полная версия
Фридрих Шиллер
Don Carlos
SCENE II
DUKE ALVA. The former.
ALVA (approaching the PRINCE with respect, but turning his back on the MARQUIS during the whole scene)
Prince, you are free. Deputed by the king
I come to tell you so.
[CARLOS looks at the MARQUIS with astonishment.
General silence.
And I, in truth,
Am fortunate to have this honor first —
CARLOS (looking at both with extreme amazement, after a pause, to the DUKE)
I am imprisoned, duke, and set at freedom,
Unconscious of the cause of one or other.
ALVA
As far as I know, prince, 'twas through an error,
To which the king was driven by a traitor.
CARLOS
Then am I here by order of the king?
ALVA
Yes, through an error of his majesty.
CARLOS
That gives me pain, indeed. But when the king
Commits an error, 'twould beseem the king,
Methinks, to remedy the fault in person.
I am Don Philip's son – and curious eyes
And slanderous looks are on me. What the king
Hath done from sense of duty ne'er will I
Appear to owe to your considerate favor.
I am prepared to appear before the Cortes,
And will not take my sword from such a hand.
ALVA
The king will never hesitate to grant
Your highness a request so just. Permit
That I conduct you to him.
CARLOS
Here I stay
Until the king or all Madrid shall come
To lead me from my prison. Take my answer.
[ALVA withdraws. He is still seen for some time
lingering in the court and giving orders to the guards.
SCENE III
CARLOS and MARQUIS POSA.
CARLOS (after the departure of the DUKE, full of expectation and astonishment, to the MARQUIS)
What means all this? Inform me, Roderigo —
Art thou not, then, the minister?
MARQUIS
I was,
As thou canst well perceive —
[Going to him with great emotion.
O Carlos! Now
I have succeeded – yes – it is accomplished —
'Tis over now – Omnipotence be praised,
To whom I owe success.
CARLOS
Success! What mean you?
Thy words perplex me.
MARQUIS (takes his hand)
Carlos! thou art saved —
Art free – but I —
[He stops short.
CARLOS
But thou —
MARQUIS
Thus to my breast
I press thee now, with friendship's fullest right,
A right I've bought with all I hold most dear.
How great, how lovely, Carlos, is this moment
Of self-approving joy?
CARLOS
What sudden change
I mark upon thy features! Proudly now
Thy bosom heaves, thine eyes dart vivid fire!
MARQUIS
We must say farewell, Carlos! Tremble 'not,
But be a man! And what thou more shalt hear,
Promise me, not by unavailing sorrow,
Unworthy of great souls, to aggravate
The pangs of parting. I am lost to thee,
Carlos, for many years – fools say forever.
[CARLOS withdraws his hand, but makes no reply.
Be thou a man: I've reckoned much on thee —
I have not even shunned to pass with thee
This awful hour – which men, in words of fear,
Have termed the final one. I own it, Carlos,
I joy to pass it thus. Come let us sit —
I feel myself grown weary and exhausted.
[He approaches CARLOS, who is in a lifeless stupor, and allows himself to be involuntarily drawn down by him.
Where art thou? No reply! I must be brief.
Upon the day that followed our last meeting
At the Carthusian monastery the king
Called me before him. What ensued thou knowest,
And all Madrid. Thou hast not heard, however,
Thy secret even then had reached his ears —
That letters in the queen's possession found
Had testified against thee. This I learned
From his own lips – I was his confidant.
[He pauses for CARLOS' answer, but he still remains silent.
Yes, Carlos, with my lips I broke my faith —
Guided the plot myself that worked thy ruin.
Thy deed spoke trumpet-tongued; to clear thee fully
'Twas now too late: to frustrate his revenge
Was all that now remained for me; and so
I made myself thy enemy to-serve thee
With fuller power – dost thou not hear me, Carlos,
CARLOS
Go on! go on! I hear thee.
MARQUIS
To this point
I'm guiltless. But the unaccustomed beams
Of royal favor dazzled me. The rumor,
As I had well foreseen, soon reached thine ears
But by mistaken delicacy led,
And blinded by my vain desire to end
My enterprise alone, I kept concealed
From friendship's ear my hazardous design.
This was my fatal error! Here I failed!
I know it. My self-confidence was madness.
Pardon that confidence – 'twas founded, Carlos,
Upon our friendship's everlasting base.
[He pauses. CARLOS passes from torpid silence to violent agitation.
That which I feared befell. Unreal dangers
Alarmed your mind. The bleeding queen – the tumult
Within the palace – Lerma's interference —
And, last of all, my own mysterious silence,
Conspired to overwhelm thy heart with wonder.
Thou wavered'st, thought'st me lost; but far too noble
To doubt thy friend's integrity, thy soul
Clothed his defection with a robe of honor,
Nor judged him faithless till it found a motive
To screen and justify his breach of faith.
Forsaken by thy only friend – 'twas then
Thou sought'st the arms of Princess Eboli —
A demon's arms! 'Twas she betrayed thee, Carlos!
I saw thee fly to her – a dire foreboding
Struck on my heart – I followed thee too late!
Already wert thou prostrate at her feet,
The dread avowal had escaped thy lips —
No way was left to save thee.
CARLOS
No! her heart
Was moved, thou dost mistake, her heart was moved.
MARQUIS
Night overspread my mind. No remedy,
No refuge, no retreat was left to me
In nature's boundless compass. Blind despair
Transformed me to a fury – to a tiger —
I raised my dagger to a woman's breast.
But in that moment – in that dreadful moment —
A radiant sunbeam fell upon my soul.
"Could I mislead the king! Could I succeed
In making him think me the criminal!
However improbable, the very guilt
Will be enough to win the king's belief.
I'll dare the task – a sudden thunderbolt
May make the tyrant start – what want I further?
He stops to think, and Carlos thus gains time
To fly to Brussels."
CARLOS
And hast thou done this?
MARQUIS
I have despatched a letter to Prince William,
Saying I loved the queen, and had escaped
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.
SCENE IV
The KING, CARLOS, the DUKESS ALVA, FERIA, and MEDINA SIDONIA, PRINCE OF PARMA, COUNT LERMA, DOMINGO, and numerous GRANDEES.
KING (in a gentle tone)
Thy prayer hath met a gracious hearing, prince,
And here I come, with all the noble peers
Of this my court, to bring thee liberty.
[CARLOS raises his eyes and looks around him like one awakened from a dream. His eyes are fixed now on the KING, now on the corpse; he gives no answer.
Receive thy sword again. We've been too rash!
[He approaches him, holds out his hand, and assists him to rise.
My son's not in his place; Carlos, arise!
Come to thy father's arms! His love awaits thee.
CARLOS (receives the embrace of the KING without any consciousness. Suddenly recollects himself, pauses and looks fixedly at him)
Thou smell'st of blood – no, I cannot embrace thee!
[Pushes his father back. All the GRANDEES are in commotion.
CARLOS to them: —
Nay, stand not there confounded and amazed! —
What monstrous action have I done? Defiled
The anointed of the Lord! Oh, fear me not,
I would not lay a hand on him. Behold,
Stamped on his forehead is the damning brand!
The hand of God hath marked him!
KING (about to go quickly)
Nobles! follow.
CARLOS
Whither? You stir not from this spot.
[Detaining the KING forcibly with both hands, while with one he manages to seize the sword which the KING has brought with him, and it comes from the scabbard.
KING
What! Draw
A sword upon thy father?
ALL THE GRANDEES (drawing their swords)
Regicide!
CARLOS (holding the KING firmly with one hand, the naked sword in the other)
Put up your swords! What! Think you I am mad?
I am not so: or you were much to blame
Thus to remind me, that upon the point
Of this my sword, his trembling life doth hover.
I pray you, stand aloof; for souls like mine
Need soothing. There – hold back! And with the king
What I have yet to settle touches not
Your loyalty. See there – his hand is bloody!
Do you not see it? And now look you here!
[Pointing to the corpse.
This hath he done with a well-practised hand.
KING (to the GRANDEES, who press anxiously around him)
Retire! Why do you tremble? Are we not
Father and son? I will yet wait and see
To what atrocious crime his nature —
CARLOS
Nature
I know her not. Murder is now the word!
The bonds of all humanity are severed,
Thine own hands have dissolved them through the realm.
Shall I respect a tie which thou hast scorned?
Oh, see! see here! the foulest deed of blood
That e'er the world beheld. Is there no God
That kings, in his creation, work such havoc?
Is there no God, I ask? Since mother's wombs
Bore children, one alone – and only one —
So guiltlessly hath died. And art thou sensible
What thou hast done? Oh, no! he knows it not:
Knows not that he has robbed – despoiled the world
Of a more noble, precious, dearer life
Than he and all his century can boast.
KING (with a tone of softness)
If I have been too hasty, Carlos – thou
For whom I have thus acted, should at least
Not call me to account.
CARLOS
Is't possible!
Did you then never guess how dear to me
Was he who here lies dead? Thou lifeless corpse!
Instruct him – aid his wisdom, to resolve
This dark enigma now. He was my friend.
And would you know why he has perished thus?
He gave his life for me.
KING
Ha? my suspicions!
CARLOS
Pardon, thou bleeding corpse, that I profane
Thy virtue to such ears. But let him blush
With deep-felt shame, the crafty politician,
That his gray-headed wisdom was o'erreached,
E'en by the judgment of a youth. Yes, sire,
We two were brothers! Bound by nobler bands
Than nature ties. His whole life's bright career
Was love. His noble death was love for me.
E'en in the moment when his brief esteem
Exalted you, he was my own. And when
With fascinating tongue he sported with
Your haughty, giant mind, 'twas your conceit
To bridle him; but you became yourself
The pliant tool of his exalted plans.
That I became a prisoner, my arrest,
Was his deep friendship's meditated work.
That letter to Prince William was designed
To save my life. It was the first deceit
He ever practised. To insure my safety
He rushed on death himself, and nobly perished.
You lavished on him all your favor; yet
For me he died. Your heart, your confidence,
You forced upon him. As a toy he held
Your sceptre and your power; he cast them from him,
And gave his life for me.
[The KING stands motionless, with eyes fixed on the ground;
all the GRANDEES regard him with surprise and alarm.
How could it be
That you gave credit to this strange deceit?
Meanly indeed he valued you, to try
By such coarse artifice to win his ends.
You dared to court his friendship, but gave way
Before a test so simple. Oh, no! never
For souls like yours was such a being formed.
That well he knew himself, when he rejected
Your crowns, your gifts, your greatness, and yourself.
This fine-toned lyre broke in your iron hand,
And you could do no more than murder him.
ALVA (never having taken his eyes from the KING, and observing his emotion with uneasiness, approaches him with apprehension)
Keep not this deathlike silence, sire. Look round,
And speak at least to us.
CARLOS
Once you were not
Indifferent to him. And deeply once
You occupied his thoughts. It might have been
His lot to make you happy. His full heart
Might have enriched you; with its mere abundance
An atom of his soul had been enough
To make a god of you. You've robbed yourself —
Plundered yourself and me. What could you give,
To raise again a spirit like to this?
[Deep silence. Many of the GRANDEES turn away, or conceal their faces in their mantles.
Oh, ye who stand around with terror dumb,
And mute surprise, do not condemn the youth
Who holds this language to the king, his father.
Look on this corpse. Behold! for me he died.
If ye have tears – if in your veins flow blood,
Not molten brass, look here, and blame me not.
[He turns to the KING with more self-possession and calmness.
Doubtless you wait the end of this rude scene?
Here is my sword, for you are still my king.
Think not I fear your vengeance. Murder me,
As you have murdered this most noble man.
My life is forfeit; that I know full well.
But what is life to me? I here renounce
All that this world can offer to my hopes.
Seek among strangers for a son. Here lies
My kingdom.
[He sinks down on the corpse, and takes no part in what follows.
A confused tumult and the noise of a crowd is heard in the distance.
All is deep silence round the KING. His eyes scan the circle over, but no one returns his looks.
KING
What! Will no one make reply?
Each eye upon the ground, each look abashed!
My sentence is pronounced. I read it here
Proclaimed in all this lifeless, mute demeanor.
My vassals have condemned me.
[Silence as before. The tumult grows louder. A murmur is heard among the GRANDEES. They exchange embarrassed looks. COUNT LERMA at length gently touches ALVA.
LERMA
Here's rebellion!
ALVA (in a low voice)
I fear it.
LERMA
It approaches! They are coming!
SCENE V
An officer of the Body Guard. The former.
OFFICER (urgently)
Rebellion! Where's the king?
[He makes his way through the crowd up to the KING.
Madrid's in arms!
To thousands swelled, the soldiery and people
Surround the palace; and reports are spread
That Carlos is a prisoner – that his life
Is threatened. And the mob demand to see
Him living, or Madrid will be in flames.
THE GRANDEES (with excitement)
Defend the king!
ALVA (to the KING, who remains quiet and unmoved)
Fly, sire! your life's in danger.
As yet we know not who has armed the people.
KING (rousing from his stupor, and advancing with dignity among then)
Stands my throne firm, and am I sovereign yet
Over this empire? No! I'm king no more.
These cowards weep – moved by a puny boy.
They only wait the signal to desert me.
I am betrayed by rebels!
ALVA
Dreadful thought!
KING
There! fling yourselves before him – down before
The young, the expectant king; I'm nothing now
But a forsaken, old, defenceless man!
ALVA
Spaniards! is't come to this?
[All crowd round the KING, and fall on their knees before him with drawn swords. CARLOS remains alone with the corpse, deserted by all.
KING (tearing off his mantle and throwing it from him)
There! clothe him now
With this my royal mantle; and on high
Bear him in triumph o'er my trampled corpse!
[He falls senseless in ALVA's and LERMA's arms.
LERMA
For heaven's sake, help!
FERIA
Oh, sad, disastrous chance!
LERMA
He faints!
ALVA (leaves the KING in LERMA's and FERIA's hands)
Attend his majesty! whilst I
Make it my aim to tranquillize Madrid.
[Exit ALVA. The KING is borne off, attended by all the grandees.
SCENE VI
CARLOS remains behind with the corpse. After a few moments Louis MERCADO appears, looks cautiously round him, and stands a long time silent behind the PRINCE, who does not observe him.
MERCADO
I come, prince, from her majesty the queen.
[CARLOS turns away and makes no reply.
My name, Mercado, I'm the queen's physician
See my credentials.
[Shows the PRINCE a signet ring. CARLOS remains still silent.
And the queen desires
To speak with you to-day – on weighty business.
CARLOS
Nothing is weighty in this world to me.
MERCADO
A charge the Marquis Posa left with her.
CARLOS (looking up quickly)
Indeed! I come this instant.
MERCADO
No, not yet,
Most gracious prince! you must delay till night.
Each avenue is watched, the guards are doubled
You ne'er could reach the palace unperceived;
You would endanger everything.
CARLOS
And yet —
MERCADO
I know one means alone that can avail us.
'Tis the queen's thought, and she suggests it to you;
But it is bold, adventurous, and strange!
CARLOS
What is it?
MERCADO
A report has long prevailed
That in the secret vaults, beneath the palace,
At midnight, shrouded in a monk's attire,
The emperor's departed spirit walks.
The people still give credit to the tale,
And the guards watch the post with inward terror.
Now, if you but determine to assume
This dress, you may pass freely through the guards,
Until you reach the chamber of the queen,
Which this small key will open. Your attire
Will save you from attack. But on the spot,
Prince! your decision must be made at once.
The requisite apparel and the mask
Are ready in your chamber. I must haste
And take the queen your answer.
CARLOS
And the hour?
MERCADO
It is midnight.
CARLOS
Then inform her I will come.
[Exit MERCADO.
