ACT. SCENE 1st.-The Hall of the Palace. King. Nobles of the palace! Noble. Lord! King, nobles. King. Why fails the prince Thoodanoo to come into the presence? Noble. Oh, ruler of a hundred subject kings,-whose light is like the sun of the universe; he has but even now wedded the daughter of the philosopher Naythoda. The governor of Setang, and the chiefs of Siam and Cochin-China, who have heretofore annually brought tribute, and presents of ingots of gold and silver, white and red cloths, velvets, bales of cloths, gold and silver lace, and gold and silver flowers, have now failed in their duty. Nor is this the limit of their folly; they are making encroachments upon the frontier, and in the pride of their hearts are destroying the villages, and oppressing the people. The confusion which they have created is so great that the inhabitants are afraid to remain on the frontier; an ambassador has only now reached from the Tsaubwas. King. If this is true, call the lord of the east house (eldest son), and let him appear forthwith! SCENE 2nd. Noble. Oh my lord, &c. &c. &c. &c. Prince. Say, what thou hast to say. [Music. Noble. The royal sire has sent to command your presence. Prince. If I am called, I will but take a glance into the mirrors and adjust my turban, and come with you at once into the audience chamber. SCENE 3rd.-The Hall of Audience. Prince, nobles. Prince. My lords, tell me, who am the royal son, whose glory is like the sun of day, who enlightens the four islands; whose renown is universally spread; whether the imperial father-the embryo deity whose white umbrella is unfurled-has yet entered the palace of audience ;-tell me, too, if the royal mother, who reclineth upon the throne of lilies, has yet displayed her golden countenance, and is well? SONG. Wrought o'er with gems, and regal gold, To kings, who hither come to kneel, Whose rocks are rubies,-gold its sand. It comes not to a shore like this; And mirth and love reign every where. [The King enters. Prince. Oh, mighty father, this lion-hearted son, when he received the imperial order, placed it upon his head, and hastened to obey it. King. My second self, my son Thoodanoo! Prince. My lord. King. The people of the whole country, the rebellious wretches, are up like flames of fire-go, and exterminate them. Prince. (I have heard that) Setang, Siam, and Cochin-China, not fearing the golden sword, are in open rebellion. It is nothing. They seek a quarrel, and the golden son will root up the whole race, without making use of the weapons of war;-he will but publish forth the king's glorious title, and they are gone. King. Good, my son; go forth and repay to me the favours I have bestowed upon you. Let Cochin-China be your first point of assault, and return not till you come as a conqueror. Prince. I will reverently obey the royal command, and make the golden cause conspicuous. SCENE 4th. The Prince's palace. Prince to Mananhurree. Delicate creature; silver palace-born beauty; whose charms are so surpassingly wonderful; I must go with the army which marches with to-morrow's dawn. Manan. Oh, my lord, why will you thus desert me? You are my only protector here, at once my father, and my husband. If indeed you have resolved to abandon me, I must bear the fate that awaits me. Prince. It must not be so, pride of my soul. I must not neglect the duty which a child owes its parent: moreover, consider, I beseech you, that I am nearest the throne, and must yield to the custom of my country, and lead the army against the rebels. Manan. Alas! If you possess so little affection for me, as to leave me here alone, I must submit to my evil destiny. Prince. [To his Noble.] Hear you not my lord? She does not say, stay; nor does she desire me to go!-she weeps!-her tears and smiles are so fascinating, that I shall be vanquished; her tears are like sparkling drops of dew upon the leaf of the lily; whenever I look upon them, I have not resolution enough to go. Noble. Let me explain to your highness. The princess is here without friends; if you desert her, she will be as much alone as the kynneya without its mate; she will be confounded with her lot, and will be no more than a waxen image. There is indeed no necessity for your departure, and leaving her here in tears. Prince. Alas! If I avoid this campaign, I shall have my name held up to the scorn and contempt of posterity. The king, my father, will be enraged against me if I do not accompany the army. Oh, I must indeed depart. Then this friendless one! when left alone, will break her heart, and I shall be left destitute. I am in a painful dilemma, (like a bamboo between two boards)! I may as well swallow poison, or throw myself into a furnace. If I petition the king to allow me to remain at home, he will order me to do so; but after what I have already promised it will be improper to ask!-then she will not die !—— she will only waste away. I will join the army ;-caparison my elephant Mengala, and bring him to the palace, and the lord of the golden universe will depart. SCENE 5th. The Prince's Palace. Princess, attendants. Manan. Mala, Maensa! my faithful maidens come hither; for the time of my pregnancy is completed. Maensa. [To the Treasurer.] Here is our royal mistress at the time. [The child is born. Treas. I must hasten to the camp, and communicate the tidings to the royal ear. ACT. Treas. Oh, my lord! the empress sovereign of the state! Prince. Speak, my lord. Trea. I am come to communicate to the golden ear, that the Princess Manan has been delivered of a son. Prince. Then I will forthwith return, and look upon my little son. ACT. SCENE 1st.-The Prince's palace. Prince. Gem of my heart, tell me! tell me, if you are well! Manan. I am well, my lord. Prince. [To his lord in waiting.] Make known to all the army, that the little prince has received the name of Moung Shory Gyew. [To the princess.] Pure leaf of silver, captivating creature, picture of softness and beauty, mother of our babe-stay but for a brief space with your companions, my concubines, in the palace, and I will again be with you in three months. Manan. Pray do not be concerned about me, my lord, I will stay here; commence your journey, and be true to me. Prince. You say well, my rose tree, but it is not my own wish to depart; I must obediently perform my sire's command; of course I must not avoid my duty. SCENE 2nd.-The Prince's palace. Princess, attendants. Manan. Oh, my maids; the little prince is now seven days old, let us place him in the emerald cradle and rock him (to sleep.) SONG. Gently let us rock the swing, And hush to sleep the baby king: Palace maidens-softly sing, (Chorus) And lull to sleep the baby king. Coolly let the palace rose In his jewell'd couch repose : Persuasive voices, hither bring, (Chorus) And lull to sleep the baby king. SCENE 3rd.-Palace of Audience. King. Oh, wise ministers, who continually wait in my presence like the seven mountains which surround the lake Nandat !—I have dreamt that the country of Pyentsa was surrounded by my intestines, and that the sun and moon descended from the firmament and fell into my lap. Explain quickly what this means. Noble. Oh, king of the golden palace, whose glory is great, the Brahmin Naythoda, whose place is near the throne, will be able to understand the dream. King. Call hither the Brahmin Naythoda. [Naythoda and his disciple enter] Oh, learned teacher, I have dreamed that my bowels surrounded the country of Pyentsa, and that the sun and the moon fell at my feet. Show me the interpretation of this thing. Naythoda. It is well, Oh benefactor!-let me but consult my astrological tables; [he consults his scheme,] one from one-nothing; nine from one-nothing; two and five.—I have made the calculation— [the Pawn tumbles in the water,] Oh! are there nine, or one? [To his scholar,] The benefactor dreams propitiously, but I will divine unfavourably. [To the King,] The benefactor, the lord of life and property, must sacrifice to the Yeet spirit one hundred fowls, and one hundred hogs, and it will be appeased. King. Is this all, Oh teacher ? Nay. Lord of the earth, I am afraid to King. Say on, learned teacher, without regard to any one; only let myself and the chief queen be exempt. Nay. Oh! benefactor, cut the throat of that celestial spirit who is like the kynneya, and offer up her blood before the Yeet Nat. [To his disciple,] Close the doors of the prince's palace on all sides, for so is the king's command. SCENE 4th.-The Prince's palace. Princess, attendants. Manan. Oh, my faithful women, Mala! Maensa! go and take your rest. My doors are closed, and my blood is to be poured out before the Yeet spirit must it indeed be so? Oh, my absent lord, our son Moung Shory Gyew is yet an infant. SONG. [Enter the Prince's Mother. Queen. Oh, daughter of the pleasing countenance! here is your enchanted zone ;-take it, and escape to the city of the silver mountain. Manan. Thanks, royal madam; thrice I salute you reverently. SONG. ACT. SCENE 1st. At the hermitage of a recluse who lives on the boundary which divides the earth from the country of the silver mountain. Princess. Recluse. Manan. Holy hermit, should the Prince of Pyentsa come hither, deliver, I pray you, this ring and these drugs into his hand. |