She is not far from here, my Sovereign! Ah, if only the gods, wearied with afflicting us, would permit——To know that she is so near!——
TARTAR GENERAL
At the end of that battle which was so great an honour to the defeated, she succeeded in escaping with a thousand soldiers. But her retreat was cut off, and the Warrior Empress would have been captured long before had not contradictory orders hindering our movements, enabled her to delay her capture from day to day. You would have thought someone in great authority was watching over her with wonderful solicitude, warning her of dangers or endeavouring to turn them aside from her.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
May he live long happy days, and may his fame be imperishable!
TARTAR GENERAL
Oh, when will this dreadful war cease, which is renewed and has already soaked the soil of our country in the blood of her sons?
FAITHFUL PRINCE
I fear it will never end until one of the two races has been exterminated——Yet perhaps the hatred would be less intense if the conquerors after their victory would treat the defeated with more clemency. Let there not be so many executions, so much bloodshed. Each soldier who can no longer defend his life should be sacred.
TARTAR GENERAL