Mimosa (taking flowers from Totmai). Deign to hold honorable blossoms in venerated hands——
Princess (moving away up stage on L.). Nay, I would not have dear ones die.
Mimosa (crossing, Totmai follows Princess). Condescend to listen to humble Mimosa—take them, O dear lady—deign to see I lay them against you.
Princess (hesitatingly). They, the beautiful ones, die not now, but watch in an hour, before dark night comes—they will be dead!
Mimosa (cheerfully). We will set honorable blooms in water (Haru and Yuki arrange in vases on stool at L.), we will watch; deign to believe they will not fade. The people in the village hold happy festival. They pray humbly for august presence.
Princess. O Mimosa—I go among them? I? (Moving down R.) I hear again the cry, the terrible cry of the little child! “O Amairu, mercy—mercy—I see not, I am blind—blind!”
Totmai (coming up to her R. C.). O Princess, my honorable father often excellently said: “Live under your own hat. Do well. Deign not to think what worthy neighbors say!”
Yuki (L.). O Princess, the bird that flies upward does not ruffle water. The gods are good and merciful, excellent charms are safe. O lady, forget!
Mimosa (C.). Condescend to return to the Palace.
Princess. Are these wise words, O Yuki, “Return to the Palace?” O Mimosa, heart would break if my touch brought evil to the august Son of Heaven. I will not weep. O kind ones, I will write words to my exalted uncle. Would that you returned to the gay Palace.