human
Beloved Queen, he sighed,
gpt
Is it you, Iwakura? she said, in a faint voice;
human
Alas! said the Prince,
gpt
Did not some man tear me from my palace, and carry me brutally away?
human
A miserable wretch did indeed commit that crime, worthy of a thousand deaths.
gpt
What did he mean to do with me?
human
He meant to imprison you, so that he might impose his own terms on the Mikado.
gpt
Villain! cried the Queen.
human
I can guess the rest, she added:
gpt
Oh! I conjure you, cried the Prince,
human
I do not repent, she said.
gpt
I love you; I acknowledge it proudly. My love is as pure as a star; I have no cause to conceal it. I have reflected much in your absence. I was terrified by the feeling which took deeper possession of me daily; I considered myself criminal; I strove to conquer my heart, to silence my thoughts; but to no avail. Can the flower refuse to bud and bloom,--the star refuse to shine? Can the night rebel when day triumphs over it, as you have triumphed over my soul?
human
Do I hear aright? Do lips like yours address such words to me? exclaimed the Prince.
gpt
You love me! you, the Daughter of the Gods! Then let me bear you hence; let us fly from the kingdom to some distant land which will be a paradise. You are mine if you love me. I have been so miserable! Now my happiness weighs me to the ground. Come, let us hasten; life is too short to hold such bliss.
human
Prince, said the Queen,
gpt
Never meet again! cried the Prince, in horror.
human
Why do you say so cruel a thing? Why, after opening heaven to my gaze for a brief instant, do you hurl me suddenly down to the torments of hell? To be deprived of your presence will as surely kill me as to be deprived of light and air.
gpt
Do not weep. What is life? A trifle by the side of eternity. We shall meet again, I am very sure.
human
But if death deceive us, said the Prince;
gpt
That is impossible, she answered with a smile,
human
It is well, said the Prince;
gpt
I will kill myself.
human
Swear that you will do nothing of the kind! exclaimed the Kisaki.
gpt
What do we know of the will of Heaven? We may not have the right to escape our destiny; and if we do not yield to it, we may be forced to return to earth.
human
But it is impossible; I cannot endure to live! said the Prince.
gpt
Do you not see how I suffer? You say you love me, and you torture me thus!
human
Do you think I do not suffer too? I swear to you that I will die of my love without taking refuge in suicide.
gpt
You drive me to despair, Iwakura! cried the Queen;
human
Allow me to see you from time to time as heretofore, said the Prince;
gpt
Meet again after what I have told you!
human
I will forget it, if need be, divine friend; I will remain your humble and submissive servant. No word or look shall ever betray the just pride which fills my soul.
gpt
You have vanquished me, said she;
human
Punished! For what? said the Prince.
gpt
What evil do we commit? Are not all the nobles of the Court admitted to your presence? Should I alone be exiled because I am blind to everything but your beauty? Would not that be unjust?
human
It would be wise and prudent, said the Queen, sighing,
gpt
But I have yielded; let us say no more about it, but return to the palace, she added;
human
Oh, stay one moment more! murmured the Prince;
gpt
Who knows what may happen yet?
human
The Mikado sought refuge in the fortress, which was at once surrounded by soldiers; I was forced to remain in the summer-palace. All this has happened since morning. The rebels had the upper hand--
gpt
But since then they have been completely conquered, said the Prince;
human
Ever since I knew you, said the Kisaki, casting down her eyes.
gpt
I never suspected it, until jealousy revealed my love to me.
human
You jealous!
gpt
Yes, and madly. I felt a strange and constant pain; I could not sleep; all pleasures annoyed me. I gave way to my anger continually, and I abused my women. The one whom I thought you loved, I loathed. One evening I drove her from my presence because she betrayed her love by an exclamation on seeing you leaning against a tree. I returned to my palace. I can see you still in the moonlight, pale, with burning eyes.
human
Did you not see that I looked at you alone?
gpt
No; and all night long I wept in silence.
human
Oh, do not drive me mad!
gpt
You see, said she,
human
I conceal nothing from you; I lay my heart bare before you, confident of your loyalty.
gpt
I am worthy of your confidence, said the Prince;