MARQUIS.
Look round on all the glorious face of nature, On freedom it is founded--see how rich, Through freedom it has grown. The great Creator Bestows upon the worm its drop of dew, And gives free-will a triumph in abodes Where lone corruption reigns. See your creation, How small, how poor! The rustling of a leaf Alarms the mighty lord of Christendom.
Each virtue makes you quake with fear. While he, Not to disturb fair freedom"s blest appearance, Permits the frightful ravages of evil To waste his fair domains. The great Creator We see not--he conceals himself within His own eternal laws. The sceptic sees Their operation, but beholds not Him.
"Wherefore a G.o.d!" he cries, "the world itself Suffices for itself!" And Christian prayer Ne"er praised him more than doth this blasphemy.
KING.
And will you undertake to raise up this Exalted standard of weak human nature In my dominions?
MARQUIS.
You can do it, sire.
Who else? Devote to your own people"s bliss The kingly power, which has too long enriched The greatness of the throne alone. Restore The prostrate dignity of human nature, And let the subject be, what once he was, The end and object of the monarch"s care, Bound by no duty, save a brother"s love.
And when mankind is to itself restored, Roused to a sense of its own innate worth, When freedom"s lofty virtues proudly flourish-- Then, sire, when you have made your own wide realms The happiest in the world, it then may be Your duty to subdue the universe.
KING (after a long pause).
I"ve heard you to the end. Far differently I find, than in the minds of other men, The world exists in yours. And you shall not By foreign laws be judged. I am the first To whom you have your secret self disclosed; I know it--so believe it--for the sake Of this forbearance--that you have till now Concealed these sentiments, although embraced With so much ardor,--for this cautious prudence.
I will forget, young man, that I have learned them, And how I learned them. Rise! I will confute Your youthful dreams by my matured experience, Not by my power as king. Such is my will, And therefore act I thus. Poison itself May, in a worthy nature, be transformed To some benignant use. But, sir, beware My Inquisition! "Twould afflict me much----
MARQUIS.
Indeed!
KING (lost in surprise).
Ne"er met I such a man as that!
No, marquis, no! you wrong me! Not to you Will I become a Nero--not to you!-- All happiness shall not be blasted round me, And you at least, beneath my very eyes, May dare continue to remain a man.
MARQUIS (quickly).
And, sire, my fellow-subjects? Not for me, Nor my own cause, I pleaded. Sire! your subjects----
KING.
Nay, if you know so well how future times Will judge me, let them learn at least from you, That when I found a man, I could respect him.
MARQUIS.
Oh, let not the most just of kings at once Be the most unjust! In your realm of Flanders There are a thousand better men than I.
But you--sire! may I dare to say so much-- For the first time, perhaps, see liberty In milder form portrayed.
KING (with gentle severity).
No more of this, Young man! You would, I know, think otherwise Had you but learned to understand mankind As I. But truly--I would not this meeting Should prove our last. How can I hope to win you?
MARQUIS.
Pray leave me as I am. What value, sire, Should I be to you were you to corrupt me?
KING.
This pride I will not bear. From this day forth I hold you in my service. No remonstrance-- For I will have it so.
[After a pause.
But how is this?
What would I now? Was it not truth I wished?
But here is something more. Marquis, so far You"ve learned to know me as a king; but yet You know me not as man-- [The MARQUIS seems to meditate.
I understand you-- Were I the most unfortunate of fathers, Yet as a husband may I not be blest?
MARQUIS.
If the possession of a hopeful son, And a most lovely spouse, confer a claim On mortal to a.s.sume that t.i.tle, sire, In both respects, you are supremely blest.
KING (with a serious look).
That am I not--and never, till this hour, Have I so deeply felt that I am not so.
[Contemplating the MARQUIS with a look of melancholy.
MARQUIS.
The prince possesses a right n.o.ble mind.
I ne"er have known him otherwise.
KING.
I have The treasure he has robbed me of, no crown Can e"er requite. So virtuous a queen!
MARQUIS.
Who dare a.s.sert it, sire?
KING.
The world! and scandal!
And I myself! Here lie the d.a.m.ning proofs Of doubtless guilt--and others, too, exist, From which I fear the worst. But still "tis hard To trust one proof alone. Who brings the charge?
And oh! if this were possible--that she, The queen, so foully could pollute her honor, Then how much easier were it to believe An Eboli may be a slanderer!
Does not that priest detest my son and her?
And can I doubt that Alva broods revenge?
My wife has higher worth than all together.
MARQUIS.
And there exists besides in woman"s soul A treasure, sire, beyond all outward show, Above the reach of slander--female virtue!
KING.
Marquis! those thoughts are mine. It costs too much To sink so low as they accuse the queen.
The sacred ties of honor are not broken With so much ease, as some would fain persuade me.
Marquis, you know mankind. Just such a man As you I long have wished for--you are kind-- Cheerful--and deeply versed in human nature-- Therefore I"ve chosen you----
MARQUIS (surprised and alarmed).
Me, sire!
KING.
You stand Before your king and ask no special favor-- For yourself nothing!--that is new to me-- You will be just--ne"er weakly swayed by pa.s.sion.
Watch my son close--search the queen"s inmost heart.
You shall have power to speak with her in private.
Retire.
[He rings a bell.
MARQUIS.
And if with but one hope fulfilled I now depart, then is this day indeed The happiest of my life.
KING (holds out his hand to him to kiss).
I hold it not Amongst my days a lost one.
[The MARQUIS rises and goes. COUNT LERMA enters.
Count, in future, The marquis is to enter, unannounced.