Don Carlos. Friedrich von Schiller

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Don Carlos - Friedrich von Schiller


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by the physician's eye —

         Thou stayest in Spain – the duke will go to Flanders.

CARLOS (wildly)

         Assist me, ye good angels!

KING (starting)

                       Hold, what mean

         Those looks so wild?

CARLOS

                    Father, do you abide

         Immovably by this determination?

KING

         It was the king's.

CARLOS

                   Then my commission's done.

      [Exit in violent emotion.

      SCENE III

      King, sunk in gloomy contemplation, walks a few steps up and down; Alva approaches with embarrassment.

KING

         Hold yourself ready to depart for Brussels

         Upon a moment's notice.

ALVA

         All is prepared, my liege.

KING

                       And your credentials

         Lie ready sealed within my cabinet, —

         Meanwhile obtain an audience of the queen,

         And bid the prince farewell.

ALVA

                        As I came in

         I met him with a look of frenzy wild

         Quitting the chamber; and your majesty

         Is strangely moved, methinks, and bears the marks

         Of deep excitement – can it be the theme

         Of your discourse —

KING

                    Concerned the Duke of Alva.

      [The KING keeps his eye steadfastly fixed on him.

         I'm pleased that Carlos hates my councillors,

         But I'm disturbed that he despises them.

      [ALVA, coloring deeply, is about to speak.

         No answer now: propitiate the prince.

ALVA

         Sire!

KING

             Tell me who it was that warned me first

         Of my son's dark designs? I listened then

         To you, and not to him. I will have proof.

         And for the future, mark me, Carlos stands

         Nearer the throne – now duke – you may retire.

      [The KING retires into his cabinet. Exit DUKE by another door.

      SCENE IV

      The antechamber to the QUEEN'S apartments. DON CARLOS enters in conversation with a PAGE. The attendants retire at his approach.

CARLOS

         For me this letter? And a key! How's this?

         And both delivered with such mystery!

         Come nearer, boy: – from whom didst thou receive them?

PAGE (mysteriously)

         It seemed to me the lady would be guessed

         Rather than be described.

CARLOS (starting)

                       The lady, what!

         Who art thou, boy?

      [Looking earnestly at the PAGE.

PAGE

         A page that serves the queen.

CARLOS (affrighted, putting his hand to the PAGE's mouth)

         Hold, on your life! I know enough: no more.

      [He tears open the letter hastily, and retires to read it; meanwhile DUKE ALVA comes, and passing the Prince, goes unperceived by him into the QUEEN'S apartment, CARLOS trembles violently and changes color; when he has read the letter he remains a long time speechless, his eyes steadfastly fixed on it; at last he turns to the PAGE.

         She gave you this herself?

PAGE

                       With her own hands.

CARLOS

         She gave this letter to you then herself?

         Deceive me not: I ne'er have seen her writing,

         And I must credit thee, if thou canst swear it;

         But if thy tale be false, confess it straight,

         Nor put this fraud on me.

PAGE

                       This fraud, on whom?

CARLOS (looking once more at the letter, then at the PAGE with doubt and earnestness)

         Your parents – are they living? and your father —

         Serves he the king? Is he a Spaniard born?

PAGE

         He fell a colonel on St. Quentin's field,

         Served in the cavalry of Savoy's duke —

         His name Alonzo, Count of Henarez.

CARLOS (taking his hand, and looking fixedly in his eyes)

         The king gave you this letter?

PAGE (with emotion)

                         Gracious prince,

         Have I deserved these doubts?

CARLOS (reading the letter)

                         "This key unlocks

         The back apartments in the queen's pavilion,

         The furthest room lies next a cabinet

         Wherein no listener's foot dare penetrate;

         Here may the voice of love without restraint

         Confess those tender feelings, which till now

         The heart with silent looks alone hath spoken.

         The timid lover gains an audience here,

         And sweet reward repays his secret sorrow."

      [As if awakening from a reverie.

         I am not in a dream, do not rave,

         This is my right hand, this my sword – and these

         Are written words. 'Tis true – it is no dream.

         I am beloved, I feel I am beloved.

      [Unable to contain himself, he rushes hastily through the room, and raises his arms to heaven.

PAGE

         Follow me, prince, and I will lead the way.

CARLOS

         Then let me first collect my scattered thoughts.

        


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