The king's mistrust in the unjust suspicion
Which falsely fell on thee-that I had found
Means, through the monarch's favor, to obtain
Free access to the queen. I added, further,
That I was fearful of discovery-
That thou hadst learned my secret, and hadst sped
To Princess Eboli, with hopes through her
To warn the queen-that I had made thee prisoner-
And now that all seemed lost, I had resolved
To fly to Brussels. This same letter I--
CARLOS (interrupts him, terrified).
Hast surely not intrusted to the post!
Thou knowest that letters to Brabant and Flanders--
MARQUIS.
Are given to the king; and as things go
Taxis would seem to have discharged his duty.
CARLOS.
Heavens! then I'm lost.
MARQUIS.
How lost? What meanest thou?
CARLOS.
And thou, alas! art lost together with me-
This dreadful fraud my father ne'er will pardon.
MARQUIS.
This fraud! Thou'rt mad! Who will disclose it to him?
CARLOS (regards him with a fixed look).
Who! Dost thou ask? I will myself.
MARQUIS.
Thou ravest!
Stand back--
CARLOS.
Away! For heaven's sake hold me not.
While I stay here, he's hiring the assassins.
MARQUIS.
Then is our time more precious-and we still
Have much to say.
CARLOS.
What! Before all is finished?
[He makes another effort to go. The MARQUIS holds him
by the arm, and looks at him impressively.
MARQUIS.
Carlos! was I so scrupulous-so eager-
When thou, a boy, didst shed thy blood for me?
CARLOS (with emotion, and full of admiration).
Kind Providence!
MARQUIS.
Reserve thyself for Flanders!
The kingdom is thy destiny-'tis mine
To give my life for thee.
CARLOS (takes his hand with deep sensibility).
No, no! he will not,
Cannot resist a virtue so sublime.
I will conduct thee to him, and together,
Arm linked in arm, will we appear before him.
Then thus will I address him: 'Father, see,
This is the way a friend acts towards his friend.'
Trust me, 'twill move him-it will touch his heart.
He's not without humanity,-my father.
Yes, it will move him. With hot tears, his eyes
Will overflow-and he will pardon us.
[A shot is fired through the iron grating. CARLOS leaps up.
Whom was that meant for?
MARQUIS (sinking down).
I believe-for me.
CARLOS (falling to the earth with a loud cry of grief).
O God of mercy!
MARQUIS.
He is quick-the king.
I had hoped-a little longer-Carlos-think
Of means of flight-dost hear me?-of thy flight.
Thy mother-knows it all-I can no more.
[Dies.
[CARLOS remains by the corpse, like one bereft of life.
After some time the KING enters, accompanied by many GRANDEES;
and starts, panic-struck, at the sight. A general and deep
silence. The GRANDEES range themselves in a semi-circle round
them both, and regard the KING and his SON alternately. The
latter continues without any sign of life. The KING regards
him in thoughtful silence.
