I wished to lead him to the excellent-- To exalt him to the highest point of beauty.

Mortality denied a model to me, And language, words. Then did I bend his views To this point only--and my whole endeavor Was to explain to him his love.

QUEEN.

Your friend, Marquis! so wholly occupied your mind, That for his cause you quite forgot my own-- Could you suppose that I had thrown aside All woman's weaknesses, that you could dare Make me his angel, and confide alone In virtue for his armor? You forget What risks this heart must run, when we enn.o.ble Pa.s.sion with such a beauteous name as this.

MARQUIS.

Yes, in all other women--but in one, One only, 'tis not so. For you, I swear it.

And should you blush to indulge the pure desire To call heroic virtue into life?

Can it affect King Philip, that his works Of n.o.blest art, in the Escurial, raise Immortal longings in the painter's soul, Who stands entranced before them? Do the sounds That slumber in the lute, belong alone To him who buys the chords? With ear unmoved He may preserve his treasure:--he has bought The wretched right to shiver it to atoms, But not the power to wake its silver tones, Or, in the magic of its sounds, dissolve.

Truth is created for the sage, as beauty Is for the feeling heart. They own each other.

And this belief, no coward prejudice Shall make me e'er disclaim. Then promise, queen, That you will ever love him. That false shame, Or fancied dignity, shall never make you Yield to the voice of base dissimulation:-- That you will love him still, unchanged, forever.

Promise me this, oh, queen! Here solemnly Say, do you promise?

QUEEN.

That my heart alone Shall ever vindicate my love, I promise----

MARQUIS (drawing his hand back).

Now I die satisfied--my work is done.

[He bows to the QUEEN, and is about to go.

QUEEN (follows him with her eyes in silence).

You are then going, marquis, and have not Told me how soon--and when--we meet again?

MARQUIS (comes back once more, his face turned away).

Yes, we shall surely meet again!

QUEEN.

Now, Posa, I understand you. Why have you done this?

MARQUIS.

Carlos or I myself!

QUEEN.

No! no! you rush Headlong into a deed you deem, sublime.

Do not deceive yourself: I know you well: Long have you thirsted for it. If your pride But have its fill, what matters it to you Though thousand hearts should break. Oh! now, at length, I comprehend your feelings--'tis the love Of admiration which has won your heart----

MARQUIS (surprised, aside).

No! I was not prepared for this----

QUEEN (after a pause).

Oh, marquis!

Is there no hope of preservation?

MARQUIS.

None.

QUEEN.

None? Oh, consider well! None possible!

Not e'en by me?

MARQUIS.

Not even, queen, by thee.

QUEEN.

You but half know me--I have courage, marquis----

MARQUIS.

I know it----

QUEEN.

And no means of safety?

MARQUIS.

None

QUEEN (turning away and covering her face).

Go! Never more shall I respect a man----

MARQUIS (casts himself on his knees before her in evident emotion).

O queen! O heaven! how lovely still is life!

[He starts up and rushes out. The QUEEN retires into her cabinet.

SCENE XXII.

DUKE ALVA and DOMINGO walking up and down in silence and separately.

COUNT LERMA comes out of the KING's cabinet, and afterwards DON RAYMOND OF TAXIS, the Postmaster-General.

LERMA.

Has not the marquis yet appeared?

ALVA.

Not yet.

[LERMA about to re-enter the cabinet.

TAXIS (enters).

Count Lerma! Pray announce me to the king?

LERMA.

His majesty cannot be seen.

TAXIS.

But say That I must see him; that my business is Of urgent import to his majesty.

Make haste--it will admit of no delay.