No More Learning

Or art thou swollen and labouring with my doom,
Yet darest not let the fatal secret come?

_Ruy-Gom. _ Heaven great infirmities to age allots:
I'm old, and have a thousand doting thoughts.
Seek not to know them, sir.

_King. _ By Heaven! I must.

_Ruy-Gom. _ Nay, I would not be by compulsion just.

_King. _ Yet, if without it you refuse, you shall.

_Ruy-Gom. _ Grant me then one request, I'll tell you all.

_King. _ Name thy petition, and conclude it done.

_Ruy-Gom. _ It is, that you would here forgive your son
For all his past offences to this hour.

_King. _ Thou'st almost asked a thing beyond my power;
But so much goodness in the request I find,
Spite of myself, I'll for thy sake be kind.
His pardon's sealed; the secret now declare.

_Ruy-Gom. _ Alas! 'tis only that I saw him here.

_King. _ Where? with the queen! Yes, yes, 'tis so, I'm sure;
Never were wrongs so great as I endure;
So great that they are grown beyond complaint,
For half my patience might have made a saint.
O woman! monstrous woman!
Did I for this into my breast receive
The promising, repenting fugitive?
But, Gomez, I will throw her back again;
And thou shalt see me smile and tear her then.
I'll crush her heart, where all the poison lies,
Till, when the venom's out, the viper dies,

_Ruy-Gom. _ They the best method of revenge pursue
Who so contrive that it may justice show;
Stay till their wrongs appear at such a head
That innocence may have no room to plead.
Your fury, sir, at least awhile delay;
I guess the prince may come again this way:
Here I'll withdraw, and watch his privacy.

_King. _ And when he's fixed, be sure bring word to me;
Till then I'll bridle vengeance, and retire,
Within my breast suppress this angry fire,
Till to my eyes my wrongs themselves display;
Then, like a falcon, gently cut my way,
And with my pounces seize the unwary prey. [_Exit. _

_Re-enter_ Duchess of EBOLI.

_D. of Eboli. _ I've overheard the business with delight,
And find revenge will have a feast to-night.
Though thy declining years are in their wane,
I can perceive there's youth still in thy brain.
Away! the queen is coming hither. [_Exit_ RUY-GOMEZ.

_Enter_ QUEEN _with_ Attendants, _and_ HENRIETTA.

_Queen. _ Now
To all felicity a long adieu.
Where are you, Eboli?

_D. of Eboli. _ Madam, I'm here.

_Queen. _ Oh, how fresh fears assault me everywhere!
I hear that Carlos is a prisoner made.

_D. of Eboli. _ No, madam, he the orders disobeyed;
And boldly owns for Flanders he intends,
To head the rebels, whom he styles his friends:
But, ere he goes, by me does humbly sue
That he may take his last farewell of you.

_Queen. _ Will he then force his destiny at last?
Hence quickly to him, Eboli, make haste:
Tell him, I beg his purpose he'd delay,
Or, if that can't his resolution stay,
Say I have sworn not to survive the hour
In which I hear that he has left this shore.
Tell him, I've gained his pardon of the king;
Tell him--to stay him--tell him anything--

_D. of Eboli. _ One word from you his duty would restore;
And, though you promised ne'er to see him more,
Methinks you might upon so just a score.
But see, he's here.

_Re-enter_ Don CARLOS.

_Don Car. _ Run out of breath by fate,
And persecuted by a father's hate,
Wearied with all, I panting hither fly,
To lay myself down at your feet, and die.

[_Kneels, and kisses the_ QUEEN'S _hands_.

_Queen. _ O too unhappy Carlos! yet unkind!
'Gainst you what harms have ever I designed,
That you should with such violence decree
Ungratefully at last to murder me?

_Don Car. _ Pour all thy curses, Heaven, upon this head,
For I've the worst of vengeance merited,
That yet I impudently live to hear
Myself upbraided of a wrong to her! [_Rises. _
Say, has your honour been by me betrayed?
Or have I snares to entrap your virtue laid?
Tell me; if not, why do you then upbraid?

_Queen. _ You will not know the afflictions which you give;
Was't not my last request that you would live?
I by our vows conjured it; but I see,
Forgetting them, unmindful too of me,
Regardless, your own ruin you design,
Though you are sure to purchase it with mine.

_Don Car. _ I, as you bade me live, obeyed with pride,
Though it was harder far than to have died.
But loss of liberty my life disdains;
These limbs were never made to suffer chains.
My father should have singled out some crown,
And bidden me go conquer it for my own:
He should have seen what Carlos would have done.
But to prescribe my freedom, sink me low
To base confinement, where no comforts flow,
But black despair, that foul tormentor, lies,
With all my present load of miseries,
Was to my soul too violent a smart,
And roused the sleeping lion in my heart.

_Queen. _ Yet then be kind; your angry father's rage
I know the least submission will assuage;
You're hot with youth, he's choleric with age.
To him, and put a true obedience on;
Be humble, and express yourself a son.
Carlos, I beg it of you: will you not?

_Don Car. _ Methinks 'tis very hard, but yet I'll do't.
I must obey whatever you prefer,
Knowing you're all divine, and cannot err.
For, if my doom's unalterable, I shall
This way at least with less dishonour fall;
And princes less my tameness thus condemn,
When I for you shall suffer, though by him.

_Queen. _ In my apartment farther we'll debate
Of this, and for a happy issue wait.
Your presence there he cannot disapprove,
When it shall speak your duty, and my love.

[_Exeunt_ Don CARLOS, QUEEN,
HENRIETTA, _and_ Attendants.

_Re-enter_ RUY-GOMEZ.

_D. of Eboli. _ Now, Gomez, triumph! All is ripe; the toil
Has caught them, and fate saw it with a smile.
Thus far the work of destiny was mine;
But I'm content the masterpiece be thine.
Away to the king, prepare his soul for blood,--
A mystery thou well hast understood.
Whilst I go rest within a lover's arms, [_Aside. _
And to my Austria lay out all my charms. [_Exit. _

_Ruy-Gom. _ Fate, open now thy book, and set them down:
I have already marked them for thy own.

_Re-enter_ KING, _and_ Marquis of POSA _at a distance_.

My lord the king?

_King. _ Gomez?

_Ruy-Gom. _ The same.

_King. _ Hast seen
The prince?

_Ruy-Gom. _ I have.

_King. _ Where is he?

_Ruy-Gom. _ With the queen.

_King. _ Now ye that dwell in everlasting flame,
And keep records of all ye mean to damn,
Show me, if 'mongst your precedents there e'er
Was seen a son like him, or wife like her.
Hark, Gomez! didst not hear the infernals groan?
Hush, hell, a little, and they are thy own!

_M. of Posa. _ Who should these be? the king and Gomez, sure:
Methinks I wish that Carlos were secure;
For Flanders his despatches I've prepared.

_King. _ Who's there? 'Tis Posa, pander to their lust.

[_Drawing near to_ POSA.

Now, Gomez, to his heart thy dagger thrust;
In the pursuit of vengeance drive it far;
Strike deep, and, if thou canst, wound Carlos there.

_Ruy-Gom. _ I'll do't as close as happy lovers kiss:
May he strike mine, if of his heart I miss!
Thus, sir! [_Stabs_ POSA.

_M. of Posa. _ Ha, Gomez! villain! thou hast done
Thy worst: but yet I would not die alone:
Here, dog! [_Stabs at him. _

_Ruy-Gom. _ So brisk! then take it once again.

[_As they are struggling, the despatches fall_
_out of_ POSA'S _bosom_.

'Twas only, sir, to put you out of pain.

[_Stabs him again, and_ POSA _falls_.

_M. of Posa. _ My lord the king--but life too far is gone--
I faint--be mindful of your queen and son. [_Dies. _

_King. _ The slave in death repents, and warns me. Yes,
I shall be very mindful. What are these?

[_Takes up the despatches. _

For Flanders! with the prince's signet sealed!
Here's villany has yet been unrevealed.
See, Gomez, practices against my crown; [_Shows them him. _
Treason and lust have joined to pull me down.
Yet still I stand like a firm sturdy rock,
Whilst they but split themselves with their own shock.
But I too long delay: give word I come.

_Ruy-Gom. _ What, ho! within! The king is nigh; make room.

[RUY-GOMEZ _draws a curtain, and discovers_
Don JOHN _and the_
Duchess of EBOLI _embracing_.

_King. _ Now let me, if I can, to fury add,
That when I thunder I may strike them dead.

[_Looking earnestly on them. _

Ha! Gomez! on this truth depends thy life.
Why, that's our brother Austria!

_Ruy-Gom. _ And my wife!
Embracing close. Whilst I was busy grown
In others' ruins, here I've met my own.
Oh! had I perished ere 'twas understood!

_King. _ This is the nest where lust and falsehood brood.
Is it not admirable?

[_Exeunt_ Don JOHN _and the_
Duchess of EBOLI _embracing_.

_Ruy-Gom. _ Oh, sir, yes!
Ten thousand devils tear the sorceress!

_King. _ But they are gone, and my dishonour's near.

_Re-enter_ Don CARLOS _and_ QUEEN, _discoursing_;
HENRIETTA _and_ Attendants.

Look, my incestuous son and wife appear.
See, Gomez, how she languishes and dies.
'Sdeath! there are very pulses in her eyes.

[Don CARLOS _approaches the_ KING.

_Don Car. _ In peace, Heaven ever guard the king from harms;
In war, success and triumph crown his arms;
Till all the nations of the world shall be
Humble and prostrate at his feet, like me! [_Kneels. _
I hear your fury has my death designed;
Though I've deserved the worst, you may be kind:
Behold me as your poor unhappy son,
And do not spill that blood which is your own!

_King. _ Yes, when my blood grows tainted, I ne'er doubt
But for my health 'tis good to let it out:
But thine's a stranger, like thy soul, to me;
Or else be cursed thy mother's memory,
And doubly cursed be that unhappy night
In which I purchased torment with delight!

_Don Car. _ Thus then I lay aside all rights of blood.

[_Rises boldly. _

My mother cursed! She was all just and good,
Tyrant! too good to stay with thee below,
And therefore's blest, and reigns above thee now.
Submission! which way got it entrance here?

_King. _ Perhaps it came ere treason was aware.
Thy traitorous design's now come to light,
Too great and horrid to be hid in night.
See here my honour, and thy duty's stains! [_Shows the despatches. _
I've paid your secretary for his pains;
He waits you there: to council with him go; [_Shows_ POSA'S _body_.
Ask what intelligence from Flanders now.

_Don Car. _ My friend here slain, my faithful Posa 'tis.
Good Heaven! what have I done to merit this?
What temples sacked, what desolations made,
To pull down such a vengeance on my head?
This, villain, was thy work: what friend of thine [_To_ RUY-GOMEZ.
Did I e'er wrong, that thou shouldst murder mine?
But I'll take care it shall not want reward--[_Draws. _

_King. _ Courage, my Gomez, since thy king's thy guard.
Come, rebel, and thy villanies fulfil!

_Don Car_. No; though unjust, you are my father still;

[_Throws away his sword. _

And from that title must your safety own:
'Tis that which awes my hand, and not your crown.
'Tis true, all there contained I had designed:
To such a height your jealousy was grown,
It was the only way that I could find
To work your peace, and to procure my own.

_King. _ Thinking my youth and vigour to decrease,
You'd ease me of my crown to give me peace.

_Don Car. _ Alas! you fetch your misconstructions far:
The injuries to me, and wrongs to her,
Were much too great for empire to repair.
When you forgot a father's love, and quite
Deprived me of a son's and prince's right,
Branded my honour, and pursued my life,
My duty long with nature was at strife.
Not that I feared my memory or name
Could suffer by the voice of common fame;
A thing I still esteemed beneath my pride:
For, though condemned by all the world beside,
Had you but thought me just, I could have died.
At last this only way I found, to fly
Your anger, and divert your jealousy:--
To go to Flanders, and be so removed
From all I ever honoured, ever loved;
There in your right hoping I might complete,
Spite of my wrongs, some action truly great;
Thus by my faith and sufferings to out-wear
Your hate, and shun that storm which threatened here.

_Queen. _ And can this merit hate? He would forego
The joys and charms of courts to purchase you;
Banish himself, and stem the dangerous tide
Of lawless outrage and rebellious pride.

_King. _ How evenly she pleads in his defence!
So blind is guilt when 'twould seem innocence.
She thinks her softness may my rage disarm.
No, sorceress, you're mistaken in your charm,
And, whilst you soothe, do but assist the storm!
Do, take full view of your tall able slave;

[QUEEN _looks on_ Don CARLOS.

Look hard; it is the last you're like to have.

_Don Car. _ My life or death are in your power to give.

_King. _ Yes, and thou diest.

_Don Car. _ Not till she give me leave:
She is the star that rules my destiny;
And, whilst her aspect's kind, I cannot die.

_Queen. _ No, prince, for ever live, be ever blest.

_King. _ Yes, I will send him to his eternal rest.
Oh! had I took the journey long ago,
I ne'er had known the pains that rack me now.

_Queen. _ What pains? what racks? [_Approaching. _

_King. _ Avoid, and touch me not!
I see thee foul, all one incestuous blot;
Thy broken vows are in thy guilty face.

_Queen. _ Have I then in your pity left no place?

_King. _ Oh! thus it was you drew me in before,
With promises you ne'er would see him more.
But now your subtlest wiles too weak are grown;
I've gotten freedom, and I'll keep my own.

_Queen. _ May you be ever free! But can your mind
Conceive that any ill was here designed?
He hither came, only that he might show
Obedience, and be reconciled to you.
You saw his humble, dutiful address.

_King. _ But you beforehand signed the happy peace.

_Re-enter_ Duchess of EBOLI.

O princess, thank you for the care you take.
Tell me, how got this monster entrance? speak.

_D. of Eboli. _ Heaven witness 'twas without my knowledge done.

_Ruy-Gom. _ No, she had other business of her own.

[_Aside. _

O blood and murder!

_King. _ All are false: a guard!

_Enter_ Guard.

Seize on that traitor! [_Pointing to_ Don CARLOS.

_Don Car. _ Welcome; I'm prepared.

_Queen. _ Stay, sir, let me die too: I can obey.

_King. _ No, thou shalt live. [_Seemingly kind. _] By Heaven, but
not a day! [_Aside. _
I a revenge so exquisite have framed,
She unrepenting dies, and so she's damned.

_Hen. _ If ever pity could your heart engage,
If e'er you hope for blessings on your age,
Incline your ears to a poor virgin's prayer!

_King. _ I dare not venture thee, thou art too fair.
What wouldst thou say?

_Hen. _ Destroy not in one man
More virtue than the world can boast again.
View him the eldest pledge of your first love,
Your virgin joys; that may some pity move--

_King. _ No; for the wrongs I suffer weigh it down:
I'd now not spare his life to save my own.
Away! by thy soft tongue I'll not be caught.

_Hen. _ By all that hopes can frame I beg: if not,
May you by some base hand unpitied die,
And childless mothers curse your memory!
By honour, love, by life--

_King. _ Fond girl, away:
By Heaven, I'll kill thee else! Still darest thou stay?
Cannot death terrify thee?

_Hen. _ No; for I,
If you refuse me, am resolved to die.

_Don Car. _ Kind fair one, do not waste your sorrows here
On me, too wretched, and not worth a tear.
There yet for you are mighty joys in store,
When I in dust am laid, and seen no more. --
O madam! [_To the_ QUEEN.

_Queen. _ O my Carlos! must you die
For me? no mercy in a father's eye?

_Don Car. _ Hide, hide your tears, into my soul they dart
A tenderness that misbecomes my heart:
For, since I must, I like a prince would fall,
And to my aid my manly spirits call.

_Queen. _ You, like a man, as roughly as you will
May die, but let me be a woman still! [_Weeps. _

_King. _ Thou'rt woman, a true copy of the first,
In whom the race of all mankind was cursed.
Your sex by beauty was to Heaven allied;
But your great lord, the devil, taught you pride.
He too an angel, till he durst rebel;
And you are, sure, the stars that with him fell.
Weep on! a stock of tears like vows you have,
And always ready when you would deceive.

_Queen. _ Cruel! inhuman! O my heart! why should
I throw away a title that's so good,
On one a stranger to whate'er was so?
Alas, I'm torn, and know not what to do.
The just resentment of my wrong's so great,
My spirits sink beneath the heavy weight.
Tyrant, stand off! I hate thee, and will try
If I have scorn enough to make me die.

_Don Car. _ Blest angel, stay! [_Takes her in his arms. _

_Queen. _ Carlos, the sole embrace
You ever took, you have before his face.

_Don Car. _ No wealthy monarch of the plenteous East,
In all the glories of his empire dressed,
Was ever half so rich, or half so blest.
But from such bliss how wretched is the fall!
They too like us must die, and leave it all.

_King. _ All this before my face! what soul could bear't?
Go, force her from him! [Officer _approaches_.

_Don Car. _ Slave, 'twill cost thy heart.
Thou'dst better meet a lion on his way,
And from his hungry jaws reprize the prey!
She's mistress of my soul, and to prepare
Myself for death, I must consult with her.

_Ruy-Gom. _ Have pity! [_Ironically. _

_King. _ Hence! how wretchedly he rules
That's served by cowards, and advised by fools!
Oh, torture!

_Don Car. _ Rouse, my soul! consider now
That to thy blissful mansion thou must go.
But I so mighty joys have tasted here,
I hardly shall have sense of any there:
Oh, soft as blossoms, and yet sweeter far! [_Leaning on her bosom. _
Sweeter than incense which to Heaven ascends,
Though 'tis presented there by angels' hands.

_King. _ Still in his arms! Cowards, go tear her forth!

_Don Car. _ You'll sooner from its centre shake the earth:
I'll hold her fast till my last hour is nigh;
Then I'll bequeath her to you when I die.

_King.