: Was so I should be shamed.
• 37:22
  Speaker 12: Indeed, indeed tis so Eulane was here. But now I
• 37:27
  Speaker 12: did not dream that all the world could show so
• 37:29
  Speaker 12: fair a maid, nor marvel that thy heart is sick
• 37:32
  Speaker 12: with love.
• 37:33
  Speaker 3: Madam, I love her not.
• 37:35
  Speaker 12: Nay, that is false. Think it no shame to own
• 37:38
  Speaker 12: what in some angry fit thy tongue denied.
• 37:42
  Speaker 3: My shame lies deeper, Seeing I once vowed a love
• 37:46
  Speaker 3: that now lies dead.
• 37:48
  Speaker 12: Elaine's soft eyes will fine love's tomb and charm it
• 37:51
  Speaker 12: back to life. Go to her now and plead thy
• 37:54
  Speaker 12: suit again. I warrant you'll find her not too hard.
• 37:58
  Speaker 12: Your wounding is half done.
• 38:00
  Speaker 3: Udge me no more, for here by Heaven I swear
• 38:04
  Speaker 3: I love her not.
• 38:05
  Speaker 12: Then wherefore wouldst thou enter on this quest?
• 38:08
  Speaker 3: Nay, madam, in thy pity, spare me that.
• 38:12
  Speaker 12: I will be answered? Am I not, thy queen?
• 38:15
  Speaker 3: Thou art indeed? And therefore hast thy will I thought
• 38:21
  Speaker 3: to pass away and leave behind the dear remembrance of
• 38:23
  Speaker 3: thy loyal love I once deserved, But now that too
• 38:28
  Speaker 3: has gone, For thou wouldst wring the secret from my
• 38:31
  Speaker 3: lips that brands me traitor?
• 38:34
  Speaker 12: Traitor?
• 38:36
  Speaker 3: Aye, tis true, and thou hast known it else, thy
• 38:39
  Speaker 3: greatest heart were not so pitiless twas for this I've
• 38:43
  Speaker 3: seen those veiled eyes cloak the heat they scorned to tell,
• 38:48
  Speaker 3: when by some evil chance their gaze met mine. For this,
• 38:53
  Speaker 3: thy gentle smile took sudden flight when I passed by.
• 38:57
  Speaker 12: No, no, no more, no.
• 39:00
  Speaker 3: More, Nay, madam, drink thy vengeance to the fill. I
• 39:05
  Speaker 3: leave the court because I love its queen.
• 39:10
  Speaker 1: Flings himself at her feet.
• 39:11
  Speaker 12: I did not hear THEE speak that word again.
• 39:14
  Speaker 3: Ay, once again, I love THEE. All my shame lies
• 39:19
  Speaker 3: naked at thy feet. I do but crave that here
• 39:23
  Speaker 3: my life may end.
• 39:25
  Speaker 12: Nay, do not rise. There's something I would say, yet
• 39:29
  Speaker 12: know not how, For if thy life must end, then
• 39:31
  Speaker 12: so must mine. You cannot guess my shame.
• 39:35
  Speaker 3: Thou hast no shame save that which my base love
• 39:39
  Speaker 3: hath laid on THEE.
• 39:41
  Speaker 12: Indeed, I have oft. When we kneel and pray before
• 39:45
  Speaker 12: God's image bleeding on the cross, we cheat our souls
• 39:49
  Speaker 12: for our vain hearts still seek the manhood, not the God.
• 39:53
  Speaker 12: Twas so with me that hour when Arthur came, it
• 39:57
  Speaker 12: seemed as though Christ's hand had beckoned, and I now
• 40:00
  Speaker 12: to him, and in the midst of worship thought I
• 40:03
  Speaker 12: saw the winged heart of love. But when you came,
• 40:06
  Speaker 12: his great ambassador from Camelot, I saw Love's heart indeed,
• 40:11
  Speaker 12: and knew I loved, but not.
• 40:13
  Speaker 3: The King, What sayest thou not the king? Wouldst make
• 40:19
  Speaker 3: me mad?
• 40:20
  Speaker 12: Ah me that home coming when we two rode in silence,
• 40:24
  Speaker 12: side by side, and all my heart was hungry for
• 40:27
  Speaker 12: a word. The blossoms of the springtime turned to flame,
• 40:31
  Speaker 12: and yet you spoke. Not Now it is too late.
• 40:35
  Speaker 1: She moves away, launcelot rising.
• 40:38
  Speaker 3: No, not too late, unless those lips are false. I
• 40:43
  Speaker 3: hear me now, thou wouldst have heard me then, my
• 40:47
  Speaker 3: lonely love, I could have borne alone, counting this mortal
• 40:50
  Speaker 3: life too short a term of exile for my sin.
• 40:54
  Speaker 3: But now that's past, And through the darkness, like a
• 40:59
  Speaker 3: sudden star, thy heart stands clear, lighting our sweet away. Nay,
• 41:06
  Speaker 3: do not turn thy face, thou knowst is so. Love
• 41:10
  Speaker 3: speaks at last, and love will be obeyed.
• 41:14
  Speaker 1: He moves towards her, and she turns as if to
• 41:17
  Speaker 1: yield to his embrace. When the chant of the knights
• 41:20
  Speaker 1: breaks forth again and the movement is arrested.
• 41:23
  Speaker 11: Look not to thy love, Love that lives.
• 41:26
  Speaker 22: Heaven's voice call from her arm, Rise and go forward
• 41:32
  Speaker 22: with us who seek the grail winning from above.
• 41:36
  Speaker 12: Love fail, yay, truth tis love that speaks, but not
• 41:42
  Speaker 12: our love, the love of heaven of honor and of Him.
• 41:48
  Speaker 21: Go forth with us who seek the grail winning from
• 41:52
  Speaker 21: above love fail.
• 41:56
  Speaker 12: It is their voice that calls, And now wilt go
• 41:59
  Speaker 12: I thought to hold thee here I may not.
• 42:02
  Speaker 3: Now my shame is dumb. Yet in thy purer heart
• 42:08
  Speaker 3: I may find grace to save what still remains of
• 42:11
  Speaker 3: my wrecked soul. My trust stands all in thee.
• 42:15
  Speaker 12: Nay, trust thyself.
• 42:18
  Speaker 3: Thy word must be my law.
• 42:20
  Speaker 12: Wait not for that a woman is too weak to
• 42:22
  Speaker 12: God what's best and what she loves the best. We
• 42:26
  Speaker 12: shall not speak again.
• 42:27
  Speaker 3: Exit Guenevere, Aye once again, when from thy lips shall
• 42:34
  Speaker 3: come the dread command that sends me hence. And like
• 42:37
  Speaker 3: a flaming sword, love bars the gate this new paradise
• 42:42
  Speaker 3: which love hath won. Yet through the desert night of
• 42:47
  Speaker 3: life's long pilgrimage, one star shall stay. And when death
• 42:53
  Speaker 3: comes at last to end our quest, my fainting heart
• 42:57
  Speaker 3: shall quicken at the thought twas thou did s bid
• 43:01
  Speaker 3: me go enter a squire, ah, thou art here put
• 43:06
  Speaker 3: on my sword.
• 43:07
  Speaker 1: The trumpet sounds as Arthur enters, preceded by a procession
• 43:11
  Speaker 1: of priests and choristers chanting the song of the Grail,
• 43:14
  Speaker 1: while the hall fills with a throng of knights. Arthur
• 43:17
  Speaker 1: and Guinevere take their places on the throne, on the
• 43:20
  Speaker 1: steps of which stands Elaine, next to the Queen.
• 43:24
  Speaker 11: Look to thy.
• 43:25
  Speaker 21: Sword breath, that reward brings THEE only death.
• 43:32
  Speaker 11: Rise and go forth.
• 43:34
  Speaker 16: With us who seek waiting for reward shall not fail.
• 43:40
  Speaker 1: At the close of the chant, Perceval comes forward from
• 43:43
  Speaker 1: the group of the knights of the Grail, and kneels
• 43:45
  Speaker 1: before Arthur.
• 43:47
  Speaker 7: Here at thy feet, for all whose vows are sworn,
• 43:50
  Speaker 7: I kneel and crave thy favor. Ere we go. What
• 43:54
  Speaker 7: strange new ways our wandering feet will press, What dread
• 43:57
  Speaker 7: adventures wait us? None can tell. To this we know
• 44:01
  Speaker 7: our fealty to THEE shall stand unbroken, and through all
• 44:04
  Speaker 7: the world we bear the spotless blazon of thy fame.
• 44:07
  Speaker 2: Ride Perceval, and ye who kneel with him, take your
• 44:11
  Speaker 2: new way. Ye have our leave to go. Yet, which
• 44:15
  Speaker 2: if that might be, we could withhold. The magic circle
• 44:19
  Speaker 2: of our table round is broken here. Wherefore, in truth
• 44:23
  Speaker 2: my heart is sore within me, and my lips hold
• 44:26
  Speaker 2: back the message of farewell. Yet must it be? For well?
• 44:30
  Speaker 2: I know your vows are sworn to him whose voice
• 44:33
  Speaker 2: outbids the mandate of a king. Therefore, ride forth we
• 44:39
  Speaker 2: wait your glad return.
• 44:41
  Speaker 1: Perceval passes out, followed by the other knights of the Grail,
• 44:44
  Speaker 1: who kneel as they pass the throne. At the last
• 44:47
  Speaker 1: comes Launcelot. Arthur stops him.
• 44:51
  Speaker 2: Nay, Launcelot, what is this, my lord?
• 44:54
  Speaker 3: I too would take those vows that bind me to
• 44:57
  Speaker 3: this quest?
• 44:58
  Speaker 1: Arthur to Gwinnepere.
• 45:00
  Speaker 2: Didst thou not speak with him?
• 45:02
  Speaker 12: I did, My Lord?
• 45:03
  Speaker 2: Then, had thy voice no power?
• 45:06
  Speaker 12: In truth? I think some mightier voice than mine doth
• 45:09
  Speaker 12: bid him go?
• 45:10
  Speaker 2: Then I must speak. This quest is not for thee,
• 45:14
  Speaker 2: for thy rich manhood. Hath a holier task here by
• 45:18
  Speaker 2: thy king, to fight for this poor world till that
• 45:21
  Speaker 2: last call which sheathes our swords in sleep.
• 45:24
  Speaker 3: My Lord, thou knowest me not I am not fit
• 45:29
  Speaker 3: to stand by thee.
• 45:30
  Speaker 2: Nay, Launcelot, It is thou that dost not know thyself.
• 45:33
  Speaker 2: For what thou art this crippled' reme? How shall it
• 45:38
  Speaker 2: find the girl? If thou the strongest, who hast been
• 45:41
  Speaker 2: our staff, if thou the mightiest, who hast been our shield,
• 45:46
  Speaker 2: and thou the gentlest that art now our guide seek
• 45:50
  Speaker 2: thine own way towards heaven. And so dost steal the
• 45:54
  Speaker 2: sun's bright rage wherewith to seek the sun, leaving this
• 45:58
  Speaker 2: lonely world to group its way in darkness to the end.
• 46:02
  Speaker 2: Thou shalt not.
• 46:03
  Speaker 3: Go, my lord, did I but know myself as strong
• 46:08
  Speaker 3: as is the weakest of these knights whose vows were sworn.
• 46:12
  Speaker 3: But now it would not need thy voice to bid
• 46:15
  Speaker 3: me stay still.
• 46:16
  Speaker 2: Thou resolve stands firm. Then thou shalt hear a sager
• 46:21
  Speaker 2: voice than ours. Old Merlin, by whose mystic craft re
• 46:26
  Speaker 2: read the unturned page of time, stand forth and speak.
• 46:31
  Speaker 1: Merlin steps forward.
• 46:32
  Speaker 16: All shall seek the holy grail. All and all save
• 46:36
  Speaker 16: one shall.
• 46:37
  Speaker 2: Fail nay lead thy riddles. Shall he go or stay?
• 46:42
  Speaker 16: Fait doth not answer yea or nay? Love shall bid
• 46:46
  Speaker 16: him go? Or stay? Love the best, or love the worst, holiest? Love,
• 46:52
  Speaker 16: or love accursed?
• 46:54
  Speaker 2: Say on, what is this love that bids him go?
• 46:58
  Speaker 16: I can but read the words that faith hath read.
• 47:01
  Speaker 2: Then we have done with fate. Go get thee Hence,
• 47:05
  Speaker 2: and never more shall that dark face of thine pass
• 47:08
  Speaker 2: like a withered shadow through these holes.
• 47:12
  Speaker 3: I go head.
• 47:13
  Speaker 16: Yet fate shall stay till the dawn of that dread day.
• 47:17
  Speaker 16: He and Dragon's son shall slay that is born with
• 47:21
  Speaker 16: the may.
• 47:22
  Speaker 1: As Merlin goes out, the hall grows darker, and the
• 47:25
  Speaker 1: sunset at the back gleams more brightly.
• 47:28
  Speaker 12: My Lord, I pray you call him back again.
• 47:30
  Speaker 2: Nay hied him, not my queen, nor ladest lot thou.
• 47:35
  Speaker 2: For if indeed love speaks with double voice, one base,
• 47:39
  Speaker 2: one noble, then be shore my lips to bear the
• 47:43
  Speaker 2: nobler message. For the world tells of no higher purer
• 47:47
  Speaker 2: love than that of brother unto brother. Such in truth
• 47:51
  Speaker 2: is my great love for thee that bids thee stay.
• 47:55
  Speaker 3: I know not how to answer for myself. Yet once before,
• 48:00
  Speaker 3: when we were at debates, the verdict of our queen
• 48:03
  Speaker 3: did end all strife. I crave it. Now her word
• 48:07
  Speaker 3: shall be my law.
• 48:09
  Speaker 2: Then thou shalt stay, For she and I are one
• 48:12
  Speaker 2: with but one voice, one tongue, one heart, one soul.
• 48:17
  Speaker 2: Now guinevere, declare thy will, my lord.
• 48:21
  Speaker 12: A woman is too weak to rule men's hearts.
• 48:25
  Speaker 2: Not so, my queen. Hath not thy purer heart so
• 48:29
  Speaker 2: ruler over him who rules this realm one from rude wars,
• 48:34
  Speaker 2: that sweeter crowd of peace, that smiles upon our land
• 48:37
  Speaker 2: from sea to sea. And wouldst thou fail me? Now,
• 48:42
  Speaker 2: when on thy word the welfare of a kingdom waits
• 48:45
  Speaker 2: in doubt? Wouldst thou be dumb?
• 48:48
  Speaker 12: Indeed, indeed, I would nay.
• 48:51
  Speaker 2: I command thee speak as I would speak.
• 48:55
  Speaker 10: I, Madam speak. My life lies in thy word.
• 49:00
  Speaker 1: Here about looking at Lancelot, my.
• 49:02
  Speaker 12: Lord, I do thy bidding Lancelot stay.
• 49:06
  Speaker 1: The knights of the Grail file past, singing as they go.
• 49:11
  Speaker 22: That would be stay, rise and come away. We go
• 49:18
  Speaker 22: forth to seek win. Are not become not?
• 49:27
  Speaker 1: End of Act one, Act two of King Arthur, a
• 49:40
  Speaker 1: drama in a prologue and four acts by Joseph commons Car.
• 49:45
  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
• 49:48
  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
• 49:52
  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Act to the Queen's maying scene
• 49:59
  Speaker 1: the slow hope of a hill in springtime studded with
• 50:02
  Speaker 1: bushes of white thorn. A company of maidens garlanded with
• 50:06
  Speaker 1: white may descend the slope. They are followed by Gwinevere
• 50:09
  Speaker 1: and her ladies. The may song air upon its.
• 50:13
  Speaker 19: Snowy bed lies the firstborn of the.
• 50:18
  Speaker 23: Crocus glut's head head, or the swallow finding love is
• 50:23
  Speaker 23: here shall fade? We shall tell you may Love, the
• 50:30
  Speaker 23: first of all flowers made loves from may He beneath
• 50:36
  Speaker 23: his kissing feet Daisy rise to kiss his son Lily rose,
• 50:41
  Speaker 23: and measures sweet love, that is all flowers in one
• 50:45
  Speaker 23: Love is here? He not then the blooms that fall
• 50:50
  Speaker 23: dying with the day, Love the sweetest flower all from.
• 50:55
  Speaker 12: May Here, on the verge of this untraveled wood, beneath
• 51:00
  Speaker 12: Love's flowering banner, we have set our camp of war.
• 51:03
  Speaker 12: For know ye, ladies, all that dread of adventure, whereunto
• 51:08
  Speaker 12: ye are called, is no poor mockery of a tournament
• 51:11
  Speaker 12: such as our lord's love jousting for a prize. Our
• 51:15
  Speaker 12: cause is mortal, and those unseen swords we women wield
• 51:19
  Speaker 12: are forged to pierce men's hearts. Whereat, if any cheek
• 51:23
  Speaker 12: grow white with fear, let its poor owner straightway quit
• 51:27
  Speaker 12: the field. Nay, all our brave tis well ere day
• 51:32
  Speaker 12: had donned our scouts and spies, which are the winged birds.
• 51:36
  Speaker 12: Reported that a band of swaggering knights did challenge our
• 51:39
  Speaker 12: approach gainst them we war. Yet hear me not like
• 51:44
  Speaker 12: timorous men who find their courage grow from fellowship in fear. Wherefore,
• 51:48
  Speaker 12: in serried ranks they face their foe. Our greater strength
• 51:52
  Speaker 12: hath ever best been proved in single combat. So we
• 51:56
  Speaker 12: fight to day. Nor need these fairer faces be in
• 51:59
  Speaker 12: caset in casks of steel. That never was our plan.
• 52:03
  Speaker 12: For so indeed we should but hide from view all
• 52:06
  Speaker 12: love's bright armory that lodges there. But truth, I waste
• 52:11
  Speaker 12: my breath where all are skills in these same arts
• 52:13
  Speaker 12: of war. Therefore set forth each on her chosen way.
• 52:18
  Speaker 12: For in this wood looks many a pleasant bower or
• 52:21
  Speaker 12: roofed with green, where moss and harebells weave a pat
• 52:24
  Speaker 12: and floor with shifting tracery of added gold, shot from
• 52:28
  Speaker 12: the sun's eyes peeping through the boughs of flowering thorn.
• 52:32
  Speaker 12: There should each lady lead her conquered knight, that so
• 52:36
  Speaker 12: by gentler arts, her love may cure the wounds that
• 52:39
  Speaker 12: love hath made. So fare we all till sunset haste away.
• 52:46
  Speaker 1: As they moved towards the wood, Dagoney rushes in and
• 52:48
  Speaker 1: falls on his knees before the queen. He bears a large,
• 52:52
  Speaker 1: rough garland of flowers hanging about his neck like a
• 52:54
  Speaker 1: horse collar. Dagony, who is trembling with mock fear.
• 52:59
  Speaker 9: Sweet ladies, save me, though ye love me not, I
• 53:02
  Speaker 9: am sore pressed?
• 53:04
  Speaker 12: What hath some beast pursued thee.
• 53:06
  Speaker 9: Aye truth, a most sweet beast, yet fearsome too.
• 53:10
  Speaker 14: I pray you, madam, Let us call these knights we
• 53:15
  Speaker 14: are in danger.
• 53:16
  Speaker 12: Else is this your valor that so you quake get shadows?
• 53:20
  Speaker 12: Shame on ye ay.
• 53:22
  Speaker 9: Shame, for here is a beast that will harm no lady.
• 53:26
  Speaker 9: Though at this budding season tis very fatal to man.
• 53:29
  Speaker 12: I would hear more of this beast? What form hath it?
• 53:33
  Speaker 2: Well?
• 53:33
  Speaker 9: To be plain, yet modest withal and not too curious?
• 53:36
  Speaker 9: It is an all thing shaped like a woman.
• 53:39
  Speaker 12: Truly a very monstrous woman that would so pursue a
• 53:42
  Speaker 12: fool faith.
• 53:43
  Speaker 9: There be many such, though tis only your sage fool
• 53:46
  Speaker 9: that fears them.
• 53:47
  Speaker 12: Rise d'agunay and tell us how it chanced.
• 53:51
  Speaker 9: Then stiffen your sinews, for tis a heart breaking legend.
• 53:55
  Speaker 9: Hither came I through the wood, thinking of nought, and
• 53:57
  Speaker 9: so counting myself wise beyond my ears, when of a
• 54:01
  Speaker 9: sudden I spied a maid who tendered a herd of swine.
• 54:05
  Speaker 9: Whereat I do confess it, I fell a weeping bitterly,
• 54:08
  Speaker 9: For surely never was a mortal woman so fitly employed.
• 54:12
  Speaker 12: You hear him, madam, nay let him run on?
• 54:16
  Speaker 9: Aye tis the finish that will cause you to quake.
• 54:19
  Speaker 9: For this same maid, not content with her most righteous calling,
• 54:22
  Speaker 9: and hapily moved by my tears, most artfully flung this
• 54:25
  Speaker 9: halter about my neck and swore a most villainous oath
• 54:29
  Speaker 9: that she loved me well. Hert I, being as tis known,
• 54:32
  Speaker 9: only half a fool, slipped from her embrace and fled incontinently.
• 54:37
  Speaker 12: Now thou art half a man, and therefore a most
• 54:40
  Speaker 12: complete fool that could so dread to be loved?
• 54:44
  Speaker 9: Wherein thou art wrong? For I have a leaning that way,
• 54:47
  Speaker 9: being very tenderly fashioned and with a taste for red lips.
• 54:51
  Speaker 9: But alack, I am troubled with a most constant heart,
• 54:54
  Speaker 9: and that goes not with love.
• 54:56
  Speaker 12: How say you, is it so wise to rail against constancy?
• 55:00
  Speaker 9: Nay, I would question thee canst tell me now what
• 55:03
  Speaker 9: is most like to a river that drains to the sea?
• 55:06
  Speaker 12: Faith, I cannot.
• 55:08
  Speaker 9: Why a maiden who weeps in the rain.
• 55:10
  Speaker 12: Where hast thou seen that last night?
• 55:12
  Speaker 9: Where I sheltered from the storm, there passed a lady
• 55:15
  Speaker 9: sobbing as she rode, and with her tears the rain
• 55:18
  Speaker 9: kept even tune twas a sweet contest. Yet I'll warrant
• 55:22
  Speaker 9: her eyes outstayed the dripping of the sky.
• 55:25
  Speaker 12: Knew you have face twas.
• 55:27
  Speaker 9: Laid so low upon her palfrey's neck. I saw it.
• 55:30
  Speaker 12: Not go fool on your way, I madam, by your.
• 55:34
  Speaker 9: Leave, for I must seek the king who comes from
• 55:36
  Speaker 9: hunting in may time. Your king and your fool were
• 55:39
  Speaker 9: ever very prettily assorted.
• 55:41
  Speaker 1: He goes up the hill, singing the cuckoo's.
• 55:44
  Speaker 9: Note doth haunt the may. And some are glad, and
• 55:48
  Speaker 9: some grow mad. But the fool go singing on his way.
• 55:54
  Speaker 1: Exit dagony. As he goes, the Queen stands rapt in thought.
• 55:58
  Speaker 14: Nay, madam, see tis noon.
• 56:01
  Speaker 1: We waste our day guinevere rousing herself.
• 56:06
  Speaker 12: Truly, lift up your voices. Let us on dreaming the
• 56:11
  Speaker 12: white and lawn.
• 56:15
  Speaker 23: Loves and worn shall I shall know love is here,
• 56:22
  Speaker 23: And at night my heart whispering shall say, Love is lord.
• 56:28
  Speaker 14: Of every heart.
• 56:30
  Speaker 12: Love is the Lord of May.
• 56:32
  Speaker 1: The ladies wander off through the wood, preceded by the
• 56:35
  Speaker 1: company of singing maidens, whose voices grow gradually fainter as
• 56:39
  Speaker 1: they are lost in the distance, and at the last
• 56:42
  Speaker 1: Guinevere follows slowly, and as she goes off, Morgan enters
• 56:46
  Speaker 1: and stands gazing after her, while at the same time
• 56:49
  Speaker 1: Merlin appears on the rising path above.
• 56:52
  Speaker 13: March on my queen in all thy bravery. He that
• 56:56
  Speaker 13: is Lord of May and of thy heart, blind, leader
• 57:00
  Speaker 13: of the blind, shall draw thee on where Launcelot waits
• 57:03
  Speaker 13: for thee love slave, and ours.
• 57:06
  Speaker 16: The scabbard's gone, But England's lord holds till death the
• 57:10
  Speaker 16: naked sword.
• 57:12
  Speaker 1: Morgan, seeing him, what wouldst thou now?
• 57:14
  Speaker 13: Whose work is well nigh done? May day is here,
• 57:18
  Speaker 13: and we thy ministers need no fresh spur to hasten
• 57:21
  Speaker 13: Fate's decree.
• 57:22
  Speaker 1: Merlin approaching her.
• 57:24
  Speaker 16: At dawn, I heard the splashing of the mare, and
• 57:27
  Speaker 16: saw that jeweled scabbard sink and sink till like a
• 57:31
  Speaker 16: glittering rainbow down the deep it vanished, and the shuddering
• 57:35
  Speaker 16: tide grew still. Dost thou know'st aught of this? Not
• 57:39
  Speaker 16: I forsooth thou liest, For I track thee in thy theft,
• 57:44
  Speaker 16: and saw thee creep beside the sleeping king, whose hand
• 57:47
  Speaker 16: held fast that naked blade, which gleamed a bar of
• 57:51
  Speaker 16: quivering moonlight by his side. Thou hast ol'n the scabbard,
• 57:55
  Speaker 16: But no mortal hand shall take the sword.
• 57:59
  Speaker 13: What then, thyself did say the scabbard's worth doth far
• 58:02
  Speaker 13: outweigh the sword.
• 58:04
  Speaker 16: To him, but not to thee. Tis not to thee
• 58:08
  Speaker 16: who steals the scabbard, doth but draw the sword. Who
• 58:11
  Speaker 16: holds the sword holds all save life, and wins, though
• 58:15
  Speaker 16: life be spent, a deathless crown from death.
• 58:19
  Speaker 13: Whose hands shall take it? Then, when death draws near.
• 58:23
  Speaker 16: When those queens of Knight shall steer Arthur's barge across
• 58:27
  Speaker 16: the mare, she who long ago did bring England's sword
• 58:31
  Speaker 16: to England's king, she shall claim Excalibur.
• 58:36
  Speaker 20: Exit Merlin, cro gone, let death, But come will chance the.
• 58:41
  Speaker 1: Rest enter Mordred, whose voice.
• 58:45
  Speaker 13: Was that twas Merlin's, who grows old and babbles like
• 58:48
  Speaker 13: a child.
• 58:49
  Speaker 19: What is thy news beyond our hope? Ryan's and Mark
• 58:54
  Speaker 19: are joined in equal strength of war, and by this
• 58:58
  Speaker 19: hour their glittering squadron fans like a serpent coil around
• 59:02
  Speaker 19: Carlean's walls.
• 59:05
  Speaker 13: Whence got you this?
• 59:06
  Speaker 19: Sir Maury's from Carlian rode post haste to warn our
• 59:10
  Speaker 19: master he will ride no more.
• 59:14
  Speaker 1: Touching his sword.
• 59:16
  Speaker 13: Tis well, your men keep watch on every road.
• 59:20
  Speaker 19: Ay, all are guarded. Let but this day pass with
• 59:24
  Speaker 19: no unwelcome note to wake the king. Then more may
• 59:28
  Speaker 19: shriek its loudest. All is sure.
• 59:31
  Speaker 13: Hast thou forgotten Launcelot?
• 59:33
  Speaker 19: What of him?
• 59:35
  Speaker 13: Nay? Track him through the wood, and thou shalt learn.
• 59:39
  Speaker 13: Come hither see where Trembling hand to hand with speechless
• 59:44
  Speaker 13: answering eyes, they woo the spring. Love sets the snare,
• 59:49
  Speaker 13: But the caged bird is ours. For ere knights, dusky
• 59:53
  Speaker 13: arms enfold the sun. Launcelot shall be thy partner and thy.
• 59:57
  Speaker 1: Slave, Exant Morgan and Mordred. The May song is heard
• 1:00:01
  Speaker 1: faintly in the distance. Enter Sir Lavaine and Clarissant.
• 1:00:05
  Speaker 8: Dost think our love will live from May to May?
• 1:00:09
  Speaker 14: Nay ask me that when May day comes again?
• 1:00:13
  Speaker 8: Ah tell me now, I'll tell.
• 1:00:15
  Speaker 14: Thee all I know. If thou dost woo me well,
• 1:00:19
  Speaker 14: I'll love thee well. Should no one woo me better?
• 1:00:23
  Speaker 8: Wouldst thou be wooed? That art already one?
• 1:00:26
  Speaker 14: Most surely? Sir, who holds my heart must win it
• 1:00:30
  Speaker 14: every day, And when tis won, tis that it must
• 1:00:34
  Speaker 14: be wooed and won again.
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 8: Why twas but yesterday that thou didst swear thy love
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 8: would last till death?
• 1:00:41
  Speaker 14: Ay, that was yesterday.
• 1:00:44
  Speaker 8: And shall thine oath live but an hour?
• 1:00:47
  Speaker 14: What is there in these oaths that you, poor men,
• 1:00:50
  Speaker 14: so fondly cherished them? Perchance they fetch your duller brains,
• 1:00:55
  Speaker 14: which seek with empty words to bind the unborn hours.
• 1:00:59
  Speaker 14: But we do wrong to humor you in this We
• 1:01:03
  Speaker 14: should not swear at all, Knowing full world, there's no
• 1:01:06
  Speaker 14: tomorrow in a woman's heart, which hath its yesterdays of
• 1:01:10
  Speaker 14: joy or pain, whose savor lingering on our lips today
• 1:01:14
  Speaker 14: makes all the present half a memory, the future all
• 1:01:18
  Speaker 14: a blank. Then ask me not if I shall love
• 1:01:21
  Speaker 14: THEE when the year is worn. I loved THEE yesterday,
• 1:01:25
  Speaker 14: so be content.
• 1:01:27
  Speaker 9: Ah, But thou lovest today.
• 1:01:30
  Speaker 14: Today is young? Ask me at sundown? I will tell you.
• 1:01:34
  Speaker 1: Then exit laughing, and he following her enter Guenevere and Lancelot.
• 1:01:41
  Speaker 12: The wood is dark.
• 1:01:42
  Speaker 3: Let us be in the sun towards dark ere. Yet
• 1:01:46
  Speaker 3: the glory of thy face came like a golden message
• 1:01:49
  Speaker 3: from the sun. And now beneath this open vault of
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 3: day twould change again tonight. Wilt thou not here?
• 1:01:59
  Speaker 12: I had a foolish I should not find thee.
• 1:02:02
  Speaker 3: Nay quinevert thou know'st that could not be?
• 1:02:05
  Speaker 12: Indeed tis true. For wandering alone across the leafy screen
• 1:02:10
  Speaker 12: that hedged my way from every side, I heard the
• 1:02:12
  Speaker 12: echoing laugh of love's encounter. Then the word grew still
• 1:02:17
  Speaker 12: and softer than the silence, came the sound of whispered
• 1:02:20
  Speaker 12: vows from lips but newly met. And then beneath an
• 1:02:24
  Speaker 12: opening arch of green, two lovers passed with hand and hand,
• 1:02:28
  Speaker 12: locked close, Ah Launcelot. I was lonely as a child,
• 1:02:32
  Speaker 12: locked in a darkened room. I called THEE. Then didst
• 1:02:36
  Speaker 12: thou not hear me?
• 1:02:38
  Speaker 3: Aye? And saw thee too?
• 1:02:40
  Speaker 12: Thou didst not answer.
• 1:02:42
  Speaker 3: Nay, forgive me sweet, I could but watch THEE.
• 1:02:48
  Speaker 12: That was cruel, sir.
• 1:02:49
  Speaker 3: Twas but an instant.
• 1:02:52
  Speaker 12: No, It was a year, and in that year a
• 1:02:54
  Speaker 12: thousand thronging fears with devil faces perched amid the boughs.
• 1:02:59
  Speaker 3: What were they fierce, so many all in.
• 1:03:02
  Speaker 12: One, that I should.
• 1:03:03
  Speaker 1: Lose thee, Launcelot, putting his arms around her.
• 1:03:07
  Speaker 3: Never until death, Ah speak not so of death.
• 1:03:12
  Speaker 12: I have seen a face that frightened me like death,
• 1:03:14
  Speaker 12: Launcelot starting whose face? And where within the wood twas Merlin's?
• 1:03:20
  Speaker 12: But so old Launcelot, so old and worn, I knew it.
• 1:03:24
  Speaker 3: Not those empty words of his do haunt THEE. Still
• 1:03:29
  Speaker 3: I wonder at thy fears.
• 1:03:31
  Speaker 12: Nay, scold me not. There's nothing haunts me When I
• 1:03:34
  Speaker 12: have THEE near. Love shuts the door on all things
• 1:03:37
  Speaker 12: save itself, and all that's past, on all that is
• 1:03:40
  Speaker 12: to come. When thou art by, tell me, tis so
• 1:03:44
  Speaker 12: with THEE?
• 1:03:45
  Speaker 3: I sweet t so, AH.
• 1:03:49
  Speaker 12: Say it once again, I could not live, Launcelot, if
• 1:03:52
  Speaker 12: in thy heart there lurk the tiniest little ache or
• 1:03:55
  Speaker 12: pain love might not cure.
• 1:03:58
  Speaker 3: Thou knowest all my heart, and in my love, which
• 1:04:02
  Speaker 3: knows no law but love, the future and the past
• 1:04:05
  Speaker 3: are drowning straws, caught in the full tide of our
• 1:04:08
  Speaker 3: present joy that neither ebbs nor flows.
• 1:04:13
  Speaker 1: He holds her in a close embrace as Morgan and
• 1:04:15
  Speaker 1: Mordred enter stealthily at the same time has heard the
• 1:04:19
  Speaker 1: sound of distant thunder, and the scene darkens.
• 1:04:22
  Speaker 13: Does mark them well?
• 1:04:24
  Speaker 3: Ambition, honor, duty, All that life once held most dear
• 1:04:31
  Speaker 3: by thy sweet will subdued. Now wear love's livery and
• 1:04:35
  Speaker 3: would serve love's queen.
• 1:04:37
  Speaker 1: The thunder is heard again, and nearer Guinevere starting.
• 1:04:42
  Speaker 12: What sound was that?
• 1:04:44
  Speaker 5: See?
• 1:04:44
  Speaker 12: It grows dark again?
• 1:04:45
  Speaker 3: Tis but a cloud?
• 1:04:47
  Speaker 12: It came like sudden night.
• 1:04:49
  Speaker 1: Let us go in thunder again.
• 1:04:52
  Speaker 12: Ah tis the thunder's bolt that cracks the sky.
• 1:04:55
  Speaker 3: Nay tremble not, it will pass and leave heavens deeper blue.
• 1:05:01
  Speaker 3: What shouldst thou fear?
• 1:05:03
  Speaker 12: I know not? Hold me closer, closer still, so that
• 1:05:07
  Speaker 12: my heart may catch the fearless tune of thy heart's
• 1:05:10
  Speaker 12: deadfast music. Now I am brave and could be always
• 1:05:15
  Speaker 12: what thou always here? So let us on you tell me,
• 1:05:19
  Speaker 12: or again, Hi, do tease thee tis, but this once more,
• 1:05:24
  Speaker 12: tell me whate'er befall that thou art.
• 1:05:27
  Speaker 3: Mine forever and forever I am thine.
• 1:05:34
  Speaker 1: A crash of thunder and a lightning flash Mordred looking
• 1:05:38
  Speaker 1: after them.
• 1:05:38
  Speaker 19: He lies my queen, not thine but mine till death.
• 1:05:46
  Speaker 1: End of Act two, Act three of King Arthur, a
• 1:05:55
  Speaker 1: drama in a prologue and four acts by Joseph Commons car.
• 1:06:00
  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
• 1:06:03
  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
• 1:06:07
  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Act three the Black Barge scene,
• 1:06:14
  Speaker 1: a vaulted chamber opening onto the river. As the curtain
• 1:06:18
  Speaker 1: draws up, enter Sir Launcelot, followed by Sir Kay, Sir Gawaine,
• 1:06:22
  Speaker 1: and Sir Agravain.
• 1:06:24
  Speaker 3: Sir Maurice Slain.
• 1:06:26
  Speaker 5: I murdered, but by.
• 1:06:29
  Speaker 4: Whom that's still to find know you from whence he came.
• 1:06:33
  Speaker 3: Straight from Kerleane? Whither as I heard he rode with
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 3: sealed advices for the king.
• 1:06:39
  Speaker 4: Said I not well, Arthur hath been forestalled.
• 1:06:42
  Speaker 3: Why twas but yesterday the King did notice long delay.
• 1:06:46
  Speaker 5: It was but yesternight we found him murdered.
• 1:06:50
  Speaker 3: Sirs, If this be so, there's something more than murder.
• 1:06:54
  Speaker 4: More in truth, Lancelot, some traitor lurking near the throne
• 1:06:59
  Speaker 4: in he could league without his enemies by the same
• 1:07:02
  Speaker 4: villainous act, now stands possessed What the king should know,
• 1:07:06
  Speaker 4: what must be done?
• 1:07:07
  Speaker 5: Let Launcelot speak.
• 1:07:10
  Speaker 3: I'll straightway to the king and tell him all. Then
• 1:07:13
  Speaker 3: should we win his leave at nightfall? Will to horse
• 1:07:17
  Speaker 3: nor draw the rein until Kelly and Towers cut the.
• 1:07:20
  Speaker 1: Sky, excellent k Agravain and Gawain. During the next speech,
• 1:07:27
  Speaker 1: Mordred enters.
• 1:07:28
  Speaker 3: Whose hand is here? Of all our knights, but one,
• 1:07:33
  Speaker 3: in my most secret heart, dares stand accused of this foul.
• 1:07:38
  Speaker 1: Deed, turns and sees Mordred.
• 1:07:41
  Speaker 19: Mordred Maurrie is slain, Sir, Maurye is slain? Nay tis
• 1:07:48
  Speaker 19: some idle jest?
• 1:07:50
  Speaker 3: That is not all the advices that he bore are stolen?
• 1:07:56
  Speaker 19: Stolen? Is it possible.
• 1:08:00
  Speaker 3: And true? Which news must to the king?
• 1:08:04
  Speaker 19: Most surely? Yet not?
• 1:08:06
  Speaker 3: Now?
• 1:08:07
  Speaker 19: He is fatigued and would not be disturbed tomorrow.
• 1:08:13
  Speaker 3: Sir nasa today, and hour's delay may risk the safety
• 1:08:18
  Speaker 3: of his throne, pertance his life.
• 1:08:21
  Speaker 19: Well, sir, what then?
• 1:08:24
  Speaker 3: What then?
• 1:08:25
  Speaker 19: Nay spare thy skill tis aptly feigned in faith? I'd
• 1:08:31
  Speaker 19: say twas true? Did I not hold a key that
• 1:08:34
  Speaker 19: locks thy heart?
• 1:08:36
  Speaker 3: What dost thou mean?
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 19: I mean? Should Arthur pass, he leaves behind a kingdom
• 1:08:43
  Speaker 19: and a queen who loves.
• 1:08:44
  Speaker 3: Him, not who says, so foully lies Launcelot.
• 1:08:50
  Speaker 19: Throw off this mask. It fits thee. Not be what
• 1:08:54
  Speaker 19: thou art, nor fear what thou wouldst be? Let candor
• 1:08:59
  Speaker 19: answer your candor. It was I who slew this messenger
• 1:09:05
  Speaker 19: his papers. Here bring rich news that ere a week
• 1:09:08
  Speaker 19: be passed. Carlan's gates must yield to the assault of
• 1:09:11
  Speaker 19: Ryan's siege, whose vengeance stays not there. The king himself
• 1:09:17
  Speaker 19: is doomed, and the king dead. His throne is mine
• 1:09:22
  Speaker 19: and thine his widowed queen.
• 1:09:24
  Speaker 3: Traitor. I knew it, thou shalt to the king in
• 1:09:29
  Speaker 3: whose dread presence from that villain's throat. I'll force those
• 1:09:33
  Speaker 3: words again.
• 1:09:35
  Speaker 19: I dare thy worst. Yet breathe one word, and I
• 1:09:40
  Speaker 19: will tell a tale shall make THEE cower like a
• 1:09:43
  Speaker 19: beaten hound.
• 1:09:44
  Speaker 3: Thou'st nought to tell.
• 1:09:46
  Speaker 19: What are her kisses? Not fie, sir, for shame? So
• 1:09:54
  Speaker 19: then thou didst not guess? I lurked so near and
• 1:09:57
  Speaker 19: saw thee lip to lip, cuddling beneath the may That
• 1:10:02
  Speaker 19: is Love's trick, who blindfold deems that all the world
• 1:10:05
  Speaker 19: is blind Now to the king, See, sir, the way
• 1:10:11
  Speaker 19: is clear. What wouldst thou pause, hast thou no heart
• 1:10:17
  Speaker 19: to win that sweet reward that waits thy loyal zeal
• 1:10:22
  Speaker 19: a traitor's death?
• 1:10:23
  Speaker 3: What were that death to me?
• 1:10:26
  Speaker 19: True? But the Queen, thy.
• 1:10:29
  Speaker 1: Wretch movement towards Mordred.
• 1:10:31
  Speaker 19: Look where she comes. Take thought with her. She will
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 19: advise thee. Well, we men are rash. A woman's subtler
• 1:10:41
  Speaker 19: wit serves better in such case.
• 1:10:44
  Speaker 5: Truth.
• 1:10:45
  Speaker 19: But she's fair, so fair? Why Launcelot, I repent me now?
• 1:10:51
  Speaker 19: I kept not this sweet morsel.
• 1:10:53
  Speaker 3: For mine own out of my sight.
• 1:10:57
  Speaker 19: His tongue is safely gagged. Yet he but half corrupt.
• 1:11:01
  Speaker 1: I'll trust him not exit. Launcelot stands in despair as
• 1:11:07
  Speaker 1: Guenevere enters who.
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 12: Went from thee?
• 1:11:09
  Speaker 1: Twas Mordred Guenevere approaching.
• 1:11:13
  Speaker 12: Him, Launcelot, some evil hath befallen.
• 1:11:17
  Speaker 1: Tis not he turns away?
• 1:11:19
  Speaker 12: Tis much can make THEE turn from me? Ah, but
• 1:11:22
  Speaker 12: I'll know it didst Thou not swear our love could
• 1:11:24
  Speaker 12: cure all?
• 1:11:25
  Speaker 5: Ill?
• 1:11:26
  Speaker 12: Then tell me.
• 1:11:26
  Speaker 3: All Caleon is besieged. Should succor fail, Twill yield to
• 1:11:32
  Speaker 3: Ryan's arms?
• 1:11:34
  Speaker 12: Who brings these tidings?
• 1:11:36
  Speaker 3: Mordred? And the king knows not knows.
• 1:11:40
  Speaker 12: Not launcelot Han no hahn, No, should thou wouldst tell
• 1:11:46
  Speaker 12: the king?
• 1:11:47
  Speaker 3: Indeed I would then wherefore pass? Oh? Had I died?
• 1:11:53
  Speaker 3: But then, in that sweet hour when first I learned
• 1:11:56
  Speaker 3: thy love, I had been happy.
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 12: What is in thy heart?
• 1:12:02
  Speaker 3: Mordred is false?
• 1:12:04
  Speaker 12: False?
• 1:12:05
  Speaker 2: Aye?
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 3: Tis he that's hatched this plot against the king, whereby
• 1:12:10
  Speaker 3: he thinks to seize the throne.
• 1:12:12
  Speaker 12: Then thou shalt prove him false and save the king.
• 1:12:16
  Speaker 3: I dare not, dare not no all all is known
• 1:12:24
  Speaker 3: to whom to him? He was there beside us in
• 1:12:29
  Speaker 3: the may. His traitorous hand grips at my throat and
• 1:12:32
  Speaker 3: makes me traitor too.
• 1:12:34
  Speaker 12: No, no, there cannot be ah, look not so what
• 1:12:38
  Speaker 12: wouldst thou do?
• 1:12:40
  Speaker 1: Nay?
• 1:12:41
  Speaker 3: Ask what I have done? Was there no lamp in
• 1:12:46
  Speaker 3: heaven to stay our feet? Was the knight Starlus? That
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 3: we needs? Must wait till Love's torch sitting all the
• 1:12:55
  Speaker 3: world ablaze lights up Love's ruinous way. Ah, gwinever I'd
• 1:13:02
  Speaker 3: die a hundred deaths, But now to win one hour
• 1:13:05
  Speaker 3: of life that's past I one short hour, so I
• 1:13:10
  Speaker 3: might drag this devil to the throne and shout his
• 1:13:14
  Speaker 3: villainies in every ear.
• 1:13:15
  Speaker 12: Then do it now? I cannot yea thou canst Who
• 1:13:20
  Speaker 12: is there that should stay? Thee tis not? I let
• 1:13:23
  Speaker 12: love go down the wind? What boots it?
• 1:13:26
  Speaker 5: Now?
• 1:13:27
  Speaker 12: Look to thyself, Think not of all that's lost, that
• 1:13:30
  Speaker 12: is all mine for thee. There still remains thy soldier's honor,
• 1:13:35
  Speaker 12: Take it, keep it pure.
• 1:13:37
  Speaker 3: What have I said?
• 1:13:39
  Speaker 21: Ah?
• 1:13:39
  Speaker 1: Go throws herself on couch, Launcelot, throwing himself at her feet.
• 1:13:45
  Speaker 3: My queen, My queen. There's nothing in the world to
• 1:13:49
  Speaker 3: win or lose. Can count beside thy love?
• 1:13:52
  Speaker 2: I lied?
• 1:13:53
  Speaker 3: But now, King, honor, country, All that knighthood boasts of
• 1:14:00
  Speaker 3: faith and loyalty in life or death, weighs not against
• 1:14:03
  Speaker 3: the memory of one kiss from thy dear lips.
• 1:14:07
  Speaker 12: Then thou art mine again to hear THEE say that
• 1:14:10
  Speaker 12: all the world was not against our love. Hath made
• 1:14:12
  Speaker 12: me mad for joy? Yet stay not?
• 1:14:15
  Speaker 5: Now?
• 1:14:16
  Speaker 12: I have a thought to think, and needs must be alone.
• 1:14:19
  Speaker 3: Yet ere I go hear this one word. All that
• 1:14:24
  Speaker 3: is left of life is thine to keep, or thine
• 1:14:28
  Speaker 3: to fling away, so I may have thy love.
• 1:14:31
  Speaker 1: Exit Launcelot, thou.
• 1:14:33
  Speaker 12: Hast indeed, so all is one again, and all is lost?
• 1:14:38
  Speaker 12: So do we strive that we may have the more
• 1:14:40
  Speaker 12: to cast away. And now, when at my feet he
• 1:14:43
  Speaker 12: lays his sword, his life, aye, and his soul, I
• 1:14:48
  Speaker 12: do but long to find some better way to give
• 1:14:50
  Speaker 12: him all again, I all again looks off. It is
• 1:14:56
  Speaker 12: the king? How may I find that way?
• 1:14:59
  Speaker 1: Enter a ah?
• 1:15:01
  Speaker 2: Thou art here? I bring thee such sad news as
• 1:15:05
  Speaker 2: must needs bring thy heart?
• 1:15:07
  Speaker 12: What news, my lord?
• 1:15:09
  Speaker 2: Elaine is dead?
• 1:15:10
  Speaker 12: Dead? Who have told thee?
• 1:15:12
  Speaker 5: This?
• 1:15:14
  Speaker 2: There yonder by the shore her body lies, who, while
• 1:15:18
  Speaker 2: she lived, was named the fair Elaine? Canst thou not weep?
• 1:15:24
  Speaker 12: Truly? My lord? I think I've lost the use of tears.
• 1:15:28
  Speaker 2: Thou wouldst have wept hadst thou been there? When down
• 1:15:31
  Speaker 2: the vacant stream, that black barge fluted like a speck
• 1:15:35
  Speaker 2: of night, blown on the winds of dawn, and on
• 1:15:39
  Speaker 2: its deck, fallen as a feather from a white dove's wing,
• 1:15:44
  Speaker 2: lay this new prize of death, whose cunning hands had
• 1:15:48
  Speaker 2: wrought in such fair mimicry of life, that on her
• 1:15:51
  Speaker 2: parted lips they lingered yet the memory of a smile.
• 1:15:55
  Speaker 12: Why then, perchance she's happier far than some who needs
• 1:15:59
  Speaker 12: must live smile no more?
• 1:16:01
  Speaker 2: It may be for that brow had caught from death
• 1:16:05
  Speaker 2: some secret of content it knew not here, And looking
• 1:16:09
  Speaker 2: in those eyes whose tears had ceased their traffic, I
• 1:16:13
  Speaker 2: dared think, if aught of sin was there tis pardoned now?
• 1:16:18
  Speaker 12: Of sin? What sin?
• 1:16:20
  Speaker 2: Aye? For it must be so some sin there was,
• 1:16:23
  Speaker 2: though unrecorded here, some stain that smirch'd her seeming purity,
• 1:16:29
  Speaker 2: which Launcelot, all too noble, could not urge else were
• 1:16:34
  Speaker 2: it not in nature to refuse so sweet to give?
• 1:16:37
  Speaker 12: If that indeed be true, were it enough to shut
• 1:16:40
  Speaker 12: the doors.
• 1:16:40
  Speaker 1: Of love enough?
• 1:16:42
  Speaker 2: What wouldst thou ask? I?
• 1:16:44
  Speaker 5: Aye?
• 1:16:45
  Speaker 12: Enough enough?
• 1:16:46
  Speaker 2: And more?
• 1:16:48
  Speaker 12: Yet in some greater heart as his or thine methought
• 1:16:52
  Speaker 12: that love might find forgiveness in.
• 1:16:54
  Speaker 2: For that, nay, wrong him not whose upward gaze, set
• 1:16:59
  Speaker 2: level with the stars, would lift from earth the soul
• 1:17:03
  Speaker 2: he crowns with love, making her more than woman. Whence
• 1:17:07
  Speaker 2: if she fall like some lost planet hurled from highest heaven,
• 1:17:12
  Speaker 2: she falls to endless night.
• 1:17:15
  Speaker 1: During Arthur's speech, the distant throb of a mournful march
• 1:17:18
  Speaker 1: is heard, slowly approaching.
• 1:17:20
  Speaker 12: Most like tis sow and death. The only way what
• 1:17:25
  Speaker 12: sound is that.
• 1:17:26
  Speaker 2: Up from the stream they bear her body hither where
• 1:17:30
  Speaker 2: dot your wrist beneath his royal roof, till with such
• 1:17:33
  Speaker 2: liberal honors as befits, so fair a flower tis set
• 1:17:37
  Speaker 2: again in earth.
• 1:17:39
  Speaker 1: The procession enters, headed by Mordred and Morgan. Four knights
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 1: bear Elaine, and are followed by a company of maidens.
• 1:17:46
  Speaker 1: Morgan aside to Mordred.
• 1:17:48
  Speaker 13: Her cheek grows pale. She will betray herself.
• 1:17:52
  Speaker 1: She passes across the stage and takes her place behind
• 1:17:55
  Speaker 1: the Queen. At a sign from Mordred, the knights move forward.
• 1:17:58
  Speaker 1: So they come to where Guenevere stands, rigid and motionless.
• 1:18:02
  Speaker 1: Then they stop in silence till Guinevere, without turning, cries
• 1:18:06
  Speaker 1: in agony. Go on and set it down, Mordred, coming forward.
• 1:18:11
  Speaker 19: Madam, by your leave in that white hand of death,
• 1:18:15
  Speaker 19: A letter lies who see you, we dare do not
• 1:18:18
  Speaker 19: break fortis inscribed to Gwenevere.
• 1:18:22
  Speaker 1: The Queen Arthur to Guenevere.
• 1:18:25
  Speaker 2: Then break the seal, which hides, perchance some secret of
• 1:18:29
  Speaker 2: her love we know not yet.
• 1:18:31
  Speaker 1: Gwenevere tries to approach the bier, but cannot touch the body. Then,
• 1:18:35
  Speaker 1: with a despairing appeal, she turns to Arthur.
• 1:18:38
  Speaker 12: I cannot give it to me.
• 1:18:41
  Speaker 1: Arthur takes the letter, which Guinevere opens and lets fall,
• 1:18:44
  Speaker 1: staggering back into the arms of Morgan, whose eyes gleam
• 1:18:47
  Speaker 1: in triumph.
• 1:18:48
  Speaker 13: Nay, Madam, nay, what is it? Moves thee Thus.
• 1:18:52
  Speaker 1: Mordred picks up the letter and gives it to the King, Arthur, reading,
• 1:18:56
  Speaker 1: I that was.
• 1:18:57
  Speaker 2: Named Elaine of Astolat mortal love for Launcelot, pastoral measure.
• 1:19:03
  Speaker 2: Seeing he loves another, choose to die? We knew not
• 1:19:08
  Speaker 2: this go call Sir Launcelot, here, my.
• 1:19:11
  Speaker 12: Lord, my lord.
• 1:19:13
  Speaker 1: She struggles forward as though to stop the King's command,
• 1:19:16
  Speaker 1: and then swoons into Morgan's arms.
• 1:19:19
  Speaker 2: Look to the Queen.
• 1:19:20
  Speaker 1: Morgan and her women support her from the stage, and
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 1: at the same time, the knights lay the body of
• 1:19:26
  Speaker 1: Elaine under the alcove, and then Exeent, leaving Arthur and
• 1:19:29
  Speaker 1: Mordred alone. Mordred aside.
• 1:19:32
  Speaker 19: Ere Launcelot's blow can fall. I'll strike him to the heart.
• 1:19:36
  Speaker 1: Arthur, holding the letter.
• 1:19:38
  Speaker 2: If this be true, tis strange that none had known?
• 1:19:42
  Speaker 19: What's that?
• 1:19:43
  Speaker 1: My lord?
• 1:19:44
  Speaker 2: What's here? Said Dawn of Launcelot's lay to love?
• 1:19:48
  Speaker 19: Now would to heaven? Those words had ne'er been writ
• 1:19:51
  Speaker 19: or ne'er been read?
• 1:19:53
  Speaker 2: Why so.
• 1:19:55
  Speaker 19: Didst thou not note how the queen's soul was stirred.
• 1:19:59
  Speaker 2: She not used to look on death, which coming in
• 1:20:02
  Speaker 2: such guise might move our soldier hearts.
• 1:20:05
  Speaker 19: Aye, but methought it was death's message, and not death itself,
• 1:20:10
  Speaker 19: that turned those red lips white, modred?
• 1:20:14
  Speaker 2: What's this think you? The queen hath known of this
• 1:20:17
  Speaker 2: same love? Nay?
• 1:20:19
  Speaker 19: I'll not answer that.
• 1:20:21
  Speaker 2: Nay, but thou shalt what is to fear?
• 1:20:25
  Speaker 19: My lord? Thou art my king. My sword is thine,
• 1:20:29
  Speaker 19: and with that sword my life. But with that life
• 1:20:33
  Speaker 19: my loyal service ends. And what is left? Thou wilt
• 1:20:37
  Speaker 19: not ask of me?
• 1:20:38
  Speaker 2: Who is it that he loves?
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 19: In sooth? I thought what all the world had known
• 1:20:44
  Speaker 19: was known to thee. Were it not so, these lips
• 1:20:48
  Speaker 19: had still been dumb. But now tis best, Tor said
• 1:20:53
  Speaker 19: he loves the queen.
• 1:20:55
  Speaker 2: Who forged this lie? Nay, modred is not thou. And
• 1:21:00
  Speaker 2: yet I wonder too to find thee Duke by this
• 1:21:03
  Speaker 2: poor tale, prayed in some baser soul that loves not Launcelot.
• 1:21:09
  Speaker 19: What thou think'st tis false? Why then, my lord, tis false?
• 1:21:15
  Speaker 19: I'll think so too, will speak of it no more?
• 1:21:20
  Speaker 2: Aye, But we will and tract this running poison to
• 1:21:23
  Speaker 2: its source, which else should turn all the pure springs
• 1:21:26
  Speaker 2: of life to pulls of festering filth.
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 1: Enter Morgan hurriedly, my.
• 1:21:33
  Speaker 13: Lord the Queen. Why art thou pale nay? Do not
• 1:21:37
  Speaker 13: take it? So twas but a sudden fit and will
• 1:21:40
  Speaker 13: soon pass?
• 1:21:42
  Speaker 2: Morgan, Come hither, nurst thou aught of this? Of what
• 1:21:46
  Speaker 2: my lord of Launcelot's love for her the queen?
• 1:21:51
  Speaker 13: The Queen? Now who hath told thee this?
• 1:21:55
  Speaker 1: Turning to Mordred?
• 1:21:56
  Speaker 13: Shame on thee? Shame? I pray you heed him not,
• 1:22:00
  Speaker 13: but have cut my tongue out ere I had spoken
• 1:22:02
  Speaker 13: such evil of our mistress.
• 1:22:03
  Speaker 2: Let him be he doth but hint what every hawker cries.
• 1:22:08
  Speaker 13: But he did wrong to speak, And thou to hear
• 1:22:11
  Speaker 13: so sweet a lady, And at such an hour were
• 1:22:15
  Speaker 13: I a man for all he is my child? My
• 1:22:17
  Speaker 13: sword should answer him?
• 1:22:19
  Speaker 5: Now?
• 1:22:19
  Speaker 19: This is more than I have will to bear. Why
• 1:22:23
  Speaker 19: twas thyself didst tell how yester night, Sir Launcelot went
• 1:22:27
  Speaker 19: to her bower alone?
• 1:22:29
  Speaker 2: Didst thou say so?
• 1:22:31
  Speaker 13: In truth? Twas so? And hath been so before? Yet?
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 13: Did I think no wrong? And now I'm sure he
• 1:22:38
  Speaker 13: bore some message from the king himself.
• 1:22:41
  Speaker 2: No he did not.
• 1:22:43
  Speaker 13: Well, then be shortwa was not, and she shall prove
• 1:22:46
  Speaker 13: it not.
• 1:22:47
  Speaker 19: Nay, mother, Nay, let us be honest. Thou wouldst serve
• 1:22:52
  Speaker 19: the Queen, and so would I? Yet may we not
• 1:22:56
  Speaker 19: be false to him whom Heaven hath made her lord
• 1:22:59
  Speaker 19: and our How canst thou say twas not? Why thou
• 1:23:05
  Speaker 19: wast there beside me? When they kissed beneath.
• 1:23:08
  Speaker 1: The may Arthur turned slowly towards Morgan.
• 1:23:12
  Speaker 2: Tell him he lies, my.
• 1:23:15
  Speaker 13: Lord, my lord, I cannot.
• 1:23:18
  Speaker 2: There'll come a time when I shall know full well
• 1:23:21
  Speaker 2: this is a dream. But now I'll play it out
• 1:23:23
  Speaker 2: as though it were true. Go get thee to.
• 1:23:26
  Speaker 13: The queen, think not too ill.
• 1:23:29
  Speaker 2: Of her, nay, nor of thee.
• 1:23:32
  Speaker 1: Exit Morgan to Mordred, Go on.
• 1:23:35
  Speaker 2: There's more to come, think you. He knows you looked
• 1:23:38
  Speaker 2: so nea and saw him.
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 19: Aye, most sure? For now, with lying tongue, he goes about,
• 1:23:46
  Speaker 19: whispering that I have hatched some treacherous plot against thy
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 19: throne and thee.
• 1:23:51
  Speaker 2: Why when I think this is some other lance luck
• 1:23:54
  Speaker 2: ye have met, and this some other king, he whom
• 1:23:58
  Speaker 2: I knew was of Ulna. It's the bravest and the truest,
• 1:24:02
  Speaker 2: serving a lord who could not have stood dumb to
• 1:24:04
  Speaker 2: hear his name befouled.
• 1:24:07
  Speaker 1: Launcelot enters and approaches the king, who does not turn
• 1:24:09
  Speaker 1: to him.
• 1:24:10
  Speaker 3: My Lord, I am here. Dost thou not send for me?
• 1:24:14
  Speaker 1: Aye?
• 1:24:15
  Speaker 2: So I did, Launcelot. The scabbard of Excalibur is stolen?
• 1:24:21
  Speaker 3: Who is the thief?
• 1:24:22
  Speaker 5: This?
• 1:24:22
  Speaker 2: Thou shalt say? Dost think tis morderate.
• 1:24:25
  Speaker 1: Launcelot starting, Why should I think so?
• 1:24:29
  Speaker 2: Why not? I have heard there is some grosser charge
• 1:24:32
  Speaker 2: that thou wouldst spring against him?
• 1:24:35
  Speaker 19: Nay, my good lord.
• 1:24:37
  Speaker 1: Let Launcelot speak, Launcelot after a pause, my Lord, I
• 1:24:43
  Speaker 1: bring no charge Launcelot to think well, ar, sure thou
• 1:24:48
  Speaker 1: knowest of naught that should disturb our peace? Launcelot after
• 1:24:52
  Speaker 1: a pause of naught?
• 1:24:54
  Speaker 2: My lord tis well? Tis well? Then both of ye
• 1:24:58
  Speaker 2: are true?
• 1:24:59
  Speaker 3: Was it for this that thou didst send for me?
• 1:25:02
  Speaker 2: Not, sir, come hither that thine eyes may feast on
• 1:25:06
  Speaker 2: this sweet picture.
• 1:25:09
  Speaker 1: Launcelot turns and starts at the sight of Eline.
• 1:25:11
  Speaker 2: Nay, sir, noted well, death too hath gone amain and
• 1:25:17
  Speaker 2: hath plucked life's fairest flower.
• 1:25:20
  Speaker 3: Elaine methought she slept.
• 1:25:23
  Speaker 2: Aye past all waking, and wouldst know the cause. The
• 1:25:28
  Speaker 2: cause why she doth sleep tis written here.
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 1: He gives Launcelot the letter as the king watches him.
• 1:25:35
  Speaker 1: He reads it and then falls on his knees before
• 1:25:38
  Speaker 1: the beer.
• 1:25:39
  Speaker 2: Yet squander not thy grief. She heeds thee. Not the
• 1:25:43
  Speaker 2: dead are dead. We give them ne'er a thought whose
• 1:25:46
  Speaker 2: care is for the living, and of all the most
• 1:25:50
  Speaker 2: for thee. Where'er she made well this new found beauty
• 1:25:54
  Speaker 2: that hath lured thy heart? We shall command her love, Nay,
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 2: but we shall thou art known the courtliest truest to
• 1:26:02
  Speaker 2: night that ever served a king. Then speak her name.
• 1:26:07
  Speaker 3: My Lord in truth?
• 1:26:10
  Speaker 2: Nay, sir, who is this maid? There is no mate, Launcelort,
• 1:26:15
  Speaker 2: Thou sayest well it is the Queen. No thou know'st
• 1:26:21
  Speaker 2: tis so thou art the thief whoso hast stolen away
• 1:26:25
  Speaker 2: that scabbard there was worth a hundred swords.
• 1:26:29
  Speaker 3: Whose tongue hath told thee this here on my life,
• 1:26:33
  Speaker 3: I'll answer him who dares accuse her honor.
• 1:26:37
  Speaker 19: Then answer me, liar.
• 1:26:40
  Speaker 3: And so I will. Yet first I'd have thee known
• 1:26:44
  Speaker 3: For what thou art traitor? I charge thee?
• 1:26:48
  Speaker 19: Now said I not.
• 1:26:51
  Speaker 1: Well, guenever enters unseen.
• 1:26:54
  Speaker 2: If he be traitor, what art thou whose sword strikes
• 1:26:58
  Speaker 2: at my heart would defend my throne? Prove this is false,
• 1:27:03
  Speaker 2: and I'll believe him false. Prove that he lies, and
• 1:27:06
  Speaker 2: I'll believe thee true again.
• 1:27:09
  Speaker 3: I sweat is false.
• 1:27:10
  Speaker 1: Guenevere coming between them?
• 1:27:12
  Speaker 12: Nay, nay tis true.
• 1:27:16
  Speaker 3: What hast thou done.
• 1:27:18
  Speaker 12: All that was left to do?
• 1:27:19
  Speaker 2: Aye? Oh, there is no more to do or say?
• 1:27:23
  Speaker 2: Death's banner floats above the blackened field. The fight is
• 1:27:28
  Speaker 2: ended and our day is done. If this be so,
• 1:27:31
  Speaker 2: but I'll not think tis so take back that word,
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 2: and none shall not twas said ah, call it back
• 1:27:39
  Speaker 2: again and lift the pow death spreads upon my heart.
• 1:27:43
  Speaker 2: So shall I kneel and bless thee, and this sword
• 1:27:46
  Speaker 2: shall strike him dumb the darest I whisper aught against
• 1:27:49
  Speaker 2: my queen.
• 1:27:51
  Speaker 1: She stands immovable.
• 1:27:53
  Speaker 2: Is this so much to ask? Aye?
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 12: Oh?
• 1:27:57
  Speaker 2: Too much? There is no might can give back to
• 1:28:00
  Speaker 2: the spring its lowliest flower, dead under changing skies. Then
• 1:28:05
  Speaker 2: how should I, with winter at my heart plead with
• 1:28:08
  Speaker 2: the ruined summer for its rose? Thou hast no word, no.
• 1:28:13
  Speaker 12: Word to cure what's done.
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 1: Arthur to Lancelot, Then arm thyself.
• 1:28:18
  Speaker 2: My sword shall find its sheath deep in thy heart.
• 1:28:22
  Speaker 3: Strike on, strike on, I say, for death is all
• 1:28:27
  Speaker 3: I crave.
• 1:28:28
  Speaker 2: Then take it now.
• 1:28:30
  Speaker 1: Arthur runs on Lancelot, but the uplifted sword drops from
• 1:28:33
  Speaker 1: his hand.
• 1:28:35
  Speaker 2: I cannot kill thee. Some sudden boze he doth beat
• 1:28:39
  Speaker 2: down this arm. Its strength is gone. Ye'd think naught
• 1:28:44
  Speaker 2: tis the love I bore thee once? That's clean forgotten? Now?
• 1:28:48
  Speaker 2: Nor is it mercy? For had the same wrong chance
• 1:28:51
  Speaker 2: to the meanest hind that calls me king. My sword
• 1:28:54
  Speaker 2: had leapt in vengeance, and my soul had straight to
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 2: prove the deed. Yet here I stand that cannot strike
• 1:29:02
  Speaker 2: a blow in mine own cause. Is this a curse
• 1:29:05
  Speaker 2: that Heaven hath set on kings who may not love
• 1:29:09
  Speaker 2: nor hate like common men? Or is this a rank
• 1:29:12
  Speaker 2: poison in a crown that stamps the brand of coward
• 1:29:15
  Speaker 2: on the brows of him who wears it? Go? Then
• 1:29:19
  Speaker 2: get thee. Hence join with some foe that dares assault
• 1:29:23
  Speaker 2: our throne, with bryons, or with mark who hungees still
• 1:29:29
  Speaker 2: for open war. I league thyself with them, And in
• 1:29:33
  Speaker 2: that hour the hand that folters now in England's course
• 1:29:36
  Speaker 2: shall find its force again and strike thee to the earth,
• 1:29:41
  Speaker 2: till then live on.
• 1:29:43
  Speaker 1: Launcelot goes out as Arthur turns to Mordred.
• 1:29:46
  Speaker 2: Leave us alone. There's something left to say, Mordred, that's
• 1:29:50
  Speaker 2: not for thee.
• 1:29:52
  Speaker 1: Exit Mordred, and must I live.
• 1:29:55
  Speaker 2: It is too late to die, too late, too late,
• 1:30:00
  Speaker 2: I would. Death's marbled finger had been laid on those
• 1:30:03
  Speaker 2: sweet lips when first they link'd.
• 1:30:05
  Speaker 1: With mine, pointing to alene o'er.
• 1:30:08
  Speaker 2: Locked in death's white arms, love lies secure in changeless
• 1:30:13
  Speaker 2: sleep that knows no dream of change. Tis life, not death.
• 1:30:18
  Speaker 2: That is Love's sepulcher, where each day tells her passionate hearts,
• 1:30:22
  Speaker 2: grown strange and perjured vows chime with the answering bell
• 1:30:27
  Speaker 2: that tolls Love's funeral. If thou wouldst boast of this
• 1:30:31
  Speaker 2: new sway, a woman's wile, hath won go till the
• 1:30:35
  Speaker 2: world Thy heart hath slain, a heart that once had
• 1:30:38
  Speaker 2: been a king's. Yet that's not all. Thou too, hast
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 2: been a queen whose soul shone clear, a staff for
• 1:30:46
  Speaker 2: all men's worship. And the lamp set high in heaven,
• 1:30:50
  Speaker 2: whereby all frailer hearts should steer their course towards God.
• 1:30:54
  Speaker 2: Then tis not I His life lies broken here, for
• 1:30:58
  Speaker 2: at thy fall shattered kingdom bleeds.
• 1:31:02
  Speaker 1: At the end of this speech, a sound of warlike
• 1:31:05
  Speaker 1: music is heard, and the stage fills with knights headed
• 1:31:08
  Speaker 1: by Gawaine and Agravaine.
• 1:31:10
  Speaker 5: My lord, my Lord Corleum is besieged.
• 1:31:15
  Speaker 4: Enter Mordred, and we thy knights here, armed and ready,
• 1:31:18
  Speaker 4: do but wait to know our king's command.
• 1:31:22
  Speaker 19: Then let me lead them forth. The chance is desperate,
• 1:31:26
  Speaker 19: and thy greater life is England's, not thine own.
• 1:31:30
  Speaker 2: Nay thou shalt stay, Thou art the one thing left
• 1:31:34
  Speaker 2: my soul deare trust for in this wreck of love
• 1:31:38
  Speaker 2: truth stands for Oh soound out for war.
• 1:31:42
  Speaker 1: Pointing to gwinepear, yet, pray.
• 1:31:44
  Speaker 2: You you so her well. We do not roughly trample
• 1:31:47
  Speaker 2: down the flower that grows upon a grave, then use
• 1:31:51
  Speaker 2: her well, for there entombed lies one who was my queen, Gawain.
• 1:31:56
  Speaker 2: I come, the king shall lead thee forth. My short
• 1:32:01
  Speaker 2: is drawn. I want to know scabbard.
• 1:32:03
  Speaker 1: Now Arthur holds up his naked sword, and all the
• 1:32:06
  Speaker 1: knights raise their swords in answer as the curtain falls.
• 1:32:11
  Speaker 1: End of Act three, Act four of King Arthur, a
• 1:32:20
  Speaker 1: drama in a prolog and four acts by Joseph commons car.
• 1:32:24
  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
• 1:32:27
  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
• 1:32:31
  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Act four, The Passing of Arthur.
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 1: Scene one the Queen's prison in the castle at Camelot
• 1:32:41
  Speaker 1: door leading to the Queen's chamber. Another door, heavily barred
• 1:32:46
  Speaker 1: window at back. Gaoler discovered keeping guard as the scene opens,
• 1:32:52
  Speaker 1: knocking it outer door, who knocks without one?
• 1:32:55
  Speaker 10: Who bears a message for the queen.
• 1:32:58
  Speaker 1: Gaoler opens door and admits the messenger.
• 1:33:00
  Speaker 11: What saith, Sir Mordred? May she see her fool?
• 1:33:04
  Speaker 10: Aye? I have brought him hither.
• 1:33:06
  Speaker 11: That will content her much. She hath cried often for her.
• 1:33:09
  Speaker 10: Fool, Yet methinks she shall suck but poor entertainment from
• 1:33:13
  Speaker 10: the fellow. Now his wits are clean gone, and faith
• 1:33:17
  Speaker 10: he is not like to smile again?
• 1:33:19
  Speaker 11: What mean you, sir?
• 1:33:21
  Speaker 10: The news of Arthur's death is now made sure, and
• 1:33:24
  Speaker 10: what is worst is said twas Launcelot's sword that struck
• 1:33:27
  Speaker 10: him down.
• 1:33:28
  Speaker 11: Who shall tell this to the queen?
• 1:33:30
  Speaker 10: Within the hour? Sir Mordred comes himself to bear the news.
• 1:33:34
  Speaker 10: Think you twill stir her heart?
• 1:33:36
  Speaker 11: Indeed, I think not so. Look where she comes, her
• 1:33:39
  Speaker 11: white face like the headstone at a grave, or lettered
• 1:33:43
  Speaker 11: with the story of a day that ended long ago.
• 1:33:46
  Speaker 1: Enter Guinebier. She holds a bird in her hands.
• 1:33:50
  Speaker 12: See what I've trapped? It fluttered at the bars and
• 1:33:53
  Speaker 12: fell there at my feet. I'd have it caged that
• 1:33:56
  Speaker 12: I it's gowler may have leaved a dream that I
• 1:33:59
  Speaker 12: am free, And then perchance one day this little bird
• 1:34:03
  Speaker 12: will come and pray to me, who, being a queen,
• 1:34:06
  Speaker 12: must needs be merciful and break its wicker walls.
• 1:34:11
  Speaker 1: Gaola taking the bird, I'll carege it now. He goes
• 1:34:14
  Speaker 1: towards door, and she sees the messenger.
• 1:34:17
  Speaker 12: Ah, sir, you're from the court. Where is my four
• 1:34:20
  Speaker 12: Sir d'agunay? Is that denying me too? Twas not so.
• 1:34:24
  Speaker 10: Much to ask, Madam. He's here, and yet so changed.
• 1:34:28
  Speaker 10: I fear he will not know.
• 1:34:29
  Speaker 1: Thee opens door and Dagoney enters.
• 1:34:33
  Speaker 12: That counts for nought. I scarce do know myself. Come
• 1:34:37
  Speaker 12: hither d'agonay, sirs, by your leave.
• 1:34:41
  Speaker 1: Gaolar and messenger Exian.
• 1:34:43
  Speaker 12: Dost thou not know thy queen?
• 1:34:45
  Speaker 9: Aye very well? There were two of them. For there
• 1:34:48
  Speaker 9: was one look you, that came with the spring from Camalert,
• 1:34:51
  Speaker 9: and she had a face that touched heaven. And there
• 1:34:54
  Speaker 9: was one that kept a poison on her lip for
• 1:34:56
  Speaker 9: Launcelot's kissing, and Harkee last night eat the moon. I
• 1:35:01
  Speaker 9: saw them both kneeling.
• 1:35:02
  Speaker 3: Beside a grave, whose grave.
• 1:35:05
  Speaker 9: I know not I for the stone was bare, and
• 1:35:07
  Speaker 9: they did not but.
• 1:35:08
  Speaker 12: Weep, I'll tell thee. Then this grave I think was Gwenevere's,
• 1:35:12
  Speaker 12: who died that hour when she was born. And these
• 1:35:15
  Speaker 12: two queens, who through the night keep watch beside her tomb,
• 1:35:19
  Speaker 12: are but her shadows fashioned for the mask which men
• 1:35:23
  Speaker 12: call life. Poor puppets that must dance while unseen fingers
• 1:35:27
  Speaker 12: touch the trembling strings. But whence that music comes from
• 1:35:32
  Speaker 12: heaven or hell? There's none shall say till all life's
• 1:35:36
  Speaker 12: lamps burn out, and death stands forth to claim the
• 1:35:39
  Speaker 12: harper's fee.
• 1:35:41
  Speaker 11: Enter Gala magroom, So Mordred comes.
• 1:35:45
  Speaker 1: Enter Mordred, exiunt galer and Dagony.
• 1:35:50
  Speaker 19: Great Queen, I bear thee news that sets THEE free?
• 1:35:55
  Speaker 19: What news is that, thy lord? The king is dead?
• 1:36:00
  Speaker 1: Dead?
• 1:36:01
  Speaker 12: Art thou sure?
• 1:36:02
  Speaker 7: Why?
• 1:36:03
  Speaker 12: Then, sir, he is free? And I that was his gaula.
• 1:36:06
  Speaker 12: May not weep yet count not that against me? For
• 1:36:09
  Speaker 12: I think tears are not all truth.
• 1:36:12
  Speaker 19: Thou art wrong to weep? Dost thou not know twas
• 1:36:17
  Speaker 19: Arthur's cruel will that set thee in this prison?
• 1:36:21
  Speaker 5: Aye?
• 1:36:21
  Speaker 12: I know that thou hast said twas so, and.
• 1:36:25
  Speaker 19: So it is. But now have come to break these
• 1:36:28
  Speaker 19: prison bars, and so give back unto our desert world
• 1:36:32
  Speaker 19: at life's sweetest rose, that hungers for the sun.
• 1:36:36
  Speaker 12: And who art thou whose new found sovereignty rides or
• 1:36:39
  Speaker 12: the king's decree?
• 1:36:41
  Speaker 19: I am thy king.
• 1:36:43
  Speaker 12: There is no king save one, and he is dead.
• 1:36:46
  Speaker 12: Yet if it was his will to leave me here,
• 1:36:49
  Speaker 12: why here I'll stay?
• 1:36:52
  Speaker 19: Nay, then thou dost not guess the gift I bear
• 1:36:55
  Speaker 19: thee guinevere. Those lips molded by love's own hand are
• 1:37:01
  Speaker 19: not yet doomed for death's embrace. Their kiss is for
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 19: a king, yet not like that dead lord, whose bloodless
• 1:37:09
  Speaker 19: soul wings to a frozen heaven, who woos thee? Now
• 1:37:13
  Speaker 19: is man not God? And in his brimming veins runs
• 1:37:17
  Speaker 19: longings like thine own.
• 1:37:20
  Speaker 12: I thought till now that I had suffered all. But
• 1:37:23
  Speaker 12: here I see my shame doth but begin twas not
• 1:37:26
  Speaker 12: enough that through my sin, for all succeeding time, Hell's
• 1:37:30
  Speaker 12: mocking laugh shall haunt the voice of spring, and plant
• 1:37:34
  Speaker 12: its poisoned echo in each bower where lover's vows are sworn. Nay,
• 1:37:38
  Speaker 12: this is more that she whom love doth once make
• 1:37:42
  Speaker 12: false to love, must henceforth bear the common brand of lust,
• 1:37:47
  Speaker 12: seeming the painted toy that every man may purchase at
• 1:37:50
  Speaker 12: his price.
• 1:37:51
  Speaker 19: Why thou dost dream here at thy feet I lay
• 1:37:55
  Speaker 19: an empire's throne, where thou, in equal majesty, shall reign
• 1:38:00
  Speaker 19: once more a queen.
• 1:38:02
  Speaker 12: A wanton, not a queen who for this piece of
• 1:38:05
  Speaker 12: gold thou call'st a crown would take thy murderous kiss.
• 1:38:10
  Speaker 19: Nay, have care, My love lies near to hate.
• 1:38:15
  Speaker 12: I fear thy love. Thy hate is not truth.
• 1:38:19
  Speaker 19: Thou shalt find it more than thou hast ever dreamed.
• 1:38:24
  Speaker 1: Shouts without long live the king.
• 1:38:26
  Speaker 19: Dost hear that cry? It is the echoing voice of
• 1:38:30
  Speaker 19: England's knights, who hail me King.
• 1:38:33
  Speaker 12: And they were Arthur's knights ay, they.
• 1:38:37
  Speaker 19: Loved Arthur well. Yet when they learn as so, they
• 1:38:41
  Speaker 19: shall For I will vouch it true twas Launcelot's sword
• 1:38:46
  Speaker 19: did pierce him to the heart. Their eyes will turn
• 1:38:48
  Speaker 19: on her, whose shameful sin made Launcelot false. See then
• 1:38:54
  Speaker 19: thy fate stands clear. Thou art Death's bride or mine?
• 1:38:59
  Speaker 19: Thy choice is free?
• 1:39:01
  Speaker 12: Why then I choose to die? Yea, though my soul
• 1:39:04
  Speaker 12: slip down to hell. Hell were a paradise.
• 1:39:07
  Speaker 1: Whilst thou art here exit Guinevere by heaven.
• 1:39:12
  Speaker 19: Then thou shalt die enter.
• 1:39:15
  Speaker 13: Morgan Ryan's is trapped and dying. Hath confessed his treeson
• 1:39:20
  Speaker 13: and thine own.
• 1:39:21
  Speaker 19: Then Arthur lives, and all is lost.
• 1:39:24
  Speaker 13: Nay, all is left to win. This news is secret,
• 1:39:28
  Speaker 13: and the long ere tis known. Thy sword shall pierce.
• 1:39:31
  Speaker 19: His heart or his sword mine?
• 1:39:34
  Speaker 13: What would thou question fate? He Pendragon's son shall slay
• 1:39:39
  Speaker 13: that is born with the may, So fate decreed. His
• 1:39:44
  Speaker 13: blood is thine and mine.
• 1:39:46
  Speaker 1: Shouts, long live King Mordred, Death to Guinevere, grow louder
• 1:39:51
  Speaker 1: to the end, Go take.
• 1:39:54
  Speaker 13: Thy crown, and none shall dare to question what is
• 1:39:58
  Speaker 13: done or remains to do exit.
• 1:40:01
  Speaker 19: So fate take all to halt or death, and that
• 1:40:06
  Speaker 19: oncoming flood of time's uplifted wave can hold no more.
• 1:40:11
  Speaker 1: Exit scene to the Great Hall at Camelot. As the
• 1:40:16
  Speaker 1: scene is disclosed, the hall is filled with armed knights.
• 1:40:20
  Speaker 1: Mordred is on the throne, accompanied by Morgan and surrounded
• 1:40:23
  Speaker 1: by the retinue of the court. Guinevere stands before the throne.
• 1:40:27
  Speaker 1: Mordred turns to her.
• 1:40:30
  Speaker 19: By England's knights in council, thou dost stand condemned of
• 1:40:33
  Speaker 19: treason against thy Lord, the King, whose death lies at
• 1:40:37
  Speaker 19: thy charge. Yet we who bear the crown that Arthur wore,
• 1:40:42
  Speaker 19: now give THEE leave to plead in thy defense. If
• 1:40:46
  Speaker 19: there be aught which thou canst urge, why judgment should
• 1:40:49
  Speaker 19: be stayed, stand forth and speak.
• 1:40:53
  Speaker 1: We pray you hear her not, Guinevere turning with a
• 1:40:56
  Speaker 1: look of scorn towards Mordred, but.
• 1:40:59
  Speaker 12: Still is to say, is not for thee.
• 1:41:02
  Speaker 19: Then let the sentence go. Queen Gwenevere, daughter of Leodo,
• 1:41:06
  Speaker 19: grounds of Cornwall, Now hear thy judgment. As the law
• 1:41:10
  Speaker 19: decrees that first despoiled of thy royal robes, thou shalt
• 1:41:15
  Speaker 19: be fastened to an iron steak, until thy mortal body
• 1:41:19
  Speaker 19: be consumed in fiery.
• 1:41:20
  Speaker 12: Flames, and saith the law no more?
• 1:41:24
  Speaker 19: Aye this, it adds that if thy prayer may win
• 1:41:28
  Speaker 19: some champion for thy cause, then this same knight shall
• 1:41:32
  Speaker 19: claim do right of battle against that lord whose charge
• 1:41:35
  Speaker 19: hath brought thee here?
• 1:41:37
  Speaker 12: And who is that?
• 1:41:38
  Speaker 19: Tis I who charge thee?
• 1:41:40
  Speaker 5: Now?
• 1:41:40
  Speaker 12: Why, then, sir knights, I'll kneel and pray to you.
• 1:41:44
  Speaker 12: If haply one find heart to serve his queen, Think
• 1:41:47
  Speaker 12: not I plead for this poor gift of life? Nay
• 1:41:51
  Speaker 12: could I choose? These hands should bear fresh faggots to
• 1:41:54
  Speaker 12: the blaze that lights me to a tomb. Yet hear me,
• 1:41:57
  Speaker 12: all who stands my knight to day shall rest from
• 1:42:00
  Speaker 12: time a crown of glory. Nought sirs, that he fought
• 1:42:04
  Speaker 12: for one whose sin knows no desert save death, that
• 1:42:08
  Speaker 12: were but shame. Yet whoso dares that shame his sword
• 1:42:12
  Speaker 12: shall win the right denied him else to slay that
• 1:42:15
  Speaker 12: crawling thing upon thy throne. Wherefore I cry a champion
• 1:42:19
  Speaker 12: for my cause.
• 1:42:21
  Speaker 1: Mordred, who has descended from the throne, whispers aside, too.
• 1:42:25
  Speaker 19: Late, my queen, too late? What wouldst thou give to
• 1:42:30
  Speaker 19: win a king's kiss. Now doth no one speak? Then Harold,
• 1:42:37
  Speaker 19: let the trumpet's tongue bray out her knight is gone
• 1:42:41
  Speaker 19: a hawking, or perchance he sleeps too late.
• 1:42:44
  Speaker 1: The trumpet sounds, and at the third call, Sir Bedebir
• 1:42:47
  Speaker 1: breaks through the throng and stands before Mordred.
• 1:42:50
  Speaker 13: Hold there, Sir, Harold, hither comes a knight to answer
• 1:42:53
  Speaker 13: for the queen?
• 1:42:54
  Speaker 19: Who is this knight?
• 1:42:56
  Speaker 2: Sir?
• 1:42:56
  Speaker 13: By your leave that shall be better told than I
• 1:42:58
  Speaker 13: is done.
• 1:42:59
  Speaker 1: The knight give way, and Arthur stands alone with lowered helm.
• 1:43:04
  Speaker 19: See Madam, where he stands thy champion, who must needs
• 1:43:09
  Speaker 19: have come from far to answer in such cause?
• 1:43:13
  Speaker 1: Guinevere kneels at Arthur's feet.
• 1:43:15
  Speaker 12: I thank thee, Sir, Yet now I do repent me
• 1:43:18
  Speaker 12: of what's done, and fain would set thee free. Put
• 1:43:21
  Speaker 12: up thy sword. I am not worthy that a true
• 1:43:24
  Speaker 12: knight's blood should flow for me. See I will tell
• 1:43:27
  Speaker 12: THEE all. I had a champion once, the mightiest knight,
• 1:43:31
  Speaker 12: the bravest and the truest in the world. He was
• 1:43:35
  Speaker 12: my lord, and I, his chosen queen, brought him to shame. Then,
• 1:43:39
  Speaker 12: wherefore praise him now Nay, Sir, I must, for that
• 1:43:44
  Speaker 12: is life's hard law, which will not yield its secret
• 1:43:47
  Speaker 12: till the close. When Arthur went, the sun shot scarlet red,
• 1:43:52
  Speaker 12: and all the past lay bare. Then pray thee, sir,
• 1:43:55
  Speaker 12: put up thy sword that waits a worthier cause.
• 1:43:59
  Speaker 1: It pause, But Arthur makes no sign thou wilt not.
• 1:44:03
  Speaker 12: Then I'll ask this much of thee. When death shall
• 1:44:06
  Speaker 12: call thee home. It's so my chance that thou shalt
• 1:44:09
  Speaker 12: meet my lord, if that should be, give him this
• 1:44:13
  Speaker 12: word that at the end his queen knew him for
• 1:44:16
  Speaker 12: what he was, true Lord of all, go lead her.
• 1:44:21
  Speaker 6: Hence so God defend our king.
• 1:44:24
  Speaker 1: Exit Guinevere, followed by Agravain and knights. Mordred turns to Arthur,
• 1:44:29
  Speaker 1: who remains motionless, Morgan watching him intently from the steps
• 1:44:34
  Speaker 1: of the throne. Sir Bedevir stands by Arthur, and.
• 1:44:38
  Speaker 19: Now I'm thine yet first by Heaven, I'll know the
• 1:44:42
  Speaker 19: face beneath that mask.
• 1:44:45
  Speaker 2: Twas kept for thee.
• 1:44:48
  Speaker 1: As he lifts his helm, Mordred starts back the king.
• 1:44:52
  Speaker 2: Ay, Sir, the king, who about to win this little
• 1:44:55
  Speaker 2: hour from out the wreck of time, would take life's
• 1:44:58
  Speaker 2: wearied hand and travel back across the ruined past. Should
• 1:45:02
  Speaker 2: Fate declare that only so his sword might claim the
• 1:45:06
  Speaker 2: right to slay thee?
• 1:45:08
  Speaker 19: Now pray on I fear.
• 1:45:10
  Speaker 13: Thee nought thou hast forgot the message of the May.
• 1:45:14
  Speaker 13: Then hear it now.
• 1:45:16
  Speaker 2: Enough twas thou false witch that stole the scabbard of excalibur.
• 1:45:22
  Speaker 2: Yet see the blade remain to every stroke is winged
• 1:45:26
  Speaker 2: by death.
• 1:45:28
  Speaker 13: Not so not so, my lord, that fickle steel shall
• 1:45:32
  Speaker 13: splinter as it falls on one twice, arm'd by fate.
• 1:45:35
  Speaker 13: He Pendragon's son shall slay that is borne with the May.
• 1:45:39
  Speaker 13: See there he stands.
• 1:45:42
  Speaker 2: Why then the end is here, said on, Sir, Knight.
• 1:45:46
  Speaker 2: Death stands betwixt us Twain and death shall choose.
• 1:45:51
  Speaker 1: They fight, and Arthur is.
• 1:45:53
  Speaker 2: Wounded, traitor that blow ends all.
• 1:45:58
  Speaker 1: He falls to the earth.
• 1:46:00
  Speaker 13: Long live the King.
• 1:46:02
  Speaker 1: The trumpet is heard without?
• 1:46:04
  Speaker 13: Does hear that sound? Nay, look not on what's done?
• 1:46:07
  Speaker 13: There's more to do. Her soul shall join with his
• 1:46:11
  Speaker 13: to wing its way across Knight, starle.
• 1:46:12
  Speaker 1: The sky, exant Morgan and Mordred. And as they go
• 1:46:17
  Speaker 1: they are greeted by cries from without.
• 1:46:20
  Speaker 10: Long live the King.
• 1:46:23
  Speaker 2: Nay, sirs, tis not for long, I'm dying, bedevere.
• 1:46:29
  Speaker 10: Where is my sword there in thy hand.
• 1:46:32
  Speaker 2: Poor hand that knew it? Not go quick thee bed
• 1:46:36
  Speaker 2: avere and bear it hence unto that little bay hid
• 1:46:40
  Speaker 2: in Nicliffe. Then cast it in the sea, to wait
• 1:46:43
  Speaker 2: the day when upward from the shrieking wave shall spring
• 1:46:48
  Speaker 2: a vast sea, brood of mighty strain than ours, bearing
• 1:46:52
  Speaker 2: across the world from end to end. One cry to
• 1:46:56
  Speaker 2: all our sword is in the sea.
• 1:47:00
  Speaker 23: Why then tis done?
• 1:47:02
  Speaker 1: He takes sword and goes off.
• 1:47:04
  Speaker 2: Life's tide is ebbing fast.
• 1:47:08
  Speaker 1: Gawain enters hurriedly.
• 1:47:10
  Speaker 5: Nay, what is here the wreck of all the world?
• 1:47:15
  Speaker 2: Peace, sir, I know thy news.
• 1:47:18
  Speaker 5: The queen is dead, not so she lives, And thou
• 1:47:24
  Speaker 5: art well avenged by one who, dying struck thy murderer down?
• 1:47:30
  Speaker 2: Didst know him? Go away?
• 1:47:33
  Speaker 5: I knew him once, the courtliest knight that ever bear
• 1:47:38
  Speaker 5: a shield, the sternest soldier to his mortal foe. Yet
• 1:47:44
  Speaker 5: gentlest of us all Nay, sir, his name, his name,
• 1:47:49
  Speaker 5: my lord was Launcelot Lancelot.
• 1:47:53
  Speaker 2: Ah. So life's long night is breaking at the last.
• 1:48:00
  Speaker 1: One of your enters. While the figure of Merlin appears
• 1:48:02
  Speaker 1: standing above the recumbent form of Arthur.
• 1:48:05
  Speaker 12: Where is that knight who died that I might live?
• 1:48:08
  Speaker 5: Hush, lady, here he is.
• 1:48:12
  Speaker 1: She sees the face of Arthur and falls at his feet.
• 1:48:15
  Speaker 2: My lord, my lord, whose face was there? I pray you,
• 1:48:21
  Speaker 2: some one say, for oh grows dark? I know not
• 1:48:26
  Speaker 2: where I am.
• 1:48:27
  Speaker 12: Her name was Gwenevere.
• 1:48:29
  Speaker 1: What, sir, why then this should be cameliad rousing himself
• 1:48:35
  Speaker 1: with sudden energy?
• 1:48:37
  Speaker 2: See tis the spring down in the veil, the blossoms
• 1:48:40
  Speaker 2: of the mare swinging in the sun. And there she
• 1:48:44
  Speaker 2: stands that shall be England's Queen. Far up. I hear
• 1:48:48
  Speaker 2: the ceaseless beating of Death's restless wing, And around mine
• 1:48:53
  Speaker 2: eyes the circling veil of night grows deeper as it falls.
• 1:48:58
  Speaker 2: Henceforth my sword rests in its scabbard. What remains is peace.
• 1:49:08
  Speaker 1: He falls back dead.
• 1:49:11
  Speaker 12: He's gone. The light of all the world lies dead.
• 1:49:16
  Speaker 1: The stage darkens, leaving a light only on the face
• 1:49:19
  Speaker 1: of Merlin.
• 1:49:21
  Speaker 16: Not so he doth, but pass who cannot die, The
• 1:49:26
  Speaker 16: King that was, the King that yet shall be, whose
• 1:49:30
  Speaker 16: spirit born along from age to age is England to
• 1:49:34
  Speaker 16: the end. Look where the dawn sweeps through a wider heaven,
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 16: and on its wings by those three Queens of Night.
• 1:49:42
  Speaker 16: His barge is borne to that sweet Isle of Avalon,
• 1:49:46
  Speaker 16: whose sleep can heal all earthly wounds.
• 1:49:51
  Speaker 1: During this speech, the stage grows darker, and as the
• 1:49:54
  Speaker 1: vision appears at the back of Arthur born in the barge,
• 1:49:58
  Speaker 1: with the three queens spending on over his body, the
• 1:50:01
  Speaker 1: chorus breaks out and continues till the end.
• 1:50:05
  Speaker 16: Sleep, Oh, Sleep, till Warn awakens.
• 1:50:09
  Speaker 11: To the echoing horn.
• 1:50:11
  Speaker 8: That's Greek King, King.
• 1:50:14
  Speaker 18: That was and is to be, And a voice from
• 1:50:18
  Speaker 18: shore to shore cross and sleep.
• 1:50:22
  Speaker 3: No more greet the dawn.
• 1:50:25
  Speaker 16: The England's sword is in the sea.
• 1:50:30
  Speaker 1: End of Act four. End of King Arthur, a drama
• 1:50:35
  Speaker 1: in a prologue and four acts by Joseph Commons car