The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 305

KING.

What! married--yet You dare to watch a night here with your king!

Your hair is gray, and yet you do not blush To think your wife is honest. Get thee home; You'll find her locked, this moment, in your son's Incestuous embrace. Believe your king.

Now go; you stand amazed; you stare at me With searching eye, because of my gray hairs.

Unhappy man, reflect. Queens never taint Their virtue thus: doubt it, and you shall die!

LERMA (with warmth).

Who dare do so? In all my monarch's realms Who has the daring hardihood to breathe Suspicion on her angel purity?

To slander thus the best of queens----

KING.

The best!

The best, from you, too! She has ardent friends, I find, around. It must have cost her much-- More than methinks she could afford to give.

You are dismissed; now send the duke to me.

LERMA.

I hear him in the antechamber.

[Going.

KING (with a milder tone).

Count, What you observed is very true. My head Burns with the fever of this sleepless night!

What I have uttered in this waking dream, Mark you, forget! I am your gracious king!

[Presents his hand to kiss. Exit LERMA, opening the door at the same time to DUKE ALVA.

SCENE III.

The KING and DUKE ALVA.

ALVA (approaching the KING with an air of doubt).

This unexpected order, at so strange An hour!

[Starts on looking closer at the KING.

And then those looks!

KING (has seated himself, and taken hold of the medallion on the table.

Looks at the DUKE for some time in silence).

Is it true I have no faithful servant!

ALVA.

How?

KING.

A blow Aimed at my life in its most vital part!

Full well 'twas known, yet no one warned me of it.

ALVA (with a look of astonishment).

A blow aimed at your majesty! and yet Escape your Alva's eye?

KING (showing him letters).

Know you this writing?

ALVA.

It is the prince's hand.

KING (a pause--watches the DUKE closely).

Do you suspect Then nothing? Often have you cautioned me Gainst his ambition. Was there nothing more Than his ambition should have made me tremble?

ALVA.

Ambition is a word of largest import, And much it may comprise.

KING.

And had you naught Of special purport to disclose?

ALVA (after a pause, mysteriously).

Your majesty Hath given the kingdom's welfare to my charge: On this my inmost, secret thoughts are bent, And my best vigilance. Beyond this charge What I may think, suspect, or know belongs To me alone. These are the sacred treasures Which not the va.s.sal only, but the slave, The very slave, may from a king withhold.

Not all that to my mind seems plain is yet Mature enough to meet the monarch's ear.

Would he be answered--then must I implore He will not question as a king.

KING (handing the letters).

Read these.

ALVA (reads them, and turns to the KING with a look of terror).

Who was the madman placed these fatal papers In my king's bands?

KING.

You know, then, who is meant?

No name you see is mentioned in the paper.

ALVA (stepping back confused).

I was too hasty!

KING.

But you know!

ALVA (after some consideration).

'Tis spoken!

The king commands,--I dare not now conceal.

I'll not deny it--I do know the person.

KING (starting up in violent emotion).

G.o.d of revenge! inspire me to invent Some new, unheard-of torture! Is their crime So clear, so plain, so public to the world, That without e'en the trouble of inquiry The veriest hint suffices to reveal it?

This is too much! I did not dream of this!

I am the last of all, then, to discern it-- The last in all my realm?

ALVA (throwing himself at the KING'S feet).

Yes, I confess My guilt, most gracious monarch. I'm ashamed A coward prudence should have tied my tongue When truth, and justice, and my sovereign's honor Urged me to speak. But since all else are silent And since the magic spell of beauty binds All other tongues, I dare to give it voice; Though well I know a son's warm protestations, A wife's seductive charms and winning tears----

KING (suddenly with warmth).