]
[Footnote 3: Chow-wong was the last of the Shang dynasty, and infamous
by his debaucheries and cruelties, in concert with his empress Takee,
the Theodora of Chinese history.]
[Footnote 4: The imperial pronoun "Tchin," _me_, is with very good taste
supplied by _I_ in these impassioned passages.]
~ACT THIRD~
_Enter Envoy, escorting the Princess, with a band of music_.
PRINCESS. Thus was I, in spite of the treachery of Maouyenshow,
who disfigured my portrait, seen and exalted by his Majesty; but the
traitor presented a truer likeness to the Tartar king, who comes at
the head of an army to demand me, with a threat of seizing the
country. There is no remedy--I must be yielded up to propitiate the
invaders! How shall I bear the rigors--the winds and frosts of that
foreign land! It has been said of old, that "surpassing beauty is
often coupled with an unhappy fate." Let me grieve, then, without
entertaining fruitless resentment at the effects of my own
attractions.
_Enter Emperor, attended by his several officers_.
EMPEROR. This day we take leave of the princess at Pahling
bridge! [_To his ministers_.] Can ye not devise a way to send out
these foreign troops, without yielding up the princess for the sake
of peace? [_Descends from his horse and seems to grieve with
Chaoukeun_.
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