We?
KING.
You have said enough to drive me mad.
But nothing to convince me.
ALVA.
We gave you
What we ourselves possessed.
KING.
May hell reward you!
I've done what I repent of! Ah! was hers,
The language of a conscience dark with guilt?
MARQUIS POSA (from without).
Say, can I see the king?
SCENE XI.
The former, MARQUIS POSA.
KING (starts up at the sound of his voice, and advances
some paces to meet him).
Ah! here he comes.
Right welcome, marquis! Duke! I need you now
No longer. Leave us.
[ALVA and DOMINGO look at each other with silent
astonishment and retire.
SCENE XII.
The KING, and MARQUIS POSA.
MARQUIS.
That old soldier, sire,
Who has faced death, in twenty battles, for you,
Must hold it thankless to be so dismissed.
KING.
'Tis thus for you to think-for me to act;
In a few hours you have been more to me
Than that man in a lifetime. Nor shall I
Keep my content a secret. On your brow
The lustre of my high and royal favor
Shall shine resplendent-I will make that man
A mark for envy whom I choose my friend.
MARQUIS.
What if the veil of dark obscurity
Were his sole claim to merit such a title?
KING.
What come you now to tell me?
MARQUIS.
As I passed
Along the antechamber a dread rumor
Fell on my ear,-it seemed incredible,-
Of a most angry quarrel-blood-the queen--
KING.
Come you from her?
MARQUIS.
I should be horrified
Were not the rumor false: or should perhaps
Your majesty meantime have done some act-
Discoveries of importance I have made,
Which wholly change the aspect of affairs.
KING.
How now?
MARQUIS.
I found an opportunity
To seize your son's portfolio, with his letters,
Which, as I hope, may throw some light--
[He gives the PRINCE's portfolio to the KING.
KING (looks through it eagerly).
A letter
From the emperor, my father. How I a letter
Of which I ne'er remember to have heard.
[He reads it through, puts it aside, and goes
to the other papers.
A drawing of some fortress-detached thoughts
From Tacitus-and what is here? The hand
I surely recognize-it is a lady's.
[He reads it attentively, partly to himself,
and partly aloud.
"This key-the farthest chamber of the queen's
Pavilion!" Ha! what's this? "The voice of love,-
The timid lover-may-a rich reward."
Satanic treachery! I see it now.
'Tis she-'tis her own writing!
MARQUIS.
The queen's writing!
Impossible!
KING.
The Princess Eboli's.
MARQUIS.
Then, it was true, what the queen's page confessed,
Not long since-that he brought this key and letter.
KING (grasping the MARQUIS' hand in great emotion).
Marquis! I see that I'm in dreadful hands.
This woman-I confess it-'twas this woman
Forced the queen's casket: and my first suspicions
Were breathed by her. Who knows how deep the priest
May be engaged in this? I am deceived
By cursed villany.
MARQUIS.
KING.
Marquis! O marquis! I begin to fear
I've wronged my wife.
MARQUIS.
If there exist between
The prince and queen some secret understandings,
They are of other import, rest assured,
Than those they charge her with. I know, for certain,
The prince's prayer to be despatched to Flanders
Was by the queen suggested.
KING.
I have thought so.
MARQUIS.
The queen's ambitious. Dare I speak more fully?
She sees, with some resentment, her high hopes
All disappointed, and herself shut out
From share of empire. Your son's youthful ardor
Offers itself to her far-reaching views,
Her heart! I doubt if she can love.
KING.
Her schemes
Of policy can never make me tremble.
MARQUIS.
Whether the Infant loves her-whether we
Have something worse to fear from him,-are things
Worthy our deep attention. To these points
Our strictest vigilance must be directed.
KING.
You must be pledge for him.
MARQUIS.
And if the king
Esteem me capable of such a task,
I must entreat it be intrusted to me
Wholly without conditions.
KING.
So it shall.
MARQUIS.
That in the steps which I may think required,
I may be thwarted by no coadjutors,
Whatever name they bear.
KING.
I pledge my word
You shall not. You have proved my guardian angel.
How many thanks I owe you for this service!
[LERMA enters-the KING to him.
How did you leave the queen?
LERMA.
But scarce recovered
From her deep swoon.
[He looks at the MARQUIS doubtfully, and exit.
MARQUIS (to the KING, after a pause).
One caution yet seems needful.
The prince may be advised of our design,
For he has many faithful friends in Ghent,
And may have partisans among the rebels.
Fear may incite to desperate resolves;
Therefore I counsel that some speedy means
Be taken to prevent this fatal chance.
KING.
You are quite right-but how?
MARQUIS.
Your majesty
May sign a secret warrant of arrest
And place it in my hands, to be employed,
As may seem needful, in the hour of danger.
[The KING appears thoughtful.
This step must be a most profound state secret
Until--
KING (going to his desk and writing the warrant of arrest).
The kingdom is at stake, and now
The pressing danger sanctions urgent measures.
Here marquis! I need scarcely say-use prudence.
MARQUIS (taking the warrant).
'Tis only for the last extremity.
KING (laying his hand on the shoulder of the MARQUIS).
Go! Go, dear marquis! Give this bosom peace,
And bring back slumber to my sleepless pillow.
[Exeunt at different sides.
SCENE XIII.
A Gallery.
CARLOS entering in extreme agitation, COUNT LERMA
meeting him.
CARLOS.
I have been seeking you.
LERMA.
And I your highness.
CARLOS.
For heaven's sake is it true?
LERMA.
What do you mean?
CARLOS.
That the king drew his dagger, and that she
Was borne, all bathed in blood, from the apartment?
Now answer me, by all that's sacred; say,
What am I to believe? What truth is in it?
LERMA.
She fainted, and so grazed her skin in falling
That is the whole.
CARLOS.
Is there no further danger?
Count, answer on your honor.
LERMA.
For the queen
No further danger; for yourself, there's much!
CARLOS.
None for my mother. Then, kind Heaven, I thank thee.
A dreadful rumor reached me that the king
Raved against child and mother, and that some
Dire secret was discovered.
LERMA.
And the last
May possibly be true.
CARLOS.
Be true! What mean you?
LERMA.
One warning have I given you, prince, already,
And that to-day, but you despised it; now
Perhaps you'll profit better by a second.
CARLOS.
Explain yourself.
LERMA.
If I mistake not, prince,
A few days since I noticed in your hands
An azure-blue portfolio, worked in velvet
And chased with gold.
CARLOS (with anxiety).
Yes, I had such a one.
LERMA.
And on the cover, if I recollect, a portrait
Set in pearls?
CARLOS.
'Tis right; go on.
LERMA.
I entered the king's chamber on a sudden,
And in his hands I marked that same portfolio,
The Marquis Posa standing by his side.
CARLOS (after a short silence of astonishment, hastily).
'Tis false!
LERMA (warmly).
Then I'm a traitor!
CARLOS (looking steadfastly at him).
That you are!
LERMA.
Well, I forgive you.
CARLOS (paces the apartment in extreme agitation, at length
stands still before him).
Has he injured thee?
What have our guiltless ties of friendship done,
That with a demon's zeal thou triest to rend them?
LERMA.
Prince, I respect the grief which renders you
So far unjust.
CARLOS.
Heaven shield me from suspicion!
LERMA.
And I remember, too, the king's own words.
Just as I entered he addressed the marquis:
"How many thanks I owe you for this news."
CARLOS.
Oh, say no more!
LERMA.
Duke Alva is disgraced!
The great seal taken from the Prince Ruy Gomez,
And given to the marquis.
CARLOS (lost in deep thought).
And from me
Has he concealed all this? And why from me?
LERMA.
As minister all-powerful, the court
Looks on him now-as favorite unrivalled!
CARLOS.
He loved me-loved me greatly: I was dear
As his own soul is to him. That I know-
Of that I've had a thousand proofs. But should
The happiness of millions yield to one?
Must not his country dearer to him prove
Than Carlos? One friend only is too few
For his capacious heart. And not enough
Is Carlos' happiness to engross his love.
He offers me a sacrifice to virtue;
And shall I murmur at him? Now 'tis certain
I have forever lost him.
[He steps aside and covers his face.
LERMA.
Dearest prince!
How can I serve you?
CARLOS (without looking at him).
Get you to the king;
Go and betray me. I have naught to give.
LERMA.
Will you then stay and brave the ill that follows?
CARLOS (leans on a balustrade and looks forward with a vacant gaze).
I've lost him now, and I am destitute!
LERMA (approaching him with sympathizing emotion).
And will you not consult your safety, prince?
CARLOS.
My safety! Generous man!
LERMA:
And is there, then,
No other person you should tremble for?
CARLOS (starts up).
Heavens! you remind me now. Alas! My mother!
The letter that I gave him-first refused-
Then after, gave him!
[He paces backwards and forwards with agitation,
wringing his hands.
Has she then deserved
This blow from him? He should have spared her, Lerma.
[In a hasty, determined tone.
But I must see her-warn her of her danger-
I must prepare her, Lerma, dearest Lerma!
Whom shall I send? Have I no friend remaining?
Yes! Heaven be praised! I still have one; and now
The worst is over.
[Exit quickly.
LEEMA (follows, and calls after him).
Whither, whither, prince?
SCENE XIV.
The QUEEN, ALVA, DOMINGO.
ALVA.
If we may be permitted, gracious queen--
QUEEN.
What are your wishes?
DOMINGO.
A most true regard
For your high majesty forbids us now
To watch in careless silence an event
Pregnant with danger to your royal safety.
ALVA.
We hasten, by a kind and timely warning,
To counteract a plot that's laid against you.
DOMINGO.
And our warm zeal, and our best services,
To lay before your feet, most gracious queen!
QUEEN (looking at them with astonishment).
Most reverend sir, and you, my noble duke,
You much surprise me. Such sincere attachment,
In truth, I had not hoped for from Domingo,
Nor from Duke Alva. Much I value it.
A plot you mention, menacing my safety-
Dare I inquire by whom--
ALVA.
You will beware a certain Marquis Posa
He has of late been secretly employed
In the king's service.
QUEEN.
With delight I hear
The king has made so excellent a choice.
Report, long since, has spoken of the marquis
As a deserving, great, and virtuous man-
The royal grace was ne'er so well bestowed!
DOMINGO.
So well bestowed! We think far otherwise.
ALVA.
It is no secret now, for what designs
This man has been employed.
QUEEN.
How! What designs?
You put my expectation on the rack.
DOMINGO.
How long is it since last your majesty
Opened your casket?
QUEEN.
Why do you inquire?
DOMINGO.
Did you not miss some articles of value?
QUEEN.
Why these suspicions? What I missed was then
Known to the court! But what of Marquis Posa?
Say, what connection has all this with him?
ALVA.
The closest, please your majesty-the prince
Has lost some papers of importance;
And they were seen this morning with the king
After the marquis had an audience of him.