Part 326 (1/2)

Of your kindness, dearest!

And of my deep ingrat.i.tude. 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 n.o.bler than thy s.e.x! 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, rus.h.i.+ng 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).