efore the QUEEN, who
signs to him to rise.

QUEEN.
What are my lord's commands? And may I dare
Thus publicly to hear----

MARQUIS.
My business is
In private with your royal majesty.

[The ladies retire on a signal from the QUEEN.

SCENE III.

The QUEEN, MARQUIS POSA.

QUEEN (full of astonishment).
How! Marquis, dare I trust my eyes? Are you
Commissioned to me from the king?

MARQUIS.
Does this
Seem such a wonder to your majesty?
To me 'tis otherwise.

QUEEN.
The world must sure
Have wandered from its course! That you and he--
I must confess----

MARQUIS.
It does sound somewhat strange--
But be it so. The present times abound
In prodigies.

QUEEN.
But none can equal this.

MARQUIS.
Suppose I had at last allowed myself
To be converted, and had weary grown
Of playing the eccentric at the court
Of Philip. The eccentric! What is that?
He who would be of service to mankind
Must first endeavor to resemble them.
What end is gained by the vain-glorious garb
Of the sectarian? Then suppose--for who
From vanity is so completely free
As for his creed to seek no proselytes?
Suppose, I say, I had it in my mind
To place my own opinions on the throne!

QUEEN.
No, marquis! no! Not even in jest could I
Suspect you of so wild a scheme as this;
No visionary you! to undertake
What you can ne'er accomplish.

MARQUIS.
But that seems
To be the very point at issue.

QUEEN.
What
I chiefly blame you, marquis, for, and what
Could well estrange me from you--is----

MARQUIS.
Perhaps
Duplicity!

QUEEN.
At least--a want of candor.
Perhaps the king himself has no desire
You should impart what now you mean to tell me.

MARQUIS.
No.

QUEEN.
And can evil means be justified
By honest ends? And--pardon me the doubt--
Can your high bearing stoop to such an office?
I scarce can think it.

MARQUIS.
Nor, indeed, could I,
Were my sole purpose to deceive the king.
'Tis not my wish--I mean to serve him now
More honestly than he himself commands.

QUEEN.
'Tis spoken like yourself. Enough of this--
What would the king?

MARQUIS.
The king? I can, it seems,
Retaliate quickly on my rigid judge
And what I have deferred so long to tell,
Your majesty, perhaps, would willingly
Longer defer to hear. But still it must
Be heard. The king requests your majesty