ARROW-BEARER
What great pleasure for me to be able to inform you. The Criers Of the Minister of Rites proclaimed last night the order of the ceremonies. I have taken note of what I heard. [He takes from his sleeve a small scroll] I hope to write several poems about this later. It is a date quite unique in the annals of China.
GOLDEN LOTUS
Oh! read it to us, my lord.
[The young girls eagerly gather about ARROW-BEARER.]
ARROW-BEARER [reading] On this holy day on which our Empress, laying aside her mourning for her illustrious Husband, is about to take up the power in the name Of Her son, in defiance of that usurper who for three hundred years has held all China under his yoke: An order to all high Dignitaries of the Palace, to the Masters of the Ceremonies, to the Grand Secretaries of State, to the Ministers, Warriors, and Princes, to the Guardians Of the Imperial Seal! Let them hold themselves in readiness before the last watch of night and gather together all the precious objects which they have in their keeping so as to place them, according to the due rites, on the six golden tables in the Palace of Great Purity. Let the Master-in-Chief of the Music place orchestras and singers in the galleries and in the Throne-room. As soon as the last watch shall have sounded, let the Astrologer go to inform Her Majesty the Empress that the chosen hour has come when she must repair to the Temple of her Ancestors to offer the prescribed sacrifices to the August Shades. Her Majesty will be attended only by the Princesses and Her Ladies-in-Waiting.
TRANQUIL BEAUTY
By us!——Then let us return to the Pavilion, we must prepare at once.
GOLDEN LOTUS
We shall be told when it is time.