Might spoil my singing!

PRINCESS.

Prince, you play me false!

Confess that by this serpent subterfuge

You would mislead me. Look me in the face,

Deceitful one! and say would he whose thoughts

Were only bent on warlike deeds-would he

E'er stoop so low as, with deceitful hand,

To steal fair ladies' ribbons when they drop,

And then-your pardon! hoard them-with such care?

[With light action she opens his shirt frill, and seizes

a ribbon which is there concealed.

CARLOS (drawing back with amazement).

Nay, princess-that's too much-I am betrayed.

You're not to be deceived. You are in league

With spirits and with demons!

PRINCESS.

Are you then

Surprised at this? What will you wager, Carlos

But I recall some stories to your heart?

Nay, try it with me; ask whate'er you please,

And if the triflings of my sportive fancy-

The sound half-uttered by the air absorbed-

The smile of joy checked by returning gloom-

If motions-looks from your own soul concealed

Have not escaped my notice-judge if I

Can err when thou wouldst have me understand thee?

CARLOS.

Why, this is boldly ventured; I accept

The wager, princess. Then you undertake

To make discoveries in my secret heart

Unknown even to myself.

PRINCESS (displeased, but earnestly).

Unknown to thee!

Reflect a moment, prince! Nay, look around;

This boudoir's not the chamber of the queen,

Where small deceits are practised with full license.

You start, a sudden blush o'erspreads your face.

Who is so bold, so idle, you would ask,

As to watch Carlos when he deems himself

From scrutiny secure? Who was it, then,

At the last palace-ball observed you leave

The queen, your partner, standing in the dance,

And join, with eager haste, the neighboring couple,

To offer to the Princess Eboli

The hand your royal partner should have claimed?

An error, prince, his majesty himself,

Who just then entered the apartment, noticed.

CARLOS (with ironical smile).

His majesty? And did he really so?

Of all men he should not have seen it.

PRINCESS.

Nor yet that other scene within the chapel,

Which doubtless Carlos hath long since forgotten.

Prostrate before the holy Virgin's image,

You lay in prayer, when suddenly you heard-

'Twas not your fault-a rustling from behind

Of ladies' dresses. Then did Philip's son,

A youth of hero courage, tremble like

A heretic before the holy office.

On his pale lips died the half-uttered prayer.

In ecstasy of passion, prince-the scene

Was truly touching-for you seized the hand,

The blessed Virgin's cold and holy hand,

And showered your burning kisses on the marble.

CARLOS.

Princess, you wrong me: that was pure devotion!

PRINCESS.

Indeed! that's quite another thing. Perhaps

It was the fear of losing, then, at cards,

When you were seated with the queen and me,

And you with dexterous skill purloined my glove.

[CARLOS starts surprised.

That prompted you to play it for a card?

CARLOS.

What words are these? O Heaven, what have I done?

PRINCESS.

Nothing I hope of which you need repent!

How pleasantly was I surprised to find

Concealed within the glove a little note,

Full of the warmest tenderest romance,

CARLOS (interrupting her suddenly).

Mere poetry! no more. My fancy teems

With idle bubbles oft, which break as soon

As they arise-and this was one of them;

So, prithee, let us talk of it no more.

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