_M. of Posa._ How frail is all the glory we design, Whilst such as these have power to undermine! Unhappy prince! who mightst have safely stood, If thou hadst been less great, or not so good. Why the vile monster's blood did I not shed, And all the vengeance draw on my own head? My honour so had had this just defence,-- That I preserved my patron and my prince. _Enter_ Don CARLOS _and the_ QUEEN. Brave Carlos--ha! he's here. O sir, take heed; By an unlucky fate your love is led. The king--the king your father's jealous grown; Forgetting her, his queen, or you, his son, Calls all his vengeance up against you both. _Don Car._ Has then the false Ruy-Gomez broke his oath, And, after all, my innocence betrayed? _M. of Posa._ Yes, all his subtlest snares are for you laid. The king within this minute will be here, And you are ruined, if but seen with her. Retire, my lord-- _Queen._ How! is he jealous grown? I thought my virtue he had better known. His unjust doubts have soon found out the way To make their entry on our marriage day; For yet he has not known with me a night. Perhaps his tyranny is his delight; And to such height his cruelty is grown, He'd exercise it on his queen and son. But since, my lord, this time we must obey Our interest, I beg you would not stay: Not seeing you, he may to me be just. _Don Car._ Should I then leave you, madam? _Queen._ Yes, you must. _Don Car._ Not then when storms against your virtue rise. No; since to lose you wretched Carlos dies, He'll have the honour of it, in your cause. This is the noblest thing that Fate could do; She thus abates the rigour of her laws, Since 'tis some pleasure but to die for you. _Queen._ Talk not of death, for that even cowards dare, When their base fears compel them to despair: Hope's the far nobler passion of the mind; Fortune's a mistress that's with caution kind; Knows that the constant merit her alone, They who, though she seem froward, yet court on. _Don Car._ To wretched minds thus still some comfort gleams, And angels ease our griefs, though but with dreams. I have too oft already been deceived, And the cheat's grown too plain to be believed, You, madam, bid me go. [_Looking earnestly at the_ QUEEN. _Queen._ You must. _M. of Posa._ You shall. Alas! I love you, would not see you fall; And yet may find some way to evade it all.