Ralph Adams Cram - Excalibur - Act I, Scene I lyrics

SCENE I. London. The cloisters of St. Paul's. In the midst of the garth is a great runic cross, in the base of which the Sword is buried to the hilt. Merlin is standing beside it. Without is heard the chanting of the Miserere. Enter: the funeral procession of Uther Pendragon, the body of the king borne in the midst upon a bier. Before walk many monks, priests, and acolytes. Following comes the Archbishop of Canterbury, attended, and behind him King Nentres, King Uriens, Duke Lucas, Duke Brastias, Sir Launcelot, Sir Breuse, and other Knights and Barons. Men's Voices. Benigne fac Domine in bona voluntate tua Sion, Ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem. Merlin. Pendragon pa**es, now Pendragon's seed Shall reign, Pendragon, on Pendragon's throne. Men's Voices. Justificeris Domine in sermonibus tuis, Ut vincas cum judicaris. (The procession crosses the front of the stage: as the bier comes in the centre it is set down and the Archbishop raises his crosier and speaks.) Archbishop. Lords of the realm and gentlemen at arms, From all the farthest borders of the land I summoned ye to answer, under pain Of ban and interdict of Holy Church. Uther is dead, and 'gainst his heritage The ravening kings are leagued. In jeopardy Lies England, kingless, prey to whoso comes. Pendragon dies, and dies the last of them That ruled England by the grace of God. The House is fallen, and there is no heir. Nor law nor custom meets this woful plight Wherein we sink: yet needs must that a king Rule over us, lest England be disrupt And parcelled out in shameful va**alage. To-day is Easter: on this blessed morning Lord Jesu rose, wherefore of His great mercy Perchance this day He may give certain sign Who by His will shall reign. The love of God Pa**eth our wisdom. For a miracle Fall on your knees, besiege the King of kings With lusty prayer. Sir Launcelot. Dear God, a miracle! Omnes. O Jesu, hear us! Archbishop. By thy Mother's love, Lord Jesu, answer! Omnes. For thy Mother's love! Merlin. God hears His children, and the word is said. Archbishop. Now speak, magician, if thou hast a tongue, For in thy words is somewhat ominous Of welfare to Pendragon's kingdom. Speak! Where is the sign of God? Merlin. Beneath the cross. Gather, ye barons and ye knights at arms, Gather, ye commons from the farthest fields, And look upon the mercy of the Lord! (He mounts the steps of the cross.) See ye the Sword that grows in living rock, Thrust to the hilt within the closing stone? See ye the scripture writ around it? Read! Read ye the rune, and reading, rise and do. This very night, ere yet was day conceived, Whilst grimly darkness gripped the cringing earth, I heard a Voice that cleft the sombre night, And thus it spake, and speaking died away. "Pendragon pa**es, now Pendragon's seed Shall reign, Pendragon, on Pendragon's throne." And all the night grew white with leaping light As down the heavenly glory flashed a star, A streaming fire that thundered to the earth Riving the rock. Excalibur is come. Omnes. Excalibur is come! Archbishop. Now unto God Be laud and honour, that has shown a sign. Duke Lucas. Pendragon's seed shall reign? What word is this? Pendragon's seed is ended. Uther died Void of all heir, and helpless of his House; How then shall reign his seed? Duke Brastias. How reign his seed When barren lies his field? Shame shows her head: No ba*tard reigns in England! Merlin. Peace, ye fools! A rune is written 'round the rigid hilt, The which I gain, and straightly give it thee, Most holy father. Read! and reading, rest. Archbishop. "Whoso shall pull this Sword forth of the stone Is rightwise king, born of all England." Merlin. Hear! Barons and knights and commons; come, essay! Hale the steel forth, for England lies enwrapped Around the blade of great Excalibur. King Nentres. By right I claim the Sword. Have I to wife Queen Igraine's daughter? Then to her, Elaine, And so to me, comes England! King Uriens. Traitor king, Morgan le Fay is mine! From Queen Igraine I gain the daughter's dowry. Give me place, For so to me comes England. Sir Breuse. Hold your hand! How runs the rune? Pendragon's seed shall reign, And not Duke Cornwall's daughter, gotten first On Igraine ere she lay with Uther. Hold! Nor look to gain a kingdom with a wife. I win the Sword that am King Uther's son. Duke Brastias. No ba*tard reigns in England! Sir Breuse. In thy teeth, Thou damnèd duke, I cast thy scornful word! ba*tard or no, I reign, Pendragon's seed: Heave up thy sword, for Breuse shall send thee hence! Duke Brastias. Have at thee, boaster, that would fain be king! Archbishop. Now by authority of Holy Church, I bid ye cease, else underneath the ban I cast ye, traitors. Who shall win the Sword Is rightwise King of England, and none else. Strike back your swords! What! dare ye hesitate? Then so I damn ye! - Good: Now hold your peace! Merlin, guard thou the Sword: my lords, essay! King Nentres. England is mine, and thus, - What craft is here? The brand is frozen in the iron rock, Cursèd magician, by what evil spell - Merlin. Give place, King Nentres, England is not thine. Duke Brastias. But mine, and so I lightly win the crown, - Hell and hell's angels hold thee! Duke Lucas. For my hand. Excalibur and England! Merlin. Are not thine. Sir Breuse. Pendragon's seed shall reign. Said so the rune? Here to me, Sword! What, firmer than the hills? By God I'll rive the ground up from the rock, The rock from nether hell, but thou shalt come. What demons hold thy blade? Unsheathe thyself! Know'st thou not me? It is Pendragon's seed That grips thee! Devils rend ye Merlin - Archbishop. Peace! Fall back, Sir Breuse, the Sword is not for thee. (Enter: unperceived, Morgan le Fay.) Sir Breuse. Now now, but after: Merlin, mark me well, I seize the Sword and England, maugre thy spell. King Uriens. Then ask me for them, fair Sir Breuse, for now I claim them. Morgan, aid me, that I gain Thy dowry and a kingdom. Merlin. Stand thou back, Morgan le Fay, thy gods are helpless here. Morgan. Wait for the proof! King, grasp Excalibur And cry: "Here to me from the Magic Mere Gods of the sunken sea! Queen Morgan calls, Win her Excalibur!" Merlin. The charm is void. Morgan. Wait for the proof! Merlin. The charm is void, for so I shield the Sword and England from thy spell. (He makes over Excalibur the sign of the cross.) King Uriens. So now thou'dst prop thy magic with the sign Of thy Redeemer when the magic fails; As men deny their Lord to win the cast And failing, fall on Him for final aid. So, I defy thee, black blasphemer, so, I seize my kingdom. From the Magic Mere Here to me, demons of the sunken sea! Queen Morgan calls! Win her Excalibur, Yield me a kingdom! Omnes. See, the Sword is fast! Merlin. Morgan le Fay, thy magic lacks the prop Of righteousness. God gives to whom He will Knowledge of laws, dominion of unseen, Unfathomed powers that yet are His alone. Fools mutter "Magic!" cross themselves aghast, Granting to God no wisdom save their own, The which to Him is lisping of a babe, To Him who made the world, and fixed the laws Of its endurance. Of His sovereign will, From time to time, that men may have the light Wherewith to guide their footsteps through the dark, He grants some glimpsing vision of that Truth That in His Being, unto us who stand As His amba**adors; but know ye well That whoso wields this wisdom without God Falls to the nethermost hell. Morgan. Where thou art summoned A little while, mayhap, thou dost prevail, But swell not with conceit and orgulite, For thou shalt play the fool. The Sword returns! (Tumult and confusion without. Enter: Sir Kay and Sir Ector, followed by many people in great disorder.) Sir Kay. Lord Bishop, barons, noble knights, to arms! King Lot of Orkney and King Carados, The King of Scotland and a myriad knights Beat down the gates of London. Like a flood They surge against the ramparts, cresting high A breaking wave of d**h. The people quail Cowering, kingless, in a kingless land, With none to lead them. Who is chosen? Merlin. None. Sir Kay. Christ help us! for King Lot is at the gates Claiming the kingdom for Queen Margawse. Choose! For God's love, choose! Sir Launcelot. Stand not upon the form While dolorous peril menaces the land. Beat back the tide of treason! Follow Gore, Or Nentres, Brastias, or any knight That dares to lead us. Duke Brastias. Follow me afield, The crown may rest with Uther. King Nentres. Follow me! While Merlin keeps the Sword, I gain the crown. Duke Lucas. Is England won upon the field to-day? Stand by me, lords, for I will lead the fight. Omnes. Who heads us, Merlin? Merlin. He who hails the Sword: None other. Sir Launcelot. Merlin, art thou leagued with them That shatter England? Merlin. No, Sir Launcelot. The king shall come. Sir Launcelot. Must we abide thy jest And stand here waiting while the city falls? I hear the kings hale down the grinding gates, And traitor knights prick through the screaming streets To bait us in this trap. Sir Kay. Black traitors all, For God's love choose! Archbishop. We may not. He has sent Excalibur to England, Joseph's Sword Left long in Avalon, lost ages since, And held unransomed in the Magic Mere While Uther lived. Whoso shall draw the Sword Is rightwise king of England, and none else. Sir Kay. So England falls, for Lot is king anon! Merlin. So England falls not, for the king shall come. Sir Kay. To rule a desert waste! Archbishop. God give us aid As He has given sign. Fall on the Sword, Barons and knights, who hales him forth is king. (The Knights cast themselves about the cross, striving for the Sword. Enter, Arthur.) Merlin. "Pendragon pa**es, now Pendragon's seed Shall reign, Pendragon, on Pendragon's throne." Arthur. Lords of the realm, King Lot is on the walls! Our knights fall from him like the mangled dogs That roll before a foaming boar at bay. Sound thou the onset, herald; lords, to arms! Sir Kay. They may not answer, for there is no king. Merlin. Their eyes are blinded, Arthur, by the hilt Of some fair Sword that holds within the rock And comes not forth. Arthur. Contend they, sir, for that, While England falls? Sir Kay. Aye, boy, while England falls. Arthur. What shame is this? Shall men dispute a sword Nor use their own to save a kingdom? Fools! Sir Kay, I pray thee leave, these women folk Have softened into children, that a sword Should blind them, baffle them. Sir, give me leave, I am Sir Ector's squire, I lack a sword. But give me leave and I shall lightly win Knighthood, and fight beside thee: give me leave! Sir Kay. And blessing, boy. Merlin. The hour is on the stroke. Arthur. Stand back, ye puling sluggards, is your brawn Grown fat and futile with your wantonness? The devil makes men women, now may God Make men of boys, England is fallen else! Merlin. "Pendragon pa**es, now Pendragon's seed Shall reign, Pendragon on Pendragon's throne!" (The Knights about the cross fall back.) Arthur. Good Jesu, help me! Come, reluctant Sword! (He hales the Sword forth, and brandishes it in air.) Omnes. The Sword is won, and by a beardless boy! King Nentres. The Sword is won! Elaine, thy dowry falls. Morgan. The Sword is won! Magician, guard thy craft. Duke Brastias. The Sword is won! What ba*tard gains the goal? Arthur. The Sword is won, and lightly, by this arm. Why stare ye all astonied, good my lords? Is it so hard to hale a biting blade From rock that grips it with but half a hand? Your arms are women's arms, that like your hearts Halt quaking! Holy father, cry them on, The toy is mine and I can heave it well. Now let these whining children draw their swords, Full heavy for their futile hands. A king Baleful, black-hearted, hammers at our gates. I call a challenge, shall I fight alone? The Commons. Hail to the King of England! Arthur. Where's the king, Save Uther's corpse? Nathless a rotting king Best leads dead warriors. The Commons. Hail to England's king! Excalibur is won! Lead us to war! Arthur. Who wins Excalibur? Merlin. Look in thy hand. Arthur. What Sword is this? The Commons. Excalibur! Arthur. Ye lie! Lie in your teeth: magician, name this Sword. Merlin. Excalibur. Archbishop. Who art thou? Arthur. Arthur. The Commons. Hail, Arthur of England, rightwise king and lord! Arthur. Call ye me king? The Commons. Aye, King of England. Sir Breuse. No! I challenge thee! King Nentres. I challenge thee! King Uriens. And I! The Barons. King Uther's seed shall reign, no lowborn knave Propped with the magic of a sorcerer. The Knights. A squire for England's king? What shame is this? Duke Brastias. No ba*tard reigns in England! Arthur. Hold thy cry, Thou foul-mouthed carrion crow! My blood is clean And with this Sword I'll prove it. Fair Sir Kay, Thou art my father: tell him, ere I cleave His mocking mouth and feed my hungry blade. The Commons. Arthur is king: we'll have none other! Archbishop. Peace! Merlin, thou art the warder of the Sword, Speak, if thou know'st an answer. Is this he That reigns in England as Pendragon's son? Merlin. Sir Kay, give thou the answer. Sir Kay. King and liege, Upon my knees I swear thee fealty. Sir Ector. And I, O King of England. Arthur. How, to me Thou kneelest father, and thou, Ector? Speak! Why yield ye homage to the youngest born? Sir Kay. For that thou art Pendragon's son, and lord. The Commons. King Uther's son! The Barons. The king's son! Sir Launcelot. How is this? King Uther died, and pa**ed, devoid of heir. Duke Brastias. No ba*tard reigns in England! Merlin. Cease your clamour, While from the misty caverns of the night I raise a vision that shall wash your eyes Of cloudy sleep. Arthur is rightwise king, For by his hand Excalibur is drawn To carve a nation from the wreck of worlds. Son to King Uther, got on Queen Igraine Ere yet the Church had blessed the king's great love, Arthur Pendragon holds Pendragon's throne. Duke Brastias. So now I see two ba*tards in the field, Arthur Pendragon, Breuse saunce Pité, Choose, lords and commons, ba*tards have the day. The Commons. Arthur for England! The Barons. We'll no baseborn king! The Commons. Arthur for England! The Knights. Out upon his name! Arthur. Have I no word in this? I win the Sword. Uther Pendragon was my father. Well, England is mine. Will any meet my stroke? Here stand I ready. Sir Breuse. If my father's lust Sowed thine untimely seed in others' fields Ere yet my day was come, his blood is mine. "Pendragon's seed shall reign." 'Tis mine or thine, Brother, I need thy life. Hurl up thy blade! Archbishop. Once more I charge ye under pain of ban Strike home your swords! Merlin, is there no choice? Merlin. Aye, between son and ba*tard; Breuse, thy claim Is null and void, Arthur is Uther's son. Sir Breuse. And I as well. Merlin. Born out of wedlock. Hear, Ye men of England. When the king was hot With fire of love for Igraine, Cornwall's duke Lay far afield, and Uther had his will. But ere befell the crowning of his love The Duke of Cornwall died upon the field And Uther knew it not. But when Igraine Grew great with England's hope and gave him birth Tintagail stood beleaguered of the gods That Jesu Christ had prisoned in the Mere, For well they read the rune that gave them word How on a day should come Pendragon's seed, The which would lightly cast them deep in hell And ranson England. By their subtile hands Was Igraine reft of Arthur, and the child Hurled downward to the sea. The friendly waves Softly received him, bore him to my feet And laid him scathless in my shielding arms; So then I lightly gave him to Sir Kay To rear him as his son. Anon, the king Wedded Igraine, and she was England's queen, So Arthur stands, Pendragon's lawful son. Arthur. So stand I, men of England, Uther's son, And rightwise king from sea to crawling sea. Swear me allegiance! While we parley here Like old wives chaffering scandal, Orkney's king Leaguers the walls of London. When the waves Rack the tough timbers of a sinking ship And hell gapes wide where howling breakers yawn, Do men contend who shall be master? On! I cry you, On! Arthur for England, On! King Nentres. Better that England falls than Arthur reigns. King Uriens. Merlin, thy magic wins no men to-day. Sir Breuse. No ba*tard brother shall command my sword. King Nentres. Give us a true king, Bishop, or we fail. Sir Kay. Stand by me, Ector! King, our swords are thine. Certain Knights. And mine, and mine! King, marshal us for war. The Commons. Arthur for England! A Citizen. Bishop, give us word, That we may arm us from these traitor knaves. The Barons. Treason! King Uriens. The churls lift hands against our lives! Thou jester king, hale thou thy nobles home. Arthur. Shall I fight Lot alone, ye traitor brood? Sir Kay. No, for I fight beside thee! Sir Ector. Sir, and I! Sir Launcelot. And I, King Arthur: for that thou art king My soul gives answer. But wert thou the last Of villains with a barred and blotted shield I'd fight beside thee, for thou art a man Amongst black traitors. The Commons. Hail to Launcelot! Merlin. Now do I know that I must work alone To save this land and give it back to God. There was a day when wives gave birth to babes And nurtured them for heroes: not to rats That waxed to bloated vermin. Fat with spleen, Yellow with jealousy, ye barter life, England and honour for your belching pride. What would ye have? The Barons. A proof, foul Merlin, proof! Arthur. And ye shall have it, if the Lord will speak In otherwise than by a thunderbolt To hurl ye back to hell, whence came ye forth To do disworship to your chivalry. (He kneels before King Uther's bier.) O thou, that gav'st me life, thou king of men, My father, hear me! From that awful land When thou art walking with the saints of God Hear me and save thy kingdom. Speak to these Thy liegemen; tell them that I am thy son, Nor knave nor ba*tard, but great England's king. Save thou thy people! (The dead king lifts his hand, removes the crown from his brow, and with it crowns Arthur.) Omnes. Look! Christ Jesu! Look! Archbishop. To Thee, O Christ, and to Thee, Lord of Hosts, Be praise forever! Merlin. Are ye satisfied, That hounded God until He gave ye proof? Duke Lucas. It is enough. With all my men at arms I yield thee, king, liege love and loyalty. Arthur. My honour take for guerdon. King of Gore, Dost thou confess me rightwise overlord? Morgan. Deny him, king, and thou shalt wear the crown. King Uriens. Shall Gore be va**al to a changeling, crowned By sorcery with England's coronet? I solemnly deny thee. Arthur. Go thy ways; Anon I'll meet thee in the reeking field, And on thy body prove thy treason. Speak, Nentres of Garlot! King Nentres. I have spoken, fool! Now comes the deed. I join with Scotland's king, With Gore and Carados. The stolen crown Falls from thy head ere sunset. Arthur. Brastias, Dost thou deny me? Duke Brastias. I am sworn to fight For England, and I stand beside thee, king, If that thou art. I tell thee to thy face If, when the fight is won and England free, I find thee but a crownèd ba*tard, then By God, I'll hurl thee headlong from the throne And ask no priest to shrive me of my sin! Arthur. Well spoken, Brastias: give me thy hand, And if Pendragon's blood flows not to-day From out my sundered veins, I give thee leave To snatch the crown I reached no hand to win. Garlot and Gore, lightly avoid our sight Until we meet ye, traitors, in the field. Now, herald, sound the onset. Knights, to arms! Arthur for England! (Flourish of trumpets. The Barons and Knights kneel before Arthur, swearing allegiance.) Sir Breuse. But not yet for me. Queen Morgan, art thou helpless in the blaze Of Merlin's mockery? Hast thou no spell To blast this folly? Morgan. Wait a little, Breuse; I know no spell to match with marching time To wash men's minds of madness. Follow me, Wait patiently. Thou know'st I love thee, knight, And I do swear the crown shall clinch thy brow When Arthur rots. King Nentres. My lord of Gore, Why dally we among these daffish dupes? The road is open for us. Follow, knights! We fight with Orkney, Arthur fights alone. (Exeunt King Nentres, King Uriens, Sir Breuse, and certain of the Knights.) Merlin. Bright in the blazing zenith flames the sun Of England's dawn. King, cry the onset! Arthur. Come, Liegemen of England's crown; for England's king, And so for England, let your impatient swords Menace the sun with lightnings; let the horns In brazen clamour hurl the word abroad That England's king brooks no disloyalty Of prince or peasant, while his faithful knights Die, if God wills, but suffer no disdain To fall upon their lord who is their land. War waits us; England watches; God has heard. (Exeunt Arthur, the Barons, Knights, and Commons, singing the war song. The Archbishop and Monks re-enter the cathedral chanting, "Te Deum laudamus." Merlin remains standing on the steps of the cross, regarding Morgan, who remains by Uther's bier, gazing on him with defiance.) WAR SONG Sun, see us, Wind, hear us, Earth, feel us hurling on. God, free us, Who near us brings foemen whirling on. Christ, guide us, saints, arm us, Lady Mary, lead us now! None abide us hurt or harm us: King and kindred need us now! Merlin. Pendragon pa**es, now Pendragon's seed Shall reign, Pendragon, on Pendragon's throne. A kingdom pa**es, now a kingdom's king Shall raise a kingdom for the King of kings. Curtain