No, marquis! no! Not even in jest could I Suspect you of so wild a scheme as this; No visionary you! to undertake What you can ne"er accomplish.
MARQUIS.
But that seems To be the very point at issue.
QUEEN.
What I chiefly blame you, marquis, for, and what Could well estrange me from you--is----
MARQUIS.
Perhaps Duplicity!
QUEEN.
At least--a want of candor.
Perhaps the king himself has no desire You should impart what now you mean to tell me.
MARQUIS.
No.
QUEEN.
And can evil means be justified By honest ends? And--pardon me the doubt-- Can your high bearing stoop to such an office?
I scarce can think it.
MARQUIS.
Nor, indeed, could I, Were my sole purpose to deceive the king.
"Tis not my wish--I mean to serve him now More honestly than he himself commands.
QUEEN.
"Tis spoken like yourself. Enough of this-- What would the king?
MARQUIS.
The king? I can, it seems, Retaliate quickly on my rigid judge And what I have deferred so long to tell, Your majesty, perhaps, would willingly Longer defer to hear. But still it must Be heard. The king requests your majesty Will grant no audience to the amba.s.sador Of France to-day. Such were my high commands-- They"re executed.
QUEEN.
Marquis, is that all You have to tell me from him?
MARQUIS.
Nearly all That justifies me thus to seek your presence.
QUEEN.
Well, marquis, I"m contented not to hear What should, perhaps, remain a secret from me.
MARQUIS.
True, queen! though were you other than yourself, I should inform you straight of certain things-- Warn you of certain men--but this to you Were a vain office. Danger may arise And disappear around you, unperceived.
You will not know it--of too little weight To chase the slumber from your angel brow.
But "twas not this, in sooth, that brought me hither, Prince Carlos----
QUEEN.
What of him? How have you left him?
MARQUIS.
E"en as the only wise man of his time, In whom it is a crime to worship truth-- And ready, for his love to risk his life, As the wise sage for his. I bring few words-- But here he is himself.
[Giving the QUEEN a letter.
QUEEN (after she has read it).
He says he must Speak with me----
MARQUIS.
So do I.
QUEEN.
And will he thus Be happy--when he sees with his own eyes, That I am wretched?
MARQUIS.
No; but more resolved, More active.
QUEEN.
How?
MARQUIS.
Duke Alva is appointed To Flanders.
QUEEN.
Yes, appointed--so I hear.
MARQUIS.
The king cannot retract:--we know the king.
This much is clear, the prince must not remain Here in Madrid, nor Flanders be abandoned.
QUEEN.
And can you hinder it?
MARQUIS.
Perhaps I can, But then the means are dangerous as the evil-- Rash as despair--and yet I know no other.
QUEEN.
Name them.
MARQUIS.
To you, and you alone, my queen, Will I reveal them; for from you alone, Carlos will hear them named without a shudder.
The name they bear is somewhat harsh.
QUEEN.
Rebellion!
MARQUIS.
He must prove faithless to the king, and fly With secrecy to Brussels, where the Flemings Wait him with open arms. The Netherlands Will rise at his command. Our glorious cause From the king"s son will gather matchless strength, The Spanish throne shall tremble at his arms, And what his sire denied him in Madrid, That will he willingly concede in Brussels.
QUEEN.
You"ve spoken with the king to-day--and yet Maintain all this.