LITMIR.BIZ

ACT II.

       Table of Contents

SCENE I.

       Table of Contents

      The royal palace at Madrid.

       KING PHILIP under a canopy; DUKE ALVA at some distance,

       with his head covered; CARLOS.

       CARLOS.

       The kingdom takes precedence—willingly

       Doth Carlos to the minister give place—

       He speaks for Spain; I am but of the household.

       [Bows and steps backward.

       KING.

       The duke remains—the Infanta may proceed.

       CARLOS (turning to ALVA).

       Then must I put it to your honor, sir,

       To yield my father for a while to me.

       A son, you know, may to a father's ear

       Unbosom much, in fulness of his heart,

       That not befits a stranger's ear. The king

       Shall not be taken from you, sir—I seek

       The father only for one little hour.

       KING.

       Here stands his friend.

       CARLOS.

       And have I e'er deserved

       To think the duke should be a friend of mine?

       KING.

       Or tried to make him one? I scarce can love

       Those sons who choose more wisely than their fathers.

       CARLOS.

       And can Duke Alva's knightly spirit brook

       To look on such a scene? Now, as I live,

       I would not play the busy meddler's part,

       Who thrusts himself, unasked, 'twixt sire and son,

       And there intrudes without a blush, condemned

       By his own conscious insignificance,

       No, not, by heaven, to win a diadem!

       KING (rising, with an angry look at the Prince).

       Retire, my lord!

       [ALVA goes to the principal door, through which CARLOS

       had entered, the KING points to the other.

       No, to the cabinet,

       Until I call you.