SCENE X

_The same_. THE CHILD _with his_ NURSES _and_ GUARDS.

THE CHILD [_Running to his mother and kneeling before her_]

Here I am, mother.

EMPRESS

Ah! [_She arises and embraces him._] Now I can control myself to listen----Speak!

ARROW-BEARER

Divine Sovereign, two Tartar spies entered the palace with the monstrous design of kidnapping our young Emperor. Like tigers they lay in wait, hidden in the bushes. They came out all unawares and dared to lay a hand on the sacred person of your son.

THE CHILD

Mother they threw a cloth over my head and tightened it round my throat.

EMPRESS

Oh!

THE CHILD

I could not cry out, but I struggled hard. Oh! I am very strong, I am----

ARROW-BEARER

We were on guard. The nurses with cries of horror called for our aid. We ran to them and seized the criminals.

EMPRESS

Ah, you have them? Let them be brought here at once.

[ARROW-BEARER _rises and goes out. The_ EMPRESS _seats herself again._]

WINGED PRINCE

Their trial will not take long.

FAITHFUL PRINCE

Heaven was watching over its young son and saved him.

ALL

Ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years.