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

not this meeting Should prove our last. How can I hope to win you?

MARQUIS. Pray leave me as I am. What value, sire, Should I be to you were you to corrupt me?

KING. This pride I will not bear. From this day forth I hold you in my service. No remonstrance - For I will have it so.
[After a pause.
But how is this? What would I now? Was it not truth I wished? But here is something more. Marquis, so far You've learned to know me as a king; but yet You know me not as man -
[The MARQUIS seems to meditate.
I understand you - Were I the most unfortunate of fathers, Yet as a husband may I not be blest?

MARQUIS. If the possession of a hopeful son, And a most lovely spouse, confer a claim On mortal to assume that title, sire, In both respects, you are supremely blest.

KING (with a serious look). That am I not - and never, till this hour, Have I so deeply felt that I am not so.

[Contemplating the MARQUIS with a look of melancholy.

MARQUIS. The prince possesses a right noble mind. I ne'er have known him otherwise.

KING.
I have The treasure he has robbed me of, no crown Can e'er requite. So virtuous a queen!

MARQUIS. Who dare assert it, sire?

KING.
The world! and scandal! And I myself! Here lie the damning proofs Of doubtless guilt - and others, too, exist, From which I fear the worst. But still 'tis hard To trust one proof alone. Who brings the charge? And oh! if this were possible - that she, The queen, so foully could pollute her honor, Then how much easier were it to believe An Eboli may be a slanderer! Does not that priest detest my son and her? And can I doubt that Alva broods revenge? My wife has higher worth than all together.

MARQUIS. And there exists besides in woman's soul A treasure, sire, beyond all outward show, Above the reach of slander - female virtue!

KING. Marquis! those thoughts are mine. It costs too much To sink so low as they accuse the queen. The sacred ties of honor are not broken With so much ease, as some would fain persuade me. Marquis, you know mankind. Just such a man As you I long have wished for - you are kind - Cheerful - and deeply versed in human nature - Therefore I've chosen you - -

MARQUIS (surprised and alarmed).
Me, sire!

KING.
You stand Before your king and ask no special favor - For yourself nothing! - that is new to me - You will be just - ne'er weakly swayed by passion. Watch my son close - search the queen's inmost heart. You shall have power to speak with her in private. Retire.
[He rings a bell.

MARQUIS.
And if with but one hope fulfilled I now depart, then is this day indeed The happiest of my life.

KING (holds out his hand to him to kiss).
I hold it not Amongst my days a lost one.
[The MARQUIS rises and goes. COUNT LERMA enters.
Count, in future, The marquis is to enter, unannounced.


ACT IV.

SCENE I.

The Queen's Apartment.
QUEEN, DUCHESS OLIVAREZ, PRINCESS EBOLI, COUNTESS FUENTES.

QUEEN (to the first lady as she rises). And so the key has not been found! My casket Must be forced open then - and that at once.

[She observes PRINCESS EBOLI, who approaches and kisses her hand.

Welcome, dear princess! I rejoice to see you So near recovered. But you still look pale.

FUENTES (with malice). The fault of that vile fever which affects The nerves so painfully. Is't not, princess?

QUEEN. I wished to visit you, dear Eboli, But dared not.

OLIVAREZ.
Oh! the Princess Eboli Was not in want of company.

QUEEN.
Why, that I readily believe, but what's the matter? You tremble - -

PRINCESS.
Nothing - nothing, gracious queen. Permit me to retire.

QUEEN.
You hide it from us - And are far worse than you would have us think. Standing must weary you. Assist her, countess, And let her rest awhile upon that seat.

PRINCESS (going). I shall be better in the open air.

QUEEN. Attend her, countess. What a sudden illness!

[A PAGE enters and speaks to the DUCHESS, who then
addresses the QUEEN.

OLIVAREZ. The Marquis Posa waits, your majesty, With orders from the king.

QUEEN.
Admit him then.

[PAGE admits the MARQUIS and exit.


SCENE II.

MARQUIS POSA. The former.

The MARQUIS falls on one knee before the QUEEN, who
signs to him to rise.

QUEEN. What are my lord's commands? And may I dare Thus publicly to hear - -

MARQUIS.
My business is In private with your royal majesty.

[The ladies retire on a signal from the QUEEN.


SCENE III.

The QUEEN, MARQUIS POSA.

QUEEN (full of astonishment). How! Marquis, dare I trust my eyes? Are you Commissioned to me from the king?

MARQUIS.
Does this Seem such a wonder to your majesty? To me 'tis otherwise.

QUEEN.
The world must sure Have wandered from its course! That you and he - I must confess - -

MARQUIS.
It does sound somewhat strange - But be it so. The present times abound In prodigies.

QUEEN.
But none can equal this.

MARQUIS. Suppose I had at last allowed myself To be converted, and had weary grown Of playing the eccentric at the court Of Philip. The eccentric! What is that? He who would be of service to mankind Must first endeavor to resemble them. What end is gained by the vain-glorious garb Of the sectarian? Then suppose - for who From vanity is so completely free As for his creed to seek no proselytes? Suppose, I say, I had it in my mind To place my own opinions on the throne!

QUEEN. No, marquis! no! Not even in jest could I Suspect you of so wild a scheme as this; No visionary you! to undertake What you can ne'er accomplish.

MARQUIS.
But that seems To be the very point at issue.

QUEEN.
What I chiefly blame you, marquis, for, and what Could well estrange me from you - is - -

MARQUIS.
Perhaps Duplicity!

QUEEN.
At least - a want of candor. Perhaps the king himself has no desire You should impart what now you mean to tell me.

MARQUIS. No.

QUEEN.
And can evil means be justified By honest ends? And - pardon me the doubt - Can your high bearing stoop to such an office? I scarce can think it.

MARQUIS.
Nor, indeed, could I, Were my sole purpose to deceive the king. 'Tis not my wish - I mean to serve him now More honestly than he himself commands.

QUEEN. 'Tis spoken like yourself. Enough of this - What would the king?

MARQUIS.
The king? I can, it seems, Retaliate quickly on my rigid judge And what I have deferred so long to tell, Your majesty, perhaps, would willingly Longer defer to hear. But still it must Be heard. The king requests your majesty Will grant no audience to the ambassador Of France to-day. Such were my high commands - They're executed.

QUEEN.
Marquis, is that all You have to tell me from him?

MARQUIS.
Nearly all That justifies me thus to seek your presence.

QUEEN. Well, marquis, I'm contented not to hear What should, perhaps, remain a secret from me.

MARQUIS. True, queen! though were you other than yourself, I should inform you straight of certain things - Warn you of certain men - but this to you Were a vain office. Danger may arise And disappear around you, unperceived. You will not know it - of too little weight To chase the slumber from your angel brow. But 'twas not this, in sooth, that brought me hither, Prince Carlos - -

QUEEN.
What of him? How have you left him?

MARQUIS. E'en as the only wise man of his time, In whom it is a crime to worship truth - And ready, for his love to risk his life, As the wise sage for his. I bring few words - But here he is himself.

[Giving the QUEEN a letter.

QUEEN (after she has read it).
He says he must Speak with me - -

MARQUIS.
So do I.

QUEEN.
And will he thus Be happy - when he sees with his own eyes, That I am wretched?

MARQUIS.
No; but more resolved, More active.

QUEEN.
How?

MARQUIS.