The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Vi Part 64

_A large room with a throne in the foreground to the right. Next to the throne, and running in a straight row to the left, several chairs upon which eight or ten Castilian grandees are sitting. Close to the throne_, MANRIQUE DE LARA, _who has arisen._

MANRIQUE. In sadness we are now a.s.sembled here, But few of us, whom close proximity Allowed to gather in so short a time.

There will be more to join us presently.

Stern, universal need, delaying not, Commands us count ourselves as competent.

Before all others, in our earnest group, Is missing he to whom belongs the right To call this parliament and here preside; We then are half illegal at the start.

And so, my n.o.ble lords, I took the care To ask her royal majesty, the Queen, Although our business much concerns herself, Here to convene with us and take her place, That we may know we are not masterless, Nor feel 'tis usurpation brought us here.

The subject of our council at this time I hope--I fear--is known to all too well.

The King, our mighty sov'reign--not alone In rank, estate, and dignity he's high, But, too, in natural gifts, that when we gaze Behind us in the past's wide-open book, We scarce again can find his equal there-- Except that strength, the lever of all good, When wandered from her wonted path of good, Wills e'er to do her will with equal strength-- The King, I say, withdraws himself from court, Lured by a woman's too lascivious charm, A thing in no wise seeming us to judge-- The Queen!

_The_ QUEEN, _accompanied by_ DOnA CLARA _and several ladies, enters from the right, and seats herself on the throne, after she has indicated to the grandees who have arisen that they are to resume their seats._

MANRIQUE. Have I permission, Majesty?

QUEEN. Proceed.

MANRIQUE. What I just said, I shall repeat "A thing in no wise seeming us to judge."

But at the bound'ries arms him now the Moor, And threats with war the hard-oppressed land; So now the right and duty of the King Is straight to ward this danger from us all, With forces he has called and raised himself.

But see, the King is missing! He will come, I know, if only angry that we called Of our own power and will this parliament.

But if the cause remains that keeps him hence, Unto his former bonds he will return, And, first as last, we be an orphan land.

Your pardon?

[_The_ QUEEN _signs him to continue._]

First of all, the girl must go.

Full many propositions are at hand.

Some are there here who wish to buy her off, And others wish to send her from the land, A prisoner in some far distant clime.

The King has money, too, and though she's far, You know that power can find whate'er it seeks.

A third proposal--

[_The_ QUEEN, _at these words, has arisen._]

Pardon, n.o.ble Queen!

You are too mild for this our business drear!

Your very kindness, lacking vigorous will From which to draw renewal of its strength, Has most of all, perhaps, estranged our King.

I blame you not, I say but what is true.

I pray you, then, to waive your own desire, But if it please you otherwise, then speak!

What flow'ry fate, what flatt'ring punishment, Is suited to the sin this drab has done?

QUEEN (_softly_).

Death.

MANRIQUE. In truth?

QUEEN (_more firmly_).

Yes, death.

MANRIQUE. Ye hear, my lords!

This was the third proposal, which, although A man, I did not earlier dare to speak.

QUEEN. Is marriage not the very holiest, Since it makes right what else forbidden is, And that, which horrible to all the chaste, Exalts to duty, pleasing unto G.o.d?

Other commandments of our G.o.d most high Give added strength to our regard for right, But what so strong that it enn.o.bles sin Must be the strongest of commandments all.

Against that law this woman now has sinned.

But if my husband's wrong continueth, Then I myself, in all my married years, A sinner was and not a wife, our son Is but a misborn b.a.s.t.a.r.d-sp.a.w.n, a shame Unto himself, and sore disgrace to us.

If ye in me see guilt, then kill me, pray!

I will not live if I be flecked with sin.

Then may he from the princesses about A spouse him choose, since only his caprice, And not what is allowed, can govern him.

But if she is the vilest of this earth, Then purify your King and all his land.

I am ashamed to speak like this to men, It scarce becomes me, but I needs must speak.

MANRIQUE. But will the King endure this? If so, how?

QUEEN. He will, indeed, because he ought and must.

Then on the murd'rers he can take revenge, And first of all strike me and this, my breast.

[_She sits down._]

MANRIQUE. There is no hope of any other way.

The n.o.blest in the battle meet their doom-- To die a bitter, yea, a cruel death-- Tortured with thirst, and under horses' hoofs, A doubler, sharper, bitt'rer meed of pain Than ever, sinner on the gallows-tree, And sickness daily takes our best away; For G.o.d is prodigal with human life; Should we be timid, then, where his command, His holy law, which he himself has giv'n, Demands, as here, that he who sins shall die?

Together then, we will request the King To move from out his path this stumbling-block Which keeps him from his own, his own from him.

If he refuse, blood's law be on the land, Until the law and prince be one again, And we may serve them both by serving one.

_A servant comes._

SERVANT. Don Garceran!

MANRIQUE. And does the traitor dare?

Tell him--

SERVANT. The message is his Majesty's.

MANRIQUE. That's diff'rent. An' he were my deadly foe, He has my ear, when speaks he for the King.

_Enter _GARCERAN.

MANRIQUE. At once your message give us; then, farewell.

GARCERAN. O Queen, sublime, and thou my father, too, And ye besides, the best of all the land!

I feel today, as ne'er before I felt, That to be trusted is the highest good, And that frivolity, though free of guilt, Destroys and paralyzes more than sin Itself. _One_ error is condoned at last, Frivolity is ever p.r.o.ne to err.

And so, today, though conscious of no fault, I stand before you sullied, and atone For youthful heedlessness that pa.s.sed for wrong.

MANRIQUE. Of that, another time! Your message now!

GARCERAN. The King through me dissolves this parliament.

MANRIQUE. And since he sent frivolity itself He surely gave some token from his hand, Some written word as pledge and surety?

GARCERAN. Hot-foot he followeth.