Le Roi Arthus

A Lyric Drama in Three Acts

Guinevere Mezzo- Arthur Baritone Lionel Tenor Allan Baritone Plowman Tenor Knight Bass Squire Bass First and Second Soldiers Third and Fourth Soldiers Basses

Choruses of Knights, Squires, Pages, Bards and Ladies-in-Waiting

Translation by Maxime Alvarez de Toledo

Le Roi Arthus was first performed at the Théâtre Royal de , Brussels, November 30, 1903.

ACT ONE Prelude Scene I – A great hall in Arthur’s palace in Carlisle. Tapestries are hanging on the massive red brick walls. The floor is strewn with cut reeds. To the left, on a dais is the royal throne. As the curtain rises, Arthur is standing and looks as if he is just finishing a speech. is sitting next to him.The stage is busy with knights, squires and pages. Among them are Mordred and Lancelot, standing in the front row. The women are assembled beneath the throne on Guinevere’s side. The bards, dressed in their long white robes, are on the other side of the stage.

ARTHUR (silencing them with his hand) ARTHUR My friends, now that the storm is finally Glory to all of you, who fought beside me! over, The one responsible for destroying our cities Let us forget the hard times and, laying down has been defeated! our swords, The cruel Saxon, now deposessed, Let us enjoy the charms of peace! Is now rapidly sailing back to his own isles! (turning to the squires) Before the lightning of the sword Let us pour wine, cider, ale, He is fleeing on the deep waves! And golden mead, the drink of true heroes! Glory to you, knights! Let our old Gaelic city be decked out Glory to the Round Table! Jn terns, irises, and elder-blossoms! And above all, glory to God! (to the bards) Why are you not here, Merlin, on the day And you, my bards, sing on your ivory harps when The praises of the invincible, the valiant and Our common efforts are crowned with loyal knight. victory? For he is the true victor! I will say it out loud! Where are you then? Every one of you has fought hard, it is true, Am I to believe that the mighty Merlin But the victory that caused the Saxons to flee, Could be among the dead? Is awed to him! Wherever you may be, may your soul respond

To the war cries of the Britons! Look, Arthur is victorious and Brittany is free! MORDRED We have driven the Saxons away! Him! Always him!

(The crowd cheers loudly. The knights strike their LANCELOT (making a few steps towards Arthur) shields with the hilts of their swords and squires in I do not deserve, Sire, such an honor! the back of the theatre wave branches of oak) There is not one among us, like me, Who is not ready to shed all his blood for his CHORUS King! Hurrah! Hurrah! Glory to our invincible chief! BARDS When you brandish , It shines like the dawn Arthur, your rage is terrible! The white armor of the knights! Spurred on From your sword springs death! by their loud voices, The chargers were brisk, Swift as the great red eagles! MORDRED (with sarcasm and before Lancelot MORDRED (speaking quietly to a group of had time to respond) knights who are surrounding him) The valiant Lancelot, without a doubt, is That is going too far, it is always Lancelot! kindhearted! Or does this profound sadness Come from not being able to destroy EIGHT KNIGHTS (muttering among themselves) Saxons anymore, Always him! Are we not as valiant as he is As he likes to do each morning! on the ?

That is going too far! We are no longer worth anything to the ARTHUR (severely) Mordred my dear nephew, king! Do not be haughty See, Mordred, you are forgotten, you, Nor scoffing, I ask you, Arthur’s own nephew! Towards the most distinguished member of our knighthood! (At Mordred’s first BARDS words, Guinevere has started to descend He brandishes his sword made of ash from her throne. She takes a cup from one of the squires and approaches Lancelot.) wood, Lancelot, the valiant knight! Galloping across the plain, GUINEVERE His charger was brisk, Sir Lancelot, the sword is no longer king Swift as the great black eagles! When the harps start to sing! Accept this silver-gilt cup from me MORDRED Forget the cries of rage and terror, Just wait and see, soon I will avenge all of The chaos of the battle, you! And do not scorn the winged words of the bards As they sing of the battles you have won. EIGHT KNIGHTS Their hymns, light as clouds, shall grant Yes, yes, let us take our revenge! you immortality And your name will only be remembered CHORUS If the bards have sung it throughout the Glory be to Lancelot! Hurrah! Hurrah! ages!

BARDS (She offers him the cup and whispers, quickly) See how many soldiers lie dead on the Tonight...the signal ... Come. moor! Mowed down by Arthur’s warriors! (Then she moves away, passing between the ranks Lancelot himself is leading them! of the knights, and talking to a few of them.)

See their chargers, how brisk they are MORDRED (who has been watching her, aside) Swift as the great white eagles! ‘ They’re whispering to each other, he’s (Arthur comes down from his throne and trembling! approaches the knights) Ah! Guinevere, you have rejected my love, And you love him, him, that Lancelot! ARTHUR (to Lancelot) Woe betide you! Woe betide both of you! Why, my dear Lancelot, among those (Guinevere exits slowly, followed by all the women. festive chants, Arthur accompanies her to the back of the stage. Are you the only one bowing your head? When he comes back to his guests, tables have What cloud casts a shadow over your face? already been set up for the banquet. He motions to (He stands up and starts moving up stage while the knights to be seated. The curtain falls.) looking around him to make sure no one is coming. Guinevere and Lancelot appear under the porch, Scene II - A terrace in the castle. To the right, a clasped in each other’s arms. They slowly begin to covered gallery. In the foreground, a porch and walk down the steps. Lionel disappears into the trees behind it, a door lead­ ing to the queen’s private as soon as he notices them. During the to/lowing apartments. To the left, a park. In the scene, he is seen crossing the back of the stage once or background, a balustrade behind which treetops twice.) and towers can be seen. It is nighttime. The sky is overcast. From time to time, the moon appears between the clouds. When the curtain rises, Lionel Scene III is alone and sitting on the porch steps. The calls of the night watchmen can be heard in the distance. LANCELOT & GUINEVERE How delicious it is to forget about worldly

things! WATCHMEN (off stage) Hey! Hey! Ha! Enchanted dream, bright dream of love, Fragrant with the scent of roses. Sweet and profound exhilaration LIONEL In which our souls come together, Only the cries of the watchmen in the night! Silent and lost in ecstasy and bliss, Everything is sleeping. Embracing lovingly! Lancelot, what have you done?

Oh beloved master, you have taught me about honor and loyalty! LANCELOT (sitting down on a stone bench and I was hoping to receive from you the drawing Guinevere close to him) weapons of a true knight! Oh! Let me hold you closer to my breast! Alas! Should my heart condemn you in spite Closer, closer still. Like a flower, rest of myself? Your young and proud head upon my heart! Unfortunate love! Sacrilegious and cursed love... GUINEVERE Lancelot, you, Arthur’s best friend, Yes, I am yours completely. His brother in arms and in glory, My sweet Lancelot. A traitor! Disgraced! A criminal! Take my mouth! Take my eyes! How can this be? 1 am yours, I am your servant and your wife! His love has overtaken him! He lives as if in a dream, With no idea of the crime he has committed! LANCELOT No longer careful. My Guinevere! And lets his love shine through his eyes! Like a joyous bird your voice sings in my soul! And Mordred is constantly spying on them! At your side, oh, keep me forever. Mordred! Jealous of Lancelot! Only here, my Guinevere, He who was in love with Guinevere J forget what my life was before, And whose love was rejected! And how our love has transformed it. God! If he were ever to discover the truth! Alone, to protect them, I keep watch in the GUINEVERE night. My dear friend, what do you mean? What past events are you thinking of? What inflexible virtue will ever compare LIONEL To the ecstasy which inflames our two hearts? Daylight! Daylight is neart Lovers are eternal victors! Love is the only master, the supreme master. WATCHMEN (off stage) My beloved, be happy as I am! Hey! Hey! 1 love you passionately, without remorse, without fear. I know nothing more than LIONEL That I love you, I love you! Master, you must leave!

LANCELOT GUINEVERE Oh beloved! Leave? What, daylight already! Oh my only love! How the dismal dreams, WATCHMAN (off stage) Originated in darkness, Hey! Hey! Disappear when daylight comes! Daylight is near! All my melancholy Daylight is here! Flies away at the sound of your voice. When I see you, I can remember only LIONEL Your beauty, star of my life! Master, do not delay!

listen to the cry of the watchmen! LANCELOT & GUINEVERE Soon the sun will rise! Peacefully in your arms, my heart falls asleep. Do not tempt fate! And my troubled thoughts, exhausted, Bow to the weight of this overwhelming GUINEVERE (rising) happiness. Alas! My beloved, I see only you, We have to part, go! Only you, alone in the world! (Lionel goes inside and reappears some moments later, Our ecstasy is so divine and profound carrying Lancelot’s weapons) That the rest is nothing but a confused dream! (They remain silently still, embracing lovingly and seeming to have lost any awareness of their LANCELOT surroundings. Lionel suddenly appears. Hesitantly, he The hours drag by far from you. approaches Lancelot and calls out to him in a low When will we see each other again? voice.) (A few moments ago, Mordred has appeared at the back of the theatre. Making his way down slowly, and remaining unseen, he recognizes Guinevere and Lancelot in the first glimmer of daylight.) Scene IV GUINEVERE Tonight, tonight perhaps. LIONEL I will send you... Good Heavens! Daylight, master! Daylight!

LANCELOT (as if returning to his senses) LIONEL Ah! Who calls me? Good God!

MORDRED (immediately running back upstage and GUINEVERE shouting with all his might) Wait for me in the nearby forest! On your guard, Knights! Treason! Escorted by Lionel, Treachery! Come, hurry all of you! Soon I will join you. Since we love each other. We have nothing to fear! LIONEL Master. it is Mordred! LANCELOT (somber)

Unfaithful knight! MORDRED I have drawn my sword to cover my lies! On your guard, Knights! LIONEL (urgently) LANCELOT (advancing on Mordred) Master. in heaven’s name... Coward, pick up your sword! (They fight. Mordred falls, struck down by a wound in GUINEVERE his chest. Guinevere, who has been anxiously watching Farewell! Farewell! from a far, rushes over to him.) (Lancelot, led by Lionel, exits on the left. Guinevere,

leaning against the balustrade, looks after him for a GUINEVERE (looking at Mordred lying on the while, and then starts moving towards the palace. Just ground) as she reaches the door of her apartments, Mordred Dead? raises his head and, not seeing Guinevere, calls out His mouth is silent, Forever silent! with a faint voice.)

LIONEL MORDRED It is growing lighter and lighter, master; we Help! Help! must leave!

GUINEVERE GUINEVERE (turning around with terror) Yes, time is short! Go, my beloved, Him! Him! Alive! Go, without delay! (Soldiers descend from the ramparts and emerge in the His shouting might have been heard. background. They notice Mordred and rush to help If anyone should come...Go, my beloved! him. It is broad daylight. The curtain slowly begins to

fall.) LANCELOT Abandon you at a time like this? ACT TWO

Prelude GUINEVERE Scene I – (The edge of a pine forest. The tree I am lost if they find you here! trunks, straight and regular, seem like a multitude of There is nothing you can do to help me! columns. To the Go, time is precious! right, a rock covered with moss makes a good place to sit, close to the ground. At the back, fields stretching LANCELOT out into the distance. It is broad daylight. The sun, Ah! Guinevere, will I ever see you again? filtering through the branches, creates bright patches on the ground. taken notice of him, Listens to the song with a growing A few seconds after the curtain rises, a plowman interest.) moves across the back of the stage, throwing seeds in Arthur, white with rage, the furrows.) Brandishes Excalibur, Hey! He hurls himself, shouting, PLOWMAN (off stage) At the monstrous giant! “Rion, the King of the Isles, And soon the meadow Was eight feet tall, Hey! Is soaked with red blood! On his sailing horses, (He walks away. His voice can stiff be heard after he He sails across the sea disappears.) To take, in our cities, Jesus defends his people Our wives and our daughters! On the day of the battle, Hey! The eagles of Lomond (He disappears entirely. on the left) Were watching over the mountains, Hey! And soon the Giant (He disappears on the right) Is rolling in the dust! They saw into the night Arthur, the falcon-hearted, The pirates approaching. Has brought down Rion! “Merlin, wake up! Wake up the King as well!” LANCELOT (as if returning to his senses) Arthur! Arthur! Scene II – Lancelot slowly moves forward from the The greatest, the holiest of the kings! back of the stage, agitated and worried. He lays his Him! Christ’ s own knight! sword and cloak down at the foot of a tree. The one who defeated the Saxons! (with a sudden explosion of grief) Ah! I am unworthy! LANCELOT I am guilty of the most atrocious crime! Was Lionel able to see her? I betrayed the friendship of a man who loves Oh rage! To wail! me... And to be able to do nothing! Of my King! Nothing...Except to wait. (with anxiety) My word is not to be trusted. The daylight was breaking, My honor is tarnished! Could the watchmen on the ramparts And my name, once the symbol of loyalty, Have recognized me? Will soon be spat out Is Mordred really dead? Like a cruel insult! What if with my trembling hand, I had only... How did I ever stoop so low? God! What if he were still alive... Disloyal and a traitor! What if, enraged, he has accused me... Yes, a traitor. Forever, I will be tied I know it now, to she who inflames me! PLOWMAN (off stage) Everything! Loyalty, oaths, honor, is forgotten “See the rich lining As soon as I clasp Guinevere in my arms! Of my royal cloak, Hey! It is made of the beards Of the kings killed in battle. GUINEVERE Arthur, I still miss Lancelot! Lancelot! Your golden beard! (He comes back on stage and moves across the back of LANCELOT the theatre from right to felt. Lancelot, who had not It is she! (He moves upstage to goes to meet her) GUINEVERE Tell him what you like, But save your Guinevere! GUINEVERE

Help me! (Guinevere rushes in, breathless. She is escorted by LANCELOT Lionel who immediately withdraws) Must I to lie to everyone, I, a knight, I, Lancelot. So that I may exonerate myself? LANCELOT

My Guinevere! GUINEVERE You must. Scene III

LANCELOT GUINEVERE Must I lie to my noble master? Mordred is alive! He has accused you! Several knights Are joining forces against you! GUINEVERE Arthur alone is defending you. Does one more lie really matter? He is unsure. Does loving me not already make you a He still refuses to believe what he has been traitor? told! LANCELOT LANCELOT Alas! Heavens! Can I still save you? GUINEVERE What shall I do? Are you so afraid, ungrateful, to tell one more lie, GUINEVERE That could save the woman who loves you? Boldness is your only way out! Resolute, your head held high, LANCELOT Go back to Carlisle! Yes, it is true, Arthur will not believe that you are guilty. My love has made me forget everything else! You, his best friend. I was able to betray a man I revere, Only you can defend me now. The valiant Arthur! My own King! I’ve already denied the accusation, My own brother! He who made me a knight! But he will only listen to you! But to coldly betray His noble confidence, LANCELOT When in spite of everything, That I should appear before the King! He still believes me innocent! To protest my innocence! Guinevere, could this be possible? What shall I say in my defense? Do not ask of me You know how ashamed I am of myself. Such a terrible sacrifice! I would shed my own blood to save you! Let me die for you! Take my life! GUINEVERE Ah! Coward! Coward! So then, you tell me that you love me GUINEVERE And you will do nothing to save me! Ah! To die! Your ludicrous scruples That would mean losing me at once! Prevent you today

From saving my honor! LANCELOT Already a seducer and a traitor, What should I do? The loyal Lancelot Is there no other way out? Suddenly loses heart! Less treacherous and less deceitful? So be it! Forsake me! I will go alone and find the King! I will admit everything! After that... GUINEVERE Let it be all over! It Is a horrible thing to do, I know. What do I care now? A vile thing, but It must be done! But you must leave right now! My honor calls for it! Our love was a bad dream! And so does yours! J do not want to see you anymore! It is you, my Lancelot, I disown you! Go away! And your love for me, (Exhausted, Guinevere collapses on a grassy bank That proved my undoing! and hides her head in her hands. Lancelot, taken I beg you not to refuse this request! aback, remains motionless in the center of the stage) It has to be done! In the depths of despair, Frightened and distraught LANCELOT I have come to you! What have I said? I understand just how much Am I to forsake This terrible pledge The woman who responded Is costing you! To my imploring call? Alas, there As long as I remained faithful Is no other way that you can save me! To my condemnable love, The King still believes you to be innocent, but I had a semblance of loyalty! he has doubts. Now, it is over. The more we delay, the more he There is nothing left. Is suspicious! (suddenly coming to a decision) My beloved, time Ah! What do I care? Is running short!! Dishonor, lies, disgrace! There she is, weak, As pale as death... LANCELOT Above all, I have to save her. After that... Ah! That would be too despicable! (Overwhelmed with emotion, he stands motionless tor I would never be able to look him in the eye! a while, staring at the ground. Then he slowly makes I will never find the courage, you see, his way upstage and retrieves his cloak and sword. To lie to him right to his face! Guinevere silently looks after him. Lancelot hesitantly My embarrassment will give me away... stops several times, as if he were waiting tor Guinevere No. No. I cannot do it. to calf him back. But she remains silent. He slowly walks to the left of the stage, ready to leave. Just as he is about to disappear, Guinevere, motionless, calls out LANCELOT to him in a taint voice.) Your love, your anger, Alas, it is all torture! You said so yourself, GUINEVERE We have to part. Lancelot, my Lancelot, wait! Even if one last time Tell me. Where are you going? I lied to the King,

Can we keep our own eyes LANCELOT From looking at each other in public? Before the King, Mordred’s hate for us I will swear, my head held high, Will not die. That no one is more loyal to him than I. We will be spied upon, and eventually caught. Guinevere, here is the supreme test! Your adorable sweetness towards me But you tell me that he will believe me, Will give you away! (bitterly) Because he loves me. GUINEVERE So be it. I shall lie. Let us run off then! In order to save you, I will suffer shame.

After that, on the battlefield, I shall find LANCELOT A quick and noble death. To run away?

GUINEVERE GUINEVERE You! To die! My love prevails in the end! (Quickly rising to her feet and moving towards him) Dead or alive, Guinevere Ah! Do not speak of such things! Shall never be parted from you! Forget about the harsh words I said. Let our common fate bind us together! Alas! Lancelot, I was out of my mind! I no longer wish to be queen I am yours! So that I can love you all the more! I belong here, upon your heart. My heart quivers with joy! (She squeezes up against his chest) I am your reward, your prey! What is it that I told you? Take me away, let us run off! Turn your eyes towards me. Your castle awaits us. Forgive me. Let it be our refuge. I do not know what delirious state Come, come! Let us run off! I was in, to be able to tell you Let us love each other freely! Such horrible things! 0h beloved, Oh, beloved, Love shall be our only judge! Could I live without you? Arthur will come after us, Without your love, And were he to prevail over us, Without your passionate kisses? At least we will have loved each other. I surrender to my fate with you, Until parted by death! No matter what it is! We have nothing to fear LANCELOT As long as we’re together! Guinevere ...

GUINEVERE GUINEVERE Lancelot! I love you, Lancelot! My Lancelot, I love you! Hold close to your chest Take me far away, Your faithful Wherever you chose! And happy lover... My royal title, even my honor. I will have no regrets If I lose them all for you! LANCELOT Come... (He leads her off stage. The curtain quickly falls.) LANCELOT (in a low voice)

Forever united! Scene IV - The curtain rises slowly. An inner To live together! courtyard in Arthur’s castle at Carlisle. GUINEVERE Resembling a cloister, it is surrounded by large And never to be parted from each other galleries, which come together at the center of the again! stage, supported by stately columns. Through the columns, a view of a garden at the center of the LANCELOT courtyard, and the castle roofs in the background. Is this all real, Guinevere? The garden is overgrown with large trees, thickets It seems like a dream. and climbing plants. At the end of the gallery on Ah! To love you without lies. the right, several steps lead to the door of the GUINEVERE King’s apartments. The curtain rises on a group of Joy we did not even dare to dream of! knights speaking among themselves in hushed Free! Certain happiness! voices. Arthur enters from the left and addresses Divine joy! one of them.

LANCELOT ARTHUR To be free! At last! Lancelot has not appeared yet? Divine happiness! A KNIGHT (They fall in each other’s arms, embracing each other Not yet, Sire. passionately) (Arthur motions to the knights to withdraw. He begins to walk slowly along the gallery) LANCELOT & GUINEVERE ARTHUR Our bodies are forever Always, always the same thought! Bound together, I try to get it out of my head, Just like our two hearts are united! But in vain. No love is like our love! Peace has left my troubled soul, Oh how delicious it is to love! And I can no longer find my faith. Oh infinite pleasure! How can I put an end to This horrible doubt? LANCELOT Guinevere! Lancelot! Guinevere, my Guinevere, No, no! It is impossible! Proud and divine soul, But why is he not coming? I am yours forever! Lancelot, please, I call you! I open my arms to you! Tell me he lied!My heart believes that you still. When he appears, Arthur is facing the audience. are loyal to me. He only becomes aware of Merlin’s arrival when he (in a low voice) hears him speak. I overthrew the altars Of the pagan gods. I chased the terrible Saxons MERLIN Away from this land! Arthur. I founded the Round Table So that justice would triumph ARTHUR In this world. Merlin! And I believed my work to be Beloved and faithful friend! My pleas have Immortal and visionary. finally Reached you? Alas! I now discover (He goes out into the garden) A seed of death! The knights Are all jealous of each other. It has become a painful effort MERLIN For them to abide Green apple trees, prophetic apple trees, By the austere rule that ties them. Who reveal the magical words, They listen to Mordred How many centuries have passed by Who is secretly inciting them to revolt! Under your thick leaves! He is fascinated by the power of my crown, Oh green apple trees, blossoming apple trees! And I feel that he hates me! The supreme day has arrived! Conspiracy is all around me! Woe betide us! Maybe they are plotting The hundred-year-old eagles Something terrible Have left Lomond this night, Against my loyal Lancelot! And cried out their bad omens! Or am I also to suspect him? Oh green apple trees, ancient apple trees. Ah! Why? Why have you abandoned me, Merlin? ARTHUR You who have always helped me, Your words are as somber as Ever since the first days of our struggle! The laughing of the ocean. See how our work is crumbling, Merlin, I dare not ask what you mean. And how I am trying to resist, in vain. I am unable to prevent its fall. Merlin, oh my sweet friend, MERLIN In days gone by, Do not expect anything for the future. What spell is keeping you Our common work has been destroyed. Far away from the pleading Arthur? Corrupt and despised, Look at me flagging and weakening The Round Table will perish! Under a burden too heavy for me! Come! Come! Where can you be? Merlin, hear my voice! ARTHUR So it is all over. Scene V – The trees part slightly, revealing an old No hope is left for us? man in a halo of green light, lying on the branches of And what is the cause an apple tree. II is Merlin. He is wearing a long white Of our downfall? robe and his white beard reaches down to his waist. Once you said Throughout the entire scene, he remains completely That our work was indestructible! You were looking into the future. Are innocent, are they not? But what mystery surrounds you? Merlin, see how I am suffering, Why are you so still? Answer me! And why chained to those flowers? By your silence you condemn them! Am I the object of a dream? Merlin, I am your King! Oh! Speak, speak to me! Speak, speak to me, I command you! (The trees close up. The vision of Merlin disappears. Arthur remains motionless for a moment, overwhelmed MERLIN with emotion, and then suddenly rushes back out to How blind we were, the gallery, shouting.) We have placed too much faith In men’s virtue! Guinevere! Guinevere! Help! If our sacred place (He makes his way across stage and exits through the Is now choked with nettles, rear door.) It is because a crime still unknown, Along with arrogance and mean jealousies, Have proved the prophecies to be wrong! Scene VI - (At the sound of Arthur’s cries, the Question me no more, Oh King! knights come running on stage one by one, and begin My tongue must remain silent. to question each other.) I have left my secret prison Jn order to tell you to accept your fate! You will soon depart the earth. KNIGHTS The strange murmuring of water Someone is crying out! What is the matter? Will surround you with mystery, Why these cries? Like it once did in your cradle. The king! What is the matter with him? But when the day comes He seems to be beside himself with rage! Of the glorious awakening, Oh, son of Pendragon, EIGHT KNIGHTS (rushing in) Oh, unrivalled warrior, What is the matter? Why all this shouting? Then, the oaks in their joy Will adorn themselves with red flowers! Dressed in silver, gold and silk, KNIGHTS The dead warriors shall rise up from their The King was here, furious and shouting! graves, The King! What does all of this mean... And the bright and radiant sun Shall wreathe your head A KNIGHT With its blazing disc! Do you not know what happened?

ARTHUR KNIGHTS Then let death come, I await without fear! What? Speak, speak! Merlin, one more word.

(freely) What is this deadly crime A KNIGHT That you spoke of, trembling? The queen has disappeared! (hesitantly) Guinevere, Guinevere and Lancelot KNIGHTS The queen! Disappeared? Off with Lancelot, no doubt. ARTHUR With Lancelot? War to the abductor!

A KNIGHT KNIGHTS In the nearby forest, War! Someone saw them together. Then, on horseback they fled Towards the coast! ACT THREE Scene I – A rocky hilltop overlooking the battlefield. KNIGHTS To the right, a few pine trees. On the horizon, the sea. Ah! Misfortune has fallen upon us! As the curtain rises, Guinevere rushes on stage, followed by her old squire.

EIGHT KNIGHTS What? What are you saying? ALLAN Mistress, stop, I beg you. The battlefield is near. KNIGHTS Be careful! Why did Mordred have to speak?

GUINEVERE EIGHT KNIGHTS Go away! I am not afraid! What? Should he have remained silent? (She moves over to the far right of the stage and gazes anxiously into the distance) The die is cast. Finally! KNIGHTS Until the last moment Yes! Yes! I thought that Lancelot

Would back out once again! EIGHT KNIGHTS Be gone, my fears! To unmask Lancelot! What a joy! Lancelot has joined the battle! Lancelot will be victorious!

KNIGHTS ALLAN (sitting on a rock and shaking his head Have you forgotten about the King sadly) And the honor of the Round Table? Yes, there is no doubt he will triumph! Everything points to EIGHT KNIGHTS His imminent victory! Down with the Round Table! But Mordred, who said that he stayed behind No! We do not want to abide by To nurse his own wound, Its absurd rules anymore! Has proclaimed himself King! No more restraint! His numerous followers, Down with the Round Table! Tired of the Round Table, Have deserted Arthur’s cause! KNIGHTS Traitors! Be quiet! Treacherous knights! GUINEVERE (interrupting him) Be quiet! Be quiet, old man! (Allan moves away. Guinevere continues to gaze at GUINEVERE the plain. All at once, she turns away as if struck by Allan, are you mad? a sudden thought. She moves back to the center of the For Lancelot to desert... stage and sits on a rock.)

ALLAN GUINEVERE (with a low voice) It is him! It is he! Ah! Sometimes I am overwhelmed by fear! And he is headed this way! My heart is racked by the most terrible doubts! GUINEVERE (rising) Does Lancelot, my Lancelot, still love me? Then he must be wounded! I’ve abandoned everything for him, Without regrets nor efforts, But him! How he has changed! Scene II – (She makes her way to the back of the stage and gazes once again at the plain. Lancelot ALLAN (leaning against a tree and gazing into the suddenly appears, unarmed and obviously distraught. distance) He is followed by Lionel and by several squires. He Those knights over there... stops short at the sight of Guinevere.) Riding away at breakneck speed... It seems... but no! LANCELOT It is impossible! God! Guinevere! Ah! A horse has fallen down! GUINEVERE (rushing over to him) GUINEVERE (not hearing him, lost in her own You have been wounded! No! thoughts) Then...what is the meaning of all of this? Moody, silent, Speak! Speak to me! His profound despair Casts a shadow over his face. At times his eyes LANCELOT Seem to be avoiding mine. I deserted.

GUINEVERE (quickly) ALLAN What are you telling me? Hurriedly, You ran away! You deserted! On foot they now follow their path!

LANCELOT GUINEVERE Ah! Guinevere, Ah! What if it were true! It was you who wished it so! What if this feeling of remorse that has Despite my horror overcome his soul Of this sacrilegious war, Has killed his love tor me? Convinced by your pleas I joined in the battle. ALLAN (coming back down towards Guinevere) At first I was overwhelmed Mistress, look! It is he! With excitement! My lord Lancelot! And I forgot I was fighting Against my King! But suddenly, I saw him, In the midst of his knights, By an ungovernable love! Standing above them all Forever together! Brandishing in his hand It is our mast precious possession, Excalibur, red with blood, And all we have let! in the world! I saw him... Arthur! our only remaining duty Then a sudden Is to defend it to your death! And terrible clarity (Lancelot remains still. Guinevere looks at him with Overcame my scull anxiety) An unspeakable shame took hold of me! Lancelot! What is going through your mind? I threw down my weapons, That look in your eye is scaring me. Ah! And I fled! I fled! (most tenderly and moving closer to him) Go back and fight. Come back victorious. GUINEVERE (aside) My dear beloved, this is the very last ordeal, Ah! All is lost! And then I shall be yours forever! At the last moment I have lost his love forever! LANCELOT (making up his mind. He calmly stands up) I have thrown down my weapons LANCELOT And I will not take them up again What have I done? To fight as a rebel! Why have I fought In this fratricidal war? GUINEVERE Dear God! GUINEVERE How ungrateful! Are you forgetting? Our love demanded it! LANCELOT Does your faithful Guinevere I will go and stop the fighting. Mean nothing to you? At the mere sight of Arthur, You have lost your love GUINEVERE As well as your courage? Are you insane? You abandon the fight That is impossible! At the very last moment, You flee! Useless cowardice LANCELOT Of a faint heart! Well then, even if it should cost me my life, But in spite of yourself I will try to find the King himself, The inevitable chain of events And I will ... Shall grip you in an iron circle!

LANCELOT (with a low voice, as if talking to GUINEVERE himself) So you prefer death Yes, to flee is futile. To your Guinevere’s love? The past cannot be erased. LANCELOT GUINEVERE I love you with all my soul! The past does not matter anymore! We are forever bound together GUINEVERE Be quiet! Be quiet! Listen. Those calls, over there. They are still fighting! Blood is being shed... And for a vile cause! LANCELOT What am I doing here? Time is flying... On the day of reckoning, What if the King has lost, or been wounded... I have to rid my heart Guinevere, it is all over then ... Of all the things that made my life happy I will never see you again! And brought me such guilty love! (He stands gazing at her passionately with a desperate look. Then, with great effort) GUINEVERE Farewell! Farewell! Ah! If you loved me as much as I love you, (He makes his way to the back of the stage and would there be anything on earth addresses the squires) More precious to you than our love? I am entrusting you with the honor Of watching over the queen. Take her to a port in Gaul LANCELOT Onboard my ship. The most sacred of vows commands it! There, she will be safe from danger. A veil has finally been torn from my eyes. Lionel, you come with me! Now I can see! I finally understand! And I surrender to the voice That speaks in my heart! LIONEL Guinevere, will you accept My dear master! To share my fate? GUINEVERE (throwing herself into Lancelot’s arms) Lancelot! Do not leave me! GUINEVERE If life drives us apart, What do you mean? Then let our death bring us together! United in love, LANCELOT United in sin, United in love! United, forever united in death! United in sin! Will we also be united LANCELOT In the expiation of our crime? Guinevere! From now on, My life only belongs to my King! GUINEVERE What are you thinking of? GUINEVERE To see Arthur? Subject ourselves to his pity? Ah! Perhaps even his forgiveness? (She violently pushes him away from her and rushes Never! Never! over to the other side of the stage. Lancelot, led by Lionel, exits with a gesture of despair. The sound of LANCELOT the trumpets off stage seem to be getting louder and Guinevere! louder. After a brief pause, the squires silently (The sounds of battle become increasingly louder. The approach the queen. She notices them and in a hoarse sounds of the trumpets can be heard from both sides of and broken voice) the stage.) What are you doing here? Go down to the ship! To the ship! Without glory, without love. (As the other squires exit to the left, Allan hesitates Forsaken! Abandoned! to follow them) The day is coming to an end. Get ready for us to depart! Go now! Leave Night is falling on my destiny. me! Without complaint, without a word, Enter, Guinevere, ALLAN (timidly) Enter into the shadows forever ... Mistress, pardon me... (She rises lo her feel, in search of some sort of weapon. While touching her brow with her hand, she stops short, as if struck by a sudden idea. She then begins GUINEVERE loosening the plaits in her hair.) Go away, go away! Ornament of a vain beauty, (Allan slowly withdraws and Guinevere is left alone. Hair as dark and blue as the night, She begins pacing back and forth across the stage, You, who have failed to keep Lancelot letting out inarticulate sounds. The sounds of battle In your silky nets, gradually fade away.) Help me now, as a friend! You were the pride Of my happy days, Now, help me die... (She winds her hair around her neck and strangles Scene III herself. She collapses) Ahl Ah! GUINEVERE (She dies. The curtain falls very slowly.) Ah! I was betrayed! Abandoned! Despised! I implored him, but in vain, Him, my Lancelot! I even begged him Scene IV To let me die happily in his arms! And him, pitiless... The plain at the edge of the sea. In the foreground, to What if the memory of his Guinevere the left, a number of small trees, low rocks, and Stopped him at the last moment? clusters of gorse, asphodels and everlasting flowers. Al What if ...My cowardly heart, the back, the shoreline below forms a sort of bay Overcome with love! surrounded by large rocks. A steep cliff falls into the He runs away from me! sea. It is the end of the day. As the curtain rises, And yet I still love him! Lancelot is lying unconscious in the middle of the (Suddenly realizing that the sounds of the battle have stage. A number of soldiers are surrounding him while ceased entirely, she moves to the right and gazes out to others are busy recovering the dead and wounded the plain) stretched out al the back of the scene. A small group is leaning over Lancelot’s body. God! Suddenly so calm...how silent... Can it be? THIRD SOLDIER (broken-heartedly) His body is covered with wounds! Yes, it Is over. The battle has ended. He accomplished the ultimate sacrifice! (She collapses on a rock and remains silent for a FOURTH SOLDIER while, her head buried in her hands) Here, on the arms! How could he believe that I could survive without him? FIRST SOLDIER Why would I go on with a useless life, On the head as well! SOLDIERS Yes! A rebel! A traitor to his King! = THIRD SOLDIER If today the Round Table Is dying, = Ten wounds in the chest! Who is to blame for it If not him?

SQUIRE SQUIRE (interrupting them) But is he still alive? Who are we to judge him?

(to the first soldier) FOURTH SOLDIER Go and Inform the King! (Placing the flat of his sword in front of Lancelot’s mouth) THIRD SOLDIER There is no breath coming out of his lips. Lionel already ... (Bending over his chest)

His heart Is beating...so faint That you can barely hear it. SECOND SOLDIER (looking to the right) The king himself is coming!

SECOND SOLDIER

Maybe the rays of the sun Scene V – (The soldiers line up behind Lancelot. Will revive him! Arthur enters in the company of Lionel who has just

finishing telling him about his master’s death.) SQUIRE Carry him to that rock over there! LIONEL (still walking) (The soldiers pick Lancelot up and lay him down in They would not obey! So, without a weapon, the sunlight next to rock, on the left) He threw himself among the warriors! (Arthur interrupts him with a gesture, pointing to where Lancelot is lying on the ground, surrounded by THIRD SOLDIER soldiers. He moves closer to him and contemplates him How tail and strong he is! silently for a long time. The soldiers retreat to the back of the stage.) FIRST SOLDIER And how handsome! ARTHUR See how manly and proud Guinevere! Lancelot! Both of them dead! His pale face is! The ones I loved the most in this world Have ruthlessly broken my heart! FOURTH SOLDIER But the wound is too deep Who could ever equal Lancelot? The only thing human I have left is my grief! Everything, everything is crumbling, Everything Is collapsing at the same time! SQUIRE My life’s work is ruined! Alas! The most noble, No one can answer The most valiant of all knights! The cries of my broken heart. And yet he dies a rebel. (Other soldiers have gathered around and heard the LIONEL (kneeling over Lancelot’s body) squire’s last words) Sire! Look! He has opened up his eyes! His lips are moving! He is alive! ARTHUR LANCELOT (regaining consciousness) Poignant embrace of fate! Stop, stop the fighting! Ah! I believed in the power of effort, (He is facing the audience and unaware of Arthur’s In the energy of willpower! presence) I struggled relentlessly! And now, what is Left of my entire life? LIONEL Dashed hopes! Master, the fighting is over! Useless, useless efforts! You are suffering! Speak: what do you wish?

LANCELOT LANCELOT Who can know the strength of thoughts, Arthur, here I am... I surrender myself to you! And how long things last? Here, take my sword... Throughout the ages your name may die, Oh! Strike me down, strike me down! But, more lasting than Its brilliant ring, (As he turns around, he sees Arthur) Your thoughts, Arthur, are immortal! Arthur! The love which filled your heart (Supported by Lionel, he tries to sit up, but ha falls Flows out of the eternal flame! back down againI You shall live! You shall live! I cannot... For others, death is the eternal oblivion. My strength is abandoning me... They disappear forever! Take your revenge! Kill me... Alas! Alas, like me. And avenge your honor!

ARTHUR (proudly and extremely calm) LIONEL My honor! Do you really believe Sire, he is dying! Ahl My master! That it depends on anybody else but myself? No doubt time has come ARTHUR (approaches Lancelot and looks down at For me to leave this earth. him with sadness) Alas, without regrets! Rest in peace, poor soul. I am barely a man at all! (At a sign from Arthur, soldiers coma forward and The breath of death carry away Lancelot’s body. Lionel follows behind Has already turned my face pale! them) Worldly things As if through a shroud Appear to my eyes. Scene VI At the beginning of the unfathomable night, I look back with no feeling of anger, Hurt, but resigned, ARTHUR On what was once my life! Lord, I deliver myself without strength Into your hands! My courage has left me. LANCELOT My hopes are dashed. Ah! Eyes full of bitterness! In an unending slumber, If only I was who I could have been! Put to sleep, if you can, Pointless life! Withered life! Put my suffering to sleep!

CHORUS (off stage) Ah... Ah...

VOICES VOICES Forget an impure world, Come beyond the blue waves, O large and hurting soul! And beyond the stars... Come to an Island caressed By waves of gold and azure! Refreshing and calm breezes ARTHUR Make the lush trees sing What am I hearing? In an eternal peace! You shall sleep under palm trees! VOICES The carnation, the rose and the lily In a world where Shall bend towards your lips, The mysterious secrets are revealed, And In order to perfume your bed, Beyond all things he iris flower shall bloom! That one day must perish, Come, Arthur, come and fall asleep ARTHUR In the calm and rose heavens... Oh my beloved land! Oh Brittany, oh my homeland! ARTHUR Sacred ground bathed Mysterious spirits, I dare not understand you! In my ancestors’ blood! Have you come to spread Wild Camelerd, The veil of eternal forgetfulness over my eyes? And you, green Cambria, Receive my last farewells! Over are the days CHORUS Of great adventures, Come... He who sends us Vallant knights Has chosen for you a sublime fate! Bedecked with gold and iron! Sleep, not death, Kind to those in need, Will cradle your unhappy heart. But terrible to the traitors! Come... Like rocks standing against the waves!

ARTHUR CHORUS To sleep... to forget... Arthur, oh noble victim! To no longer exist The object of an eternal dream! And to no longer suffer. Come… The world was cruel For your too-sublime soul! CHORUS Your intentions were deceived by fate! Come... Your work totters and crumbles (At the back of the stage, now bathed in the pink and Into the inevitable swell golden light of the setting sun, a barge filled with That engulfs all human beings! women appears on the horizon and approaches the shore. One of the women, standing at the back of the vessel, spreads open her wings as if they were sails.) ARTHUR (slowly unfastening his shield and sword) Come... You, my faithful friends in the days of battle, Pridwann, Excalibur, farewell! I leave you forever. -- Translation by Maxime Alvarez de Toledo Sleep In the ocean That bathes Cornwall. No one shall ever take you up now! (Arthur goes over to the edge of the cliff and throws his weapons into the sea. The barge has now reached the shore and Arthur slowly descends the path that leads down to it. He disappears behind a large rock and climbs unto the vessel.)

CHORUS Ah... Your crumbling work is grand! Those who fought relentlessly For eternal justice Are heroes! But when the day of reawakening shall come, You shall tear your veils! And with your head crowned with stars, You shall come down tram the sun!

(The vessel reappears and makes Its way to the back of the stage. Arthur is lying on a couch and seems asleep.) Like a sublime builder, You shall come back to the earth, To carry on with your great work, And to keep on fighting your noble battles! Arthur! Ah...

VOICES Ah... Arthur! Over your regal brow Once turned away by victory itself, Hangs the supreme glory Of believed in an ideal world! (the sun plunges into the sea, its blinding light temporarily obscuring the barge. By the time the sun has disappeared, the stage is empty. As the blaze of the sunset softens, the sky darkens and the curtain slowly begins to fall.)

THE END