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

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.
None

QUEEN (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.