No More Learning

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. _


ACT III

SCENE. --_A small, dark room in the house lent by_ DON SALLUST _to_ RUY
BLAS. _It is late at night, and_ RUY BLAS _is pacing up and
down in a state of wild agitation. _

RUY BLAS: I only am a pawn with which he plays
Against the queen. He seeks to ruin her
By means of me. No! I will save her yet.
Save her and lose her! Cunning though you are,
Don Sallust, you have overlooked one thing;
Even a lackey will lay down his life
To save a noble woman whom he loves
From ruin and dishonour.

[_Going to the table, he pours something into glass. _

Oh, my queen!
Never more shall we meet upon this earth.

[_As he raises the glass to his lips,_ THE QUEEN _enters.