Don Carlos

SCENE XVI

The former. MARQUIS POSA rushes in; behind him two Officers of the Queen's Guard.

MARQUIS (breathless and agitated, rushing between CARLOS and the PRINCESS)   Say, what has he confessed? Believe him not!CARLOS (still on his knees, with loud voice)   By all that's holy —MARQUIS (interrupting him with vehemence)              He is mad! He raves!   Oh, listen to him not!CARLOS (louder and more urgent)               It is a question   Of life and death; conduct me to her straight.MARQUIS (dragging the PRINCESS from him by force)   You die, if you but listen.

[To one of the officers, showing an order.

                  Count of Cordova!   In the king's name, Prince Carlos is your prisoner.

[CARLOS stands bewildered. The PRINCESS utters a cry of horror, and tries to escape. The officers are astounded.

A long and deep pause ensues. The MARQUIS trembles violently, and with difficulty preserves his composure.

[To the PRINCE.

   I beg your sword – The Princess Eboli   Remains —

[To the officers.

         And you, on peril of your lives,   Let no one with his highness speak – no person —   Not e'en yourselves.

[He whispers a few words to one officer, then turns to the other.

              I hasten, instantly,   To cast myself before our monarch's feet,   And justify this step —

[To the PRINCE.

                And prince! for you —   Expect me in an hour.

[CARLOS permits himself to be led away without any signs of consciousness, except that in passing he casts a languid, dying look on the MARQUIS. The PRINCESS endeavors again to escape; the MARQUIS pulls her back by the arm.

SCENE XVII

PRINCESS EBOLI, MARQUIS POSA.

EBOLI   For Heaven's sake let me leave this place —MARQUIS (leads her forward with dreadful earnestness)                          Thou wretch!   What has he said to thee?EBOLI                 Oh, leave me! Nothing.MARQUIS (with earnestness; holding her back by force)   How much has he imparted to thee? Here   No way is left thee to escape. To none   In this world shalt thou ever tell it.EBOLI (looking at him with terror)   Heavens! What would you do? Would you then murder me?MARQUIS (drawing a dagger)   Yes, that is my resolve. Be speedy!EBOLI                      Mercy!   What have I then committed?MARQUIS (looking towards heaven, points the dagger to her breast)                  Still there's time —   The poison has not issued from these lips.   Dash but the bowl to atoms, all remains   Still as before! The destinies of Spain   Against a woman's life!

[Remains doubtingly in this position.

EBOLI (having sunk down beside him, looks in his face)                Do not delay —   Why do you hesitate? I beg no mercy —   I have deserved to die, and I am ready.MARQUIS (letting his hand drop slowly – after some reflection)   It were as cowardly as barbarous.   No! God be praised! another way is left.

[He lets the dagger fall and hurries out. The PRINCESS hastens out through another door.

SCENE XVIII

A Chamber of the QUEEN.

The QUEEN to the COUNTESS FUENTES.

   What means this noisy tumult in the palace?   Each breath to-day alarms me! Countess! see   What it portends, and hasten back with speed.

[Exit COUNTESS FUENTES – the PRINCESS EBOLI rushes in.

SCENE XIX

The QUEEN, PRINCESS EBOLI.

EBOLI (breathless, pale, and wild, falls before the QUEEN)   Help! Help! O Queen! he's seized!QUEEN                     Who?EBOLI                        He's arrested   By the king's orders given to Marquis Posa.QUEEN   Who is arrested? Who?EBOLI               The prince!QUEEN                      Thou ravestEBOLI   This moment they are leading him away.QUEEN   And who arrested him?EBOLI               The Marquis Posa.QUEEN   Then heaven be praised! it was the marquis seized him!EBOLI   Can you speak thus, and with such tranquil mien?   Oh, heavens! you do not know – you cannot think —QUEEN   The cause of his arrest! some trifling error,   Doubtless arising from his headlong youth!EBOLI   No! no! I know far better. No, my queen!   Remorseless treachery! There's no help for him.   He dies!QUEEN        He dies!EBOLI             And I'm his murderer!QUEEN   What! Dies? Thou ravest! Think what thou art saying?EBOLI   And wherefore – wherefore dies he? Had I known   That it would come to this!QUEEN (takes her affectionately by the hand)                  Oh, dearest princess,   Your senses are distracted, but collect   Your wandering spirits, and relate to me   More calmly, not in images of horror   That fright my inmost soul, whate'er you know!   Say, what has happened?EBOLI                Oh, display not, queen,   Such heavenly condescension! Like hot flames   This kindness sears my conscience. I'm not worthy   To view thy purity with eyes profane.   Oh, crush the wretch, who, agonized by shame,   Remorse, and self-reproach writhes at thy feet!QUEEN   Unhappy woman! Say, what is thy guilt?EBOLI   Angel of light! Sweet saint! thou little knowest   The demon who has won thy loving smiles.   Know her to-day; I was the wretched thief   Who plundered thee.QUEEN              What! Thou?EBOLI                     And gave thy letters   Up to the king?QUEEN            What! Thou?EBOLI                   And dared accuse thee!QUEEN   Thou! Couldst thou this?EBOLI                 Revenge and madness – love —   I hated thee, and loved the prince!QUEEN                      And did   His love so prompt thee?QUEEN   And who arrested him?EBOLI               I had owned my love,   But met with no return.QUEEN (after a pause)                Now all's explained!   Rise up! – you loved him – I have pardoned you   I have forgotten all. Now, princess, rise.

[Holding out her hand to the PRINCESS.

EBOLI   No, no; a foul confession still remains.   I will not rise, great queen, till I —QUEEN                       Then speak!   What have I yet to hear?EBOLI                The king! Seduction!   Oh, now you turn away. And in your eyes   I read abhorrence. Yes; of that foul crime   I charged you with, I have myself been guilty.

[She presses her burning face to the ground. Exit QUEEN.

A long pause. The COUNTESS OLIVAREZ, after some minutes, comes out of the cabinet, into which the QUEEN entered, and finds the PRINCESS still lying in the above posture. She approaches in silence. On hearing a noise, the latter looks up and becomes like a mad person when she misses the QUEEN.

SCENE XX

PRINCESS EBOLI, COUNTESS OLIVAREZ.

EBOLI   Heavens! she has left me. I am now undone!OLIVAREZ (approaching her)   My princess – Eboli!EBOLI              I know your business,   Duchess, and you come hither from the queen,   To speak my sentence to me; do it quickly.OLIVAREZ   I am commanded by your majesty   To take your cross and key.EBOLI (takes from her breast a golden cross, and gives it to the UCHESS)                  And but once more   May I not kiss my gracious sovereign's hand?OLIVAREZ   In holy Mary's convent shall you learn   Your fate, princess.EBOLI (with a flood of tears)              Alas! then I no more   Shall ever see the queen.OLIVAREZ (embraces her with her face turned away)                 Princess, farewell.

[She goes hastily away. The PRINCESS follows her as far as the door of the cabinet, which is immediately locked after the DUCHESS. She remains a few minutes silent and motionless on her knees before it. She then rises and hastens away, covering her face.

SCENE XXI

QUEEN, MARQUIS POSA.

QUEEN   Ah, marquis, I am glad you're come at last!MARQUIS (pale, with a disturbed countenance and trembling voice, in solemn, deep agitation, during the whole scene)   And is your majesty alone? Can none   Within the adjoining chamber overhear us?QUEEN   No one! But why? What news would you impart?

[Looking at him closely, and drawing back alarmed.

   And what has wrought this change in you? Speak, marquis,   You make me tremble – all your features seem   So marked with death!MARQUIS               You know, perhaps, already.QUEEN   That Carlos is arrested – and they add,   By you! Is it then true? From no one else   Would I believe it but yourself.MARQUIS                    'Tis true.QUEEN   By you?MARQUIS        By me?QUEEN (looks at him for some time doubtingly)            I still respect your actions   E'en when I comprehend them not. In this   Pardon a timid woman! I much fear   You play a dangerous game.MARQUIS                 And I have lost it.QUEEN   Merciful heaven!MARQUIS            Queen, fear not! He is safe,   But I am lost myself.QUEEN               What do I hear?MARQUIS   Who bade me hazard all on one chance throw?   All? And with rash, foolhardy confidence,   Sport with the power of heaven? Of bounded mind,   Man, who is not omniscient, must not dare   To guide the helm of destiny. 'Tis just!   But why these thoughts of self. This hour is precious   As life can be to man: and who can tell   Whether the parsimonious hand of fate   May not have measured my last drops of life.QUEEN   The hand of fate! What means this solemn tone?   I understand these words not – but I shudder.MARQUIS   He's saved! no matter at what price – he's saved!   But only for to-day – a few short hours   Are his. Oh, let him husband them! This night   The prince must leave Madrid.QUEEN                   This very night?MARQUIS   All measures are prepared. The post will meet him   At the Carthusian convent, which has served   So long as an asylum to our friendship.   Here will he find, in letters of exchange,   All in the world that fortune gifts me with.   Should more be wanting, you must e'en supply it.   In truth, I have within my heart full much   To unburden to my Carlos – it may chance   I shall want leisure now to tell him all   In person – but this evening you will see him,   And therefore I address myself to you.QUEEN   Oh, for my peace of mind, dear marquis, speak!   Explain yourself more clearly! Do not use   This dark, and fearful, and mysterious language!   Say, what has happened?MARQUIS                I have yet one thing,   A matter of importance on my mind:   In your hands I deposit it. My lot   Was such as few indeed have e'er enjoyed —   I loved a prince's son. My heart to one —   To that one object given – embraced the world!   I have created in my Carlos' soul,   A paradise for millions! Oh, my dream   Was lovely! But the will of Providence   Has summoned me away, before my hour,   From this my beauteous work. His Roderigo   Soon shall be his no more, and friendship's claim   Will be transferred to love. Here, therefore, here,   Upon this sacred altar – on the heart   Of his loved queen – I lay my last bequest   A precious legacy – he'll find it here,   When I shall be no more.

[He turns away, his voice choked with grief.

QUEEN                 This is the language   Of a dying man – it surely emanates   But from your blood's excitement – or does sense   Lie hidden in your language?MARQUIS (has endeavored to collect himself, and continues in a solemn voice)                  Tell the prince,   That he must ever bear in mind the oath   We swore, in past enthusiastic days,   Upon the sacred host. I have kept mine —   I'm true to him till death – 'tis now his turn —QUEEN   Till death?MARQUIS          Oh, bid him realize the dream,   The glowing vision which our friendship painted,   Of a new-perfect realm! And let him lay   The first hand on the rude, unshapened stone.   Whether he fail or prosper – all alike —   Let him commence the work. When centuries   Have rolled away shall Providence again   Raise to the throne a princely youth like him,   And animate again a favorite son   Whose breast shall burn with like enthusiasm.   Tell him, in manhood, he must still revere   The dreams of early youth, nor ope the heart   Of heaven's all-tender flower to canker-worms   Of boasted reason, – nor be led astray   When, by the wisdom of the dust, he hears   Enthusiasm, heavenly-born, blasphemed.   I have already told him.QUEEN   Whither, marquis? Whither does all this tend?MARQUIS   And tell him further, I lay upon his soul the happiness   Of man – that with my dying breath I claim,   Demand it of him – and with justest title.   I had designed a new, a glorious morn,   To waken in these kingdoms: for to me   Philip had opened all his inmost heart —   Called me his son – bestowed his seals upon me —   And Alva was no more his counsellor.

[He pauses, and looks at the QUEEN for a few moments in silence.

   You weep! I know those tears, beloved soul!   Oh, they are tears of joy! – but it is past —   Forever past! Carlos or I? The choice   Was prompt and fearful. One of us must perish!   And I will be that one. Oh, ask no more!QUEEN   Now, now, at last, I comprehend your meaning,   Unhappy man! What have you done?MARQUIS                     Cut off   Two transient hours of evening to secure   A long, bright summer-day! I now give up   The king forever. What were I to the king?   In such cold soil no rose of mine could bloom;   In my great friend must Europe's fortune ripen.   Spain I bequeath to him, still bathed in blood   From Philip's iron hand. But woe to him,   Woe to us both, if I have chosen wrong!   But no – oh, no! I know my Carlos better —   'Twill never come to pass! – for this, my queen,   You stand my surety.

[After a silence.

              Yes! I saw his love   In its first blossom – saw his fatal passion   Take root in his young heart. I had full power   To check it; but I did not. The attachment   Which seemed to me not guilty, I still nourished.   The world may censure me, but I repent not,   Nor does my heart accuse me. I saw life   Where death appeared to others. In a flame   So hopeless I discerned hope's golden beam.   I wished to lead him to the excellent —   To exalt him to the highest point of beauty.   Mortality denied a model to me,   And language, words. Then did I bend his views   To this point only – and my whole endeavor   Was to explain to him his love.QUEEN                    Your friend,   Marquis! so wholly occupied your mind,   That for his cause you quite forgot my own —   Could you suppose that I had thrown aside   All woman's weaknesses, that you could dare   Make me his angel, and confide alone   In virtue for his armor? You forget   What risks this heart must run, when we ennoble   Passion with such a beauteous name as this.MARQUIS   Yes, in all other women – but in one,   One only, 'tis not so. For you, I swear it.   And should you blush to indulge the pure desire   To call heroic virtue into life?   Can it affect King Philip, that his works   Of noblest art, in the Escurial, raise   Immortal longings in the painter's soul,   Who stands entranced before them? Do the sounds   That slumber in the lute, belong alone   To him who buys the chords? With ear unmoved   He may preserve his treasure: – he has bought   The wretched right to shiver it to atoms,   But not the power to wake its silver tones,   Or, in the magic of its sounds, dissolve.   Truth is created for the sage, as beauty   Is for the feeling heart. They own each other.   And this belief, no coward prejudice   Shall make me e'er disclaim. Then promise, queen,   That you will ever love him. That false shame,   Or fancied dignity, shall never make you   Yield to the voice of base dissimulation: —   That you will love him still, unchanged, forever.   Promise me this, oh, queen! Here solemnly   Say, do you promise?QUEEN              That my heart alone   Shall ever vindicate my love, I promise —MARQUIS (drawing his hand back)   Now I die satisfied – my work is done.

[He bows to the QUEEN, and is about to go.

QUEEN (follows him with her eyes in silence)   You are then going, marquis, and have not   Told me how soon – and when – we meet again?MARQUIS (comes back once more, his face turned away)   Yes, we shall surely meet again!QUEEN                    Now, Posa,   I understand you. Why have you done this?MARQUIS   Carlos or I myself!QUEEN              No! no! you rush   Headlong into a deed you deem, sublime.   Do not deceive yourself: I know you well:   Long have you thirsted for it. If your pride   But have its fill, what matters it to you   Though thousand hearts should break. Oh! now, at length,   I comprehend your feelings – 'tis the love   Of admiration which has won your heart —MARQUIS (surprised, aside)   No! I was not prepared for this —QUEEN (after a pause)                      Oh, marquis!   Is there no hope of preservation?MARQUIS                     None.QUEEN   None? Oh, consider well! None possible!   Not e'en by me?MARQUIS            Not even, queen, by thee.QUEEN   You but half know me – I have courage, marquis —MARQUIS   I know it —QUEEN          And no means of safety?MARQUIS                       NoneQUEEN (turning away and covering her face)   Go! Never more shall I respect a man —MARQUIS (casts himself on his knees before her in evident emotion)   O queen! O heaven! how lovely still is life!

[He starts up and rushes out. The QUEEN retires into her cabinet.

SCENE XXII

DUKE ALVA and DOMINGO walking up and down in silence and separately.

COUNT LERMA comes out of the KING's cabinet, and afterwards DON RAYMOND OF TAXIS, the Postmaster-General.

LERMA   Has not the marquis yet appeared?ALVA                     Not yet.

[LERMA about to re-enter the cabinet.

TAXIS (enters)   Count Lerma! Pray announce me to the king?LERMA   His majesty cannot be seen.TAXIS                  But say   That I must see him; that my business is   Of urgent import to his majesty.   Make haste – it will admit of no delay.

[LERMA enters the cabinet.

ALVA   Dear Taxis, you must learn a little patience —   You cannot see the king.TAXIS                Not see him! Why?ALVA   You should have been considerate, and procured   Permission from the Marquis Posa first —   Who keeps both son and father in confinement.TAXIS   The Marquis Posa! Right – that is the man   From whom I bring this letter.ALVA                   Ah! What letter?TAXIS   A letter to be forwarded to Brussels.ALVA (attentively)   To Brussels?TAXIS          And I bring it to the king.ALVA   Indeed! to Brussels! Heard you that, Domingo?DOMINGO (joining them)   Full of suspicion!TAXIS             And with anxious mien,   And deep embarrassment he gave it to me.DOMINGO   Embarrassment! To whom is it directed?TAXIS   The Prince of Orange and Nassau.ALVA                    To William!   There's treason here, Domingo!DOMINGO                   Nothing less!   In truth this letter must, without delay,   Be laid before the king. A noble service   You render, worthy man – to be so firm   In the discharge of duty.TAXIS                 Reverend sir!   'Tis but my duty.ALVA             But you do it well.LERMA (coming out of the cabinet, addressing TAXIS)   The king will see you.

[TAXIS goes in.

                Is the marquis come?DOMINGO   He has been sought for everywhere.ALVA                     'Tis strange!   The prince is a state prisoner! And the king   Knows not the reason why!DOMINGO                 He never came   To explain the business here.ALVA                   What says the king?LERMA   The king spoke not a word.

[A noise in the cabinet.

ALVA                 What noise is that?TAXIS (coming out of the cabinet)   Count Lerma!

[Both enter.

ALVA (to DOMINGO)          What so deeply can engage them.DOMINGO   That look of fear! This intercepted letter!   It augurs nothing good.ALVA                He sends for Lerma!   Yet he must know full well that you and I   Are both in waiting.DOMINGO              Ah! our day is over!ALVA   And am I not the same to whom these doors   Flew open once? But, ah! how changed is all   Around me and how strange!

[DOMINGO approaches the cabinet door softly, and remains

      listening before it.ALVA (after a pause)                 Hark! All is still   And silent as the grave!' I hear them breathe.DOMINGO   The double tapestry absorbs the sounds!ALVA   Away! there's some one coming. All appears   So solemn and so still – as if this instant   Some deep momentous question were decided.

SCENE XXIII

The PRINCE OF PARMA, the DUKES OF FERIA and MEDINA SIDONIA, with other GRANDEES enter – the preceding.

PARMA   Say, can we see the king?ALVA                 No!PARMA                   Who is with him?FERIA   The Marquis Posa, doubtless?ALVA                   Every instant   He is expected here.PARMA              This moment we   Arrive from Saragossa. Through Madrid   Terror prevails! Is the announcement true?   Domingo.   Alas, too true!FERIA            That he has been arrested   By the marquis!ALVA            Yes.PARMA               And wherefore? What's the cause?ALVA   Wherefore? That no one knows, except the king   And Marquis Posa.PARMA             And without the warrant   Of the assembled Cortes of the Realm?FERIA   That man shall suffer, who has lent a hand   To infringe the nation's rights.ALVA                     And so say I!MEDINA SIDONIA   And I!THE OTHER GRANDEES       And all of us!ALVA               Who'll follow me   Into the cabinet? I'll throw myself   Before the monarch's feet.LERMA (rushing out of the cabinet)                 The Duke of Alva!DOMINGO   Then God be praised at last!LERMA                  When Marquis Posa   Comes, say the king's engaged and he'll be sent for.DOMINGO (to LERMA; all the others having gathered round him, full of anxious expectation)   Count! What has happened? You are pale as death!LERMA (hastening away)   Fell villany!PARMA and FERIA           What! what!MEDINA SIDONIA                 How is the king?DOMINGO (at the same time)   Fell villany! Explain —LERMA                The king shed tears!DOMINGO   Shed tears!ALL (together with astonishment)          The king shed tears!

[The bell rings in the cabinet, COUNT LERMA hastens in.

DOMINGO                     Count, yet one word.   Pardon! He's gone! We're fettered in amazement.

SCENE XXIV

PRINCESS EBOLI, FERIA, MEDINA SIDONIA, PARMA, DOMINGO, and other grandees.

EBOLI (hurriedly and distractedly)   Where is the king? Where? I must speak with him.

[To FERIA.

   Conduct me to him, duke!FERIA                The monarch is   Engaged in urgent business. No one now   Can be admitted.EBOLI            Has he signed, as yet,   The fatal sentence? He has been deceived.DOMINGO (giving her a significant look at a distance)   The Princess Eboli!EBOLI (going to him)              What! you here, priest?   The very man I want! You can confirm   My testimony!

[She seizes his hand and would drag him into the cabinet.

DOMINGO           I? You rave, princess!FERIA   Hold back. The king cannot attend you now.EBOLI   But he must hear me; he must hear the truth   The truth, were he ten times a deity.EBOLI   Man, tremble at the anger of thy idol.   I have naught left to hazard.

[Attempts to enter the cabinet; ALVA rushes out, his eyes sparkling, triumph in his gait. He hastens to DOMINGO, and embraces him.

ALVA                   Let each church   Resound with high To Dennis. Victory   At length is ours.DOMINGO             What! Ours?ALVA (to DOMINGO and the other GRANDEES)                    Now to the king.   You shall hereafter hear the sequel from me.

ACT V

SCENE I

A chamber in the royal palace, separated from a large fore-court by an iron-barred gate. Sentinels walking up and down. CARLOS sitting at a table, with his head leaning forward on his arms, as if he were asleep. In the background of the chamber are some officers, confined with him. The MARQUIS POSA enters, unobserved by him, and whispers to the officers, who immediately withdraw. He himself steps close up to CARLOS, and looks at him for a few minutes in silent sorrow. At last he makes a motion which awakens him out of his stupor. CARLOS rises, and seeing the MARQUIS, starts back. He regards him for some time with fixed eyes, and draws his hand over his forehead as if he wished to recollect something.

MARQUIS   Carlos! 'tis I.CARLOS (gives him his hand)            Comest thou to me again?   'Tis friendly of thee, truly.MARQUIS                   Here I thought   Thou mightest need a friend.CARLOS                  Indeed! was that   Thy real thought? Oh, joy unspeakable!   Right well I knew thou still wert true to me.MARQUIS   I have deserved this from thee.CARLOS                    Hast thou not?   And now we understand each other fully,   It joys my heart. This kindness, this forbearance   Becomes our noble souls. For should there be   One rash, unjust demand amongst my wishes,   Wouldst thou, for that, refuse me what was just?   Virtue I know may often be severe,   But never is she cruel and inhuman.   Oh! it hath cost thee much; full well I know   How thy kind heart with bitter anguish bled   As thy hands decked the victim for the altar.MARQUIS   What meanest thou, Carlos?CARLOS                 Thou, thyself, wilt now   Fulfil the joyous course I should have run.   Thou wilt bestow on Spain those golden days   She might have hoped in vain to win from me.   I'm lost, forever lost; thou saw'st it clearly.   This fatal love has scattered, and forever,   All the bright, early blossoms of my mind.   To all the great, exalted hopes I'm dead.   Chance led thee to the king – or Providence, —   It cost thee but my secret – and at once   He was thine own – thou may'st become his angel:   But I am lost, though Spain perhaps may flourish.   Well, there is nothing to condemn, if not   My own mad blindness. Oh, I should have known   That thou art no less great than tender-hearted.MARQUIS   No! I foresaw not, I considered not   That friendship's generous heart would lead thee on   Beyond my worldly prudence. I have erred,   My fabric's shattered – I forgot thy heart.CARLOS   Yet, if it had been possible to spare   Her fate – oh, how intensely I had thanked thee!   Could I not bear the burden by myself?   And why must she be made a second victim?   But now no more, I'll spare thee this reproach.   What is the queen to thee? Say, dost thou love her?   Could thy exalted virtue e'er consult   The petty interests of my wretched passion?   Oh, pardon me! I was unjust —MARQUIS                   Thou art so!   But not for this reproach. Deserved I one,   I merit all – and then I should not stand   Before you as I do.

[He takes out his portfolio.