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

To this point I'm guiltless. But the unaccustomed beams Of royal favor dazzled me. The rumor, As I had well foreseen, soon reached thine ears But by mistaken delicacy led, And blinded by my vain desire to end My enterprise alone, I kept concealed From friendship's ear my hazardous design. This was my fatal error! Here I failed! I know it. My self-confidence was madness. Pardon that confidence - 'twas founded, Carlos, Upon our friendship's everlasting base.

[He pauses. CARLOS passes from torpid silence to
violent agitation.

That which I feared befell. Unreal dangers Alarmed your mind. The bleeding queen - the tumult Within the palace - Lerma's interference - And, last of all, my own mysterious silence, Conspired to overwhelm thy heart with wonder. Thou wavered'st, thought'st me lost; but far too noble To doubt thy friend's integrity, thy soul Clothed his defection with a robe of honor, Nor judged him faithless till it found a motive To screen and justify his breach of faith. Forsaken by thy only friend - 'twas then Thou sought'st the arms of Princess Eboli - A demon's arms! 'Twas she betrayed thee, Carlos! I saw thee fly to her - a dire foreboding Struck on my heart - I followed thee too late! Already wert thou prostrate at her feet, The dread avowal had escaped thy lips - No way was left to save thee.

CARLOS.
No! her heart Was moved, thou dost mistake, her heart was moved.

MARQUIS. Night overspread my mind. No remedy, No refuge, no retreat was left to me In nature's boundless compass. Blind despair Transformed me to a fury - to a tiger - I raised my dagger to a woman's breast. But in that moment - in that dreadful moment - A radiant sunbeam fell upon my soul. "Could I mislead the king! Could I succeed In making him think me the criminal! However improbable, the very guilt Will be enough to win the king's belief. I'll dare the task - a sudden thunderbolt May make the tyrant start - what want I further? He stops to think, and Carlos thus gains time To fly to Brussels."

CARLOS.
And hast thou done this?

MARQUIS. I have despatched a letter to Prince William, Saying I loved the queen, and had escaped The king's mistrust in the unjust suspicion Which falsely fell on thee - that I had found Means, through the monarch's favor, to obtain Free access to the queen. I added, further, That I was fearful of discovery - That thou hadst learned my secret, and hadst sped To Princess Eboli, with hopes through her To warn the queen - that I had made thee prisoner - And now that all seemed lost, I had resolved To fly to Brussels. This same letter I - -

CARLOS (interrupts him, terrified). Hast surely not intrusted to the post! Thou knowest that letters to Brabant and Flanders - -

MARQUIS. Are given to the king; and as things go Taxis would seem to have discharged his duty.

CARLOS. Heavens! then I'm lost.

MARQUIS.
How lost? What meanest thou?

CARLOS. And thou, alas! art lost together with me - This dreadful fraud my father ne'er will pardon.

MARQUIS. This fraud! Thou'rt mad! Who will disclose it to him?

CARLOS (regards him with a fixed look). Who! Dost thou ask? I will myself.

MARQUIS.
Thou ravest! Stand back - -

CARLOS.
Away! For heaven's sake hold me not. While I stay here, he's hiring the assassins.

MARQUIS. Then is our time more precious - and we still Have much to say.

CARLOS.
What! Before all is finished?

[He makes another effort to go. The MARQUIS holds him
by the arm, and looks at him impressively.

MARQUIS. Carlos! was I so scrupulous - so eager - When thou, a boy, didst shed thy blood for me?

CARLOS (with emotion, and full of admiration). Kind Providence!

MARQUIS.
Reserve thyself for Flanders! The kingdom is thy destiny - 'tis mine To give my life for thee.

CARLOS (takes his hand with deep sensibility).
No, no! he will not, Cannot resist a virtue so sublime. I will conduct thee to him, and together, Arm linked in arm, will we appear before him. Then thus will I address him: "Father, see, This is the way a friend acts towards his friend." Trust me, 'twill move him - it will touch his heart. He's not without humanity, - my father. Yes, it will move him. With hot tears, his eyes Will overflow - and he will pardon us.

[A shot is fired through the iron grating. CARLOS leaps up.

Whom was that meant for?

MARQUIS (sinking down).
I believe - for me.

CARLOS (falling to the earth with a loud cry of grief). O God of mercy!

MARQUIS.
He is quick - the king. I had hoped - a little longer - Carlos - think Of means of flight - dost hear me? - of thy flight. Thy mother - knows it all - I can no more.
[Dies.

[CARLOS remains by the corpse, like one bereft of life.
After some time the KING enters, accompanied by many GRANDEES;
and starts, panic-struck, at the sight. A general and deep
silence. The GRANDEES range themselves in a semi-circle round
them both, and regard the KING and his SON alternately. The
latter continues without any sign of life. The KING regards
him in thoughtful silence.


SCENE IV.

The KING, CARLOS, the DUKESS ALVA, FERIA, and MEDINA SIDONIA,
PRINCE OF PARMA, COUNT LERMA, DOMINGO, and numerous GRANDEES.

KING (in a gentle tone). Thy prayer hath met a gracious hearing, prince, And here I come, with all the noble peers Of this my court, to bring thee liberty.

[CARLOS raises his eyes and looks around him like one awakened
from a dream. His eyes are fixed now on the KING, now on the
corpse; he gives no answer.

Receive thy sword again. We've been too rash!

[He approaches him, holds out his hand, and assists him to rise.

My son's not in his place; Carlos, arise! Come to thy father's arms! His love awaits thee.

CARLOS (receives the embrace of the KING without any consciousness.
Suddenly recollects himself, pauses and looks fixedly at him). Thou smell'st of blood - no, I cannot embrace thee!

[Pushes his father back. All the GRANDEES are in commotion.
CARLOS to them: -

Nay, stand not there confounded and amazed! - What monstrous action have I done? Defiled The anointed of the Lord! Oh, fear me not, I would not lay a hand on him. Behold, Stamped on his forehead is the damning brand! The hand of God hath marked him!

KING (about to go quickly).
Nobles! follow.

CARLOS. Whither? You stir not from this spot.

[Detaining the KING forcibly with both hands, while with one
he manages to seize the sword which the KING has brought with
him, and it comes from the scabbard.

KING.
What! Draw A sword upon thy father?

ALL THE GRANDEES (drawing their swords).
Regicide!

CARLOS (holding the KING firmly with one hand, the naked sword
in the other). Put up your swords! What! Think you I am mad? I am not so: or you were much to blame Thus to remind me, that upon the point Of this my sword, his trembling life doth hover. I pray you, stand aloof; for souls like mine Need soothing. There - hold back! And with the king What I have yet to settle touches not Your loyalty. See there - his hand is bloody! Do you not see it? And now look you here!

[Pointing to the corpse.

This hath he done with a well-practised hand.

KING (to the GRANDEES, who press anxiously around him). Retire! Why do you tremble? Are we not Father and son? I will yet wait and see To what atrocious crime his nature - -

CARLOS.
Nature I know her not. Murder is now the word! The bonds of all humanity are severed, Thine own hands have dissolved them through the realm. Shall I respect a tie which thou hast scorned? Oh, see! see here! the foulest deed of blood That e'er the world beheld. Is there no God That kings, in his creation, work such havoc? Is there no God, I ask? Since mother's wombs Bore children, one alone - and only one - So guiltlessly hath died. And art thou sensible What thou hast done? Oh, no! he knows it not: Knows not that he has robbed - despoiled the world Of a more noble, precious, dearer life Than he and all his century can boast.

KING (with a tone of softness). If I have been too hasty, Carlos - thou For whom I have thus acted, should at least Not call me to account.

CARLOS.
Is't possible! Did you then never guess how dear to me Was he who here lies dead? Thou lifeless corpse! Instruct him - aid his wisdom, to resolve This dark enigma now. He was my friend. And would you know why he has perished thus? He gave his life for me.

KING.
Ha? my suspicions!

CARLOS. Pardon, thou bleeding corpse, that I profane Thy virtue to such ears. But let him blush With deep-felt shame, the crafty politician, That his gray-headed wisdom was o'erreached, E'en by the judgment of a youth. Yes, sire, We two were brothers! Bound by nobler bands Than nature ties. His whole life's bright career Was love. His noble death was love for me. E'en in the moment when his brief esteem Exalted you, he was my own. And when With fascinating tongue he sported with Your haughty, giant mind, 'twas your