полная версия
Фридрих Шиллер
Don Carlos
SCENE IX
The PRINCESS alone.
She seems overcome with surprise, and is confounded.
After CARLOS' departure she hastens to call him back.
PRINCESS
Prince, but one word! Prince, hear me. He is gone.
And this, too, I am doomed to bear – his scorn!
And I am left in lonely wretchedness,
Rejected and despised!
[Sinks down upon a chair. After a pause
And yet not so;
I'm but displaced – supplanted by some wanton.
He loves! of that no longer doubt is left;
He has himself confessed it – but my rival —
Who can she be? Happy, thrice happy one!
This much stands clear: he loves where he should not.
He dreads discovery, and from the king
He hides his guilty passion! Why from him
Who would so gladly hail it? Or, is it not
The father that he dreads so in the parent?
When the king's wanton purpose was disclosed,
His features glowed with triumph, boundless joy
Flashed in his eyes, his rigid virtue fled;
Why was it mute in such a cause as this?
Why should he triumph? What hath he to gain
If Philip to his queen —
[She stops suddenly, as if struck by a thought, then drawing hastily from her bosom the ribbon which she had taken from CARLOS, she seems to recognize it.
Fool that I am!
At length 'tis plain. Where have my senses been?
My eyes are opened now. They loved each other
Long before Philip wooed her, and the prince
Ne'er saw me but with her! She, she alone
Was in his thoughts when I believed myself
The object of his true and boundless love.
O matchless error! and have I betrayed
My weakness to her?
[Pauses.
Should his love prove hopeless?
Who can believe it? Would a hopeless love
Persist in such a struggle? Called to revel
In joys for which a monarch sighs in vain!
A hopeless love makes no such sacrifice.
What fire was in his kiss! How tenderly
He pressed my bosom to his beating heart!
Well nigh the trial had proved dangerous
To his romantic, unrequited passion!
With joy he seized the key he fondly thought
The queen had sent: – in this gigantic stride
Of love he puts full credence – and he comes —
In very truth comes here – and so imputes
To Philip's wife a deed so madly rash.
And would he so, had love not made him bold?
'Tis clear as day – his suit is heard – she loves!
By heaven, this saintly creature burns with passion;
How subtle, too, she is! With fear I trembled
Before this lofty paragon of virtue!
She towered beside me, an exalted being,
And in her beams I felt myself eclipsed;
I envied her the lovely, cloudless calm,
That kept her soul from earthly tumults free.
And was this soft serenity but show?
Would she at both feasts revel, holding up
Her virtue's godlike splendor to our gaze,
And riot in the secret joys of vice?
And shall the false dissembler cozen thus,
And win a safe immunity from this
That no avenger comes? By heavens she shall not!
I once adored her, – that demands revenge: —
The king shall know her treachery – the king!
[After a pause.
'Tis the sure way to win the monarch's ear!
[Exit
SCENE X
A chamber in the royal palace.
DUKE OF ALVA, FATHER DOMINGO.
DOMINGO
Something to tell me!
ALVA
Ay! a thing of moment,
Of which I made discovery to-day,
And I would have your judgment on it.
DOMINGO
How!
Discovery! To what do you allude?
ALVA
Prince Carlos and myself this morning met
In the queen's antechamber. I received
An insult from him – we were both in heat —
The strife grew loud – and we had drawn our swords.
Alarmed, from her apartments rushed the queen.
She stepped between us, – with commanding eye
Of conscious power, she looked upon the prince.
'Twas but a single glance, – but his arm dropped,
He fell upon my bosom – gave me then
A warm embrace, and vanished.
DOMINGO (after a pause)
This seems strange.
It brings a something to my mind, my lord!
And thoughts like these I own have often sprung
Within my breast; but I avoid such fancies —
To no one have I e'er confided them.
There are such things as double-edged swords
And untrue friends, – I fear them both.
'Tis hard to judge among mankind, but still more hard
To know them thoroughly. Words slipped at random
Are confidants offended – therefore I
Buried my secret in my breast, till time
Should drag it forth to light. 'Tis dangerous
To render certain services to kings.
They are the bolts, which if they miss the mark,
Recoil upon the archer! I could swear
Upon the sacrament to what I saw.
Yet one eye-witness – one word overheard —
A scrap of paper – would weigh heavier far
Than my most strong conviction! Cursed fate
That we are here in Spain!
ALVA
And why in Spain?
DOMINGO
There is a chance in every court but this
For passion to forget itself, and fall.
Here it is warned by ever-wakeful laws.
Our Spanish queens would find it hard to sin —
And only there do they meet obstacles,
Where best 'twould serve our purpose to surprise them.
ALVA
But listen further: Carlos had to-day
An audience of the king; the interview
Lasted an hour, and earnestly he sought
The government of Flanders for himself.
Loudly he begged, and fervently. I heard him
In the adjoining cabinet. His eyes
Were red with tears when I encountered him.
At noon he wore a look of lofty triumph,
And vowed his joy at the king's choice of me.
He thanked the king. "Matters are changed," he said,
"And things go better now." He's no dissembler:
How shall I reconcile such contradictions?
The prince exults to see himself rejected,
And I receive a favor from the king
With marks of anger! What must I believe?
In truth this new-born dignity doth sound
Much more like banishment than royal favor!
DOMINGO
And is it come to this at last? to this?
And has one moment crumbled into dust
What cost us years to build? And you so calm,
So perfectly at ease! Know you this youth?
Do you foresee the fate we may expect
Should he attain to power? The prince! No foe
Am I of his. Far other cares than these
Gnaw at my rest – cares for the throne – for God,
And for his holy church! The royal prince —
(I know him, I can penetrate his soul),
Has formed a horrible design, Toledo!
The wild design – to make himself the regent,
And set aside our pure and sacred faith.
His bosom glows with some new-fangled virtue,
Which, proud and self-sufficient, scorns to rest
For strength on any creed. He dares to think!
His brain is all on fire with wild chimeras;
He reverences the people! And is this
A man to be our king?
ALVA
Fantastic dreams!
No more. A boy's ambition, too, perchance
To play some lofty part! What can he less?
These thoughts will vanish when he's called to rule.
DOMINGO
I doubt it! Of his freedom he is proud,
And scorns those strict restraints all men must bear
Who hope to govern others. Would he suit
Our throne? His bold gigantic mind
Would burst the barriers of our policy.
In vain I sought to enervate his soul
In the loose joys of this voluptuous age.
He stood the trial. Fearful is the spirit
That rules this youth; and Philip soon will see
His sixtieth year.
ALVA
Your vision stretches far!
DOMINGO
He and the queen are both alike in this.
Already works, concealed in either breast,
The poisonous wish for change and innovation.
Give it but way, 'twill quickly reach the throne.
I know this Valois! We may tremble for
The secret vengeance of this quiet foe
If Philip's weakness hearken to her voice!
Fortune so far hath smiled upon us. Now
We must anticipate the foe, and both
Shall fall together in one fatal snare.
Let but a hint of such a thing be dropped
Before the king, proved or unproved, it reeks not!
Our point is gained if he but waver. We
Ourselves have not a doubt; and once convinced,
'Tis easy to convince another's mind.
Be sure we shall discover more if we
Start with the faith that more remains concealed.
ALVA
But soft! A vital question! Who is he
Will undertake the task to tell the king?
DOMINGO
Nor you, nor I! Now shall you learn, what long
My busy spirit, full of its design,
Has been at work with, to achieve its ends.
Still is there wanting to complete our league
A third important personage. The king
Loves the young Princess Eboli – and I
Foster this passion for my own designs.
I am his go-between. She shall be schooled
Into our plot. If my plan fail me not,
In this young lady shall a close ally —
A very queen, bloom for us. She herself
Asked me, but now, to meet her in this chamber.
I'm full of hope. And in one little night
A Spanish maid may blast this Valois lily.
ALVA
What do you say! Can I have heard aright?
By Heaven! I'm all amazement. Compass this,
And I'll bow down to thee, Dominican!
The day's our own.
DOMINGO
Soft! Some one comes: 'tis she —
'Tis she herself!
ALVA
I'm in the adjoining room
If you should —
DOMINGO
Be it so: I'll call you in.
[Exit ALVA.
SCENE XI
PRINCESS, DOMINGO.
DOMINGO
At your command, princess.
PRINCESS
We are perhaps
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 that 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
Oh, what a trial
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 before 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
From love's mere selfishness. But much I fear
Such virtue – well I know it: know how little
It hath the power to soar to that ideal,
Which, first conceived in sweet and stately grace,
From the pure soul's maternal soil, puts forth
Spontaneous shoots, nor asks the gardener's aid
To nurse its lavish blossoms into life.
'Tis but a foreign plant, with labor reared,
And warmth that poorly imitates the south,
In a cold soil and an unfriendly clime.
Call it what name you will – or education,
Or principle, or artificial virtue
Won from the heat of youth by art and cunning,
In conflicts manifold – all noted down
With scrupulous reckoning to that heaven's account,
Which is its aim, and will requite its pains.
Ask your own heart! Can she forgive the queen
That you should scorn her dearly-purchased virtue,
To pine in hopeless love for Philip's wife.
CARLOS
Knowest thou the princess, then, so well?
MARQUIS
Not I —
I've scarcely seen her twice. And yet thus much
I may remark. To me she still appears
To shun alone the nakedness of vice,
Too weakly proud of her imagined virtue.
And then I mark the queen. How different, Carlos,
Is everything that I behold in her!
In native dignity, serene and calm,
Wearing a careless cheerfulness – unschooled
In all the trained restraints of conduct, far
Removed from boldness and timidity,
With firm, heroic step, she walks along
The narrow middle path of rectitude,
Unconscious of the worship she compels,
Where she of self-approval never dreamed.
Say, does my Carlos in this mirror trace
The features of his Eboli? The princess
Was constant while she loved; love was the price,
The understood condition of her virtue.
You failed to pay that price – 'twill therefore fall.
CARLOS (with warmth)
No, no!
[Hastily pacing the apartment.
I tell thee, no! And, Roderigo,
Ill it becomes thee thus to rob thy Carlos
Of his high trust in human excellence,
His chief, his dearest joy!
MARQUIS
Deserve I this?
Friend of my soul, this would I never do —
By heaven I would not. Oh, this Eboli!
She were an angel to me, and before
Her glory would I bend me prostrate down,
In reverence deep as thine, if she were not
The mistress of thy secret.
CARLOS
See how vain,
How idle are thy fears! What proofs has she
That will not stamp her maiden brow with shame?
Say, will she purchase with her own dishonor
The wretched satisfaction of revenge?
MARQUIS
Ay! to recall a blush, full many a one
Has doomed herself to infamy.
CARLOS (with increased vehemence)
Nay, that
Is far too harsh – and cruel! She is proud
And noble; well I know her, and fear nothing.
Vain are your efforts to alarm my hopes.
I must speak to my mother.
MARQUIS
Now? for what?
CARLOS
Because I've nothing more to care for now.
And I must know my fate. Only contrive
That I may speak with her.
MARQUIS
And wilt thou show
This letter to her?
CARLOS
Question me no more,
But quickly find the means that I may see her.
MARQUIS (significantly)
Didst thou not tell me that thou lov'st thy mother?
And wouldst thou really show this letter to her?
[CARLOS fixes his eyes on the ground, and remains silent.
I read a something, Carlos, in thy looks
Unknown to me before. Thou turn'st thine eyes
Away from me. Then it is true, and have I
Judged thee aright? Here, let me see that paper.
[CARLOS gives him the letter, and the MARQUIS tears it.
CARLOS
What! art thou mad?
[Moderating his warmth.
In truth – I must confess it,
That letter was of deepest moment to me.
MARQUIS
So it appeared: on that account I tore it.
[The MARQUIS casts a penetrating look on the PRINCE,
who surveys him with doubt and surprise. A long silence.
Now speak to me with candor, Carlos. What
Have desecrations of the royal bed
To do with thee – thy love? Dost thou fear Philip?
How are a husband's violated duties
Allied with thee and thy audacious hopes?
Has he sinned there, where thou hast placed thy love?
Now then, in truth, I learn to comprehend thee —
How ill till now I've understood thy love!
CARLOS
What dost thou think, Roderigo?
MARQUIS
Oh, I feel
From what it is that I must wean myself.
Once it was otherwise! Yes, once thy soul
Was bounteous, rich, and warm, and there was room
For a whole world in thy expanded heart.
Those feelings are extinct – all swallowed up
In one poor, petty, selfish passion. Now
Thy heart is withered, dead! No tears last thou
For the unhappy fate of wretched Flanders —
No, not another tear. Oh, Carlos! see
How poor, how beggarly, thou hast become,
Since all thy love has centered in thyself!
CARLOS (flings himself into a chair. After a pause, with scarcely suppressed tears)
Too well I know thou lovest me no more!
MARQUIS
Not so, my Carlos. Well I understand
This fiery passion: 'tis the misdirection
Of feelings pure and noble in themselves.
The queen belonged to thee: the king, thy father,
Despoiled thee of her – yet till now thou hast
Been modestly distrustful of thy claims.
Philip, perhaps, was worthy of her! Thou
Scarce dared to breathe his sentence in a whisper —
This letter has resolved thy doubts, and proved
Thou art the worthier man. With haughty joy
Thou saw'st before thee rise the doom that waits
On tyranny convicted of a theft,
But thou wert proud to be the injured one:
Wrongs undeserved great souls can calmly suffer,
Yet here thy fancy played thee false: thy pride
Was touched with satisfaction, and thy heart
Allowed itself to hope: I plainly saw
This time, at least, thou didst not know thyself.
CARLOS (with emotion)
Thou'rt wrong, Roderigo; for my thoughts were far
Less noble than thy goodness would persuade me.
MARQUIS
And am I then e'en here so little known?
See, Carlos, when thou errest, 'tis my way,
Amid a hundred virtues, still to find
That one to which I may impute thy fall.
Now, then, we understand each other better,
And thou shalt have an audience of the queen.
CARLOS (falling on his neck)
Oh, how I blush beside thee!
MARQUIS
Take my word,
And leave the rest to me. A wild, bold thought,
A happy thought is dawning in my mind;
And thou shalt hear it from a fairer mouth,
I hasten to the queen. Perhaps to-morrow
Thy wish may be achieved. Till then, my Carlos,
Forget not this – "That a design conceived
Of lofty reason, which involves the fate,
The sufferings of mankind, though it be baffled
Ten thousand times, should never be abandoned."
Dost hear? Remember Flanders.
CARLOS
Yes! all, all
That thou and virtue bid me not forget.
MARQUIS (going to a window)
The time is up – I hear thy suite approaching.
[They embrace.
Crown prince again, and the vassal.
CARLOS
Dost thou go
Straight to Madrid?
MARQUIS
Yes, straight.
CARLOS
Hold! one word more.
How nearly it escaped me! Yet 'twas news
Of deep importance. "Every letter now
Sent to Brabant is opened by the king!"
So be upon thy guard. The royal post
Has secret orders.
MARQUIS
How have you learned this?
CARLOS
Don Raymond Taxis is my trusty friend.
MARQUIS (after a pause)
Well! then they may be sent through Germany.
[Exeunt on different sides.
