SCENE I.--A Palace Royal.
The Curtain drawn, discovers the King und QUEEN

attended, Don CARLOS, the Marquis of Posa,
Rur-GOMEZ, &c. EBOLI, HENRIETTA, GARCIA,
Attendants, Guards.

King. Happy the monarch, on whose brows no cares
Add weight to the bright diadem he wears;
Like me in all that he can wish for, blest.
Renown and love, the gentlest calms of rest,
And peace, adorn my brow, enrich

my breast.
To me great nations tributary are;
Tho'whilst my vast dominions spread so far,
Where most I reign, I must pay homage here.

[To the Queen.
Approach, bright mistress of my purest vows :
Nor show me him that more religiou owes
To heaven,
Or to it's altars more devoutly bows.

Don Car. So merchants, cast upon some savage coast,
Are forc'd to see their dearest treasures lost.
Curse! what's obedience ? a false notion made

,
up

. A father! Oh King.

Why does my Carlos shroud His joy, and when all's sunshine wear a cloud ?

By priests, who when they found old cheats decay'd;}

My son, thus for thy glory I provide ;
From .this fair charmer, and our royal bride,
Shall such a noble race of heroes spring,
As may adorn the court when thou art king.

Don Car. A greater glory I can never know,
Than what already I enjoy in you.
The brightest orvanents of crowns and pow'rs
I only can admire, as they are your's.
King. Heav'n! how he stands unmov'd! not the

least show Of transport.

Don Car. Not admire your happiness? I do
As much admire it as I rev’rence you.
Let me express the mighty joy I feel :
Thus, sir, I pay my duty when I kneel.

[Kneels to the Queen.
Queen. How hard it is his passion to confine!
I'm sure 'tis so, if I may judge by mine. [Aside.
Alas, my lord, you're too obsequious now. [To Car.

Don Car. O! might I but enjoy this pleasure still, Here would I worship, and for ever kneel. Queen. 'Fore heav'n, my lord ! you know not what you

do. King. Still there appears disturbance on his brow; And in his looks an earnestuess I read, Which from no common causes can proceed. [Aside. I'll probe him deep

-When, when, my dearest joy, [To the Queen. Shall I the mighty debt of love defray? Hence to love's secret temple let's retire, There on his altars kindle th' am'rous fire, Then, phenix-like, each in the flame expire. Still he is fix'd

[Looking on Don Carlos. -Gomez, observe the prince. [To Rui-Gomez. Yet smile on me, my charming excellence. Virgins should only fears and blushes show; But you must lay aside that title now. The doctrine which I preach, by heav'n, is good: Oh, the impetuous sallies of my blood!

a

Queen. To what unwelcome joys I'm forc'd to yield? Now fate her utmost malice has fulfill'd. Carlos, farewell; for since I must submit

King. Now wing’d with rapture, let us fly, my sweet. My son,

all troubles from thy breast resign, And let thy father's happiness be thine.

Exeunt King and Queen attended. Don Car. What king, what god would not his pow'r

forego,
T enjoy so much divinity below?
Didst thou behold her, Posa ?
Posa.

Sir, I did.
Don Car. And is she not a sweet one ?. Such a bride!
O Posa, once she was decreed for mine :
Once I had hopes of bliss. Hadst thou but seen
How blest, how proud I was if I could get
But leave to lie a prostrate at her feet,
Ev’n with a look I could my pains beguile;
Nay, she in pity too would sometimes smile;
Till at the last my vows successful prov'd,
And one day, sighing, she confess'd she lov'd.
Oh! then I found no limits to our joy,
With eyes thus languishing we look'd all day;
So vigorous and strong we darted beams,
Our meeting glances kindled into flamies ;
Nothing we found that promis'd not delight :
For when rude shades depriv'd us of the light,
As we had gaz'd all day, we dreamt all night.
But after all these labours undergone,
A cruel father thus destroys his son;
In their full height my choicest hopes beguiles,
And robs me of the fruit of all my toils.
My dearest Posa, thou wert ever kind;
Bring thy best counsel, and direct my mind.

}

Enter RUI-GOMEZ.

Rui-Gom. Still he is here-my lord!
Don Car.

Your bus'ness now? Rui-Gom. I've with concern beheld your clouded brow.

Ah! tho' you've lost a beauty well might make
Your strictest honour and your duty shake;
Let not a father's ills misguide your mind*,
But be obedient, tho' he has prov'd unkind.
Don Car. Hence, cynic, to dull slaves thy morals

teach,
I have no leisure now to hear thee preach:
Still you'll usurp a power o'er my will.

Rui-Gom. Sir, you my services interpret ill:
Nor need it be so soon forgot, that I
Have been your guardian from your infancy.
When to my charge committed, I alone
Instructed

you

how to expect a crown;
Taught you ambition, and war's noblest arts,
How to lead armies, and to conquer bearts;
Whilst, tho' but young
You would with pleasure read of sieges got,
And smile to hear of bloody battles fought:
And still, tho' not controul, I may advise.

Don Car. Alas, thy pride wears a too thin disguise: Too well I know the falshood of thy soul,

father render'd me so foul,
That hardly as his son a smile I've known,
But always as a traitor met his frown.
My forward honour was ambition callid:
Or if my friends my early fame extolld,
You damp'd my father's smiles still as they sprung,
Persuading I repin'd be liv'd too long.
So all my hopes by you were frustrate made,
And, robb'd of sunshine, wither'd in the shade.
Whilst, my good patriot! you dispos'd the crown
Out of my reach, to have it in your own.
But I'll prevent your policy-
Rui-Gom.

My lord,
This accusation is unjust and hard.
The king, your father, would not so upbraid
My age: is my service thus repaid ?

Which to my

But I will hence, and let my master liear
How generously you reward my care;
Who on my just complaint, I doubt not, will
At least redress the injuries I feel. [Exit Gomez

Posa. Alas, my lord, you too severely urge
Your fate; his int’rest with the king is large.
Besides, you know he has already seen
The transports of your passion for the queen.
The use he may of that advantage make
You ought at least t'avoid, but for her sake.
Don Car. Ab! my dear friend, thou'st touch'd my

tend'rest part; I never yet learn’d the dissembling art. Gó, call him back, tell him that I implore His pardon, and will ne'er offend him more. The queen! kind beav'ıı, inake her thy nearest care. 0! fiy, o'ertake him ere he goes too far. [Exit Posa. How are we bandied up and down by fate! By so much more unhappy as we're great. A prince, and heir to Spain's great monarch born, I'm forc'd to court a slave whom most I scorn; Who like a bramble 'mongst a cedar's boughs*, Vexes his peace under whose shades he Now he returns: assist me falslood-down, Thou rebel passion

grows.

Re-enter Rui-GOMEZ and Posa.

Sir, I fear I've done [To Rui-Gomez.
You wrong; but if I have, you can forgive.
Heav'n! can I do this abject thing, and live? [Aside.
Rui-Gom. Ah, my good lord, it makes too large

amends,
When to his vassal thus a prince descends;
Tho' it was something rigid and unkind,
T'upbraid your faithful servant and your friend. .