Act 1 — SCENE I
Ruth Helen Davis translation
THE EMPRESS, the FAITHFUL PRINCE, ARROW-BEARER, the LADIES-IN-WAITING, CHINESE SOLDIERS.
[Wounded men are lying in their own blood here and there among the ruins. The EMPRESS is in the middle of the stage, accoutred like a warrior, helmeted, holding a weapon in her bleeding hand. The FAITHFUL PRINCE is on the top of the rampart with the SOLDIERS. ARROW-BEARER, mortally wounded, lies in the foreground to the left.]
FAITHFUL PRINCE [From the height of the ramparts giving orders to cease fire] Enough, my brave friends!——Stop shooting down the fugitives——Let us keep our powder for the final attack.
[The soldiers cease firing.]
They have fled, once again we are saved!——
EMPRESS
Ah! Saved, yes!——Saved for a few minutes at least. We have time to meditate before death. [She sits on a stone. To the LADIES-IN-WAITING who flock about her.] Look now to those who are suffering. I need nothing, only my hand is bleeding, that does not matter——See what they need, go to their aid; you have the poison in the tiny flasks, have you not?
LADIES-IN-WAITING
[Showing her the golden flasks which they carry in the folds of their dress, on to each of which is attached a little cup of jade.] We have them, noble Sovereign.
EMPRESS
That which they most desire, no doubt, is death——Pour out the draught of the Great Deliverance for those who are suffering the most——Be sparing with it, however, for, alas! we have not enough for all. The contents of the little cup of jade chained to the flask is sufficient for one man, it is the proper dose. Go, my devoted maids, bring them sleep. That is your duty in this hour. [To CINNAMON.] And you, Cinnamon, remain near me, you shall pour out my portion——Place your flask on the stone, very near me, with my Imperial cup.
[CINNAMON obeys. The other Ladies-in-Waiting go among the wounded, leaning over them and offering them the potion in a low voice. In the distance firing is still heard.]
GOLDEN LOTUS
[Very gently to ARROW-BEARER, whom she approaches at once]
My lord, do you wish to die? Then I shall empty the cup also soon after you——Do you wish to die?
ARROW-BEARER [After a silence and as if in a trance]
No, my fair trembling flower, my fair flower of the lake!——Before you came to me, I wished it——Now I wish it no longer. Let me remain for a little while among the living, to cherish in my heart that word of love which you have just spoken. Help those who are suffering more than I, without a friend——and then you will return and I shall rest my head on your knees before going to the Land of the Shades.
GOLDEN LOTUS
It shall be as you command, dear lord——Be sure I will return to you.
[She goes to the assistance of the other wounded, followed by the gaze of the dying ARROW-BEARER. The soldiers in the foreground add beams, fagots, and branches to the funeral pile. A tumult is heard to the right, in the wings, where more soldiers come on.]
EMPRESS
Who is there?
CAPTAIN OF SOLDIERS
It is our envoy Wan-tsi who has succeeded in approaching our walls and will bring us the news from without. We have thrown down the rope-ladder to him, and here he is.
EMPRESS
Ah!——Let him come. [To the soldiers who stand behind her and are adding to the fire.] Rest awhile my friends! There is more than enough now to consume my body——Why do you make the fire so large?
CAPTAIN
Why do we want so large a fire?——Faithful Prince will tell your Majesty, when he presents our last request.