A daring favorite of the king demands My hand--his name Ruy Gomez, Count of Silva, The king consents--the bargain has been struck, And I am sold already to his creature.

CARLOS (with evident emotion).

Sold! you sold! Another bargain, then, Concluded by this royal southern trader!

PRINCESS.

No; but hear all--"tis not enough that I Am sacrificed to cold state policy, A snare is laid to entrap my innocence.

Here is a letter will unmask the saint!

[CARLOS takes the paper, and without reading it listens with impatience to her recital.

Where Shall I find protection, prince? Till now My virtue was defended by my pride, At length----

CARLOS.

At length you yielded! Yielded? No.

For G.o.d"s sake say not so!

PRINCESS.

Yielded! to whom?

Poor piteous reasoning. Weak beyond contempt Your haughty minds, who hold a woman"s favor, And love"s pure joys, as wares to traffic for!

Love is the only treasure on the face Of this wide earth that knows no purchaser Besides itself--love has no price but love.

It is the costly gem, beyond all price, Which I must freely give away, or--bury For ever unenjoyed--like that proud merchant Whom not the wealth of all the rich Rialto Could tempt--a great rebuke to kings! to save From the deep ocean waves his matchless pearl, Too proud to barter it beneath its worth!

CARLOS (aside).

Now, by great heaven, this woman"s beautiful.

PRINCESS.

Call it caprice or pride, I ne"er will make Division of my joys. To him, alone, I choose as mine, I give up all forever.

One only sacrifice I make; but that Shall be eternal. One true heart alone My love shall render happy: but that one I"ll elevate to G.o.d. The keen delight Of mingling souls--the kiss--the swimming joys Of that delicious hour when lovers meet, The magic power of heavenly beauty--all Are sister colors of a single ray-- Leaves of one single blossom. Shall I tear One petal from this sweet, this lovely flower, With reckless hand, and mar its beauteous chalice?

Shall I degrade the dignity of woman, The masterpiece of the Almighty"s hand, To charm the evening of a reveller?

CARLOS.

Incredible! that in Madrid should dwell This matchless creature! and unknown to me Until this day.

PRINCESS.

Long since had I forsaken This court--the world--and in some blest retreat Immured myself; but one tie binds me still Too firmly to existence. Perhaps--alas!

"Tis but a phantom--but "tis dear to me.

I love--but am not loved in turn.

CARLOS (full of ardor, going towards her).

You are!

As true as G.o.d is throned in heaven! I swear You are--you are unspeakably beloved.

PRINCESS.

You swear it, you!--sure "twas an angel"s voice.

Oh, if you swear it, Carlos, I"ll believe it.

Then I am truly loved!

CARLOS (embracing her with tenderness).

Bewitching maid, Thou creature worthy of idolatry I stand before thee now all eye, all ear, All rapture and delight. What eye hath seen thee-- Under yon heaven what eye could e"er have seen thee, And boast he never loved? What dost thou here In Philip"s royal court! Thou beauteous angel!

Here amid monks and all their princely train.

This is no clime for such a lovely flower-- They fain would rifle all thy sweets--full well I know their hearts. But it shall never be-- Not whilst I draw life"s breath. I fold thee thus Within my arms, and in these hands I"ll bear thee E"en through a h.e.l.l replete with mocking fiends.

Let me thy guardian angel prove.

PRINCESS (with a countenance full of love).

O Carlos!

How little have I known thee! and how richly With measureless reward thy heart repays The weighty task of--comprehending thee!

[She takes his hand and is about to kiss it.

CARLOS (drawing it back).

Princess! What mean you?

PRINCESS (with tenderness and grace, looking at his hand attentively).

Oh, this beauteous hand!

How lovely "tis, and rich! This hand has yet Two costly presents to bestow!--a crown-- And Carlos" heart:--and both these gifts perchance Upon one mortal!--both on one--Oh, great And G.o.dlike gift-almost too much for one!

How if you share the treasure, prince! A queen Knows naught of love--and she who truly loves Cares little for a crown! "Twere better, prince, Then to divide the treasure--and at once-- What says my prince? Have you done so already?

Have you in truth? And do I know the blest one?

CARLOS.

Thou shalt. I will unfold myself to thee, To thy unspotted innocence, dear maid, Thy pure, unblemished nature. In this court Thou art the worthiest--first--the only one To whom this soul has stood revealed.

Then, yes! I will not now conceal it--yes, I love!

PRINCESS.

Oh, cruel heart! Does this avowal prove So painful to thee? Must I first deserve Thy pity--ere I hope to win thy love?

CARLOS (starting).

What say"st thou?

PRINCESS.

So to trifle with me, prince!

Indeed it was not well--and to deny The key----

CARLOS.

The key! the key! Oh yes, "tis so!

[After a dead silence.

I see it all too plainly! Gracious heaven!

[His knees totter, he leans against a chair, and covers his face with his hands. A long silence on both sides.

The PRINCESS screams and falls.

PRINCESS.

Oh, horrible! What have I done!

CARLOS.

Hurled down So far from all my heavenly joys! "Tis dreadful!