Don Carlos (play)

SCENE VII.

CARLOS and COUNT LERMA.

LERMA.

Save yourself, prince! The king's enraged against you.

Your liberty, if not your life's in danger!

Ask me no further-I have stolen away

To give you warning-fly this very instant!

CARLOS.

Heaven will protect me!

LERMA.

As the queen observed

To me, this moment, you must leave Madrid

This very day, and fly to Brussels, prince.

Postpone it not, I pray you. The commotion

Favors your flight. The queen, with this design,

Has raised it. No one will presume so far

As to lay hand on you. Swift steeds await you

At the Carthusian convent, and behold,

Here are your weapons, should you be attacked.

[LERMA gives him a dagger and pistols.

CARLOS.

Thanks, thanks, Count Lerma!

LERMA.

This day's sad event

Has moved my inmost soul! No faithful friend

Will ever love like him. No patriot breathes

But weeps for you. More now I dare not say.

CARLOS.

Count Lerma! he who's gone considered you

A man of honor.

LERMA.

Farewell, prince, again!

Success attend you! Happier times will come-

But I shall be no more. Receive my homage!

[Falls on one knee.

CARLOS (endeavors to prevent him, with much emotion).

Not so-not so, count! I am too much moved-

I would not be unmanned!

LERMA (kissing his hand with feeling).

My children's king!

To die for you will be their privilege!

It is not mine, alas! But in those children

Remember me! Return in peace to Spain.

May you on Philip's throne feel as a man,

For you have learned to suffer! Undertake

No bloody deed against your father, prince!

Philip compelled his father to yield up

The throne to him; and this same Philip now

Trembles at his own son. Think, prince, of that

And may Heaven prosper and direct your path!

[Exit quickly. CARLOS about to hasten away by another side,

but turns rapidly round, and throws himself down before the copse,

which he again folds in his arms. He then hurries from the room.