_Don Car._ You've thus more kindness shown Than if you'd crowned, and placed me on your throne. Methinks so highly happy I appear That I could pity you, to see you there. Take me away again:--you are too good. _Queen._ Carlos, is't you? Oh, stop that royal flood; Live, and possess your father's throne, when I In dark and gloomy shades forgotten lie. _Don Car._ Crowns are beneath me; I have higher pride: Thus on you fixed, and dying by your side, How much a life and empire I disdain! No, we'll together mount, where both shall reign Above all wrongs, and never more complain. _Queen._ O matchless youth! O constancy divine! Sure there was never love that equalled thine; Nor any so unfortunate as mine. Henceforth forsaken virgins shall in songs, When they would ease their own, repeat thy wrongs; And in remembrance of thee, for thy sake, A solemn annual procession make; In chaste devotion as fair pilgrims come, With hyacinths and lilies deck thy tomb. But one thing more, and then, vain world, adieu! It is to reconcile my lord and you. _Don Car._ He has done no wrong to me; I am possessed Of all, beyond my expectation blest. But yet methinks there's something in my heart Tells me, I must not too unkindly part.-- Father, draw nearer, raise me with your hand; Before I die, what is't you would command? _King._ Why wert thou made so excellently good? And why was it no sooner understood? But I was cursed, and blindly led astray; Oh! for thy father, for thy father pray. Thou mayst ask that which I'm too vile to dare; And leave me not tormented by despair. _Don Car._ Thus then with the remains of life we kneel. [Don CARLOS _and the_ QUEEN _sink out of their chairs and kneel_. May you be ever free from all that's ill! _Queen._ And everlasting peace upon you dwell! _King._ No more: this virtue's too divinely bright; My darkened soul, too conversant with night, Grows blind, and overcome with too much light. Here, raise them up--gently--ye slaves, down, down! Ye glorious toils, a sceptre and a crown, For ever be forgotten; in your stead, Only eternal darkness wrap my head. _Queen._ Where are you? oh! farewell, I must be gone. _King._ Blest happy soul, take not thy flight so soon: Stay till I die, then bear mine with thee too, And guard it up, which else must sink below. _Queen._ From all my injuries and all my fears, From jealousy, love's bane, the worst of cares, Thus I remove to find that stranger, rest. Carlos, thy hand, receive me on thy breast; Within this minute how shall we be blest! _Don Car._ Oh, far above Whatever wishes framed, or hopes designed; Thus, where we go, we shall the angels find For ever praising, and for ever kind.