"THE PRINCE SEES THE THREE GREAT-AUNTS"

THE EMPEROR'S TEST

SCENE I

TIME: one spring; noon.
PLACE: an army camp on the banks of a large creek. A village is near by. To the south is a great forest.


THE EMPEROR.
THE GENERAL.
THE CAPTAIN.
FIRST AIDE.
SECOND AIDE.
THE MAYOR'S WIFE AND SON.
THE RICH MERCHANT'S WIFE AND SON.
THE POOR WOODCUTTER'S WIFE AND HER SON, PIERRE.

[An ante-room in the Emperor's tent is seen. Great curtains separate this room from the Emperor's room back. An AIDE waits in the ante-room. Enter the GENERAL from the Emperor's room.]

GENERAL (to the Aide). Have any yet come from the village? The Emperor would know.