[Ruy Blas][K]
Persons in the Drama
Don Sallust de Bazan | President of the Magistrates | |
Ruy Blas | Lackey to Don Sallust | |
Don Cesar de Bazan | Cousin to Don Sallust | |
Don Manuel Arias | } | Counsellors |
The Count of Camporeal | } | |
Doña Maria, Queen of Spain | ||
A crowd of Spanish Grandees, Counsellors, and Alguazils | ||
Act I
Scene—A room in the palace of King Charles II., at Madrid, about 1695.
Don Sallust: So, after twenty years of constant toil,
And twenty years of honour and high power,
The weak hand of a woman strikes me down
Into the dust. Dishonoured and exiled!
And by the queen, a foolish, foreign girl
Ignorant of our ways, who has no fear
Because she has no knowledge. Had she guessed
I had so many weapons of revenge
That I am now perplexed which one to use,
She would have been more careful. Poisoning,
Of course, is easy; and when she was dead
I could retrieve the power that I have lost.
But I would rather crush and conquer her
Some other way; make her a very slave
Obedient to my slightest wish, and rule
The country in her name. The king is mad,
And she will soon be regent. (Calling) Ruy Blas!
Ruy Blas (appearing at the door): Sir?
Don Sallust: Order my men to gather up and pack
My papers, books and documents! I leave
The palace at the break of day. But you
Must wait here till the queen comes through this room
At morning, on her way to mass. Who's that?