Complete Works of Thomas Hardy (Illustrated) (1090 page)
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Authors: Thomas Hardy
TRAGEDY OF THE QUEEN OF CORNWALL
This one-act play was published in 1923 and first performed by the Hardy Players, a local, talented amateur group in Dorchester, for whom Hardy had written the drama. The entire play is set in Tintagel during a single day, with a true time frame.
CONTENTS
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.
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.
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.
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 the archway) The King’s arriving! Ho!
Enter Herald. Sounds a trumpet. Enter Brangwain.
SCENE II
ENTERHerald, Brangwain, and Chanters.
Herald
The King’s at hand!
Brangwain
God’s grace, she’s home, either from far or near!
Herald
Whither plied she? Many would like to hear!
Chanters: M. and W.
We do not know. We will not know.
She took a ship from the shore below, And was gone many days.
By friending winds she’s back before him:
Extol God should she and adore Him For covering up her ways!
Enter King Mark with Sir Andret and other Knights, retinue, and rude music of ram’s - horns, crouds, and humstrums, Brangwain standing aside.
SCENE III
King Mark, Knights, Retinue, etc., Brangwain, and Chanters.
K. Mark Where is the Queen?
Drinks from silver flagon which has been standing on the hearth on a brandise. Retinue drink after him from the same.
Brangwain (
advancing)
Sir King, the Queen attires To meet your Majesty, and now comes down. {Aside.) Haply he will not know!
Enter Queen Iseult the Fair attended, and followed by the hound Houdain.
SCENE IV
Queen Iseult, King Mark, Knights, Brangwain, etc., and Chanters.
(Q. Iseult has dark hair, and wears a crimson robe, and tiara or circlet.)
Mark smacks the Queen on her shoulders in rough greeting.
K. Mark Why is this brachet in the hall again?
Q. Iseult I know not how she came here.
K. Mark
Nay, my wife,
Thou dost know well — as I know women well! —
And know her owner more than well, I reckon, And that he left the beast to your regard.
He kicks the dog away.
Sir Andret
[aside to
K. Mark)
Aye, aye, great King, thou speakest wisely on’t
This time as ever. Wives dost thrid all through!
Exeunt severally
Knights, Retinue, etc.,
and
Brangwain.
SCENE V
King Mark, Queen Iseult, and Chanters.
Q. Iseult
I’ve not beheld of late the man you mean; Maybe, my lord, you have shut him in the
dungeon, As you did formerly!
K. Mark
You spell me better! And know he has felt full liberty for long, And that you would have seen him, and much more,
Had not debarred you one o’ those crosses which,
Happily, scotch unlawful lovers’ schemes No less than sanct intents. If that good knight
Dallies in Brittany with his good wife — So finger-white — to cheer her as he ought, ‘Tis clear he can’t be here.
Q. Iseult (with slight sarcasm)
‘Tis clear. You plead
Somewhat in waste to prove as much. But, faith, (-petulantly)
‘Twas she, times tiresome, quirked and called to him
Or he would not have gone!
K. Mark
Ah, know’st thou that!
Leave her alone, a woman let’s all out!
Well, I may know things too. I slipped in sly
When I came home by now, and lit on this:
That while I’ve sued the chase you followed him,
Vanishing on a voyage of some days,
Which you’d fain cloak from me, and have confessed
To no one, either, of my people here.
Q. Iseult (evasively)
I went to take the air, being qualmed to death.
Surely a queen is dowered with such degree
Of queenship, or what is’t to be a queen?
No foot, I swear, set I in Brittany, Or upon soil of any neighbour shore, ‘Twixt putting from the cove below these walls
And my return hereto.
K. Mark
Protests — no more!
You sailed off somewhere, — (so a sea-nath * hints me
That heeds the tidings every troubled billow
Wails to the Beeny-Sisters from Pen-Tyre) —
At risk, too, of your life, the ship being small,
And trickful tempests lurking in the skies.
A woman does not raise a mast for nought
On a cockle-shell, even be the sea-signs fair.
But I have scorned to ask the mariners
The course you bore — or north, or south, or what —
It might have been to Brittany, it might not!
Q. Iseult I have not seen him.
* nath,
a puffin (Cornish).
K. Mark
Well, you might have done’t
Each sunrise, noon, or eve, for all the joy
You show in my return, or gladness wont
To a queen shore-reached in safety — so they tell me —
Since you crept cat-like home.
Q. Iseult (indignantly)
I saw him not!