ch_.

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_.

K'HAN. Alas! alas!--so determined was her purpose against
this foreign alliance--she has thrown herself into the stream, and
perished! Tis done, and remediless! Let her sepulchre be on this
river's bank, and be it called "the verdant tomb," [3] She is no
more; and vain has been our enmity with the dynasty of Han! The
traitor Maouyenshow was the author of all this misery. [_To an
officer_] Take Maouyenshow and let him be delivered over to the
Emperor for punishment. I will return to our former friendship with
the dynasty of Han. We will renew and long preserve the sentiments
of relationship. The traitor disfigured the portrait to injure
Chaoukeun--then deserted his sovereign, and stole over to me, whom
he prevailed on to demand the lady in marriage. How little did I
think that she would thus precipitate herself into the stream, and
perish!--In vain did my spirit melt at the sight of her! But if I
detained this profligate and traitorous rebel, he would certainly
prove to us a root of misfortune: it is better to deliver him for
his reward to the Emperor of Han, with whom I will renew, and long
retain, our old feelings of friendship and amity. _[Exeunt._

[Footnote 1: It may be observed that the great wall is never once
expressly mentioned through this drama. The expression used is Peensih,
the border, or frontier. The wall had existed two hundred years at this
time, but the real frontier was beyond it.]

[Footnote 2: Or Saghalien, which falls into the sea of Ochotsk.]

[Footnote 3: Said to exist now and to be green all the year.]

~ACT FOURTH~

_Enter Emperor, with an attendant_.

EMPEROR. Since the princess was yielded to the Tartars, we
have not held an audience. The lonely silence of night but increases
our melancholy! We take the picture of that fair one and