QUEEN.

True, a sweet one, sir-- That madrigal you made Alys de Saulx Of the three ways of love: the first kiss honor, The second pity, and the last kiss love.

Which think you now was that I kissed you with?

CHASTELARD.

It should be pity, if you be pitiful; For I am past all honoring that keep Outside the eye of battle, where my kin Fallen overseas have found this many a day No helm of mine between them; and for love, I think of that as dead men of good days Ere the wrong side of death was theirs, when God Was friends with them.

QUEEN.

Good; call it pity then.

You have a subtle riddling skill at love Which is not like a lover. For my part, I am resolved to be well done with love, Though I were fairer-faced than all the world; As there be fairer. Think you, fair my knight, Love shall live after life in any man?

I have given you stuff for riddles.

CHASTELARD.

Most sweet queen, They say men dying remember, with sharp joy And rapid reluctation of desire, Some old thin, some swift breath of wind, some word, Some sword-stroke or dead lute-strain, some lost sight, Some sea-blossom stripped to the sun and burned At naked ebb--some river-flower that breathes Against the stream like a swooned swimmer's mouth-- Some tear or laugh ere lip and eye were man's-- Sweet stings that struck the blood in riding--nay, Some garment or sky-color or spice-smell, And die with heart and face shut fast on it, And know not why, and weep not; it may be Men shall hold love fast always in such wise In new fair lives where all are new things else, And know not why, and weep not.

QUEEN.

A right rhyme, And right a thyme's worth: nay, a sweet song, though.

What, shall my cousin hold fast that love of his, Her face and talk, when life ends? as God grant His life end late and sweet; I love him well.

She is fair enough, his lover; a fair-faced maid, With gray sweet eyes and tender touch of talk; And that, God wot, I wist not. See you, sir, Men say I needs must get wed hastily; Do none point lips at him?

CHASTELARD.

Yea, guessingly.

QUEEN.

God help such lips! and get me leave to laugh!

What should I do but paint and put him up Like a gilt god, a saintship in a shrine, For all fools' feast? God's mercy on men's wits!

Tall as a housetop and as bare of brain-- I'll have no staffs with fool-faced carven heads To hang my life on. Nay, for love, no more, For fear I laugh and set their eyes on edge To find out why I laugh. Good-night, fair lords; Bid them cease playing. Give me your hand; good-night.

SCENE III.--MARY BEATON'S chamber: night.

[Enter CHASTELARD.]

CHASTELARD.

I am not certain yet she will not come; For I can feel her hand's heat still in mine, Past doubting of, and see her brows half draw, And half a light in the eyes. If she come not, I am no worse than he that dies to-night.

This two years' patience gets an end at least, Whichever way I am well done with it.

How hard the thin sweet moon is, split and laced And latticed over, just a stray of it Catching and clinging at a strip of wall, Hardly a hand's breadth. Did she turn indeed In going out? not to catch up her gown The page let slip, but to keep sight of me?

There was a soft small stir beneath her eyes Hard to put on, a quivering of her blood That knew of the old nights watched out wakefully.

Those measures of her dancing too were changed-- More swift and with more eager stops at whiles And rapid pauses where breath failed her lips.

[Enter MARY BEATON.]

O, she is come: if you be she indeed Let me but hold your hand; what, no word yet?

You turn and kiss me without word; O sweet, If you will slay me be not over quick, Kill me with some slow heavy kiss that plucks The heart out at the lips. Alas! Sweet love, Give me some old sweet word to kiss away.

Is it a jest? for I can feel your hair Touch me--I may embrace your body too?

I know you well enough without sweet words.

How should one make you speak? This is not she.

Come in the light; nay, let me see your eyes.

Ah, you it is? what have I done to you?

And do you look now to be slain for this That you twist back and shudder like one stabbed?

MARY BEATON.

Yea, kill me now and do not look at me: God knows I meant to die. Sir, for God's love, Kill me now quick ere I go mad with shame.

CHASTELARD.

Cling not upon my wrists: let go the hilt: Nay, you will bruise your hand with it: stand up: You shall not have my sword forth.

MARY BEATON.

Kill me now, I will not rise: there, I am patient, see, I will not strive, but kill me for God's sake.

CHASTELARD.

Pray you rise up and be not shaken so: Forgive me my rash words, my heart was gone After the thing you were: be not ashamed; Give me the shame, you have no part in it; Can I not say a word shall do you good?

Forgive that too.

MARY BEATON.

I shall run crazed with shame; But when I felt your lips catch hold on mine It stopped my breath: I would have told you all; Let me go out: you see I lied to you, Am I am shamed; I pray you loose me, sir, Let me go out.

CHASTELARD.

Think no base things of me: I were most base to let you go ashamed.

Think my heart's love and honor go with you: Yea, while I live, for your love's noble sake, I am your servant in what wise may be, To love and serve you with right thankful heart.

MARY BEATON.

I have given men leave to mock me, and must bear What shame they please: you have good cause to mock.

Let me pass now.

CHASTELARD.

You know I mock you not.

If ever I leave off to honor you, God give me shame! I were the worst churl born.

MARY BEATON.

No marvel though the queen should love you too, Being such a knight. I pray you for her love, Lord Chastelard, of your great courtesy, Think now no scorn to give me my last kiss That I shall have of man before I die.

Even the same lips you kissed and knew not of Will you kiss now, knowing the shame of them, And say no one word to me afterwards, That I may see I have loved the best lover And man most courteous of all men alive?

MARY SEYTON.

[Within.]

Here, fetch the light: nay, this way; enter all.

MARY BEATON.

I am twice undone. Fly, get some hiding, sir; They have spied upon me somehow.

CHASTELARD.

Nay, fear not; Stand by my side.

[Enter MARY SEYTON and MARY HAMILTON.]

MARY HAMILTON.