Act 1 — SCENE II
Ruth Helen Davis translation
The same, with the ENVOY WAN-TSI, who approaches the EMPRESS. His shoes and the hem of his robe are blood-stained. He prostrates himself.
EMPRESS
Arise, we have no further need of prostrations. We are all equal here. There is but one rank now, that which is conferred on all alike by the nobility of sacrifice. [WAN-TSI rises.] Now, speak——spare me nothing——Besides I guess——
WAN-TSI
Ah, yes, all is over, Oh, my Sovereign. Only your Palace still stands.
EMPRESS
But not for long!
WAN-TSI
The approaches to the walls have been abandoned. Perchance they may permit us to live until to-night has ended.
EMPRESS
And the rest of the city, the western citadels?
WAN-TSI
Are in the hands of the Tartars. All alike!——This cast off uniform of some enemy saved me——In the streets they are burning, killing, and murdering. Several thousand women have succeeded in throwing themselves into the river——The others have been outraged, and strangled at the same time. Blood flows along the pavement in streams like the water of Heaven after a storm. Every gutter discharges itself in the river like a great red fan. Down the whole length of the street corpses are to be seen, their bodies still warm, pouring blood through the gashes in their throats—— Noble Sovereign, on my way I climbed over thousands of dead bodies, my feet became entangled in their long hair trailing from the several heads——Oh Majesty, it is the end. [He kneels again.] And now forgive me for being the messenger of misfortune.
EMPRESS
My brave and faithful messenger, I thank you! Arise, I told you, and take your place among my last remaining soldiers——
[WAN-TSI rises and takes his place among the soldiers, who still continue to add fuel to the fire. To CINNAMON, pointing to the flask and the golden cup.]
Cinnamon, the hour has come.
CINNAMON
Oh Majesty, not yet. [The other LADIES-IN-WAITING, scattered among the wounded, have heard the command and silently come and take their places about their Sovereign.]
EMPRESS
Would you wish to have them take me alive? That man who has seen, you have heard what he has just said.
TRANQUIL BEAUTY
But the palace is still standing.
PEARL
The army of the South may come to save us.
EMPRESS
To avenge us perhaps——later. But to save us——child, who think you could save us? [To herself.] Ah, that mysterious aid for which I have so foolishly hoped!——"The Star," said the handsome lying spy, "the star which shall watch over me so well when all shall bow before the triumph of the Dragon." Child, who think you could save us?——We have no more powder, no more men, no water, nothing. We have hurled down the stones of our ramparts; the gates give way, the walls are crumbling——[To CINNAMON] Give it to me, the hour has come.
TRANQUIL BEAUTY
Sometimes when one believes all lost, fortune changes.
PEARL
Beloved sovereign, hasten not the irretrievable.
EMPRESS
The irretrievable would be to wait too long!
[She makes an imperious sign to CINNAMON, who pours the poison into the cup. But an uproar is heard from the summit of the rampart to which the FAITHFUL PRINCE has just mounted again above the barricaded gate. Night continues to fall]
What is it now?
FAITHFUL PRINCE
A small body of Tartars has boldly come unarmed to the very foot of the walls. One of them, whose manner is calm and noble, says that he has been sent by the Emperor with a last communication to your Majesty. He showed us, under the light of a torch which we lit, the Imperial seal of the Tsings, of a scroll of yellow silk.
EMPRESS
A communication? From the usurper to your Sovereign, a communication? Is not the very idea an insult? Let these bold men go away unharmed, but tell them to go at once.
[CINNAMON gradually retires with her cup of poison.]
FAITHFUL PRINCE [Descending again from the ramparts and approaching the EMPRESS with an air of mystery.] The one whose bearing is so dignified, I seem to have seen before.
EMPRESS
To have seen him. Where?
FAITHFUL PRINCE
[Coming nearer and lowering his voice] My sovereign, I think——that unknown, who came the day of the investiture——I am sure of it—It is he!
EMPRESS
[Arising bewildered] Why do you whisper?——Prince, you almost insult me with that tone of confidence, when it concerns that man. You mean him who presented himself fraudulently as our Viceroy of the South?
FAITHFUL PRINCE
Yes.
EMPRESS
Very well then, have him brought here. Throw the rope-ladder to him that he may appear before me. [The ladder is thrown from the top of the wall.]
Hide the poison, Cinnamon, and the golden flask as well. He who is coming need not know.... Has the fire darkened my face?
[The newcomers appear at the top of the rampart, the TARTAR EMPEROR first, followed by FOUNT-IN-THE-FOREST and three other persons in Tartar soldiers' uniform, but unarmed.]