University of Virginia Library

Act IV

Scene I.

An apartment in Alvino's house. Enter Alvino and Leoni.
Alvino
Now, we commence another path of thorns.
Thou hast beheld the bark upon the sea,
With swan-like majesty ascend the waves,
And spreading out her penons to the winds,
All pregnant with the glory of the storm,
Plough on her journey for the destined port,
But as she rises on the billowy hills,
To see the forest bristling on the coast,
When every heart beats gladly at the sight,
Behold, the breakers of an angry sea
Dash on the languor of her wave-worn sides,
When shrieking to the mercy of the storm,
She bows, once more in grandeur to the gale,
And conquered by the rudeness of the blast,
Sinks down an hour's sail of land.

Leoni
Oh yes, we have beheld all this in time,
But why the downcast sadness of thine eyes
In which there was so much of youthful joy,
And love ineffable? Tell me the cause.

Alvino
A wintry fear lies cold about my heart.

Leoni
But did he not deserve to die?

Alvino
He did—
Ten thousand deaths!

Leoni
Then why regret the act?
Is there not comfort in the downy arms
Of her, who prompted thee to that great deed?
And consolation in the happy thought
That she would die ten thousand deaths for thee?

Alvino
There is, indeed.

Leoni
Then rest assured thou art
The great avenger of an injured girl,
Whose honor has been trampled on by one
Who now inherits all the misery of his guilt
In Hell's deep gulf, where hope can never come.

Alvino
You know that handkerchief I used to have?
I left it on the bed where Carlos sleeps!

Leoni
Not where you slept last night?

Alvino
That very place!
I have been thinking that if Carlos find
It there, he will be false enough to swear
'Tis mine, if he is borne to prison.

Leoni
He?

Alvino
Yes, I am not suspected by the Count.
I never showed Count Alvar any hate,
But he has, threatening him with instant death.

Leoni
But if they find it there, will they not think—

Alvino
That Carlos killed the Count.

Leoni
So let them think!

Alvino
And have him suffer for an act of mine?

Leoni
No, find some cunning means to set him free.
By all the golden links that bind us in
The chain of everlasting love, let not
An outward show of honor ruin thee now.
No, summon Pedro, if it should be so,
To go to Carlos, when confined in chains,
And hear the secrets of the then formed plot,
And tell Don Carlos for his own soul's sake,
By promising Elvira to be his
To instigate Don Pedro to the death
Of Count Rodolph. Then contrive some means
When that is done, to set Don Carlos free.

Alvino
Oh, blessed women! Angel that thou art!
Man says that thou art weaker than his sex;
But what is lost in feebleness of limb,
Is made up in the cunning of thy soul!
For with one effort of thy dazzling thought
In dangerous hours of fierce extreme, thy plans
Can minister to his relief, when all
His own have failed him in despair! Then let
The Warriour on the battlefield think not
To win the victory by his power alone,
But seek some gentle creature, like thyself
And ere the ramparts of the enemy
Appear in living lines along the field,
Commune in gentle earnestness with her,
And he will gain more glory on that day,
Than ever was the lot of one proud man.

Leoni
Then listen to the voice of one that loves.

Alvino
Well, let it be as thou hast said. Come on.

(Exeunt.)

Scene II

The same apartment in Don Carlos' palace. Enter Don Carlos, Don Pedro and Elvira.
Don Carlos
So, he that was the gardner of the flower—
Who plucked the sweetest rose that ever bloomed,
And left the nectar of its ruby folds
To perish in the stagnant winds of Heaven—
Has withered by the frost before the flower!

Don Pedro
What, has Alvino lashed him for the deed?

Don Carlos
I heard that he had murdered him last night—
Although no one suspects he is the man.

Elvira
What, is it possible he is dead?
I fear, dear Carlos you have been too rash!

Don Carlos
But no one saw me save his wife.

Elvira
Behold, who enters there?

Don Carlos
I need not doubt—

Elvira
Alas,
Then for your sister's sake, dear Carlos, fly!

Don Carlos
Why should I fly?

Elvira
They come for thee, away!

Enter Officer and Guard.
Officer
Sir, by the oath invested in this writ,
I am compelled to fetter thee in chains.

Elvira
In chains? Why bind the innocent in chains?

Officer
I am compelled to do so by the law.

Don Carlos
(Giving himself up.)
It is your duty thus to do.

Elvira
(Taking his hand and kneeling.)
Alas,
And shall my brother die? We must not part.

Don Carlos
Arise, my gentle sister. We shall meet
Again. (She rises)


Elvira
Perhaps no more on earth.

Don Carlos
We shall.
And, Pedro, parting as the best of friends,
I owe thee obligations, which shall live
As long as thou shalt live to think of them.
So, fare thee well!

Don Pedro
Farewell to meet again.

Exit Don Carlos followed by Officer and Guard.
Elvira
Oh, Pedro, what will be our prospects now,
Seeing the brightest of our hopes is gone?
Can you not save him from that cruel death?

Don Pedro
And prove that Pedro is the friend of one
Who called upon him in the hour of need?
Then he who would not promise me thy hand,
Shall have the joy of being saved by mine.

Elvira
He will consent. My heart, you know, is thine.

Don Pedro
Elvira, Pedro cannot lie to thee,
For he has worshipped thee in all his dreams!
And when the chambers of the night were hung
With all the silver shining lamps that deck
The azure palace of the glorious sky,
Like roses blossoming in the fields of Heaven,
He has communed in silence with thee.
And think that Pedro can forget thee now?
I swear, Elvira, Carlos shall be saved!

Elvira
Oh, Pedro, never did my heart believe
That mortal man could be so true as thee!
But see, Alvino comes. He looks not strange?
(Enter Alvino.)

Alvino
I see, Don Pedro, Carlos is not here.

Don Pedro
He is not here for he is prisoner in thy stead.

Elvira
Alvino, if thou art the man thou art,
I now conjure thee to be true to him!

Alvino
What, think you that Alvino will be false?
The heart that urged him on to that great deed—
To mend the broken vessel at the fount,
Which after ministering to his delight,
Was thrown in wilful wantonness away,
Shall be the prompter to restore his friend.
Alvino will be faithful to the last.

Elvira
Then instantly release him from the chains!

Alvino
This letter shall be evidence of that
I wish it, Pedro, to be borne to him,
And after Carlos has divulged it thee,
I wish an answer speedily returned.
I would not trust another man on earth,
And hope you will be faithful as
The trust reposed in you. (Giving the letter.)


Don Pedro
It shall be done.
I will be with him straight.
(Exit Don Pedro.)

Alvino
(Aside.)
The work is done!

Elvira
What was there in that letter?

Alvino
Pedro knows,
Or soon will know, when it is read.

Elvira
But tell
Me, what was in it?

Alvino
Know you not our plans?

Elvira
I know them not.

Alvino
Then you shall never know
From me.

Elvira
Perhaps it may effect his life?

Alvino
If Pedro is the friend he seems to be
He will divulge it all, when he returns.
No woman ever kept a secret yet.

(Exeunt omnes.)

Scene III

A prison. Carlos is discovered bound in chains. Enter Don Pedro.
Don Carlos
What, Pedro, is it you? What is the news?
Does Carlos own thy heart?

Don Pedro
He does, my lord.
And he is destined—

Don Carlos
Destined?

Don Pedro
To be free.

Don Carlos
Alas, those cherished hopes were almost gone.

Don Pedro
Amen
To that! Alvino bade me hand you this,
And wished an answer speedily returned.

Don Carlos
(Reading the letter.)
Alvino? Is he faithful to the last?

Don Pedro
He wears the aspect on his brow full well.

Don Carlos
Alvino—Pedro, listen! swear that thou
Art harder than the adamant of Hell,
And thou shalt have the Jewel of my house!

Don Pedro
I am, to do the simplest thing for thee.

Don Carlos
Alvino instigates me here to prompt
You to the murder of Count Rodolph—go!
That we may be as free as air again—
And bear this unsealed letter to him straight!
And should he question you about its truth,
Then show him, when the message has been read,
This handkerchief he left upon my bed!

(Giving him the handkerchief and letter.)
Don Pedro
If this will save thy life by risking mine
It shall be done.

Don Carlos
It will—be quick!

Don Pedro
Then swear Elvira shall be mine

Don Carlos
By Heavens, she shall!
But go find Rodolph at the risk of life.

(Exit Pedro. Scene closes.)

Scene IV

The same apartment in Count Rodolph's house.
Enter Count Rodolph and Theresa.
Count Rodolph
The trial comes at the hour of three.

Theresa
But will he be condemned?

Count Rodolph
As sure as fate.
But you will be required to swear that he,
Don Carlos, threatened him with instant death.
Leoni was the cause.

Theresa
Who told you so?
I heard the thing from good men's mouths. Then, mark!
The evidence against Don Carlos will
Be truer than the truth, when that is known.

Theresa
Why so?

Count Rodolph
Because he killed him for that girl.

Theresa
But as Alvino married her, why did
He not revenge himself upon the Count?

Count Rodolph
There is the mystery which will be cleared
Of all its darkness when the truth is known,
And brought before the Council. Who comes there?
Withdraw—perhaps he may dissolve the doubt.

(Exit Theresa.)
Enter Don Pedro.
Pedro
(Bowing)
My lord.

Count Rodolph
Don Pedro?

Don Pedro
That's my name, my lord.

Count Rodolph
Who saved you when the sentence of your death
Was registered upon the Book of Fate?

Don Pedro
Count Alvar did.

Count Rodolph
Then why forsake that man?
Why, rather than be faithful to your friend,
Colleague yourself with that damned infidel,
Who, laden with the heavy chains of State,
Now reads his destiny among the dead?

Don Pedro
Because the trust reposed in me by him,
Was sacrificed to gain another's love.

Count Rodolph
Who could be dearer to you than he was?

Don Pedro
My love for her—Elvira's love for me.

Count Rodolph
No, thou art forging in thy cursed heart
The lying words which hang upon thy lips,
I will not suffer thee to live an hour!

Don Pedro
Hold, let me show thee to thy naked eyes,
That Carlos is not guilty of the deed!

(Handing him the letter.)
Count Rodolph
(Reading it.)
Now tell me at the peril of thy life,
If under any circumstance of hate,
Alvino wished to instigate thee, by
This letter to Don Carlos, to destroy
My life!

Don Pedro
He did, my lord. He surely did,
Leoni being prompter to the deed,
This handkerchief was found upon his bed.

(Giving him the handkerchief.)
Count Rodolph
Ye Gods, how eloquent is this poor thing!
My ears are sated with its silent speech.
It says more than the clamorous tongue of man,
With all his liquid fluency of words!
There is no evidence against his soul,
Can speak so loudly as this drop of blood!

Don Pedro
And then his name is on the corner there.

Count Rodolph
Alvino, yes, it is most true—'tis here!
And though he used the cunning of his soul,
To keep the secret of the deed untold,
Yet, he has spoken more by this same thing,
Then if he had proclaimed it to the world.
But go—tell Carlos he is free again—
Alvino shall be prisoner in his stead.

(Exit.)
Don Pedro
And man may call me coward, if he will,
But who would not, in such an hour as this,
Lie boldly in the very face of truth,
To gain possession of that woman's love!
Since but to hesitate is losing all!
Then, as my interest prompts me to the act,
And as Elvira will be mine, if done,
And happiness must follow, if she is,
There shall be nothing to deter my power.

(Exit.)

Scene V

The same apartment in Alvino's house. Enter Alvino and Leoni.
Leoni
So, of the handkerchief thou hast not heard?
And Pedro has not yet returned?

Alvino
He stays,
And by that staying brings me nearer death!

Leoni
Oh, say not so! He may have been detained.

Alvino
I must say so; there is no other hope.

Leoni
You do not think that Pedro will be false?

Alvino
If Carlos promise him Elvira's hand,
He will betray to Rodolph all our plans,
And then the sentence of the law will fall
Upon us with avenging wrath!

Leoni
Most true!
But cannot there be something done to ward
Away this direful blow? Yes, let us fly!

Alvino
Leoni, it is best that we should stay—
Flying would only serve to prove our guilt,
And give suspicion stronger claims to proof,
And not remember in this trying hour,
If any portent should retard our hopes—
Be strong as love is infinite!

Leoni
I will;
And drink the last drop of the bitter cup,
As freely as the first one—to the dregs!
But when is Carlos to be tried?

Alvino
At three—
The Duke is sitting now in Council.

Leoni
Now?
Then, let us fly! Alvino, why delay?
The icy fingers of the hands of death
Are tugging at my heartstrings—now thy pull,
And stretch beyond endurance.

Alvino
Hush, my love!
An officer is coming with his guard.

Leoni
Then, fly! Leoni will be with thee—fly!

Alvino
I cannot, dearest, all is over now!
It is too late! Don Pedro has been false!
And now, forsaken as we are on earth,
Remember that we have two friends in Heaven.
And as we are united here on earth,
So let us be when we shall meet in death.

Leoni
In death? Thou wilt be dear to me then,
Than thou hast ever been in life. No, love,
They cannot separate us in this world!
And, come whatever bitterness there may,
They cannot do it in the world to come.
For that which prompted me to hate the Count,
Has only made me value thee the more,
And love thee better in the hour of need.
And, therefore, dying at whatever hour,
The pleasure, that my life shall end with thine,
Will blot away the terrors death may bring.
But look, they come!

Alvino
Now, reconcile thyself.

Enter Officer and Guard
Officer
Seize on him, Guard!

Alvino
(Drawing his sword.)
Stand back, obedient dogs!
Your mothers bore your fathers no such sons.
In Lombardy the Axeman says, that when
The storm is raging loudest on the hills,
The tallest trees bend lowest to the ground.
And I would spill thy blood upon the earth
Like rain! (To Leoni.)

Now like the Persian Shepherd, when
He wandered through the Desert of the East,
And, from the wilderness beheld the glimpse
Of Arem's Gardens, never to behold
The beauty of that paradise again,
So do we turn away from all things dear,
And from the radiant vision of that hope
Whose glory burst upon us yesterday,
To gaze upon the icy shape of Death! (Turning to the Officer.)

Bind me in chains! (They bind him.)


Leoni
Oh, ye of little souls!
Have ye in office love to show your power!
I do despise you from my very soul!

Alvino
(Aside to Leoni.)
Leoni, recollect the vow we made! (To Officer.)

Now we are ready to abide the law.

Leoni
And if the Duke's decision be thy death,
The sentence of thy guilt shall be my death!
For if the life that is in thee shall die,
The dying of that life shall be my death!

Alvino
Leoni, that has sunk deep in my heart!

(Exit Alvino and Leoni, attended by Officer and Guard.)

Scene VI

The same apartment in Don Carlos' palace. Enter Don Carlos to Elvira.
Elvira
Don Carlos, are you free?

Don Carlos
As free as air.

Elvira
Who set you free?

Don Carlos
That letter which our friend,
Don Pedro, brought to me.

Elvira
Then, Carlos, let
Revenge now sleep.

Don Carlos
It has been sleeping long—
Just now waked up, never to sleep again!

Elvira
You hate him still. Reward him for his pains.

Don Carlos
I will reward him for his pains! He is
My creditor vast arrears. The debt,
If nothing happens, will be paid today!
He lent me ruin—I mean to pay him—death!

Elvira
Where go you now?

Don Carlos
I go to do my work!
The raging fever of my heart for years,
Parching my soul with an immortal thirst,
Will soon be medicined to coldness now.
The last Act of the Drama then will close.
With the redemption of my noblest friend.

(Exeunt severally.)

Scene VII

The Council Chamber.
The Duke and his Council assembled. Enter Alvino attended by Leoni, and followed by Officer and Guard. Enter, afterwards, Count Rodolph and Theresa.
Count Rodolph
(With a paper in his hand.)
My Liege, before you for an awful crime,
The murder of Count Alvar in the night,
Alvino stands accused of that foul deed!
That he was murdered in the dead of night,
When God's all-seeing eye alone could see,
Is sworn to in this sacred writ of mine.
And that the murderer stands before you now,
Is proven by this letter, which he sent
To Carlos by Don Pedro when in chains,
To prompt him to the taking of my life.
And by this handkerchief which you behold,
Which Carlos said he found upon his bed,
The which, if not sufficient to convict,
Shall be confirmed by evidence of both.

Duke
(To Officer.)
Then bring them forward—they shall both be sworn.
(Exit Officer.)
Alvino, if you have a word to say,
Against the evidence adduced, speak out!
My liege, that innocence may plead, without
Disguise, her own truth-telling cause, there is
No more than truth in what the Count has said.
That in the dead of night Count Alvar fell,
When some life-taking hand drove off his soul,
And left him sleeping in the arms of Death,
May all be true, but that this thing was done
And by Alvino's hand, must yet be proven.

Re-enter Officer, bringing in Don Carlos and Pedro.
Count Rodolph
Now, that the evidence may be adduced,
I charge you, Carlos, by an awful oath,
To say if this foul letter came from him.

Don Carlos
It did!

Count Rodolph
And that this handkerchief was found
Upon his bed.

Don Carlos
It was.

Alvino
(To Carlos.)
Oh, man! Frail man!
When thou art false, thou art, indeed, most vile!
There stands the injured cause of all this guilt,
A Sanctuary holy—perfect—pure!
From that bright bush he plucked the sweetest rose
That ever bloomed—whose virtuous sweets he stole—
Then spurned her, that she had no more to steal!
The last soft tendril of the dearest vine
That ever wreathed the pillar of affection!
The rest are gone to an untimely grave!
And, now that we are destined to that place,
Where all our ills shall be forgotten—we
Shall be the first in this assembly who
Shall covet no remembrance in this world.
And now, whatever lot may fall on one,
I crave this boon, that it may fall on both!

Duke
Alvino, that the law is blood for blood—
That justice may be given to whom 'tis due—
That human passion may rich lesson learn—
But more than all, that Heaven may be appeased,
I now pronounce thy sentence—it is Death!
May all good Angels guard thee to thy home!

Leoni
Have you no tongue to speak the same to me?
Oh, if you have, pronounce it now—yes, now!

Alvino
(Aside to Leoni)
Leoni, recollect the vow we made!

Leoni
(Taking a phial from her bosom and drinking.)
What, think you Count Rodolph has the power
To take revenge upon such love as this?

Alvino
(Aside to Leoni)
Revenge! thou hast revenge upon them all!
Yes, deeper than the depths of Heaven from Hell!

(He takes the phial from her hand and empties it.)
Leoni
(Aside.)
The sweetest death that ever mortal died!
I have another friend, if that should fail.
It sleeps beside the beatings of my heart,
Counting each anxious sorrow, one by one!
And when the curtains of dark night shall fall
Upon the eyelids of the Day—the last
Of all that is now spoken be known!

Alvino
Ye Gods, behold the power of my revenge
And pity all that has been done in hate!

End of Act Fourth. Curtain falls.