.

QUEEN.
Yes, appointed--so I hear.

MARQUIS.
The king cannot retract:--we know the king.
This much is clear, the prince must not remain
Here in Madrid, nor Flanders be abandoned.

QUEEN.
And can you hinder it?

MARQUIS.
Perhaps I can,
But then the means are dangerous as the evil--
Rash as despair--and yet I know no other.

QUEEN.
Name them.

MARQUIS.
To you, and you alone, my queen,
Will I reveal them; for from you alone,
Carlos will hear them named without a shudder.
The name they bear is somewhat harsh.

QUEEN.
Rebellion!

MARQUIS.
He must prove faithless to the king, and fly
With secrecy to Brussels, where the Flemings
Wait him with open arms. The Netherlands
Will rise at his command. Our glorious cause
From the king's son will gather matchless strength,
The Spanish throne shall tremble at his arms,
And what his sire denied him in Madrid,
That will he willingly concede in Brussels.

QUEEN.
You've spoken with the king to-day--and yet
Maintain all this.

MARQUIS.
Yes, I maintain it all,
Because I spoke with him.

QUEEN (after a pause).
The daring plan
Alarms and pleases me. You may be right--
The thought is bold, and that perhaps enchants me.
Let it but ripen. Does Prince Carlos know it?

MARQUIS.
It was my wish that he should hear it first
From your own lips.

QUEEN.
The plan is doubtless good,
But then the prince's youth----

MARQUIS.
No disadvantage!
He there will find the bravest generals
Of the Emperor Charles--an Egmont and an Orange--
In battle daring, and in council wise.

QUEEN (with vivacity).
True--the design is grand and beautiful!
The prince must act; I feel it sensibly.
The part he's doomed to play here in Madrid
Has bowed me to the dust on his account.
I promise him the aid of France and Savoy;
I think with you, lord marquis--he must act--
But this design needs money----

MARQUIS.
It is ready.

QUEEN.
I, too, know means.

MARQUIS.
May I then give him hopes
Of seeing you?

QUEEN.
I will consider it.

MARQUIS.
The prince, my queen, is urgent for an answer.
I promised to procure it.
[Presenting his writing tablet to the QUEEN.
Two short lines
Will be enough.

QUEEN (after she has written).
When do we meet again?

MARQUIS.
Whene'er you wish.

QUEEN.
Whene'er I wish it, marquis