The king was right, quite right. I see it now Myself, and am content--and so no more.

G.o.d speed your journey, as you see, just now My hands are full, and weighty business presses.

The rest to-morrow, or whene'er you will, Or when you come from Brussels.

ALVA.

What is this?

CARLOS.

The season favors, and your route will lie Through Milan, Lorraine, Burgundy, and on To Germany! What, Germany? Ay, true, In Germany it was--they know you there.

'Tis April now, May, June,--in July, then, Just so! or, at the latest, soon in August,-- You will arrive in Brussels, and no doubt We soon shall hear of your victorious deeds.

You know the way to win our high esteem, And earn the crown of fame.

ALVA (significantly).

Indeed! condemned By my own conscious insignificance!

CARLOS.

You're sensitive, my lord, and with some cause, I own it was not fair to use a weapon Against your grace you were unskilled to wield.

ALVA.

Unskilled!

CARLOS.

'Tis pity I've no leisure now To fight this worthy battle fairly out But at some other time, we----

ALVA.

Prince, we both Miscalculate--but still in opposite ways.

You, for example, overrate your age By twenty years, whilst on the other band, I, by as many, underrate it----

CARLOS.

Well

ALVA.

And this suggests the thought, how many nights Beside this lovely Lusitanian bride-- Your mother--would the king right gladly give To buy an arm like this, to aid his crown.

Full well he knows, far easier is the task To make a monarch than a monarchy; Far easier too, to stock the world with kings Than frame an empire for a king to rule.

CARLOS.

Most true, Duke Alva, yet----

ALVA.

And how much blood, Your subjects' dearest blood, must flow in streams Before two drops could make a king of you.

CARLOS.

Most true, by heaven! and in two words comprised, All that the pride of merit has to urge Against the pride of fortune. But the moral-- Now, Duke Alva!

ALVA.

Woe to the nursling babe Of royalty that mocks the careful hand Which fosters it! How calmly it may sleep On the soft cushion of our victories!

The monarch's crown is bright with sparkling gems, But no eye sees the wounds that purchased them.

This sword has given our laws to distant realms, Has blazed before the banner of the cross, And in these quarters of the globe has traced Ensanguined furrows for the seed of faith.

G.o.d was the judge in heaven, and I on earth.

CARLOS.

G.o.d, or the devil--it little matters which; Yours was his chosen arm--that stands confessed.

And now no more of this. Some thoughts there are Whereof the memory pains me. I respect My father's choice,--my father needs an Alva!

But that he needs him is not just the point I envy in him: a great man you are, This may be true, and I well nigh believe it, Only I fear your mission is begun Some thousand years too soon. Alva, methinks, Were just the man to suit the end of time.

Then when the giant insolence of vice Shall have exhausted Heaven's enduring patience, And the rich waving harvest of misdeeds Stand in full ear, and asks a matchless reaper, Then should you fill the post. O G.o.d! my paradise!

My Flanders! But of this I must not think.

'Tis said you carry with you a full store Of sentences of death already signed.

This shows a prudent foresight! No more need To fear your foes' designs, or secret plots: Oh, father! ill indeed I've understood thee.

Calling thee harsh, to save me from a post, Where Alva's self alone can fitly shine!

'Twas an unerring token of your love.

ALVA.

These words deserve----

CARLOS.

What!

ALVA.

But your birth protects you.

CARLOS (seizing his sword).

That calls for blood! Duke, draw your sword!

ALVA (slightingly).

On whom?

CARLOS. (pressing upon him).

Draw, or I run you through.

ALVA.

Then be it so.

[They fight.

SCENE VI.

The QUEEN, DON CARLOS, DUKE ALVA.

QUEEN (coming from her room alarmed).

How! naked swords?

[To the PRINCE in an indignant and commanding tone.

Prince Carlos!

CARLOS (agitated at the QUEEN's look, drops his arm, stands motionless, then rushes to the DUKE, and embraces him).

Pardon, duke!

Your pardon, sir! Forget, forgive it all!