Not quite alone?
[Looking inquisitively after the DUKE.
You have, as I observe,
A witness still by you.
DOMINGO.
How?
PRINCESS.
Who was he,
That left your side but now?
DOMINGO.
It was Duke ALVA.
Most gracious princess, he requests you will
Admit him to an audience after me.
PRINCESS.
Duke Alva! How? What can he want with me?
You can, perhaps, inform me?
DOMINGO.
I?-and that
Before I learn to what important chance
I owe the favor, long denied, to stand
Before the Princess Eboli once more?
[Pauses awaiting her answer.
Has any circumstance occurred at last
To favor the king's wishes? Have my hopes
Been not in vain, that more deliberate thought
Would reconcile you to an offer which
Caprice alone and waywardness could spurn?
I seek your presence full of expectation--
PRINCESS.
Was my last answer to the king conveyed?
DOMINGO.
I have delayed to inflict this mortal wound.
There still is time, it rests with you, princess,
To mitigate its rigor.
PRINCESS.
Tell the king
That I expect him.
DOMINGO.
May I, lovely princess,
Indeed accept this as your true reply?
PRINCESS.
I do not jest. By heaven, you make me tremble
What have I done to make e'en you grow pale?
DOMINGO.
Nay, lady, this surprise-so sudden-I
Can scarcely comprehend it.
PRINCESS.
Reverend sir!
You shall not comprehend it. Not for all
The world would I you comprehended it.
Enough for you it is so-spare yourself
The trouble to investigate in thought,
Whose eloquence hath wrought this wondrous change.
But for your comfort let me add, you have
No hand in this misdeed,-nor has the church.
Although you've proved that cases might arise
Wherein the church, to gain some noble end,
Might use the persons of her youthful daughters!
Such reasonings move not me; such motives, pure,
Right reverend sir, are far too high for me.
DOMINGO.
When they become superfluous, your grace,
I willingly retract them.
PRINCESS.
Seek the king,
And ask him as from me, that he will not
Mistake me in this business. What I have been
That am I still. 'Tis but the course of things
Has changed. When I in anger spurned his suit,
I deemed him truly happy in possessing
Earth's fairest queen. I thought his faithful wife
Deserved my sacrifice. I thought so then,
But now I'm undeceived.
DOMINGO.
Princess, go on!
I hear it all-we understand each other.
PRINCESS.
Enough. She is found out. I will not spare her.
The hypocrite's unmasked!-She has deceived
The king, all Spain, and me. She loves, I know
She loves! I can bring proofs that will make you tremble.
The king has been deceived-but he shall not,
By heaven, go unrevenged! The saintly mask
Of pure and superhuman self-denial
I'll tear from her deceitful brow, that all
May see the forehead of the shameless sinner.
'Twill cost me dear, but here my triumph lies,
That it will cost her infinitely more.
DOMINGO.
Now all is ripe, let me call in the duke.
[Goes out.
PRINCESS (astonished).
What means all this?
SCENE XII.
The PRINCESS, DUKE ALVA, DOMINGO.
DOMINGO (leading the DUKE in).
Our tidings, good my lord,
Come somewhat late. The Princess Eboli
Reveals to us a secret we had meant
Ourselves to impart to her.
ALVA.
My visit, then,
Will not so much surprise her, but I never
Trust my own eyes in these discoveries.
They need a woman's more discerning glance.
PRINCESS.
Discoveries! How mean you?
DOMINGO.
Would we knew
What place and fitter season you--
PRINCESS.
Just So!
To-morrow noon I will expect you both.
Reasons I have why this clandestine guilt
Should from the king no longer be concealed.
ALVA.
'Tis this that brings us here. The king must know it.
And he shall hear the news from you, princess,
From you alone:-for to what tongue would he
Afford such ready credence as to yours,
Friend and companion ever of his spouse?
DOMINGO.
As yours, who more than any one at will
Can o'er him exercise supreme command.
ALVA.
I am the prince's open enemy.
DOMINGO.
And that is what the world believes of me.
The Princess Eboli's above suspicion.
We are compelled to silence, but your duty,
The duty of your office, calls on you
To speak. The king shall not escape our hands.
Let your hints rouse him, we'll complete the work.
ALVA.
It must be done at once, without delay;
Each moment now is precious. In an hour
The order may arrive for my departure.
DOMINGO (after a short pause, turns to the PRINCESS).
Cannot some letters be discovered? Truly,
An intercepted letter from the prince
Would work with rare effect. Ay! let me see-
Is it not so? You sleep, princess, I think,
In the same chamber with her majesty?
PRINCESS.
The next to hers. But of what use is that?
DOMINGO.
Oh, for some skill in locks! Have you observed
Where she is wont to keep her casket key?
PRINCESS (in thought).
Yes, that might lead to something; yes, I think
The key is to be found.
DOMINGO.
Letters, you know,
Need messengers. Her retinue is large;
Who do you think could put us on the scent?
Gold can do much.
ALVA.
Can no one tell us whether
The prince has any trusty confidant?
DOMINGO.
Not one; in all Madrid not one.
ALVA.
That's strange!
DOMINGO.
Rely on me in this. He holds in scorn
The universal court. I have my proofs.
ALVA.
Stay! It occurs to me, as I was leaving
The queen's apartments, I beheld the prince
In private conference with a page of hers.
PRINCESS (suddenly interrupting).
O no! that must have been of something else.
DOMINGO.
Could we not ascertain the fact? It seems
Suspicious.
[To the DUKE.
Did you know the page, my lord!
PRINCESS.
Some trifle; what else could it be?
Enough, I'm sure of that. So we shall meet again
Before I see the king; and by th
at time
We may discover much.
DOMINGO (leading her aside).
What of the king?
Say, may he hope? May I assure him so?
And the entrancing hour which shall fulfil
His fond desires, what shall I say of that?
PRINCESS.
In a few days I will feign sickness, and
Shall be excused from waiting on the queen.
Such is, you know, the custom of the court,
And I may then remain in my apartment.
DOMINGO.
'Tis well devised! Now the great game is won,
And we may bid defiance to all queens!
PRINCESS.
Hark! I am called. I must attend the queen,
So fare you well.
[Exit.
SCENE XIII.
ALVA and DOMINGO.
DOMINGO (after a pause, during which he has watched the PRINCESS).
My lord! these roses, and-
Your battles--
ALVA.
And your god!-why, even so
Thus we'll await the lightning that will scathe us!
[Exeunt.
SCENE XIV.
A Carthusian Convent.
DON CARLOS and the PRIOR.
CARLOS (to the PRIOR, as he comes in).
Been here already? I am sorry for it.
PRIOR.
Yes, thrice since morning. 'Tis about an hour
Since he went hence.
CARLOS.
But he will sure return.
Has he not left some message?
PRIOR.
Yes; he promised
To come again at noon.
CARLOS (going to a window, and looking round the country).
Your convent lies
Far from the public road. Yonder are seen
The turrets of Madrid-just so-and there
The Mansanares flows. The scenery is
Exactly to my wish, and all around
Is calm and still as secrecy itself.
PRIOR.
Or as the entrance to another world.
CARLOS.
Most worthy sir, to your fidelity
And honor, have I now intrusted all
I hold most dear and sacred in the world.
No mortal man must know, or even suspect,
With whom I here hold secret assignation.
Most weighty reasons prompt me to deny,
To all the world, the friend whom I expect,
Therefore I choose this convent. Are we safe
From traitors and surprise? You recollect
What you have sworn.
PRIOR.
Good sir, rely on us.
A king's suspicion cannot pierce the grave,
And curious ears haunts only those resorts
Where wealth and passion dwell-but from these walls
The world's forever banished.
CARLOS.
You may think,
Perhaps, beneath this seeming fear and caution
There lies a guilty conscience?
PRIOR.
I think nothing.
CARLOS.
If you imagine this, most holy father,
You err-indeed you err. My secret shuns
The sight of man-but not the eye of God.
PRIOR.
Such things concern us little. This retreat
To guilt, and innocence alike, is open,
And whether thy designs be good or ill,
Thy purpose criminal or virtuous,-that
We leave to thee to settle with thy heart.
CARLOS (with warmth).
Our purpose never can disgrace your God.
'Tis his own noblest work. To you indeed,
I may reveal it.
PRIOR.
To what end, I pray?
Forego, dear prince, this needless explanation.
The world and all its troubles have been long
Shut from my thoughts-in preparation for
My last long journey. Why recall them to me
For the brief space that must precede my death?
'Tis little for salvation that we need-
But the bell rings, and summons me to prayer.
[Exit PRIOR.
SCENE XV.
DON CARLOS; the MARQUIS POSA enters.
CARLOS.
At length once more,-at length--
MARQUIS.
For the impatience of a friend! The sun
Has risen twice-twice set-since Carlos' fate
Has been resolved, and am I only now
To learn it: speak,-you're reconciled!
CARLOS.
With whom?
MARQUIS.
The king! And Flanders, too,-its fate is settled!
CARLOS.
The duke sets out to-morrow. That is fixed.
MARQUIS.
That cannot be-it is not surely so.
Can all Madrid be so deceived? 'Tis said
You had a private audience, and the king--
CARLOS.
Remained inflexible, and we are now
Divided more than ever.
MARQUIS.
Do you go
To Flanders?
CARLOS.
No!
MARQUIS.
Alas! my blighted hopes!
CARLOS.
Of this hereafter. Oh, Roderigo! since
We parted last, what have I not endured?
But first thy counsel? I must speak with her!
MARQUIS.
Your mother? No! But wherefore?
CARLOS.
I have hopes-
But you turn pale! Be calm-I should be happy.
And I shall be so: but of this anon-
Advise me now, how I may speak with her.
MARQUIS.
What mean you? What new feverish dream is this?
CARLOS.
By the great God of wonders 'tis no dream!
'Tis truth, reality--
[Taking out the KING's letter to the PRINCESS EBOLI.
Contained in this
Important paper-yes, the queen is free,-
Free before men and in the eyes of heaven;
There read, and cease to wonder at my words.
MARQUIS (opening the letter).
What do I here behold? The king's own hand!
[After he has read it.
To whom addressed?
CARLOS.
To Princess Eboli.
Two days ago, a page who serves the queen,
Brought me, from unknown hands, a key and letter,
Which said that in the left wing of the palace,
Where the queen lodges, lay a cabinet,-
That there a lady whom I long had loved
Awaited me. I straight obeyed the summons.
MARQUIS.
Fool! madman! you obeyed it--
CARLOS.
Not that I
The writing knew; but there was only one
Such woman, who could think herself adored
By Carlos. With delight intoxicate
I hastened to the spot. A heavenly song,
Re-echoing from the innermost apartment,
Served me for guide. I reached the cabinet-
I entered and beheld-conceive my wonder!
MARQUIS.
I guess it all--
CARLOS.
I had been lost forever,
But that I fell into an angel's hands!
She, hapless chance, by my imprudent looks,
Deceived, had yielded to the sweet delusion
And deemed herself the idol of my soul.
Moved by the silent anguish of my breast,
With thoughtless generosity, her heart
Nobly determined to return my love;
Deeming respectful fear had caused my silence,
She dared to speak, and all her lovely soul
Laid bare bef
ore me.
MARQUIS.
And with calm composure,
You tell this tale! The Princess Eboli
Saw through your heart; and doubtless she has pierced
The inmost secret of your hidden love.
You've wronged her deeply, and she rules the king.
CARLOS (confidently).
But she is virtuous!
MARQUIS.
She may be so