inst the bars, and made them shake
With such a noise that my affrighted horse
Uprear'd, and headlong sprang across the court.

GANELUN.
The hound is wolflike; none can go within
His cage. Three keepers has he torn to death.

5TH BARON.
A wild and dang'rous beast! I would not keep
The brute within my castle walls.

3D BARON (walks irritatedly to the window).
How this
Long waiting irks my soul, good friends!

1ST BARON.
So cold
A welcome have I never yet received,
And new the custom is!

GANELUN.
Have patience, sirs,
It seems King Mark and Lord Denovalin
Discuss in secret weighty things--

3RD BARON.
--And wish
To teach us how to wait!

GANELUN.
Nay, here's King Mark!

[Illustration: ERNST HARDT]

SCENE II

MARK and DENOVALIN enter; behind them comes a man-at-arms who closes
the door and stands against the wall beside it. MARK holds a parchment
in his hand, and, without noticing the barons, walks agitatedly to the
front of the stage. DENOVALIN goes behind the table and places himself
between it and the throne. The barons rise.

1ST BARON.
Does Mark no longer know us that he greets
Us not?

2D BARON.
And dost thou know, my Lord--?

MARK (turning angrily upon the baron).
Am I
A weak old man because my hair is gray,
Because my hands are wrinkled, ay, and hard,
Because at times my armor chafes my back?
Am I an old and sapless log? A man
Used up who shall forever keep his peace?

(Controlling himself.)

I crave your pardon, Lords, pray take your seats.

DINAS.
Thou badst me come to thee.

MARK.
Yes, Dinas, yes,
So take thy place.

(He controls his emotion with great difficulty
and speaks heavily.)

And ye, my noble friends,
Give ear. A great and careful reckoning shall
Take place 'twixt you and me. Your sanctioning word
I wish, for what I am about to do,
For yonder man has, with an evil lance,
Attacked me and he has so lifted me
Out of my saddle that my head doth swim,
And trem