ACT II

SCENE.--_The Hall of Government in the palace at Madrid, six months after. The Privy Counsellors are sitting,--among them_ DON MANUEL ARIAS _and the_ COUNT OF CAMPOREAL.

DON MANUEL: How quickly he has climbed to supreme power! General Secretary, Minister, And now Duke of Olmedo!

CAMPOREAL: It is strange, A cousin of that fallen president, Don Sallust, could have won to such a height Within six months!

DON MANUEL: The queen reigns over us And he reigns, over her.

CAMPOREAL: That is not so. Don Cesar never sees the queen alone. I know it. I have had them watched by spies. They shun each other. Do you know, he lives By Tormez mansion, in a shuttered house, With two black mutes to wait on him?

DON MANUEL: Two mutes! He is, indeed, a terrible, strange man. And now to business! We must re-arrange Some of the taxes and monopolies. We want a fair division.

[_All the_ COUNSELLORS _seat themselves._

A COUNSELLOR: I must have The salt monopoly.

CAMPOREAL: No; that is mine! You have the tax upon the trade in slaves. I'll change that for the arsenic, if you like.

[RUY BLAS _has entered at the beginning of the dispute: after listening some time he comes forward_.

RUY BLAS: You vile, rapacious gang of quarrelling thieves! What! Can you rob the dead? Here by the grave Of the great empire that was Spain, you sit, Like greedy vultures, preying on her corpse! We were the conquerors of the world, but now Our army dwindled to four thousand men That never get their arms, their food, their pay, Is but a mob of brigands, and they live By pillaging their wretched countrymen. Our hardy peasantry is crushed beneath A load of taxes and monopolies, But not a ducat of the revenue Is spent on Spain. Bankrupt in wealth and power, Dead to all sense of honour, justice, right, She lies, while you, you foul hyenas, snarl Over her stricken body.

[_Turning to the_ COUNT OF CAMPOREAL, _and the_ COUNSELLOR _who was quarrelling with him, he says sternly:_

Let me not see Either of you again at court.

[_As they depart_, RUY BLAS _speaks to the other consternated_ COUNSELLORS:

Every man Who will not serve Spain honestly must go. If there are any who will work with me In building up our country's power and fame, On equal laws for rich and poor alike, I shall be pleased to meet them in this room In two hours' time.

[_All the_ COUNSELLORS _go out, bowing low to_ RUY BLAS _as they pass by him. When he is alone, the_ QUEEN _comes from behind the tapestry; her face is radiant with joy._

THE QUEEN: You spoke to them as I would like to speak Were I a man. Oh, let me take, dear Duke, This loyal hand, so strong, and so sincere.

RUY BLAS: How did you hear me, madam?

THE QUEEN (_showing a secret door_): In this place That Philip made to watch his counsellors. How often have I seen poor Carlos here, Listening to the villains robbing him, And ruining the state!

RUY BLAS: What did he say?

THE QUEEN: Nothing, but it drove him mad at last. But you! How masterful you were! The voice With which you thundered still rings in my ears. I raised the tapestry to look at you. You towered above them terrible and great, A king of men! What was it that inspired Such fury in you?

RUY BLAS: Love for you, my queen! If Spain falls, you will fall with it. But I Will save it for your sake. Oh, I am mad! I love you! Love you with a love that eats The life out of me! God! What shall I do? Die? Shall I die? Pardon me! Pardon me!

THE QUEEN: No, live! Live for your country, and your queen! Both of us need you. For the last six months I have been watching from my hiding-place Your struggle with my treacherous counsellors, And seeing in you the master-mind of Spain, have, without consulting you, advanced Your interests. And now your strong, pure hands Grasp all the reins of government and power, Perform the work entrusted unto you! Rescue our people from their misery. Raise Spain up from her grave; restore to her The strength that made her empress of the world; And love me as I love you--

RUY BLAS: Oh, my queen!

THE QUEEN: With a pure, steady, honourable love, Working and waiting with a patient heart Till I am free to marry you. Farewell!

[_She kisses him on the brow, and departs by the secret door._