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.]