Don Carlos (play)

SCENE VIII.

The KING's Antechamber.

DUKE ALVA and DUKE FERIA enter in conversation.

ALVA.

The town is quieted. How is the king?

FERIA.

In the most fearful state. Within his chamber

He is shut up, and whatso'er may happen

He will admit no person to his presence.

The treason of the marquis has at once

Changed his whole nature. We no longer know him.

ALVA.

I must go to him, nor respect his feelings.

A great discovery which I have made--

FERIA.

A new discovery!

ALVA.

A Carthusian monk

My guards observed, with stealthy footsteps, creep

Into the prince's chamber, and inquire

With anxious curiosity, about

The Marquis Posa's death. They seized him straight,

And questioned him. Urged by the fear of death,

He made confession that he bore about him

Papers of high importance, which the marquis

Enjoined him to deliver to the prince,

If, before sunset, he should not return.

FERIA.

Well, and what further?

ALVA.

These same letters state

That Carlos from Madrid must fly before

The morning dawn.

FERIA.

Indeed!

ALVA.

And that a ship at Cadiz lies

Ready for sea, to carry him to Flushing.

And that the Netherlands but wait his presence,

To shake the Spanish fetters from their arms.

FERIA.

Can this be true?

ALVA.

And other letters say

A fleet of Soliman's will sail for Rhodes,

According to the treaty, to attack

The Spanish squadron in the Midland seas.

FERIA.

Impossible.

ALVA.

And hence I understand

The object of the journeys, which of late

The marquis made through Europe. 'Twas no less

Than to rouse all the northern powers to arms

In aid of Flanders' freedom.

FERIA.

Was it so?

ALVA.

There is besides appended to these letters

The full concerted plan of all the war

Which is to disunite from Spain's control

The Netherlands forever. Naught omitted;

The power and opposition close compared;

All the resources accurately noted,

Together with the maxims to be followed,

And all the treaties which they should conclude.

The plan is fiendish, but 'tis no less splendid.

FERIA.

The deep, designing traitor!

ALVA.

And, moreover,

There is allusion made, in these same letters,

To some mysterious conference the prince

Must with his mother hold upon the eve

Preceding his departure.

FERIA.

That must be

This very day.

ALVA.

At midnight. But for this

I have already taken proper steps.

You see the case is pressing. Not a moment

Is to be lost. Open the monarch's chamber.

FERIA.

Impossible! All entrance is forbidden.

ALVA.

I'll open then myself; the increasing danger

Must justify my boldness.

[As he is on the point of approaching the door it opens,

and the KING comes out.

FERIA.

'Tis himself.