_The same_. THE CHILD _with his_ NURSES _and_ GUARDS.
THE CHILD [_Running to his mother and kneeling before her_]
Here I am, mother.
EMPRESS
Ah! [_She arises and embraces him._] Now I can control
myself to listen----Speak!
ARROW-BEARER
Divine Sovereign, two Tartar spies entered the palace with
the monstrous design of kidnapping our young Emperor. Like
tigers they lay in wait, hidden in the bushes. They came
out all unawares and dared to lay a hand on the sacred
person of your son.
THE CHILD
Mother they threw a cloth over my head and tightened it
round my throat.
EMPRESS
Oh!
THE CHILD
I could not cry out, but I struggled hard. Oh! I am very
strong, I am----
ARROW-BEARER
We were on guard. The nurses with cries of horror called
for our aid. We ran to them and seized the criminals.
EMPRESS
Ah, you have them? Let them be brought here at once.
[ARROW-BEARER _rises and goes out. The_ EMPRESS
_seats herself again._]
WINGED PRINCE
Their trial will not take long.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
Heaven was watching over its young son and saved him.
ALL
Ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years.