know what secret projects, duke,
Your sovereign's spouse can have to form with you,
Or, priest! with you--her husband should not know?
Think you that I am innocent or guilty?

DOMINGO.
Strange question!

ALVA.
Should the monarch prove unjust--
And at this time----

QUEEN.
Then I must wait for justice
Until it come--and they are happiest far
Whose consciences may calmly wait their right.

[Bows to them and exit. DOMINGO and ALVA exeunt
on the opposite side.

SCENE XV.

Chamber Of PRINCESS EBOLI.
PRINCESS EBOLI. CARLOS immediately after.

EBOLI.
Is it then true--the strange intelligence,
That fills the court with wonder?

CARLOS (enters).
Do not fear
Princess! I shall be gentle as a child.

EBOLI.
Prince, this intrusion!

CARLOS.
Are you angry still?
Offended still with me----

EBOLI.
Prince!

CARLOS (earnestly).
Are you angry?
I pray you answer me.

EBOLI.
What can this mean?
You seem, prince, to forget--what would you with me?

CARLOS (seizing her hand with warmth).
Dear maiden! Can you hate eternally?
Can injured love ne'er pardon?

EBOLI (disengaging herself).
Prince! of what
Would you remind me?

CARLOS.
Of your kindness, dearest!
And of my deep ingratitude. Alas,
Too well I know it! deeply have I wronged thee--
Wounded thy tender heart, and from thine eyes,
Thine angel eyes, wrung precious tears, sweet maid!
But ah! 'tis not repentance leads me hither.

EBOLI.
Prince! leave me--I----

CARLOS.
I come to thee, because
Thou art a maid of gentle soul--because
I trust thy heart--thy kind and tender heart.
Think, dearest maiden! think, I have no friend,
No friend but thee, in all this wretched world--
Thou who wert once so kind wilt not forever
Hate me, nor will thy anger prove eternal.

EBOLI (turning away her face).
O cease! No more! for heaven's sake! leave me, prince.

CARLOS.
Let me remind thee of those golden hours--
Let me remind thee of thy love, sweet maid--
That love which I so basely have offended!
Oh, let me now appear to thee again
As once I was--and as thy heart portrayed me.
Yet once again, once only, place my image,
As in days past, before thy tender soul,
And to that idol make a sacrifice
Thou canst not make to me.

EBOLI.
Oh, Carlos, cease!
Too cruelly thou sportest with my feelings!

CARLOS.
B