Act 1 — SCENE X
Ruth Helen Davis translation
The same. THE CHILD with his NURSES and GUARDS.
THE CHILD [Running to his mother and kneeling before her]
Here I am, mother.
EMPRESS
Ah! [She arises and embraces him.] Now I can control myself to listen——Speak!
ARROW-BEARER
Divine Sovereign, two Tartar spies entered the palace with the monstrous design of kidnapping our young Emperor. Like tigers they lay in wait, hidden in the bushes. They came out all unawares and dared to lay a hand on the sacred person of your son.
THE CHILD
Mother they threw a cloth over my head and tightened it round my throat.
EMPRESS
Oh!
THE CHILD
I could not cry out, but I struggled hard. Oh! I am very strong, I am——
ARROW-BEARER
We were on guard. The nurses with cries of horror called for our aid. We ran to them and seized the criminals.
EMPRESS
Ah, you have them? Let them be brought here at once.
[ARROW-BEARER rises and goes out. The EMPRESS seats herself again.]
WINGED PRINCE
Their trial will not take long.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
Heaven was watching over its young son and saved him.
ALL
Ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years.