How great thou art, my angel! Yes, I"ll do All, all thou canst desire. So let it be.
[He rises.
Here in the sight of heaven I stand and swear-- I swear to thee, eternal--no, great Heaven!-- Eternal silence only,--not oblivion!
QUEEN.
How can I ask from you what I myself Am not disposed to grant?
MARQUIS (hastening from the alley).
The king!
QUEEN.
Oh G.o.d!
MARQUIS.
Away, away! fly from these precincts, prince!
QUEEN.
His jealousy is dreadful--should he see you----
CARLOS.
I"ll stay.
QUEEN.
And who will be the victim then?
CARLOS (seizing the MARQUIS by the arm).
Away, away! Come, Roderigo, come!
[Goes and returns.
What may I hope to carry hence with me?
QUEEN.
Your mother"s friendship.
CARLOS.
Friendship! Mother!
QUEEN.
And These tears with it--they"re from the Netherlands.
[She gives him some letters. Exit CARLOS with the MARQUIS.
The QUEEN looks restlessly round in search of her ladies, who are nowhere to be seen. As she is about to retire up, the KING enters.
SCENE VI.
The KING, the QUEEN, DUKE ALVA, COUNT LERMA, DOMINGO, LADIES, GRANDEES, who remain at a little distance.
KING.
How, madam, alone; not even one of all Your ladies in attendance? Strange! Where are they?
QUEEN.
My gracious lord!
KING.
Why thus alone, I say?
[To his attendants.
I"ll take a strict account of this neglect.
"Tis not to be forgiven. Who has the charge Of waiting on your majesty to-day?
QUEEN.
Oh, be not angry! Good, my lord, "tis I Myself that am to blame--at my request The Princess Eboli went hence but now.
KING.
At your request!
QUEEN.
To call the nurse to me, With the Infanta, whom I longed to see.
KING.
And was your retinue dismissed for that?
This only clears the lady first in waiting.
Where was the second?
MONDECAR (who has returned and mixed with the other ladies, steps forward).
Your majesty, I feel I am to blame for this.
KING.
You are, and so I give you ten years to reflect upon it, At a most tranquil distance from Madrid.
[The MARCHIONESS steps back weeping. General silence.
The bystanders all look in confusion towards the QUEEN.
QUEEN.
What weep you for, dear marchioness?
[To the KING.
If I Have erred, my gracious liege, the crown I wear, And which I never sought, should save my blushes Is there a law in this your kingdom, sire, To summon monarch"s daughters to the bar?
Does force alone restrain your Spanish ladies?
Or need they stronger safeguard than their virtue?
Now pardon me, my liege; "tis not my wont To send my ladies, who have served me still With smiling cheerfulness, away in tears.
Here, Mondecar.
[She takes off her girdle and presents it to the MARCHIONESS.
You have displeased the king, Not me. Take this remembrance of my favor, And of this hour. I"d have you quit the kingdom.
You have only erred in Spain. In my dear France, All men are glad to wipe such tears away.
And must I ever be reminded thus?
In my dear France it had been otherwise.
[Leaning on the MARCHIONESS and covering her face.