Scene IV
A chamber in Don Carlos' palace. Don Carlos is
lying asleep on his couch. Enter Don Pedro with
a knife in his hand.
Don Pedro
(Approaching him.)
Now then, he dies! He sleeps! Still as the dead!
As if the silence of the grave were all
That reigned around such sweet repose. Now then—
But he should not be murdered in his sleep!
For then his eyes will not behold whose hand
It is that takes revenge upon him for
His dear Elvira's sake! No, he must rise!
Awake! thou murderer of my happiness,
Arise!
Don Carlos
(Waking and rising.)
What, Pedro! Villain that thou art!
Who set thee on to this foul deed? (Wresting the dagger
from his hand.)
Don Pedro
Hold! hold!
And thou shalt hear!
Don Carlos
(Grasping him by the throat.)
No, thou shalt die, with all
The multitude of sins upon thy head!
If thou hast any prayers to offer up
To God's offended majesty, 'tis time
The voice of penitence had cried aloud
For mercy!
Don Pedro
Carlos, spare my life!
Don Carlos
To die
A thousand deaths for every day you live!
Don Pedro
No, you shall hear it all!
Don Carlos
Then speak the truth!
Don Pedro
Count Alvar—
Don Carlos
Devil that he is! Now die! (Raising the dagger.)
Don Pedro
Oh, Carlos, spare me for Elvira's sake!
Don Carlos
Elvira? Villain, call that name again,
And thou shalt strangle in thy cursed blood!
Don Pedro
Count Alvar—
Don Carlos
Pedro, utter not that name again
Or all the elements that shake my soul,
Will in consuming me destroy thee too!
What is thy destiny? (Letting go his throat.)
Don Pedro
To do thy wish.
Don Carlos
Well, that will be to drown thee in the sea!
Don Pedro
But thou wilt hear the truth?
Don Carlos
Speak, then, the truth!
Don Pedro
I did not come to murder thee in sleep,
But frighten thy compassion for the soul
That loves Elvira.
Don Carlos
(Contemptuously.)
Murderer for the Count!
Don Pedro
I would convey thy vengeance to his soul.
Don Carlos
That is, that you will kill the Count for me!
Don Pedro
If killing him would make Elvira mine.
Don Carlos
(Raising his dagger.)
Then swear before this bright, uplifted steel,
That should descend upon thee in revenge—
That thou wilt never serve Count Alvar more!
Don Pedro
I swear it from my heart, my lord, if you
Will promise that Elvira shall be mine
Don Carlos
That choice is with herself.
Don Pedro
Then promise me
That we shall see each other once again.
Don Carlos
It may be so.
Don Pedro
Then, by yon heavenly light,
Whose beauty is the image of her eyes—
I swear to dedicate my life to thee!
(Exeunt omnes.)
Curtain falls.
