Don Carlos (play)

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Don Carlos (play) Page 18

by Friedrich Schiller


  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

  I
mmortal 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.

  SCENE XXII.

  DUKE ALVA and DOMINGO walking up and down in silence and separately.

  COUNT LERMA comes out of the KING's cabinet, and afterwards DON

  RAYMOND OF TAXIS, the Postmaster-General.

  LERMA.

  Has not the marquis yet appeared?

  ALVA.

  Not yet.

  [LERMA about to re-enter the cabinet.

  TAXIS (enters).

  Count Lerma! Pray announce me to the king?

  LERMA.

  His majesty cannot be seen.

  TAXIS.

  But say

  That I must see him; that my business is

  Of urgent import to his majesty.

  Make haste-it will admit of no delay.

  [LERMA enters the cabinet.

  ALVA.

  Dear Taxis, you must learn a little patience-

  You cannot see the king.

  TAXIS.

  Not see him! Why?

  ALVA.

  You should have been considerate, and procured

  Permission from the Marquis Posa first-

  Who keeps both son and father in confinement.

  TAXIS.

  The Marquis Posa! Right-that is the man

  From whom I bring this letter.

  ALVA.

  Ah! What letter?

  TAXIS.

  A letter to be forwarded to Brussels.

  ALVA (attentively).

  To Brussels?

  TAXIS.

  And I bring it to the king.

  ALVA.

  Indeed! to Brussels! Heard you that, Domingo?

  DOMINGO (joining them).

  Full of suspicion!

  TAXIS.

  And with anxious mien,

  And deep embarrassment he gave it to me.

  DOMINGO.

  Embarrassment! To whom is it directed?

  TAXIS.

  The Prince of Orange and Nassau.

  ALVA.

  To William!

  There's treason here, Domingo!

  DOMINGO.

  Nothing less!

  In truth this letter must, without delay,

  Be laid before the king. A noble service

  You render, worthy man-to be so firm

  In the discharge of duty.

  TAXIS.

  Reverend sir!

  'Tis but my duty.

  ALVA.

  But you do it well.

  LERMA (coming out of the cabinet, addressing TAXIS).

  The king will see you.

  [TAXIS goes in.

  Is the marquis come?

  DOMINGO.

  He has been sought for everywhere.

  ALVA.

  'Tis strange!

  The prince is a state prisoner! And the king

  Knows not the reason why!

  DOMINGO.

  He never came

  To explain the business here.

  ALVA.

  What says the king?

  LERMA.

  The king spoke not a word.

  [A noise in the cabinet.

  ALVA.

  What noise is that?

  TAXIS (coming out of the cabinet).

  Count Lerma!

  [Both enter.

  ALVA (to DOMINGO).

  What so deeply can engage them.

  DOMINGO.

  That look of fear! This intercepted letter!

  It augurs nothing good.

  ALVA.

  He sends for Lerma!

  Yet he must know full well that you and I

  Are both in waiting.

  DOMINGO.

  Ah! our day is over!

  ALVA.

  And am I not the same to whom these doors

  Flew open once? But, ah! how changed is all

  Around me and how strange!

  [DOMINGO approaches the cabinet door softly, and remains

  listening before it.

  ALVA (after a pause).

  Hark! All is still

  And silent as the grave!' I hear them breathe.

  DOMINGO.

  The double tapestry absorbs the sounds!

  ALVA.

  Away! there's some one coming. All appears

  So solemn and so still-as if this instant

  Some deep momentous question were decided.

  SCENE XXIII.

  The PRINCE OF PARMA, the DUKES OF FERIA and MEDINA

  SIDONIA, with other GRANDEES enter-the preceding.

  PARMA.

  Say, can we see the king?

  ALVA.

  No!

  PARMA.

  Who is with him?

  FERIA.

  The Marquis Posa, doubtless?

  ALVA.

  Every instant

  He is expected here.

  PARMA.

  This moment we

  Arrive from Saragossa. Through Madrid

  Te
rror prevails! Is the announcement true?

  Domingo.

  Alas, too true!

  FERIA.

  That he has been arrested

  By the marquis!

  ALVA.

  Yes.

  PARMA.

  And wherefore? What's the cause?

  ALVA.

 

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