Empress monologue (Act 1) — The Daughter of Heaven

Child, do you not know the history of our race? My ancestor, defeated in this same place, defeated as I am, killed himself----An hour later his tomb was violated, his body was thrown into the street as food for the dogs and the vultures----I have declared my will. Go call Faithful Prince. He wastes his strength in a vain task, when he is bleeding. See, the blood covers his robe. His wound has reopened, he pays no heed to it. At least let him spare time to bid me farewell----Go, it is my wish. [TRANQUIL BEAUTY _rises and goes over to the PRINCE. During the preceding dialogue, he has been ordering the_ SOLDIERS _to light more torches and to carry them into the vault._]