[The bronze door opens. PEARL kneels and hides her face. GOLDEN LOTUS, a little apart from the group, is kneeling near ARROW-BEARER, and speaks tenderly to him, as she smooths his forehead.]
This proud tomb, long ago hewn out secretly, is of no use now. There rather, there in the beautiful flame and the eddying smoke, my spirit will ascend to the clouds——Nothing of me shall remain for the hands of the Tartar to profane. In vain they will have surrounded me. I shall escape them, in the air——
TRANQUIL BEAUTY [Also kneeling]
But Sovereign, since this tomb is secret and is inviolable, at least permit your attendants to bury you there, in magnificence.——Permit that, oh, well beloved Sovereign;——That flame, oh, why that flame? No, no, it is too horrible.
EMPRESS
Child, do you not know the history of our race? My ancestor, defeated in this same place, defeated as I am, killed himself——An hour later his tomb was violated, his body was thrown into the street as food for the dogs and the vultures——I have declared my will. Go call Faithful Prince. He wastes his strength in a vain task, when he is bleeding. See, the blood covers his robe. His wound has reopened, he pays no heed to it. At least let him spare time to bid me farewell——Go, it is my wish. [TRANQUIL BEAUTY rises and goes over to the PRINCE. During the preceding dialogue, he has been ordering the SOLDIERS to light more torches and to carry them into the vault.]
TRANQUIL BEAUTY [Advancing to FAITHFUL PRINCE]
Prince!——The Empress——
[FAITHFUL PRINCE approaches the EMPRESS.]