PRESIDENT. Let your Majesty return to the palace--the princess
is already far distant! [_Exeunt_.
_The Tartar Camp. Enter K'han at the head of his tribes, leading
in the Princess_.
K'HAN. The Emperor of Han having now, in observance of
old treaties, yielded up to me the Lady Chaoukeun in marriage, I
take her as my rightful queen. The two nations shall enjoy the
benefits of peace. [_To his generals_] Leaders, transmit my
commands to the army to strike our encampment, and proceed to the
north. [_They march_.
_The river Amoor. [2] Tartar army on its march_.
PRINCESS. What place is this?
ENVOY. It is the River of the Black Dragon, the frontier of
the Tartar territories and those of China. This southern shore is
the Emperor's; on the northern side commences our Tartar dominion.
PRINCESS [_to the K'han_]. Great King, I take a cup of wine,
and pour a libation towards the South--my last farewell to the
Emperor--[_pours the libation_] of Han, this life is finished. I
await thee in the next!
[_Throws herself into the river. The K'han, in great consternation,
endeavors to save her, but in vain_.
K'HAN. Alas! alas!--so determined was her purpose against
this foreign alliance--she has thrown herself into the stream, and
perished! Tis done, and remediless! Let her sepulchre be on this
river's bank, and be it called "the verdant tomb," [3] She is no
more; and vain has been our enmity with the dynasty of Han! The
traitor Maouyenshow was the author of all this misery.
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