[Exeunt severally.

SCENE III.

The Queen"s Residence in Aranjuez. The Pleasure Grounds, intersected by an avenue, terminated by the Queen"s Palace.

The QUEEN, d.u.c.h.eSS OF OLIVAREZ, PRINCESS OF EBOLI, and MARCHIONESS OF MONDECAR, all advancing from the avenue.

QUEEN (to the MARCHIONESS).

I will have you beside me, Mondecar.

The princess, with these merry eyes of hers, Has plagued me all the morning. See, she scarce Can hide the joy she feels to leave the country.

EBOLI.

"Twere idle to conceal, my queen, that I Shall be most glad to see Madrid once more.

MONDECAR.

And will your majesty not be so, too?

Are you so grieved to quit Aranjuez?

QUEEN.

To quit--this lovely spot at least I am.

This is my world. Its sweetness oft and oft Has twined itself around my inmost heart.

Here, nature, simple, rustic nature greets me, The sweet companion of my early years-- Here I indulge once more my childhood"s sports, And my dear France"s gales come blowing here.

Blame not this partial fondness--all hearts yearn For their own native land.

EBOLI.

But then how lone, How dull and lifeless it is here! We might As well be in La Trappe.

QUEEN.

I cannot see it.

To me Madrid alone is lifeless. But What saith our d.u.c.h.ess to it?

OLIVAREZ.

Why, methinks, Your majesty, since kings have ruled in Spain, It hath been still the custom for the court To pa.s.s the summer months alternately Here and at Pardo,--in Madrid, the winter.

QUEEN.

Well, I suppose it has! d.u.c.h.ess, you know I"ve long resigned all argument with you.

MONDECAR.

Next month Madrid will be all life and bustle.

They"re fitting up the Plaza Mayor now, And we shall have rare bull-fights; and, besides, A grand auto da fe is promised us.

QUEEN.

Promised? This from my gentle Mondecar!

MONDECAR.

Why not? "Tis only heretics they burn!

QUEEN.

I hope my Eboli thinks otherwise!

EBOLI.

What, I? I beg your majesty may think me As good a Christian as the marchioness.

QUEEN.

Alas! I had forgotten where I am,-- No more of this! We were speaking, I think, About the country? And methinks this month Has flown away with strange rapidity.

I counted on much pleasure, very much, From our retirement here, and yet I have not Found that which I expected. Is it thus With all our hopes? And yet I cannot say One wish of mine is left ungratified.

OLIVAREZ.

You have not told us, Princess Eboli, If there be hope for Gomez,--and if we may Expect ere long to greet you as his bride?

QUEEN.

True--thank you, d.u.c.h.ess, for reminding me!

[Addressing the PRINCESS.

I have been asked to urge his suit with you.

But can I do it? The man whom I reward With my sweet Eboli must be a man Of n.o.ble stamp indeed.

OLIVAREZ.

And such he is, A man of mark and fairest fame,--a man Whom our dear monarch signally has graced With his most royal favor.

QUEEN.

He"s happy in Such high good fortune; but we fain would know, If he can love, and win return of love.

This Eboli must answer.

EBOLI (stands speechless and confused, her eyes bent on the ground; at last she falls at the QUEEN"s feet).

Gracious queen!

Have pity on me! Let me--let me not,-- For heaven"s sake, let me not be sacrificed.

QUEEN.

Be sacrificed! I need no more. Arise!

"Tis a hard fortune to be sacrificed.

I do believe you. Rise. And is it long Since you rejected Gomez" suit?

EBOLI.

Some months-- Before Prince Carlos came from Alcala.

QUEEN (starts and looks at her with an inquisitive glance).

Have you tried well the grounds of your refusal?

EBOLI (with energy).

It cannot be, my queen, no, never, never,-- For a thousand reasons, never!

QUEEN.

One"s enough, You do not love him. That suffices me.

Now let it pa.s.s.

[To her other ladies.

I have not seen the Infanta Yet this morning. Pray bring her, marchioness.