He has barbed your very absence; whispers that you

Fled from a rumour grown too dangerous

Because you dared not fight against the truth—

Ah, now you put your hand upon your sword—

Yes, even this. He has been diligent,

Has Agravaine, his brother, at his side.

And Colegrevance has joined them, with his friends

Patrice and Mador; and these go about

Shrugging suspicion at me, breathing hints

Foul as a fog about my name.

Launcelot

Launcelot

Vile traitors!

Mordred plays deep then, and makes power about him.

I fear that he is falser than you dream.

The rumour runs that treachery was at work

Conniving with these rebels in the North.

My life upon the hazard, it was he.

The Queen is but a pawn in Mordred’s game

[Pg 32] 

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