Part 334 (1/2)

I'm lost, forever lost; thou saw'st it clearly.

This fatal love has scattered, and forever, All the bright, early blossoms of my mind.

To all the great, exalted hopes I'm dead.

Chance led thee to the king--or Providence,-- It cost thee but my secret--and at once He was thine own--thou may'st become his angel: But I am lost, though Spain perhaps may flourish.

Well, there is nothing to condemn, if not My own mad blindness. Oh, I should have known That thou art no less great than tender-hearted.

MARQUIS.

No! I foresaw not, I considered not That friends.h.i.+p's generous heart would lead thee on Beyond my worldly prudence. I have erred, My fabric's shattered--I forgot thy heart.

CARLOS.

Yet, if it had been possible to spare Her fate--oh, how intensely I had thanked thee!

Could I not bear the burden by myself?

And why must she be made a second victim?

But now no more, I'll spare thee this reproach.

What is the queen to thee? Say, dost thou love her?

Could thy exalted virtue e'er consult The petty interests of my wretched pa.s.sion?

Oh, pardon me! I was unjust----

MARQUIS.

Thou art so!

But not for this reproach. Deserved I one, I merit all--and then I should not stand Before you as I do.

[He takes out his portfolio.

I have some letters To give you back of those you trusted to me.

CARLOS (looks first at the letters, then at the MARQUIS, in astonishment).

How!

MARQUIS.

I return them now because they may Prove safer in thy custody than mine.

CARLOS.

What meanest thou? Has his majesty not read them?

Have they not been before him?

MARQUIS.

What, these letters!

CARLOS.

Thou didst not show them all, then?

MARQUIS.

Who has said That ever I showed one?

CARLOS (astonished).

Can it be so?

Count Lerma----