PRINCESS.  Thus was I, in spite of the treachery of Maouyenshow,
    who disfigured my portrait, seen and exalted by his Majesty; but the
    traitor presented a truer likeness to the Tartar king, who comes at
    the head of an army to demand me, with a threat of seizing the
    country.  There is no remedy—­I must be yielded up to propitiate the
    invaders!  How shall I bear the rigors—­the winds and frosts of that
    foreign land!  It has been said of old, that “surpassing beauty is
    often coupled with an unhappy fate.”  Let me grieve, then, without
    entertaining fruitless resentment at the effects of my own
    attractions.

Enter Emperor, attended by his several officers.

EMPEROR.  This day we take leave of the princess at Pahling
    bridge! [To his ministers.] Can ye not devise a way to send out
    these foreign troops, without yielding up the princess for the sake
    of peace? [Descends from his horse and seems to grieve with
    Chaoukeun.] Let our attendants delay awhile, till we have conferred
    the parting cup.

ENVOY.  Lady, let us urge you to proceed on your way—­the
    sky darkens, and night is coming on.

PRINCESS.  Alas! when shall I again behold your Majesty?  I
    will take off my robes of distinction and leave them behind me. 
    To-day in the palace of Han—­to-morrow I shall be espoused to a
    stranger.  I cease to wear these splendid vestments—­they shall no
    longer adorn my beauty in the eyes of men.

ENVOY.  Again let us urge you, princess, to depart; we have
    delayed but too long already!

EMPEROR.  ’Tis done!—­Princess, when you are gone, let your
    thoughts forbear to dwell with sorrow and resentment upon us! [They
    part.] And am I the great Monarch of the line of Han?

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.