Don Carlos | Page 6

of note to tell us.
MARQUIS.
Doubtless, and
To seek adventures is a knight's first duty--
But his
most sacred is to shield the fair.
MONDECAR.
From giants! But there are no giants now!
MARQUIS.
Power is a giant ever to the weak.
QUEEN.
The chevalier says well. There still are giants;
But there
are knights no more.
MARQUIS.
Not long ago,
On my return from Naples, I became
The witness of a
very touching story,
Which ties of friendship almost make my own

Were I not fearful its recital might
Fatigue your majesty----
QUEEN.
Have I a choice?
The princess is not to be lightly balked.
Proceed. I
too, sir, love a story dearly.
MARQUIS.
Two noble houses in Mirandola,
Weary of jealousies
and deadly feuds,
Transmitted down from Guelphs and Ghibellines,

Through centuries of hate, from sire to son,
Resolved to ratify a
lasting peace
By the sweet ministry of nuptial ties.
Fernando,
nephew of the great Pietro,
And fair Matilda, old Colonna's child,

Were chosen to cement this holy bond.
Nature had never for each
other formed
Two fairer hearts. And never had the world
Approved
a wiser or a happier choice.
Still had the youth adored his lovely

bride
In the dull limner's portraiture alone.
How thrilled his heart,
then, in the hope to find
The truth of all that e'en his fondest dreams

Had scarcely dared to credit in her picture!
In Padua, where his
studies held him bound;
Fernando panted for the joyful hour,
When
he might murmur at Matilda's feet
The first pure homage of his
fervent love.
[The QUEEN grows more attentive; the MARQUIS continues, after a
short pause, addressing himself chiefly to PRINCESS EBOLI.
Meanwhile the sudden death of Pietro's wife
Had left him free to wed.
With the hot glow
Of youthful blood the hoary lover drinks
The
fame that reached him of Matilda's charms.
He comes--he sees--he
loves! The new desire
Stifles the voice of nature in his heart.
The
uncle woos his nephew's destined bride,
And at the altar consecrates
his theft.
QUEEN.
And what did then Fernando?
MARQUIS.
On the wings
Of Jove, unconscious of the fearful change,
Delirious
with the promised joy, he speeds
Back to Mirandola. His flying steed

By starlight gains the gate. Tumultuous sounds
Of music, dance,
and jocund revelry
Ring from the walls of the illumined palace.

With faltering steps he mounts the stair; and now
Behold him in the
crowded nuptial hall,
Unrecognized! Amid the reeling guests
Pietro
sat. An angel at his side--
An angel, whom he knows, and who to him

Even in his dreams, seemed ne'er so beautiful.
A single glance
revealed what once was his--
Revealed what now was lost to him
forever.
EBOLI.
O poor Fernando!
QUEEN.

Surely, sir, your tale
Is ended? Nay, it must be.
MARQUIS.
No, not quite.
QUEEN.
Did you not say Fernando was your friend?
MARQUIS.
I have no dearer in the world.
EBOLI.
But pray
Proceed, sir, with your story.
MARQUIS.
Nay, the rest
Is very sad--and to recall it sets
My sorrow fresh
abroach. Spare me the sequel.
[A general silence.
QUEEN (turning to the PRINCESS EBOLI).
Surely the time is come
to see my daughter,
I prithee, princess, bring her to me now!
[The PRINCESS withdraws. The MARQUIS beckons a Page. The
QUEEN opens the letters, and appears surprised. The MARQUIS talks
with MARCHIONESS MONDECAR. The QUEEN having read the
letters, turns to the MARQUIS with a penetrating look.
QUEEN.
You have not spoken of Matilda! She
Haply was ignorant
of Fernando's grief?
MARQUIS.
Matilda's heart has no one fathomed yet--
Great souls
endure in silence.
QUEEN.
You look around you. Who is it you seek?
MARQUIS.
Just then the thought came over me, how one,
Whose

name I dare not mention, would rejoice,
Stood he where I do now.
QUEEN.
And who's to blame,
That he does not?
MARQUIS (interrupting her eagerly).
My liege! And dare I venture
To interpret thee, as fain I would? He'd
find
Forgiveness, then, if now he should appear.
QUEEN (alarmed).
Now, marquis, now? What do you mean by this?
MARQUIS.
Might he, then, hope?
QUEEN.
You terrify me, marquis.
Surely he will not----
MARQUIS.
He is here already.
SCENE V.
The QUEEN, CARLOS, MARQUIS POSA, MARCHIONESS
MONDECAR.
The two latter go towards the avenue.
CARLOS (on his knees before the QUEEN).
At length 'tis come--the
happy moment's come,
And Charles may touch this all-beloved hand.
QUEEN.
What headlong folly's this? And dare you break
Into my
presence thus? Arise, rash man!
We are observed; my suite are close
at hand.
CARLOS.
I will not rise. Here will I kneel forever,
Here will I lie
enchanted at your feet,
And grow to the dear ground you tread on?

QUEEN.
Madman! To what rude boldness my indulgence leads!

Know you, it is the queen, your mother, sir,
Whom you address in
such presumptuous strain?
Know, that myself will to the king report

This bold intrusion----
CARLOS.
And that I must die!
Let them come here, and drag me to the scaffold!

A moment spent in paradise like this
Is not too dearly purchased by
a life.
QUEEN.
But then your queen?
CARLOS (rising).
O God, I'll go, I'll go!
Can I refuse to bend to that appeal?
I am your
very plaything. Mother, mother,
A sign, a transient glance, one
broken word
From those dear lips can bid