Don Carlos by Friedrich Schiller (sight word readers .txt) 📖

forget - what would you with me?

CARLOS (seizing her hand with warmth). Dear maiden! Can you hate eternally? Can injured love ne'er pardon?

EBOLI (disengaging herself).
Prince! of what Would you remind me?

CARLOS.
Of your kindness, dearest! And of my deep ingratitude. Alas, Too well I know it! deeply have I wronged thee - Wounded thy tender heart, and from thine eyes, Thine angel eyes, wrung precious tears, sweet maid! But ah! 'tis not repentance leads me hither.

EBOLI. Prince! leave me - I - -

CARLOS.
I come to thee, because Thou art a maid of gentle soul - because I trust thy heart - thy kind and tender heart. Think, dearest maiden! think, I have no friend, No friend but thee, in all this wretched world - Thou who wert once so kind wilt not forever Hate me, nor will thy anger prove eternal.

EBOLI (turning away her face). O cease! No more! for heaven's sake! leave me, prince.

CARLOS. Let me remind thee of those golden hours - Let me remind thee of thy love, sweet maid - That love which I so basely have offended! Oh, let me now appear to thee again As once I was - and as thy heart portrayed me. Yet once again, once only, place my image, As in days past, before thy tender soul, And to that idol make a sacrifice Thou canst not make to me.

EBOLI.
Oh, Carlos, cease! Too cruelly thou sportest with my feelings!

CARLOS. Be nobler than thy sex! Forgive an insult! Do what no woman e'er has done before thee, And what no woman, after thee, can equal. I ask of thee an unexampled favor. Grant me - upon my knees I ask of thee Grant me two moments with the queen, my mother!

[He casts himself at her feet.


SCENE XVI.

The former. MARQUIS POSA rushes in; behind him two
Officers of the Queen's Guard.

MARQUIS (breathless and agitated, rushing between CARLOS and
the PRINCESS). Say, what has he confessed? Believe him not!

CARLOS (still on his knees, with loud voice). By all that's holy - -

MARQUIS (interrupting him with vehemence).
He is mad! He raves! Oh, listen to him not!

CARLOS (louder and more urgent).
It is a question Of life and death; conduct me to her straight.

MARQUIS (dragging the PRINCESS from him by force). You die, if you but listen.
[To one of the officers, showing an order.
Count of Cordova! In the king's name, Prince Carlos is your prisoner.

[CARLOS stands bewildered. The PRINCESS utters a cry of
horror, and tries to escape. The officers are astounded.
A long and deep pause ensues. The MARQUIS trembles violently,
and with difficulty preserves his composure.
[To the PRINCE.

I beg your sword - The Princess Eboli Remains - -
[To the officers.
And you, on peril of your lives, Let no one with his highness speak - no person - Not e'en yourselves.
[He whispers a few words to one officer, then turns to the other.
I hasten, instantly, To cast myself before our monarch's feet, And justify this step - -
[To the PRINCE.
And prince! for you - Expect me in an hour.

[CARLOS permits himself to be led away without any signs
of consciousness, except that in passing he casts a languid,
dying look on the MARQUIS. The PRINCESS endeavors again to
escape; the MARQUIS pulls her back by the arm.


SCENE XVII.

PRINCESS EBOLI, MARQUIS POSA.

EBOLI. For Heaven's sake let me leave this place - -

MARQUIS (leads her forward with dreadful earnestness).
Thou wretch! What has he said to thee?

EBOLI.
Oh, leave me! Nothing.

MARQUIS (with earnestness; holding her back by force). How much has he imparted to thee? Here No way is left thee to escape. To none In this world shalt thou ever tell it.

EBOLI (looking at him with terror). Heavens! What would you do? Would you then murder me?

MARQUIS (drawing a dagger). Yes, that is my resolve. Be speedy!

EBOLI.
Mercy! What have I then committed?

MARQUIS (looking towards heaven, points the dagger to her breast).
Still there's time - The poison has not issued from these lips. Dash but the bowl to atoms, all remains Still as before! The destinies of Spain Against a woman's life!

[Remains doubtingly in this position.

EBOLI (having sunk down beside him, looks in his face).
Do not delay - Why do you hesitate? I beg no mercy - I have deserved to die, and I am ready.

MARQUIS (letting his hand drop slowly - after some reflection). It were as cowardly as barbarous. No! God be praised! another way is left.

[He lets the dagger fall and hurries out. The PRINCESS
hastens out through another door.


SCENE XVIII.

A Chamber of the QUEEN.
The QUEEN to the COUNTESS FUENTES.

What means this noisy tumult in the palace? Each breath to-day alarms me! Countess! see What it portends, and hasten back with speed.

[Exit COUNTESS FUENTES - the PRINCESS EBOLI rushes in.


SCENE XIX.

The QUEEN, PRINCESS EBOLI.

EBOLI (breathless, pale, and wild, falls before the QUEEN). Help! Help! O Queen! he's seized!

QUEEN.
Who?

EBOLI.
He's arrested By the king's orders given to Marquis Posa.

QUEEN. Who is arrested? Who?

EBOLI.
The prince!

QUEEN.
Thou ravest

EBOLI. This moment they are leading him away.

QUEEN. And who arrested him?

EBOLI.
The Marquis Posa.

QUEEN. Then heaven be praised! it was the marquis seized him!

EBOLI. Can you speak thus, and with such tranquil mien? Oh, heavens! you do not know - you cannot think - -

QUEEN. The cause of his arrest! some trifling error, Doubtless arising from his headlong youth!

EBOLI. No! no! I know far better. No, my queen! Remorseless treachery! There's no help for him. He dies!

QUEEN.
He dies!

EBOLI.
And I'm his murderer!

QUEEN. What! Dies? Thou ravest! Think what thou art saying?

EBOLI. And wherefore - wherefore dies he? Had I known That it would come to this!

QUEEN (takes her affectionately by the hand).
Oh, dearest princess, Your senses are distracted, but collect Your wandering spirits, and relate to me More calmly, not in images of horror That fright my inmost soul, whate'er you know! Say, what has happened?

EBOLI.
Oh, display not, queen, Such heavenly condescension! Like hot flames This kindness sears my conscience. I'm not worthy To view thy purity with eyes profane. Oh, crush the wretch, who, agonized by shame, Remorse, and self-reproach writhes at thy feet!

QUEEN. Unhappy woman! Say, what is thy guilt?

EBOLI. Angel of light! Sweet saint! thou little knowest The demon who has won thy loving smiles. Know her to-day; I was the wretched thief Who plundered thee.

QUEEN.
What! Thou?

EBOLI.
And gave thy letters Up to the king?

QUEEN.
What! Thou?

EBOLI.
And dared accuse thee!

QUEEN. Thou! Couldst thou this?

EBOLI.
Revenge and madness - love - I hated thee, and loved the prince!

QUEEN.
And did His love so prompt thee?

QUEEN. And who arrested him?

EBOLI.
I had owned my love, But met with no return.

QUEEN (after a pause).
Now all's explained! Rise up! - you loved him - I have pardoned you I have forgotten all. Now, princess, rise.

[Holding out her hand to the PRINCESS.

EBOLI. No, no; a foul confession still remains. I will not rise, great queen, till I - -

QUEEN.
Then speak! What have I yet to hear?

EBOLI.
The king! Seduction! Oh, now you turn away. And in your eyes I read abhorrence. Yes; of that foul crime I charged you with, I have myself been guilty.

[She presses her burning face to the ground. Exit QUEEN.
A long pause. The COUNTESS OLIVAREZ, after some minutes,
comes out of the cabinet, into which the QUEEN entered, and
finds the PRINCESS