The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Argument
• Characters
• Don Carlo (italian Language)
• Atto Primo.
• Scena I.
• Scena II.
• Scena III.
• Scena IV.
• Atto Secondo.
• Parte Prima.
• Scena I.
• Scena II.
• Scena III.
• Parte Seconda.
• Scena I.
• Scena II.
• Scene IV.
• Scena V.
• Scena VI.
• Atto Terzo.
• Parte Prima.
• Scena I.
• Parte Seconda.
• Scena I.
• Atto Quarto.
• Parte Prima.
• Scena I.
• Scena II.
• Scena III.
• Scena IV.
• Parte Seconda.
• Scena I.
• Parte Terza.
• Scena I.
• Scena II.
• Don Carlos (english Language)
• Act First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act Second.
• Part First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Part Second
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act Third.
• Part First.
• Scene I.
• Part Second.
• Scene I.
• Fourth Act.
• Part First
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Part Second.
• Scene I.
• Part Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.

PART FIRST

SCENE I.

(TheKing’slibrary in Madrid. TheKingis absorbed in deep thought, and is leaning on a table full of papers, with two torches burning low. Dawn creeps through the window panes.)

Philip (as if dreaming).

She never loved me!

No, that heart so close to mine,

It has no love for me!

I can see her yet

Sadly looking down upon my snow white hair

The day she came here from France.

No, she has no love for me!

(Regaining consciousness.)

Where am I? Those torches are burning low!

The dawn is brightening my veranda . . .

It is daybreak.

Slowly my days are passing by!

Oh God! my languished eyes crave for sleep.

I shall sleep only in my royal mantle,

When my doom day has come,

I shall sleep under a black vault,

There in the graves of Escurial.

If the royal sceptre could give me

The power to read each heart,

As God alone can only see!

If the Prince sleeps, watchful is the traitor;

The King loses his sceptre, the consort, the honor!

(Goes back to deep thought.)

SCENE II.

Philip and the Grand Inquisitor.

Count.

The Grand Inquisitor!

(TheGrand Inquisitor,blind and ninety years of age; he is supported by two Dominican friars.)

Inquisitor.

Am I in the presence of the King?

Philip.

Thou art. I’ve summoned thee, father;

In grievous doubt am I.

Carlo a source of bitter sorrow is to me!

Rebellious is he ’gainst my wills, nay, e’en hath he

Taken arms against me!

Inquisitor.

What mode of punishment select ye?

Philip.

An extreme one.

Inquisitor.

Deign but to name it.

Philip.

Flight, or the headsman’s axe.

Inquisitor.

Say on!

Philip.

If I my son to death condemn,

Wilt thou absolution give me?

Inquisitor.

The empire’s peace of far more moment is

Than a base rebel’s life.

Philip.

Can I as Christian sacrifice my son for the world?

Inquisitor.

To win back the love of God . . . he sacrificed his.

Philip.

Dost thou give power to such a severe law?

Inquisitor.

Wherever it shall have power, it had it on the Calvary.

Philip.

Nature, love, how can I conceal them?

Inquisitor.

All will be concealed, to exalt faith

Philip.

’Tis well!

Inquisitor.

Hath the King naught else to say to me?

Philip.

No.

Inquisitor.

’Tis I, then, sire, who in my turn will speak to thee;

Throughout the Spanish land ne’er hath heresy ruled;

But there exists a man who fain would sap

The very foundations of the sacred edifice!

The King’s familiar friend and faithful comrade is it,

Who, like a demon, now doth urge him to his ruin;

The treason of young Carlos, which hath so incensed thee,

Compared to this man’s, is but a childish jest;

And I, the grand inquisitor, who so oft have raised

My powerful hand against ignoble offenders,

Must I, I say, for the world’s great ones,

Forget the duties of mine office?

Should I o’erlook

This arch traitor and—the King?

Philip.

To aid me in the troublous times wherein we live,

Throughout my court, a friend, a loyal heart,

I long but vainly sought—at length, I found one.

Inquisitor.

And wherefore need’st thou one?

Why art thou honor’d with the name of King,

If thou dost own an equal?

Philip.

Priest, no more!

Inquisitor.

The innovating spirit has taken root in thee;

With thy weak hand thou think’st to rend

The holy bonds, acknowledged

Where’er the empire of the Holy Roman Church extends.

Return unto thy duty, the Church is e’er prepared,

Unto a penitent sinner pardon to extend;

I now demand that thou shalt yield unto me

This Signor di Posa.

Philip.

Never!

Inquisitor.

O King, were I not here with thee this day,

’Neath thine own royal roof,

Before high heaven I swear, that ere another sun should set,

I would arraign thee before the tribunal

Of the Holy inquisition!

Philip.

Priest, beware! too long have I endured

This haughty speech of thine.

Inquisitor.

Then why invoke the shade of Samuel?

Two Kings have I already given to this powerful empire,

Would’st thou, insensate, the labor of my life destroy?

Why am I here? What would the King of me?

(He is about to withdraw.)

Philip.

My father, let peace once more exist between us.

Inquisitor.

Peace, say’st thou?

Philip.

Forget, then, what hath passed, I do conjure thee.

Inquisitor.

(At the door on going out).

Perchance!

Philip.

Must then the throne, for aye, before the altar bow?

SCENE III.

Elizabeth, Eboli, RodrigoandPhilip.

Elizabeth.

(Entering, and throwing herself at theKing’sfeet).

Justice, sire, I implore,

I’ve faith in the King’s loyalty.

Unworthily am I treated in this thy court,

Outraged am I by unknown, worthless enemies!

The casket wherein my precious jewels I kept,

With other matters, e’en yet dearer to me,

Hath been most shamefully taken from me.

Justice do I claim from thy dread sovereign power!

(The King slowly rises, approaches the table, takes from it a casket, and presents it to the Queen.)

Philip.

Methinks the object of thy search is here!

Elizabeth.

Oh heaven!

Philip.

Wilt please to open it?

(Elizabethby a gesture refuses.)

Be it so; I then myself will open it!

(Breaking open the casket).

Elizabeth (aside).

With fear I die!

Philip.

The portrait of Don Carlos!

Why art thou speechless?

Elizabeth.

Yes.

Philip.

Among thy jewels?

Elizabeth.

Yes!

Philip.

What? Thou darest confess all to me?

Elizabeth.

Yes I dare! yes!

As thou well knowest, once I have been

To your son betrothed!

And now I humbly belong to God,

I am as immaculate as a lily!

And now the honor of Elizabeth is doubted!

They doubt me. . . and he who insults me is the King!

Philip.

Thou speakest too boldly!

Thou thinkest me weak, and seem to mistrust me;

The weakness in me can change to violence.

Thou wilt tremble then, for me!

Elizabeth.

What is my error?

Philip.

Perjury! since thou hast disgraced me,

Thou hast betrayed me,

I swear it, I swear it, before God!

I will shed blood!

Elizabeth.

I pity thee!. . .

Philip.

Ah! the pity of an adulterous consort!

Elizabeth (fainting).

Ah!

Philip.

(Throwing open the doors at back).

Attend to the Queen!

Eboli

(Terrified on beholding the fainting Queen).

Oh, heaven! what is’t I see!

(The King, after a moment’s hesitation, withdraws.Rodrigofollows him with a resolute gesture.Eboliremains with the Queen.)

SCENE IV.

ElizabethandEboli.

Eboli.

(Throwing herself atElizabeth’sfeet).

Pardon! in mercy pardon a repentant sinner!

Elizabeth.

Thou, at my feet! what hast thou done?

Eboli.

Ah! my remorse is killing me!

My tortured heart with grief is wrung!

Angel from heaven, thou good and pious Queen,

Learn thou to know the fiend

Thou’st nurtured in thy bosom!

’Twas I who robbed thee of thy casket.

Elizabeth.

Thou!

Eboli.

Yes, I! ’Twas I who did accuse thee!

Elizabeth.

Thou!

Eboli.

Love to fury wrought,

The hate I learned to feel for thee,

The cruel jealousy that racked my heart,

All, all combined to make me hate thee!

I loved Don Carlos, who my love did spurn!

Elizabeth.

You have loved him!. . . Rise!

Eboli.

No, no, have pity! another fault!

Elizabeth.

Yet!

Restore to me the cross!

I entreat thee to leave Court tomorrow!

Thou canst either choose death, or exile!

(Departs.)

(Ebolirises.)

Eboli (with despair).

Ah! I shall never see. . .

Ah! I shall never see again the Queen!

Oh beauty! thou fatal gift,

By fortune, in vindictive mood, conceded me.

Oh beauty! thou who mak’st our sex so haughty and so vain—

Beauty, I curse thee!

Ye bitter tears flow on apace!

No hope is left, all joy hath flown!

My crime’s so base, so horrible!

Naught can e’er my sin atone!

Oh, Queen beloved, I sacrificed thee

To the revolt of this wild heart,

In a lone cloister from earth secluded,

I may hide my sorrow apart!

Oh, heaven! and Carlos! tomorrow he’ll be dragged to execution!

One day alone is left me. Ah, what bright thought flashes o’er me!

Thanks be to heaven! I yet may save him!

(Exit hastily).