DOMINGO.

Nor you, nor I! Now shall you learn, what long My busy spirit, full of its design, Has been at work with, to achieve its ends.

Still is there wanting to complete our league A third important personage. The king Loves the young Princess Eboli--and I Foster this pa.s.sion for my own designs.

I am his go-between. She shall be schooled Into our plot. If my plan fail me not, In this young lady shall a close ally-- A very queen, bloom for us. She herself Asked me, but now, to meet her in this chamber.

I'm full of hope. And in one little night A Spanish maid may blast this Valois lily.

ALVA.

What do you say! Can I have heard aright?

By Heaven! I'm all amazement. Compa.s.s this, And I'll bow down to thee, Dominican!

The day's our own.

DOMINGO.

Soft! Some one comes: 'tis she-- 'Tis she herself!

ALVA.

I'm in the adjoining room If you should----

DOMINGO.

Be it so: I'll call you in.

[Exit ALVA.

SCENE XI.

PRINCESS, DOMINGO.

DOMINGO.

At your command, princess.

PRINCESS.

We are perhaps Not quite alone?

[Looking inquisitively after the DUKE.

You have, as I observe, A witness still by you.

DOMINGO.

How?

PRINCESS.

Who was he, That left your side but now?

DOMINGO.

It was Duke ALVA.

Most gracious princess, he requests you will Admit him to an audience after me.

PRINCESS.

Duke Alva! How? What can he want with me?

You can, perhaps, inform me?

DOMINGO.

I?--and that Before I learn to what important chance I owe the favor, long denied, to stand Before the Princess Eboli once more?

[Pauses awaiting her answer.

Has any circ.u.mstance occurred at last To favor the king's wishes? Have my hopes Been not in vain, that more deliberate thought Would reconcile you to an offer which Caprice alone and waywardness could spurn?

I seek your presence full of expectation----

PRINCESS.

Was my last answer to the king conveyed?

DOMINGO.

I have delayed to inflict this mortal wound.

There still is time, it rests with you, princess, To mitigate its rigor.

PRINCESS.

Tell the king That I expect him.

DOMINGO.

May I, lovely princess, Indeed accept this as your true reply?

PRINCESS.

I do not jest. By heaven, you make me tremble What have I done to make e'en you grow pale?

DOMINGO.

Nay, lady, this surprise--so sudden--I Can scarcely comprehend it.

PRINCESS.

Reverend sir!

You shall not comprehend it. Not for all The world would I you comprehended it.

Enough for you it is so--spare yourself The trouble to investigate in thought, Whose eloquence hath wrought this wondrous change.

But for your comfort let me add, you have No hand in this misdeed,--nor has the church.

Although you've proved that cases might arise Wherein the church, to gain some n.o.ble end, Might use the persons of her youthful daughters!

Such reasonings move not me; such motives, pure, Right reverend sir, are far too high for me.

DOMINGO.

When they become superfluous, your grace, I willingly retract them.

PRINCESS.

Seek the king, And ask him as from me, that he will not Mistake me in this business. What I have been That am I still. 'Tis but the course of things Has changed. When I in anger spurned his suit, I deemed him truly happy in possessing Earth's fairest queen. I thought his faithful wife Deserved my sacrifice. I thought so then, But now I'm undeceived.

DOMINGO.

Princess, go on!

I hear it all--we understand each other.

PRINCESS.

Enough. She is found out. I will not spare her.

The hypocrite's unmasked!--She has deceived The king, all Spain, and me. She loves, I know She loves! I can bring proofs that will make you tremble.

The king has been deceived--but he shall not, By heaven, go unrevenged! The saintly mask Of pure and superhuman self-denial I'll tear from her deceitful brow, that all May see the forehead of the shameless sinner.

'Twill cost me dear, but here my triumph lies, That it will cost her infinitely more.

DOMINGO.