When first our author took this play in hand, He doubted much, and long was at a stand. He knew the fame and memory of kings Were to be treated of as sacred things, Not as they're represented in this age, Where they appear the lumber of the stage; Used only just for reconciling tools, Or what is worse, made villains all, or fools. Besides, the characters he shows to-night, He found were very difficult to write: He found the fame of France and Spain at stake, Therefore long paused, and feared which part to take; Till this his judgment safest understood, To make them both heroic as he could. But now the greatest stop was yet unpassed; He found himself, alas! confined too fast. He is a man of pleasure, sirs, like you, And therefore hardly could to business bow; Till at the last he did this conquest get, To make his pleasure whetstone to his wit; So sometimes for variety he writ. But as those blockheads, who discourse by rote, Sometimes speak sense, although they rarely know't; So he scarce knew to what his work would grow, But 'twas a play, because it would be so: Yet well he knows this is a weak pretence, For idleness is the worst want of sense. Let him not now of carelessness be taxed, He'll write in earnest, when he writes the next: Meanwhile,-- Prune his superfluous branches, never spare; Yet do it kindly, be not too severe: He may bear better fruit another year. [Illustration] [Illustration: _DRAMATIS PERSONÆ._] PHILIP II., King of Spain. DON CARLOS, his Son. DON JOHN of Austria. Marquis of POSA, the Prince's Confidant. RUY-GOMEZ. Officer of the Guards. QUEEN OF SPAIN. Duchess of EBOLI, Wife of Ruy-Gomez. HENRIETTA. GARCIA. SCENE--THE COURT OF SPAIN. [Illustration] [Illustration] _DON CARLOS, PRINCE OF SPAIN._ ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I.--_An Apartment in the Palace._ KING _and_ QUEEN, Don CARLOS, _the_ Marquis of POSA, RUY-GOMEZ, _the_ Duchess of EBOLI, HENRIETTA, GARCIA, Attendants, _and_ Guards _discovered_. King. Happy the monarch, on whose brow no cares Add weight to the bright diadem he wears; Like me, in all that he can wish for, blest. Renown and love, the gentlest calms of rest, And peace, adorn my brow, enrich my breast. To me great nations tributary are; Though, whilst my vast dominions spread so far, Where most I reign, I must pay homage, here. [_To the_ QUEEN. Approach, bright mistress of my purest vows: Now show me him that more religion owes To Heaven, or to its altars more devoutly bows.