LITMIR.BIZ

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Thou'st wrought my sense of wrong to such a height,

       Within my breast it will no longer stay,

       But grows each minute till it force its way.

       I would not find myself at last deceived.

      Ruy-Gom. Nor would I 'gainst your reason be believed. Think, sir, your jealousy to be but fear Of losing treasures which you hold so dear. Your queen and son may yet be innocent: I know but what they did, not what they meant.

      King. Meant! what should looks, and sighs, and pressings mean? No, no; I need not hear it o'er again. No repetitions—something must be done. Now there's no ill I know that I would shun. I'll fly, till them I've in their incest found, Full charged with rage, and with my vengeance hot, Like a grenado from a cannon shot, Which lights at last upon the enemy's ground, Then, breaking, deals destruction all around. [Exit.

      Ruy-Gom. So, now his jealousy is at the top, Each little blast will serve to keep it up. But stay; there's something I've omitted yet;— Posa's my enemy; and true, he's great. Alas! I'm armed 'gainst all that he can do; For my snare's large enough to hold him too: Yet I'll disguise that purpose for a while; But when he with the rest is caught i' the toil, I'll boldly out, and wanton in the spoil.

      Re-enter Marquis of Posa.

      M. of Posa. My lord Ruy-Gomez! and the king not here! You, who so eminent a favourite are In a king's eye, should ne'er be absent thence.

      Ruy-Gom. No, sir, 'tis you that by a rising prince Are cherished, and so tread a safer way, Rich in that bliss the world waits to enjoy.

      M. of Posa. Since what may bless the world we ought to prize, I wish there were no public enemies; No lurking serpents poison to dispense, Nor wolves to prey on noble innocence; No flatterers, that with royal goodness sport, Those stinking weeds that overrun a court.

      Ruy-Gom. Nay, if good wishes anything could do, I have as earnest wishes, sir, as you: That though perhaps our king enjoys the best Of power, yet may he still be doubly blest. May he—

      M. of Posa. Nay, Gomez, you shall ne'er outdo me there; Since for great Philip's good I would you were, If possible, more honest than you are.

      Ruy-Gom. Why, Posa; what defect can you discern?

      M. of Posa. Nay, half your mysteries I'm yet to learn Though this I'll boldly justify to all— That you contrive a generous prince's fall. [Ruy-Gomez smiles. Nay, think not by your smiles and careless port To laugh it off; I come not here to sport; I do not, sir.

      Ruy-Gom. Young lord, what meaning has This heat?

      M. of Posa. To let you see I know you're base.

      Ruy-Gom. Nay, then, I pardon ask that I did smile: By Heaven, I thought you'd jested all this while. Base!

      M. of Posa. Yes, more base than impotent or old. All virtue in thee, like thy blood, runs cold: Thy rotten putrid carcass is less full Of rancour and contagion than thy soul. Even now before the king I saw it plain; But duty in that presence awed me then; Yet there I dared thy treason with my sword: But still Thy villany talked all; courage had not a word. True, thou art old; yet, if thou hast a friend, To whom thy cursèd cause thou darest commend; 'Gainst him in public I'll the innocence Maintain of the fair queen and injured prince.

      Ruy-Gom. Farewell, bold champion! Learn better how your passions to disguise; Appear less choleric, and be more wise. [Exit.

      M. of Posa. How frail is all the glory we design, Whilst such as these have power to undermine! Unhappy prince! who mightst have safely stood, If thou hadst been less great, or not so good. Why the vile monster's blood did I not shed, And all the vengeance draw on my own head? My honour so had had this just defence— That I preserved my patron and my prince.

      Enter Don Carlos and the Queen.

      Brave Carlos—ha! he's here. O sir, take heed;

       By an unlucky fate your love is led.

       The king—the king your father's jealous grown;

       Forgetting her, his queen, or you, his son,

       Calls all his vengeance up against you both.

      Don Car. Has then the false Ruy-Gomez broke his oath, And, after all, my innocence betrayed?

      M. of Posa. Yes, all his subtlest snares are for you laid. The king within this minute will be here, And you are ruined, if but seen with her. Retire, my lord—

      Queen. How! is he jealous grown? I thought my virtue he had better known. His unjust doubts have soon found out the way To make their entry on our marriage day; For yet he has not known with me a night. Perhaps his tyranny is his delight; And to such height his cruelty is grown, He'd exercise it on his queen and son. But since, my lord, this time we must obey Our interest, I beg you would not stay: Not seeing you, he may to me be just.

      Don Car. Should I then leave you, madam?

      Queen. Yes, you must.

      Don Car. Not then when storms against your virtue rise. No; since to lose you wretched Carlos dies, He'll have the honour of it, in your cause. This is the noblest thing that Fate could do; She thus abates the rigour of her laws, Since 'tis some pleasure but to die for you.

      Queen. Talk not of death, for that even cowards dare, When their base fears compel them to despair: Hope's the far nobler passion of the mind; Fortune's a mistress that's with caution kind; Knows that the constant merit her alone, They who, though she seem froward, yet court on.

      Don Car. To wretched minds thus still some comfort gleams, And angels ease our griefs, though but with dreams. I have too oft already been deceived, And the cheat's grown too plain to be believed, You, madam, bid me go. [Looking earnestly at the Queen.

      Queen. You must.

      M. of Posa. You shall. Alas! I love you, would not see you fall; And yet may find some way to evade it all.

      Don Car. Thou, Posa, ever wert my truest friend; I almost wish thou wert not now so kind. Thou of a thing that's lost tak'st too much care; And you, fair angel, too indulgent are. [To the Queen. Great my despair; but still my love is higher. Well—in obedience to you I'll retire; Though during all the storm I will be nigh, Where, if I see the danger grow too high, To save you, madam, I'll come forth and die. [Exit.

      Re-enter King and Ruy-Gomez.

      King. Who would have guessed that this had ever been?

      [Seeing the Marquis of Posa and the Queen

      Distraction! where shall my revenge begin?

       Why, he's the very bawd to all their sin;

       And to disguise it puts on friendship's mask:

       But his despatch, Ruy-Gomez, is thy task.

       With him pretend some private conference,

       And under that disguise seduce him hence;

       Then in some place fit for the deed impart

       The business, by a poniard to his heart.

      Ruy-Gomez. 'Tis done—

      King. So, madam! [Steps to the Queen.

      Queen. By the fury in your eyes, I understand you're come to tyrannize. I hear you are already jealous grown, And dare suspect my virtue with your son.

      King. O womankind! thy mysteries who can scan, Too deep for easy, weak, believing man? Hold, let me look: indeed you're wondrous fair; So, on the outside, Sodom's apples were: And yet within, when opened to the view, Not half so dangerous or so foul as you.

      Queen.

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