Act 1 — SCENE VII

The same FAITHFUL PRINCE, MINISTER and COMMANDER IN CHIEF. WINGED PRINCE, GENERAL and GRAND SECRETARY; POPLAR, a minister; VEILED-LIGHT, COUNCILLOR; CHAMBERLAINS, COUNCILLORS, MANDARINS, etc. They enter in turn. Lastly the TARTAR EMPEROR and FOUNT-IN-THE-FOREST.

POPLAR [To FAITHFUL PRINCE]

If your Excellency would say a word for me to the Empress, my desires would be fulfilled and I should obtain the red button, which I have earned by my services.

FAITHFUL

I know your merits and I realise what you deserve. But believe me, true greatness is above titles. We are devoting our lives to a noble cause, for the joy of seeing it triumph, and not in the hope of a reward. If we die in the service, our name will shine with a brightness, more enduring I assure you, than that of a ruby in the crown of your hat——However, rest assured I shall do my utmost to obtain it for you, since you aspire to it.

POPLAR

I shall be grateful to you to my dying day.

[He bows and goes out.]

WINGED PRINCE [To FAITHFUL PRINCE]

May I enquire after your precious health?

FAITHFUL PRINCE [Bowing]

How kind of you to trouble about so trifling a matter! My health is good, thank you. I dare to hope that yours, infinitely more precious, is also excellent to the joy of us all.

WINGED PRINCE [Bowing again]

You see me overwhelmed by a solicitude of which I am unworthy. Thank you, I am very well. Without excessive pain I am reaching the allotted span—a poor thing, it is true—of my days.

FAITHFUL PRINCE

Did you succeed in seeing the representative of our enemies, the Viceroy of Nanking?

WINGED PRINCE

I saw him and I dictated a report, which he agreed to send to Peking, but I have had to pay dearly for his discretion.

FAITHFUL PRINCE

If only we gain thereby a few days' respite, we shall not need to regret the bait thrown into the mouth of the Tiger. The treasures of the Mings, happily, are far from exhausted and the secret vaults, all unknown to the Tartars, still contain more than is necessary to defray the expenses of war.

[They go out in conversation]

VEILED-LIGHT [Talking with a COUNCILLOR]

There is a method of obtaining calabashes of a magnificent red. You graft the young plant with cockscombs——

COUNCILLOR

With cockscombs?——Can it be done?

VEILED-LIGHT

Yes, you bury them alongside the roots and pass the stems through the flesh.

A SECRETARY

I know another process for obtaining gourds of celestial blue.

COUNCILLOR [To Veiled Light]

Where did you get your information?

VEILED LIGHT

I read it in the Tu Tien Shan, a work in 20 volumes, containing the most curious secrets of horticulture.

[They pass on.]

AN OFFICER

How kind of our Empress to give us audience in the open air, among the flowers!

A STOUT MANDARIN

And to dispense with prostration. At my age and with my figure, the performance is very difficult, and, as you know, one is so easily made to appear ridiculous!

WINGED PRINCE [To FAITHFUL PRINCE, watching the approach of the TARTAR EMPEROR and FOUNT-IN-THE-FOREST]

I once met the Governor of the South, but I must be confusing him with someone else, for I recollect a person very different from this one. Yet, if I had ever seen those eyes, it seems to me that their expression would have remained in my memory.

FAITHFUL PRINCE

Indeed he has most uncommon expression and an extraordinary dignity.

EMPEROR [To FOUNT]

What makes you so uneasy?

FOUNT [In a whisper]

I am certain that I recognised here in the palace two officers from Peking, disguised, like ourselves.

EMPEROR

Yes? No doubt they were spies sent out in pursuit of me.

FOUNT

I do not think so. More likely the leaders of a conspiracy, against Nanking, perhaps to take it by surprise. We must leave here as soon as possible. All is in readiness, the horses are saddled, the vessel under steam——You wished to see this palace with your own eyes. You have succeeded, now let us depart.

EMPEROR

Depart before having seen her for a last time? Oh, no. Nothing could make me give up that happiness, which has come to be for me the most desirable thing in the world.

FOUNT

Every minute here we are risking our heads——At least as soon as you have had your audience, I beg you not to delay another instant.

EMPEROR

You have my promise.

FOUNT

The Faithful Prince has looked toward you several times and you cannot do otherwise now than greet him. He is Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief, the most important person here; a great heart and a fine character. His rank places him above a viceroy.

EMPEROR

What shall I say to him?

FOUNT

A few polite commonplaces.

EMPEROR

Can I do so? [He approaches the FAITHFUL PRINCE and salutes him.] Illustrious Prince, may a long and happy life be yours! It is a blessing of Heaven to be permitted to gaze upon your noble countenance and to meet the light of your eyes.

FAITHFUL PRINCE [Returning the bow]

In truth I might say the same to you——But I beg of you let us dispense with compliments. Are you satisfied with your government of the South?

EMPEROR

That region is the most faithfully rebellious of the whole Empire, and is so far away that the orders for its repression are lost before they reach it. The inhabitants refuse to pay the tax levied by the Tartars and of their own accord deposit the money in our coffers.

FAITHFUL PRINCE

You do not fail to accept only half of it, and to refuse it altogether during bad years?——

EMPEROR

I have done so, which accounts for our popularity.

FAITHFUL PRINCE

Perhaps you would like to be near the throne, in order to obtain a higher rank, more in accordance with your merits. Make use of my influence to support your request——

EMPEROR

I am the slave of her Majesty, ready to serve her in any position in which she may wish to employ me, but I ask for nothing, and the good opinion which Your Excellence has of my merits is to me the most acceptable recompense.

FAITHFUL PRINCE

I congratulate you on being without ambition and not fixing a prize on your devotion——Our Sovereign will appear soon.

EMPEROR [To FOUNT]

Did I acquit myself creditably?

FOUNT

In very dangerous words. Ah, how I wish I saw you safely away from here!

EMPEROR

Oh, that I might remain always!——She is coming!