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CONTENTS
CHARACTERS
THE TRAGEDY OF THE QUEEN OF CORNWALL
PROLOGUE
SCENE I
SCENE II
SCENE III
SCENE IV
SCENE V
SCENE VI
SCENE VII
SCENE VIII
SCENE IX
SCENE X
SCENE XI
SCENE XII
SCENE XIII
SCENE XIV
SCENE XV
SCENE XVI
SCENE XVII
SCENE XVIII
SCENE XIX
SCENE XX
SCENE XXI
SCENE XXII
EPILOGUE
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CHARACTERS
MARK, KING OF CORNWALL.
SIR TRISTRAM.
SIR ANDRET.
OTHER KNIGHTS.
SQUIRES.
MESSENGER.
HERALD.
WATCHMAN.
RETAINERS, MUSICIANS, ETC.
ISEULT THE FAIR, QUEEN OF CORNWALL.
ISEULT THE WHITEHANDED.
DAME BRANGWAIN.
DAMSEL.
THE QUEEN’S ATTENDANTS, BOWERWOMEN, ETC.
SHADES OF DEAD OLD CORNISH MEN
SHADES OF DEAD CORNISH WOMEN
MERLIN.
The Time covered by the events is about the Time of representation.
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THE TRAGEDY OF THE QUEEN OF CORNWALL
The Stage can be any large room; round or at the end of which the audience sits. It is potrayed as the interior of the Great Hall of Tintagel Castle. The floor is strewn with rushes : that there is an arch in the back-centre (a doorway or other opening may counterfeit this) through which the Atlantic is visible across an outer ward and over the ramparts of the stronghold : that a door is on the left, and one on the right (curtains, screens or chairs may denote these) : that a settle spread with skins is among the moveables : that above at the back is a gallery (which may be represented by any elevated piece of furniture on which two actors can stand, in a corner of the room screened off).The costumes of the cast are the conventional ones of linen fabrics, made gay with knots and rosettes of ribbon, as in the old mumming shows ; though on an actual stage they may be more realistic.
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PROLOGUE
Enter MERLIN, a -phantasmal figure with a white wand. The room is darkened: a blue light may be thrown on Merlin.
MERLIN
I come, at your persuasive call,
To raise up in this modern hall
A tragedy of dire duresse
That vexed the Land of Lyonnesse: —
Scenes, with their passions, hopes, and fears
Sunk into shade these thousand years;
To set, in ghostly grave array,
Their blitheness, blood, and tears,
Feats, ardours, as if rife to-day
Before men’s eyes and ears.
The tale has travelled far and wide: —
Yea, that King Mark, to fetch his bride,
Sent Tristram; then that he and she
Quaffed a love-potion witlessly
While homeward bound. Hence that the King
Wedded one heart-aflame
For Tristram! He, in dark despair,
Roved recklessly, and wived elsewhere
One of his mistress’ name.
I saw these times I represent,
Watched, gauged them as they came and went,
Being ageless, deathless!
And those two
Fair women — namesakes — well I knew!
Judge them not harshly in a love
Whose hold on them was strong;
Sorrow therein they tasted of,
And deeply, and too long!
Exit.
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SCENE I
Enter Shades of dead old Cornish men and Shades of Cornish women from left and right
CHANTERS: MEN (in recitative)
Tristram a captive of King Mark,
Racked was the Queen with qualm and cark,
Till reached her hand a written line,
That quickened her to deft design.
CHANTERS: WOMEN
Then, Tristram out, and Mark shut in,
The Queen and Tristram winged to win
Card Castle, where, without annoy,
Monthswhile they lodged in matchless joy!
CHANTERS: MEN
Anon, when Queen Iseult had homed,
Brittany-wards Sir Tristram roamed
To greet his waiting wife,
White-handed Iseult, whom the Queen
Had recked not of. But soon, in teen
And troublous inner strife,
She Tristram of her soul besought
By wringing letters rapid-wrought
(The King gone hunting, knowing nought)
To come again to her
Even at the cost — such was her whim —
Of bringing Whitehands back with him
In wifely character.
CHANTERS: WOMEN
There was no answer.
Rest she could not;
Then we missed her, days.
We would not
Think where she might have been.
And, having sailed, maybe, twice ten
Long leagues, here came she back again,
And sad and listless — -just as when
She went — abides her mien!
CHANTERS: M. AND W.
Hist! . . . Lo; there by the nether gate
New comers hail! O who should wait
The postern door to enter by,
The bridge being clearly seen?
The King returned? — But that way; why?
Would he try trap his Queen?
WATCHMAN
(crossing without...
