Don Carlos (play)

SCENE XXI.

QUEEN, MARQUIS POSA.

QUEEN.

Ah, marquis, I am glad you're come at last!

MARQUIS (pale, with a disturbed countenance and trembling voice,

in solemn, deep agitation, during the whole scene).

And is your majesty alone? Can none

Within the adjoining chamber overhear us?

QUEEN.

No one! But why? What news would you impart?

[Looking at him closely, and drawing back alarmed.

And what has wrought this change in you? Speak, marquis,

You make me tremble-all your features seem

So marked with death!

MARQUIS.

You know, perhaps, already.

QUEEN.

That Carlos is arrested-and they add,

By you! Is it then true? From no one else

Would I believe it but yourself.

MARQUIS.

'Tis true.

QUEEN.

By you?

MARQUIS.

By me?

QUEEN (looks at him for some time doubtingly).

I still respect your actions

E'en when I comprehend them not. In this

Pardon a timid woman! I much fear

You play a dangerous game.

MARQUIS.

And I have lost it.

QUEEN.

Merciful heaven!

MARQUIS.

Queen, fear not! He is safe,

But I am lost myself.

QUEEN.

What do I hear?

MARQUIS.

Who bade me hazard all on one chance throw?

All? And with rash, foolhardy confidence,

Sport with the power of heaven? Of bounded mind,

Man, who is not omniscient, must not dare

To guide the helm of destiny. 'Tis just!

But why these thoughts of self. This hour is precious

As life can be to man: and who can tell

Whether the parsimonious hand of fate

May not have measured my last drops of life.

QUEEN.

The hand of fate! What means this solemn tone?

I understand these words not-but I shudder.

MARQUIS.

He's saved! no matter at what price-he's saved!

But only for to-day-a few short hours

Are his. Oh, let him husband them! This night

The prince must leave Madrid.

QUEEN.

This very night?

MARQUIS.

All measures are prepared. The post will meet him

At the Carthusian convent, which has served

So long as an asylum to our friendship.

Here will he find, in letters of exchange,

All in the world that fortune gifts me with.

Should more be wanting, you must e'en supply it.

In truth, I have within my heart full much

To unburden to my Carlos-it may chance

I shall want leisure now to tell him all

In person-but this evening you will see him,

And therefore I address myself to you.

QUEEN.

Oh, for my peace of mind, dear marquis, speak!

Explain yourself more clearly! Do not use

This dark, and fearful, and mysterious language!

Say, what has happened?

MARQUIS.

I have yet one thing,

A matter of importance on my mind:

In your hands I deposit it. My lot

Was such as few indeed have e'er enjoyed-

I loved a prince's son. My heart to one-

To that one object given.-embraced the world!

I have created in my Carlos' soul,

A paradise for millions! Oh, my dream

Was lovely! But the will of Providence

Has summoned me away, before my hour,

From this my beauteous work. His Roderigo

Soon shall be his no more, and friendship's claim

Will be transferred to love. Here, therefore, here,

Upon this sacred altar-on the heart

Of his loved queen-I lay my last bequest

A precious legacy-he'll find it here,

When I shall be no more.

[He turns away, his voice choked with grief.

QUEEN.

This is the language

Of a dying man-it surely emanates

But from your blood's excitement-or does sense

Lie hidden in your language?

MARQUIS (has endeavored to collect himself, and continues

in a solemn voice).

Tell the prince,

That he must ever bear in mind the oath

We swore, in past enthusiastic days,

Upon the sacred host. I have kept mine-

I'm true to him till death-'tis now his turn--

QUEEN.

Till death?

MARQUIS.

Oh, bid him realize the dream,

The glowing vision which our friendship painted,

Of a new-perfect realm! And let him lay

The first hand on the rude, unshapened stone.

Whether he fail or prosper-all alike-

Let him commence the work. When centuries

Have rolled away shall Providence again

Raise to the throne a princely youth like him,

And animate again a favorite son

Whose breast shall burn with like enthusiasm.

Tell him, in manhood, he must still revere

The dreams of early youth, nor ope the heart

Of heaven's all-tender flower to canker-worms

Of boasted reason,-nor be led astray

When, by the wisdom of the dust, he hears

Enthusiasm, heavenly-born, blasphemed.

I have already told him.

QUEEN.

Whither, marquis? Whither does all this tend?

MARQUIS.

And tell him further, I lay upon his soul the happiness

Of man-that with my dying breath I claim,

Demand it of him-and with justest title.

I had designed a new, a glorious morn,

To waken in these kingdoms: for to me

Philip had opened all his inmost heart-

Called me his son-bestowed his seals upon me-

And Alva was no more his counsellor.

[He pauses, and looks at the QUEEN for a few moments in silence.

You weep! I know those tears, beloved soul!

Oh, they are tears of joy!-but it is past-

Forever past! Carlos or I? The choice

Was prompt and fearful. One of us must perish!

And I will be that one. Oh, ask no more!

QUEEN.

Now, now, at last, I comprehend your meaning,

Unhappy man! What have you done?

MARQUIS.

Cut off

Two transient hours of evening to secure

A long, bright summer-day! I now give up

The king forever. What were I to the king?

In such cold soil no rose of mine could bloom;

In my great friend must Europe's fortune ripen.

Spain I bequeath to him, still bathed in blood

From Philip's iron hand. But woe to him,

Woe to us both, if I have chosen wrong!

But no-oh, no! I know my Carlos better-

'Twill never come to pass!-for this, my queen,

You stand my surety.

[After a silence.

Yes! I saw his love

In its first blossom-saw his fatal passion

Take root in his young heart. I had full power

To check it; but I did not. The attachment

Which seemed to me not guilty, I still nourished.

The world may censure me, but I repent not,

Nor does my heart accuse me. I saw life

Where death appeared to others. In a flame

So hopeless I discerned hope's golden beam.

I wished to lead him to the excellent-

To exalt him to the highest point of beauty.

Mortality denied a model to me,

And language, words. Then did I bend his views

To this point only-and my whole endeavor

Was to explain to him his love.

QUEEN.

Your friend,

Marquis! so wholly occupied your mind,

That for his cause you quite forgot my own-

Could you suppose that I had thrown aside

All woman's weaknesses, that you could dare

Make me his angel, and confide alone

In virtue for his armor? You forget

What risks this heart must run, when we ennoble

Passion with such a beauteous name as this.

MARQUIS.

Yes, in all other women-but in one,

One only, 'tis not so. For you, I swear it.

And should you blush to indulge the pure desire

To call heroic virtue into life?

Can it affect King Philip, that his works

Of noblest art, in the Escurial, raise

Immortal longings in the painter's soul,

Who stands entranced before them? Do the sounds

That slumber in the lute, belong alone

To him who buys the chords? With ear unmoved

He may preserve his treasure:-he has bought

The wretched right to shiver it to atoms,

But not the power to wake its silver tones,

Or, in the magic of its sounds, dissolve.

Truth is created for the sage, as beauty

Is for the feeling heart. They own each other.

And this belief, no coward prejudice

Shall make me e'er disclaim. Then promise, queen,

That you will ever love him. That false shame,

Or fancied dignity, shall never make you

Yield to the voice of base dissimulation:-

That you will love him still, unchanged, forever.

Promise me this, oh, queen! Here solemnly

Say, do you promise?

QUEEN.

That my heart alone

Shall ever vindicate my love, I promise--

MARQUIS (drawing his hand back).

Now I die satisfied-my work is done.

[He bows 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.