The QUEEN, ALVA, DOMINGO.

ALVA.
If we may be permitted, gracious queen——

QUEEN.
What are your wishes?

DOMINGO.
A most true regard
For your high majesty forbids us now
To watch in careless silence an event
Pregnant with danger to your royal safety.

ALVA.
We hasten, by a kind and timely warning,
To counteract a plot that's laid against you.

DOMINGO.
And our warm zeal, and our best services,
To lay before your feet, most gracious queen!

QUEEN (looking at them with astonishment).
Most reverend sir, and you, my noble duke,
You much surprise me. Such sincere attachment,
In truth, I had not hoped for from Domingo,
Nor from Duke Alva. Much I value it.
A plot you mention, menacing my safety—
Dare I inquire by whom——

ALVA.
You will beware a certain Marquis Posa
He has of late been secretly employed
In the king's service.

QUEEN.
With delight I hear
The king has made so excellent a choice.
Report, long since, has spoken of the marquis
As a deserving, great, and virtuous man—
The royal grace was ne'er so well bestowed!

DOMINGO.
So well bestowed! We think far otherwise.

ALVA.
It is no secret now, for what designs
This man has been employed.

QUEEN.
How! What designs?
You put my expectation on the rack.

DOMINGO.
How long is it since last your majesty
Opened your casket?

QUEEN.
Why do you inquire?

DOMINGO.
Did you not miss some articles of value?

QUEEN.
Why these suspicions? What I missed was then
Known to the court! But what of Marquis Posa?
Say, what connection has all this with him?

ALVA.
The closest, please your majesty—the prince
Has lost some papers of importance;
And they were seen this morning with the king
After the marquis had an audience of him.

QUEEN (after some consideration).
This news is strange indeed—inexplicable
To find a foe where I could ne'er have dreamed it,
And two warm friends I knew not I possessed!

[Fixing her eyes steadfastly upon them.

And, to speak truth, I had well nigh imputed
To you the wicked turn my husband served me.

ALVA.
To us!

QUEEN.
To you yourselves!

DOMINGO.
To me! Duke Alva!

QUEEN (her eyes still fastened on them).
I am glad to be so timely made aware
Of my rash judgment—else had I resolved
This very day to beg his majesty
Would bring me face to face with my accusers.
But I'm contented now. I can appeal
To the Duke Alva for his testimony.

ALVA.
For mine? You would not sure do that!

QUEEN.
Why not?

ALVA.
'Twould counteract the services we might
Render in secret to you.

QUEEN.
How! in secret?
[With stern dignity.
I fain would 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.