University of Virginia Library

Scene IV

Arundel Castle. A passage by the door into Tristan's chamber
Iseult of Arundel, with a small dog, leans against the partition
Kurvenal enters
Iseult of Arundel.
No, Kurvenal!

Kurvenal.
But I am older than your tart refusals;
And my dear Master
So strangely sick, I will have access to him . . .
Wounded and venomed—sick to death! This stillness
Has nothing of the heaving up and down
In the air where there is breathing.

Iseult of Arundel
(listening).
There is breath;
Have patience, Kurvenal. My brother watches.

Kurvenal.
The lad he calls his brother! He forgets
To call me servant, and I am his servant;
But poets never keep the truth of names.
If you knew all!

[He moves away: she listens more intently.
Iseult of Arundel.
Tristan is speaking loud.
I have missed something, but . . .
Hush, Petit Cru! . . .
He speaks so loud and clear, I shall know all.
[She lays her head against the door for a long while.
The voices now are still, and Petit Cru
Is quiet at my feet. I cannot stir,
I cannot move . . .
I am as a dead bird that rocks and swings,
Nailed to its gibbet.
It were good to pass
Within the chamber . . .
[She shakes her head.
Petit Cru, the door
Will open, and thy master call for thee.
I will not suffer it: though he may call,
Thou shalt not be caressed of him again.
I am quite alone. All love him—
Kahedin—
I am a little thing to stand alone!