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

suddenly To be a god. I am not what I was. I feel another heaven - another sun That was not here before. She loves - she loves me!

PAGE (leading him forward). But this is not the place: prince! you forget.

CARLOS. The king! My father!

[His arms sink, he casts a timid look around, then
collecting himself.

This is dreadful! Yes, You're right, my friend. I thank you: I was not Just then myself. To be compelled to silence, And bury in my heart this mighty bliss, Is terrible!

[Taking the PAGE by the hand, and leading him aside.

Now here! What thou hast seen, And what not seen, must be within thy breast Entombed as in the grave. So now depart; I shall not need thy guidance; they must not Surprise us here! Now go.

[The PAGE is about to depart.

Yet hold, a word!

[The PAGE returns. CARLOS lays his hand on his shoulder, and looks
him steadily in the face.

A direful secret hast thou in thy keeping, Which, like a poison of terrific power, Shivers the cup that holds it into atoms. Guard every look of thine, nor let thy head Guess at thy bosom's secret. Be thou like The senseless speaking-trumpet that receives And echoes back the voice, but hears it not. Thou art a boy! Be ever so; continue The pranks of youth. My correspondent chose Her messenger of love with prudent skill! The king will ne'er suspect a serpent here.

PAGE. And I, my prince, shall feel right proud to know I am one secret richer than the king.

CARLOS. Vain, foolish boy! 'tis this should make thee tremble. Approach me ever with a cold respect: Ne'er be induced by idle pride to boast How gracious is the prince! No deadlier sin Canst thou commit, my son, than pleasing me. Whate'er thou hast in future for my ear, Give not to words; intrust not to thy lips, Ne'er on that common high road of the thoughts Permit thy news to travel. Speak with an eye, A finger; I will answer with a look. The very air, the light, are Philip's creatures, And the deaf walls around are in his pay. Some one approaches; fly, we'll meet again.

[The QUEEN'S chamber opens, and DUKE ALVA comes out.

PAGE. Be careful, prince, to find the right apartment.

[Exit.

CARLOS. It is the duke! Fear not, I'll find the way.


SCENE V.

DON CARLOS. DUDE OF ALVA.


ALVA (meeting him). Two words, most gracious prince.

CARLOS.
Some other time.

[Going.

ALVA. The place is not the fittest, I confess; Perhaps your royal highness may be pleased To grant me audience in your private chamber.

CARLOS. For what? And why not here? Only be brief.

ALVA. The special object which has brought me hither, Is to return your highness lowly thanks For your good services.

CARLOS.
Thanks to me - For what? Duke Alva's thanks!

ALVA.
You scarce had left His majesty, ere I received in form Instructions to depart for Brussels.

CARLOS.
What! For Brussels!

ALVA. And to what, most gracious prince, Must I ascribe this favor, but to you - Your intercession with the king?

CARLOS.
Ob, no! Not in the least to me; but, duke, you travel, So Heaven be with your grace!

ALVA.
And is this all? It seems, indeed, most strange! And has your highness No further orders, then, to send to Flanders?

CARLOS. What should I have?

ALVA.
Not long ago, it seemed, The country's fate required your presence.

CARLOS.
How? But yes, you're right, - it was so formerly; But now this change is better as it is.

ALVA. I am amazed - -

CARLOS.
You are an able general, No one doubts that - envy herself must own it. For me, I'm but a youth - so thought the king.

CARLOS. The king was right, quite right. I see it now Myself, and am content - and so no more. God speed your journey, as you see, just now My hands are full, and weighty business presses. The rest to-morrow, or whene'er you will, Or when you come from Brussels.

ALVA.
What is this?

CARLOS. The season favors, and your route will lie Through Milan, Lorraine, Burgundy, and on To Germany! What, Germany? Ay, true, In Germany it was - they know you there. 'Tis April now, May, June, - in July, then, Just so! or, at the latest, soon in August, - You will arrive in Brussels, and no doubt We soon shall hear of your victorious deeds. You know the way to win our high esteem, And earn the crown of fame.

ALVA (significantly).
Indeed! condemned By my own conscious insignificance!

CARLOS. You're sensitive, my lord, and with some cause, I own it was not fair to use a weapon Against your grace you were unskilled to wield.

ALVA. Unskilled!

CARLOS.
'Tis pity I've no leisure now To fight this worthy battle fairly out But at some other time, we - -

ALVA.
Prince, we both Miscalculate - but still in opposite ways. You, for example, overrate your age By twenty years, whilst on the other band, I, by as many, underrate it - -

CARLOS.
Well

ALVA. And this suggests the thought, how many nights Beside this lovely Lusitanian bride - Your mother - would the king right gladly give To buy an arm like this, to aid his crown. Full well he knows, far easier is the task To make a monarch than a monarchy; Far easier too, to stock the world with kings Than frame an empire for a king to rule.

CARLOS. Most true, Duke Alva, yet - -

ALVA.
And how much blood, Your subjects' dearest blood, must flow in streams Before two drops could make a king of you.

CARLOS. Most true, by heaven! and in two words comprised, All that the pride of merit has to urge Against the pride of fortune. But the moral - Now, Duke Alva!

ALVA.
Woe to the nursling babe Of royalty that mocks the careful hand Which fosters it! How calmly it may sleep On the soft cushion of our victories! The monarch's crown is bright with sparkling gems, But no eye sees the wounds that purchased them. This sword has given our laws to distant realms, Has blazed before the banner of the cross, And in these quarters of the globe has traced Ensanguined furrows for the seed of faith. God was the judge in heaven, and I on earth.

CARLOS. God, or the devil - it little matters which; Yours was his chosen arm - that stands confessed. And now no more of this. Some thoughts there are Whereof the memory pains me. I respect My father's choice, - my father needs an Alva! But that he needs him is not just the point I envy in him: a great man you are, This may be true, and I well nigh believe it, Only I fear your mission is begun Some thousand years too soon. Alva, methinks, Were just the man to suit the end of time. Then when the giant insolence of vice Shall have exhausted Heaven's enduring patience, And the rich waving harvest of misdeeds Stand in full ear, and asks a matchless reaper, Then should you fill the post. O God! my paradise! My Flanders! But of this I must not think. 'Tis said you carry with you a full store Of sentences of death already signed. This shows a prudent foresight! No more need To fear your foes' designs, or secret plots: Oh, father! ill indeed I've understood thee. Calling thee harsh, to save me from a post, Where Alva's self alone can fitly shine! 'Twas an unerring token of your love.

ALVA. These words deserve - -

CARLOS.
What!

ALVA.
But your birth protects you.

CARLOS (seizing his sword). That calls for blood! Duke, draw your sword!

ALVA (slightingly).
On whom?

CARLOS. (pressing upon him). Draw, or I run you through.

ALVA.
Then be it so.

[They fight.


SCENE VI.

The QUEEN, DON CARLOS, DUKE ALVA.

QUEEN (coming from her room alarmed). How! naked swords?

[To the PRINCE in an indignant and commanding tone.

Prince Carlos!

CARLOS (agitated at the QUEEN's look, drops his arm, stands motionless,
then rushes to the DUKE, and embraces him).
Pardon, duke! Your pardon, sir! Forget, forgive it all!

[Throws himself in silence at the QUEEN'S feet, then rising
suddenly, departs in confusion.

ALVA. By heaven, 'tis strange!

QUEEN (remains a few moments as if in doubt, then retiring to her
apartment). A word with you, Duke ALVA.

[Exit, followed by the DUKE.


SCENE VII.

The PRINCESS