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

/> 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! 'tie 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.
I have some letters To give you back of those you trusted to me.

CARLOS (looks first at the letters, then at the MARQUIS, in
astonishment). How!

MARQUIS.
I return them now because they may Prove safer in thy custody than mine.

CARLOS. What meanest thou? Has his majesty not read them? Have they not been before him?

MARQUIS.
What, these letters!

CARLOS. Thou didst not show them all, then?

MARQUIS.
Who has said That ever I showed one?

CARLOS (astonished).
Can it be so? Count Lerma - -

MARQUIS.
He! he told thee so! Now all Is clear as day. But who could have foreseen it? Lerma! Oh, no, he hath not learned to lie. 'Tis true, the king has all the other letters.

CARLOS (looks at him long with speechless astonishment). But wherefore am I here?

MARQUIS.
For caution's sake, Lest thou should chance, a second time, to make An Eboli thy confidant.

CARLOS (as if waking from a dream).
Ha! Now I see it all - all is explained.

MARQUIS (goes to the door).
Who's there?


SCENE II.

DUKE ALVA. The former.

ALVA (approaching the PRINCE with respect, but turning his
back on the MARQUIS during the whole scene). Prince, you are free. Deputed by the king I come to tell you so.

[CARLOS looks at the MARQUIS with astonishment.
General silence.

And I, in truth, Am fortunate to have this honor first - -

CARLOS (looking at both with extreme amazement, after a pause,
to the DUKE). I am imprisoned, duke, and set at freedom, Unconscious of the cause of one or other.

ALVA. As far as I know, prince, 'twas through an error, To which the king was driven by a traitor.

CARLOS. Then am I here by order of the king?

ALVA. Yes, through an error of his majesty.

CARLOS. That gives me pain, indeed. But when the king Commits an error, 'twould beseem the king, Methinks, to remedy the fault in person. I am Don Philip's son - and curious eyes And slanderous looks are on me. What the king Hath done from sense of duty ne'er will I Appear to owe to your considerate favor. I am prepared to appear before the Cortes, And will not take my sword from such a hand.

ALVA. The king will never hesitate to grant Your highness a request so just. Permit That I conduct you to him.

CARLOS.
Here I stay Until the king or all Madrid shall come To lead me from my prison. Take my answer.

[ALVA withdraws. He is still seen for some time
lingering in the court and giving orders to the guards.


SCENE III.

CARLOS and MARQUIS POSA.

CARLOS (after the departure of the DUKE, full of expectation and
astonishment, to the MARQUIS). What means all this? Inform me, Roderigo - Art thou not, then, the minister?

MARQUIS.
I was, As thou canst well perceive - -
[Going to him with great emotion.
O Carlos! Now

I have succeeded - yes - it is accomplished - 'Tis over now - Omnipotence be praised, To whom I owe success.

CARLOS.
Success! What mean you? Thy words perplex me.

MARQUIS (takes his hand).
Carlos! thou art saved - Art free - but I - -
[He stops short.

CARLOS.
But thou - -

MARQUIS.
Thus to my breast I press thee now, with friendship's fullest right, A right I've bought with all I hold most dear. How great, how lovely, Carlos, is this moment Of self-approving joy?

CARLOS.
What sudden change I mark upon thy features! Proudly now Thy bosom heaves, thine eyes dart vivid fire!

MARQUIS. We must say farewell, Carlos! Tremble 'not, But be a man! And what thou more shalt hear, Promise me, not by unavailing sorrow, Unworthy of great souls, to aggravate The pangs of parting. I am lost to thee, Carlos, for many years - fools say forever.

[CARLOS withdraws his hand, but makes no reply.

Be thou a man: I've reckoned much on thee - I have not even shunned to pass with thee This awful hour - which men, in words of fear, Have termed the final one. I own it, Carlos, I joy to pass it thus. Come let us sit - I feel myself grown weary and exhausted.

[He approaches CARLOS, who is in a lifeless stupor, and
allows himself to be involuntarily drawn down by him.

Where art thou? No reply! I must be brief. Upon the day that followed our last meeting At the Carthusian monastery the king Called me before him. What ensued thou knowest, And all Madrid. Thou hast not heard, however, Thy secret even then had reached his ears - That letters in the queen's possession found Had testified against thee. This I learned From his own lips - I was his confidant.

[He pauses for CARLOS' answer, but he still
remains silent.

Yes, Carlos, with my lips I broke my faith - Guided the plot myself that worked thy ruin. Thy deed spoke trumpet-tongued; to clear thee fully 'Twas now too late: to frustrate his revenge Was all that now remained for me; and so I made myself thy enemy to-serve thee With fuller power - dost thou not hear me, Carlos,

CARLOS. Go on! go on! I hear thee.

MARQUIS.