_Marquis of Posa_. Me—Sire? _King_. You stand before your lord—and yet have nought— Nought for yourself to beg. That's new to me. You shall be just; emotion from your glance Can ne'er conceal itself. Watch well my son: Search the queen's heart. I will permission give you To speak with her in private. Leave me now. _Act III, Scene 10_. Posa takes advantage of this permission speedily to demand an audience of the queen. Act fourth opens in her apartment, where she welcomes to her presence the princess of Eboli, who has been for some days indisposed. Agitated from the consciousness of guilt, the unhappy girl implores leave to retire, and passes out as the Marquis enters, bearing as he alleges a message from the king. At his special request, the ladies withdraw; and not noticing the extreme surprise of Elizabeth at seeing him employed as a royal messenger, he proceeds to the real object of his visit—warns her of danger, and gives her a letter from Carlos, imploring an interview. Posa warmly seconds this request, and overcomes the queen's scruples by assuring her that the measure is necessary, not only to the private happiness of the prince, but to the weal of the state. The liberty of Flanders is sacrificed; and Alba's appointment as leader of the royal army has struck a death blow to the hopes of the people. But one way remains to prevent the destruction impending over those provinces, and their loss by the Spanish crown; it must be undertaken by the prince—who must be persuaded to the enterprise by her. _Marquis of Posa_. He must Be disobedient to the royal will, Must privately betake himself to Brussels; With open arms the Flemings there await him. The Netherlands will to his standard throng, A good thing is made strong by the alliance Of a king's son. He makes the Spanish throne Tremble before his arms. That which the king Refused in Madrid, he constrained will grant In Brussels. After some hesitation, the queen consents to what she imagines a measure of necessity, and writes a few lines to Carlos, recommending him to follow the advice of the Marquis. Their interview is ended by the appearance of the Duchess of Olivarez.