Don Carlos, Friedrich Schiller [read any book .txt] 📗

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