] Let our attendants delay awhile, till we have conferred
the parting cup.
ENVOY. Lady, let us urge you to proceed on your way--the
sky darkens, and night is coming on.
PRINCESS. Alas! when shall I again behold your Majesty? I
will take off my robes of distinction and leave them behind me.
To-day in the palace of Han--to-morrow I shall be espoused to a
stranger. I cease to wear these splendid vestments--they shall no
longer adorn my beauty in the eyes of men.
ENVOY. Again let us urge you, princess, to depart; we have
delayed but too long already!
EMPEROR. 'Tis done!--Princess, when you are gone, let your
thoughts forbear to dwell with sorrow and resentment upon us! [_They
part_.] And am I the great Monarch of the line of Han?
PRESIDENT. Let your Majesty cease to dwell with such grief
upon this subject!
EMPEROR. She is gone! In vain have we maintained those
armed heroes on the frontier. [1] Mention but swords and spears, and
they tremble at their hearts like a young deer. The princess has
this day performed what belonged to themselves: and yet they affect
the semblance of men!
PRESIDENT. Your Majesty is entreated to return to the palace:
dwell not so bitterly, Sir, on her memory:--allow her to depart!
EMPEROR. Did I not think of her, I had a heart of iron--a
heart of iron! The tears of my grief stream in thousand
channels--this evening shall her likeness be suspended in the
palace, where I will sacrifice to it--and tapers with their silver
lights shall illuminate her chamber.
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