Part 306 (1/2)

Rise, Alva! thou hast now my royal promise; Rise, and speak fearlessly!

ALVA (rising).

Your majesty, Perchance, may bear in your remembrance still What happened in the garden at Aranjuez.

You found the queen deserted by her ladies, With looks confused--alone, within a bower,--

KING.

Proceed. What further have I yet to hear?

ALVA.

The Marchioness of Mondecar was banished Because she boldly sacrificed herself To save the queen! It has been since discovered She did no more than she had been commanded.

Prince Carlos had been there.

KING (starting).

The prince! What more?

ALVA.

Upon the ground the footsteps of a man Were traced, till finally they disappeared Close to a grotto, leftward of the bower, Where lay a handkerchief the prince had dropped.

This wakened our suspicions. But besides, The gardener met the prince upon the spot,-- Just at the time, as near as we can guess, Your majesty appeared within the walk.

KING (recovering from gloomy thought).

And yet she wept when I but seemed to doubt!

She made me blush before the a.s.sembled court, Blush to my very self! By heaven! I stood In presence of her virtue, like a culprit.

[A long and deep silence. He sits down and hides his face.

Yes, Alva, you are right! All this may lead To something dreadful--leave me for a moment----

ALVA.

But, gracious sire, all this is not enough----

KING (s.n.a.t.c.hing up the papers).

Nor this, nor this?--nor all the harmony Of these most d.a.m.ning proofs? 'Tis clear as day-- I knew it long ago--their heinous guilt Began when first I took her from your hands, Here in Madrid. I think I see her now, With look of horror, pale as midnight ghost, Fixing her eyes upon my h.o.a.ry hair!

'Twas then the treacherous game began!

ALVA.

The prince, In welcoming a mother--lost his bride!

Long had they nursed a mutual pa.s.sion, long Each other's ardent feelings understood, Which her new state forbade her to indulge.

The fear which still attends love's first avowal Was long subdued. Seduction, bolder grown, Spoke in those forms of easy confidence Which recollections of the past allowed.

Allied by harmony of souls and years, And now by similar restraints provoked, They readily obeyed their wild desires.

Reasons of state opposed their early union-- But can it, sire, be thought she ever gave To the state council such authority?

That she subdued the pa.s.sion of her soul To scrutinize with more attentive eye The election of the cabinet. Her heart Was bent on love, and won a diadem.

KING (offended, and with bitterness).

You are a nice observer, duke, and I Admire your eloquence. I thank you truly.

[Rising coldly and haughtily.

But you are right. The queen has deeply erred In keeping from me letters of such import, And in concealing the intrusive visit The prince paid in the garden:--from a false Mistaken honor she has deeply erred And I shall question further.

[Ringing the bell.

Who waits now Within the antechamber? You, Duke Alva, I need no longer. Go.