Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of HanFaxian
Philosophy
Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han
Faxian
China -- Literary collections; Chinese literature; Chinese literature -- Translations into English
PRESIDENT. Let your Majesty cease to dwell with such grief
upon this subject!
EMPEROR. She is gone! In vain have we maintained those
armed heroes on the frontier. [1] Mention but swords and spears, and
they tremble at their hearts like a young deer. The princess has
this day performed what belonged to themselves: and yet they affect
the semblance of men!
PRESIDENT. Your Majesty is entreated to return to the palace:
dwell not so bitterly, Sir, on her memory:--allow her to depart!
EMPEROR. Did I not think of her, I had a heart of iron--a
heart of iron! The tears of my grief stream in thousand
channels--this evening shall her likeness be suspended in the
palace, where I will sacrifice to it--and tapers with their silver
lights shall illuminate her chamber.
PRESIDENT. Let your Majesty return to the palace--the princess
is already far distant! [_Exeunt_.
_The Tartar Camp. Enter K'han at the head of his tribes, leading
in the Princess_.
K'HAN. The Emperor of Han having now, in observance of
old treaties, yielded up to me the Lady Chaoukeun in marriage, I
take her as my rightful queen. The two nations shall enjoy the
benefits of peace. [_To his generals_] Leaders, transmit my
commands to the army to strike our encampment, and proceed to the
north. [_They march_.
_The river Amoor. [2] Tartar army on its march_.
PRINCESS. What place is this?
ENVOY. It is the River of the Black Dragon, the frontier of
the Tartar territories and those of China. This southern shore is
the Emperor's; on the northern side commences our Tartar dominion.
PRINCESS [_to the K'han_]. Great King, I take a cup of wine,
and pour a libation towards the South--my last farewell to the
Emperor--[_pours the libation_] of Han, this life is finished. I
await thee in the next!
[_Throws herself into the river. The K'han, in great consternation,
endeavors to save her, but in vain_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account