SCENE VII.
_The same, the_ LADIES-IN-WAITING.
EMPRESS
So here are my household, my court of death, and doubtless my last retinue of mourners; just four persons! [_To the_ LADIES-IN-WAITING] Which two of you, my maidens, will have the courage to follow me down those gloomy paths below?
LADIES-IN-WAITING [_Bowing_]
All of us, we are all ready. Your Majesty has but to deign to name two of us.
EMPRESS [_After a pause_]
Tranquil Beauty, Cinnamon!
[TRANQUIL BEAUTY _and_ CINNAMON _approach the_ EMPRESS.]
All of you are dear to me, but I have called those who in adversity have shown the bravest hearts. [_To the others._] And you, my sweet flowers, so untimely faded, may the Water of the Great Deliverance convey you easily beyond this world through the peace of sleep.
PEARL
We have given it all to the wounded.
ANOTHER LADY
Our flasks are empty.
PEARL
The flames terrify us----but we know how to die, noble Sovereign.
ANOTHER LADY
The Lake in the garden is deep, around the Isle of Jade.
PEARL
As soon as we have conducted your Majesty to the threshold of the tomb we shall repair to the lake-side.
ANOTHER LADY
Deep in the mud, where we shall sleep tranquilly, The Lotus will entwine us in her roots and we shall live again in her flowers.
EMPRESS
[_To_ GOLDEN LOTUS, _who is seated to the left, holding in her lap the dying_ ARROW-BEARER'S _head._] And you, Golden Lotus?
GOLDEN LOTUS
Oh, Majesty, receive from here my last greeting-----To leave him, to set down his head, forgive me if I have not the courage----
[_The trumpets and gongs of the_ Tartars _are heard without, with a shouting which grows nearer and nearer._]
EMPRESS [_To_ ARROW-BEARER _and_ GOLDEN LOTUS]
Alas, poor lovers without a to-morrow, here is the marriage gift from your Empress. [_She pours out some poison into her golden cup and gives it to them._] Farewell, may you be united in the clouds. [_To_ FAITHFUL PRINCE] Let us go, Prince, show me the way. I am ready.
_The_ CHIEF _of the_ SOLDIERS [_advancing to_ FAITHFUL PRINCE.]
Prince, speak for us.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
Your Majesty, your soldiers ask one more favour of you.
EMPRESS
Is it then in my power still to do aught for them? All, all that they ask I will give.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
You desired to know why they were piling so much wood on the fire. It was for themselves. They want to die before the entrance of the Tartars, and this is the last request that they make, that you will set the torch to their funeral pile.
[_The_ CHIEF _of the_ SOLDIERS _kneels, and hands a lighted torch to the_ EMPRESS.]
EMPRESS [_Taking the torch and addressing the_ SOLDIERS.] My well beloved soldiers, be assured that your Empress will soon follow you into the land of the Shades. She accepts your request that she should flee, only that she may try to avenge you. But if happier days smile upon the Bright Dynasty she will refuse to live them. Before you all, she takes this solemn vow; When once her relentless task is at an end, she will hasten to join you in the land of the Shades----Oh, victims that are more than men, oh, conquered ones that wear the halo of glory! Oh, my heroic army!----A day shall come when the story of your sublime death shall be engraved in letters of gold on the Imperial Jade, that posterity may weep for you. [_She sets the torch to the pile_] and that the brightness of your funeral pile may dazzle the world for ever!----
[_The pile takes fire. The_ SOLDIERS _throw themselves into the flame as they sing._]
_The_ SOLDIERS
Long live our King! Long and happy life to our King!
[_A cloud of black smoke envelopes them. The sound of an approaching gong is heard at regular intervals, and then the voice of a_ TARTAR HERALD.]
THE TARTAR HERALD [_outside, in the distance._] The Command of the Emperor! Tremble and obey!
FAITHFUL PRINCE [_Hastily to the_ CAPTAIN _of the soldiers._] Let the rock be replaced as I told you. Block it up quick and throw earth upon the cement, and a pile of dust. [_The_ Captain _rejoins the few men who are standing before the tomb, still holding their crowbars and pickaxes. The_ EMPRESS, FAITHFUL PRINCE, VEILED-LIGHT, TRANQUIL BEAUTY, _and_ CINNAMON _go towards the bronze door. The other_ LADIES-IN-WAITING _follow, and kneel as they approach the door._]
EMPRESS [_At the threshold of the tomb, addressing the four who are to enter with her._] Go in before me. I will be the last to pass through. My funeral is this!----And then I wish to gaze for the last time upon my heroes and my beautiful palace yonder, still standing out in relief. [_To the kneeling_ LADIES] Arise, my cherished maidens. Do not delay. The lake to which you go is not near by.
[_The_ LADIES-IN-WAITING _go out, hand-in-hand, and as they disappear their sobs are heard. The_ EMPRESS _sets foot on the threshold of the door and then turns round like one inspired, watching the flames of the pyre, which rises higher and higher. She raises her arms as though in an ecstasy._]
EMPRESS
See the glorious red flame! See the beautiful eddying smoke. It is bright within my palace for the last time. And I see them too, those noble souls, mounting ever higher and higher in the dark whirling spirals of smoke!
SOLDIERS [_Singing in the flames_]
Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years.
EMPRESS [_To the_ SOLDIERS]
Go, my brave men!----Soar up on high, fly to the heaven of your ancestors, ascend to the god of the clouds.
SOLDIERS [_More feebly_]
Ten thousand years, ten thousand years!
[_The_ TARTAR'S _gong is heard ever closer and closer._]
EMPRESS [_To the_ SOLDIERS]
I too am doomed like you, be sure of that! Only a little later my soul will take flight. But already I am dead, dead to all save vengeance, save the fury of battle, save merciless hate. And now I must shut my door of bronze. [_To the_ SOLDIERS _who hold the crowbars._] Cement it well, my friends, to hide your Empress! Replace the heavy boulder. Immure this living corpse in her tomb. [_She closes the bronze door after her. The_ CAPTAIN _and the few men who remain replace the rock, hastily piling cement and dust upon it._]
_The Voice of the_ TARTAR HERALD [_now at the foot of the wall_] The command of the Emperor! Tremble and obey! To all without condition, pardon and liberty! Open your gates and have no fear, the Emperor grants pardon to all.
_One of the_ SOLDIERS [_who is cementing the rock_] The insult of your pardon comes too late. Before you can break down our walls, we shall all be dead.
_Voice of_ TARTAR HERALD
Open and have no fear, our Emperor grants life to all.
ANOTHER SOLDIER
Nay, there shall not even be dead to receive your pardon, nought but ashes!
Captain _of_ Soldiers [_as he finishes cementing the rock against the door of the Imperial tomb_] Our beautiful Phoenix, for want of power to spread her wings, has vanished under the earth.
_The voices of the_ Soldiers [_becoming feebler in the flames and smoke_] Ten thousand years to the Bright Dynasty! Ten thousand years!
[_The flames and smoke envelope the entire scene._]
CURTAIN