SCENE I.

TOU NGAN COU, and Train.

CAN little escape me? I have fixed up an

Order, that if he is not found in three Days, all

the Male Infants under six Months old shall be put to

Death ; let somebody go to the Gate of the Palace

and look about, and if any one brings an Accusation

give me immediate notice of it. 

TCHING YNG, TOU NGAN COU, and a Solder.

TCHING YN G,

Yesterday I carry'd my own Child to Kong Sun,

and today I come to accuse him to Tou ngan cou. --

Let somebody give notice that I have News of the

Orphan Tchao.

SOLDIER.

Stay a moment, I beseech you, and I'll step in

and give an account of your coming. —Sir, [To

Tou ngan cou.] here is a Man that says little Tchao is

found.

TOU ANGAN COU.

Where is this man?

SOLDIER

At the Palace Gate,

TOU NGAN COU.

Let him be brought in.

TOU NGAN COU, TCHING YNG, and soldres

TOU NGAN COU.

Who art thou ?

TCHING YNG.

I am a poor Physician called srching.

TOU NGAN COU.

Where dost thou say thou has seen the Orphan Tchao?

TCHIN YNG.

In the Village Tai Ting, and it is old Kong sun that conceals him.

TOU NGAN COU.

How do you know it? 

Kong sun is of my Acquaintance; I was at his

House and saw by chance, in the Room where he lies

a Child in a rich Mantle ; I said then within

Kong sun is above Seventy, and has neither Son nor

Daughter, whence then comes this Infant? I discovered

my Thought; This Child, said I to him,

seems to be the Orphan so much wanted ; I took notice

that the old Man changed Colour, and could not

make any Reply, from whence I concluded that the

Infant which gives you so much trouble is at old Kong sun's

House.

TOU NGAN COU.

Go Rascal, do you think I shall credit this Story ?

You have hitherto no difference with the good

Man Kong sun, how then can you accuse him of so

great a Crime? Was it out of Affection for me? if

you say the truth fear nothing, but if you are found

in a Falsehood you are a dead Man.

TCHING YNG.

Stifle your Anger, Sir, but for a Minute, and onIy

hear my Answer: It is true have no Enmity to

Kong sun, but when I was told that you had ordered

all the Infants in the Kingdom to be brought to you

that they might be put to Death, I then had a design

on one hand to save the Life of so many Innocents ;

and on the other hand, being forty-five Years of Age,

and having a Son about a Month old, I should have

been obliged to bring him to you and have lost my

only Heir ; but the Orphan of Tchao being once discovered

the young Children throughout the Kingdom

will be saved, and I shall be in no pain about my

Heir; these are the reasons why determined to accuse

old Kong sun.

TOU NGAN COU.

I perceive you are in the right, old Kang was an intimate

Friend of Tchao tun, It is no wonder then he

is so desirous of saving the I'll take a Detachment

217 

of the Guards this Minute, and go with

Tching yng to the Village Tai Ping, which I will invest

and seize old Kong sun.

SCENE IV.

KONG SUN.

I consulted yesterday with Tching yng about raving

little Tchao; Tching yng is gone to day to inform

against me to the cruel Tou nga cou; I shall soon see the

Villain make me a Visit. [He sings. ] l What a Dust is

raised! what Company of Soldiers do I see coming!

it is the Murderer without doubt, I must resolve

to die.

SCENE V.

TOU NGAN COU, TCHING YNG, KONG SUN, and soldiers.

TOU NGAN COU.

We are at length arrived at the Village of Tai ping

let it be surrounded on all sides; Tching yng,

which is Kong sun's House?

TCHING YNG.

That there is it.

TOU NGAN COU.

Let 'em bring the Old Rascal hither. -- Kong sun,

do you know your Crime ?

KONG SUN.

I! I am guilty of no Crime that I know of.

TOU NGAN COU.

I know, Wretch, that thou art a Friend of Tchao

tun ; but thou be so bold as to conceal the

Remains of the Family ?

KONG SUN.

Tho' I had the Heart of a Tiger I should not have

Ventur'd to do it.

If he does not feel the Battoon he'll own nothing,

let somebody take one and lay it on handsomely.

KONG SUN. sings while he is beaten, and then says,

Who is witness of the Crime that I am accused of?

TOU NGAN COU.

Tching yng was the first that accused the.

KONG SUN.

This Tching yng has a very wicked Tongue : [Then he says to Tou ngan cou.] Are not you contented to

have put to death more than three hundred Persons?

Would you yet destroy a poor Infant who is left alone?

[He continues to sing.

TOU NGAN COU.

You villainous old Fellow, where is the Orphan

you have concealed ? Tel l me quickly, that you may

avoid a severe Chastisement.

KONG SUN.

Where have I conceal'd the Orphan ? — Who has seen me hide him ?

TOU NGAN COU.

What, you are not willing to make a Confession;

let him be chastised again. [They beat him.] Sure this

old Man has no feeling! Nothing moves him, he

confesses nothing: Tching yng thou didst accuse him,

take a Battoon and give him a hundred blows.

TCHING YNG.

Sir, I am a poor physician, and never learnt to

handle a Battoon.

TOU NGAN COU.

You don't know how to handle a Battoopn! --

You are afraid he should discover you an Accomplice.

TCHING YNG.

Sir, you shall see me beat him. [Takes a Battoon.

Tching yng, you have taken such a small Battoon

as if you were afraid of hurting him; surely you

must be afraid he should make a Discovery.

TCHING YNG.

I'll take one that is larger.

TOU NGAN COU.

Hold, at first you took a Twig, now you are for

taking a Beam which will do his business at two

Strokes, and then he'll die without making a Confession.

TCHING YNG.

You order me to take a Battoon, and I take a small

one; then I take another and you say it is too big

what must I do to please you?

TOU NGAN COU.

Take one of a moderate size, and let this Rascal

feel it sufficiently. --You old Wretch, do you

know 'tis Tching yng that beats you ?

TCHING YN G.

Confess all. [He beats him three times.

KONG SUN.

I am terribly maul'd, and this last Beating was

worst of all ; who gave it me?

TOU NGAN COU.

'Tis Tching yng.

KONG SUN.

What, Tching yng beat me in this manner ?

TCHING YNG.

Don't mind this old Fellow, he does not know what he says.

KONG SUN sings.

Who has beaten me so barbarously? O Tching yng,

what have I done to you? Am I then your Enemy

that you treat me in this manner ?

TCHING YNG.

Make haste and confers all. 

I will confess all.

TCHING YNG.

Confess then quickly if you are not willing to die by beating.

KONG SUN.

Well, 'twas thus then, 'twas thus. We consulted both together in what manner to save the Orphan.

TOU NGAN COU.

That is as much as to say he has an Accomplice.

Tell me, old Man, you say you are two ; one is

yourself, who is the other? If you speak the truth I'll

save your Life.

KONG SUN.

You are willing I should tell you, and I'll satisfy

you, his Name is -- at the end of my Tongue, but I have sent it back again.

TOU NGAN COU.

Tching yng, does not this affect you at all ?

TCHING YNG [To Kong Sun.]

Ah! you old Man, will you slander an innocent Person ?

KONG L UN.

Tching yng, what hast thou to fear ?

TOU NGAN COU.

You mention'd two, why don't you confess who the other is ?

KONG SUN.

You ordered me to be beaten, so that I did not know what I said.

TOU NGAN COU.

If you will not go on you shall be killed in good earnest.

SOLDIER.

My Lord, I bring you good News; searching in Cellar in his House I have sund the Orphan.

221 

TOU NGAN COU, laughing.

Let the little Wretch be brought hither that I may

see it, and have the pleasure of cutting it in pieces :

—You old Villain, you said you did not hide the

Orphan — who then is this that I hold ?

KONG SUN sing, reproaching the Tyrant With all his crimes, and says,

His barbarous Heart will not be contented without shedding the Blood of an Orphan not many Days old.

TOU NGAN COU.

The sight of this Infant excites my Anger. [Kong sun sings, the Tyrant takes the Dagger, and Tching yng seems greatly concerned.] I take this cursed Branch, and I plunge the Dagger in his Heart three times. —

Now I am at the height Of my Wishes.

[Kong sun sings, expressing his Regret; Tching yng hides his tears.

KONG SUN.

Tou ngan cou, thou art the most wicked of Mankind; take care of thyself, impious Wretch, for know there is over thy Head a Heaven that beholds all thy Crimes, and will not let them go unpunilhed:

As for myself I have no Regard for Life, I'll therefore throw myself down this Staircase of Stone, it is the kind of Death that I chuse.

A SOLDIER.

Old Kong sun has just killed himself.

TOU NGAN COU, laughing.

Since he is dead let his Name be mentioned no

more. [He continues to laugh, and speaks toTching yng.]

You have done me excellent Service in this Affair, without you I could not destroyed my Enemy.

TCHING YNG.

Sir, I have told you that had no particular Enmity to and what I have done has been to save the Lives of the little Innocents in the

Kingdom, and among the rest that of my own Child. 

You are a Man that may be trusted, you mall therefore

live in my own Palace and be honourably treated ;

you shall there likewise educate your Son ; when

he is of a proper Age you shall bring him up to

Learning, and I will take care to teach him the Art

of War: I am now fifty Years old, and have no

Heir, I adopt your Son, and intend to resign my Office

to him when he shall be of Age to take it upon

him: What do you say to it?

TCHING Y NG.

I return you, Sir, a thousand Thanks; but I am

not worthy of so great an honour.

TOU NGAN COU.

The Favour that Tchao tun enjoyed made me very

uneasy ; but now the whole Family is extinct, and I

have nothing farther to apprehend,

THE FOURTH PART.

SCENE I.

TOU NGAN COU.

ABOUT twenty Years ago I killed the Orphan

of Tchao with my own Hand, and I adopted the

Son of Tching yng, his present Name is Tou tching ;

he has gone through all his Exercises, I have taught

him eighteen various ways of Fighting, and he understands

his Business so well that no one can outdo him

except myself; he is now grown up, and in a short

time I intend to make away with the King, and

ascend the Throne myself, then my Son have

the Office I am in at present, and all my Wishes

will be accomplish'd ; at present he is performing

Exercise in the Camp, when he returns consult

about it. 

SCENTE I.

TOU NGAN COU, attended With Soldiers.

IF we would have our Affairs be attended with Success

we must not be in too great a hurry: When

I was informed that the Princess had a Son called The

Orphan of Tchao, I sent Han to guard all the

Avenues of the Palace, and publish'd an Order that

if any one should carry off, or conceal the Orphan, he

and all his Family should be destroy'd. — Sure this

little Cub fly away: I have had News of him

lately which makes me uneasy.

Enter a SOLDIER.

My Lord, I have very bad News to acquaint you with.

TOU NGAN COU.

From whence?

SOLDIE R.

The Princess has hang'd herself in her Girdle, and

Han has stab'd himself with a Dagger.

TOU NGAN COU.

Han Koue kill'd himself! — the Orphan is certainly

carried off then! — What dreadful News' — What

is to be done? The best way will be to counterfeit

the King's Order, and command all the Children

under six Months old to be brought to my Palace,

and there I will put them to death with three Stabs of

my Dagger; the Orphan will certainly be among

them, and then I shall be sure he is defrayed. --

Here, who waits? -- Go, and fix up this Order,

that all those who have Male Children under six

Months old shall bring them to my Palace, and if

any dares disobey he and

Of Tsin; the Orphan shall die, and lie unbury'd;

tho' he was made of Gold and Jewels he should not

escape the Edge of my Sword.

SCENE II.

KONG SUN, alone.

I am old Kong kun, and have been great Officer

under King Ling kang, but being grown in Years,

and recing Yuan take the whole Authority in-

to his Hands, I resigned my Office and retired to this

Village, where live at ease,

[He sings, the better express his Hatred to Tou ngan cou.

SCENE III.

TCHING YNG with a Chest at his Back.

Tching yng, what cause have you to be afraid? My

little Master how dear are you to me! Tou ngan cou,

how do I hate thee! T Tho' I have got this little Creature

without the Walls, I have learnt that Tou ngan cou

has been inform'd of my Flight, and has order'd

all Persons to bring him their Children under six

Months old, and then, without troubling himself whether

the Orphan is among them or not, he will dismember

them  and cut them in pieces ; how then can

I hide this dear Child? Here is the Village of Tai Ping

where Kung sun is retired; this old Man was a

Friend to Tchao tun; he has left the Court, and

lives his Retirement, and is a Man upright

And sincere; in his House I'll conceal my Treasure,

and I'll go immediately and make him a Visit.

I'll hide my Chest in this Arbor of Banana-Trees.

My dear little Master wait for me here a moment,

as soon as I have seen Kong sun I'll come back to you again.

[He speak to a Servant of Kong sun.] 

see him.

 [the Servant says that is at the door; Kong sun says, Desire him to walk in.

SERVANT.

My Master desires you to walk in.

SCENE. IV.

KONG SUN, TCHING YNG.

KONG SUN.

Tching yng! what Business brings you hither ?

TCHING YNG.

Knowing that you have retired to this Village, I

am come to do myself the honour to wait upon you.

KONG SUN.

How do all the King's chief Officers since I retired from Court?

TCHING YNG.

It is not as it used to be when you were in Office,

Tou ngan cou rules all, and every thing is turned upside down.

KONG SUN

We should all join to let the King know it.

TCHING YNG

Sir, you know there were always wicked Men, and

even in the Reigns of Yao and Tchun there were four

remarkable Villains.

KONG SUN

[He sings, and towards the end he mentions what happen'd to Tchao tun.]

TCHING YNG.

Sir, Heaven has excellent Eyes, Family of Tchao is not without an Heir.

KONG SUN.

The whole Family, to the Number of three hundred Persons,

are killed; the King's Son-in-law is stabbed, the Princess his hanged, Where then can the Heir be that you speak of?

211 

Sir, Since you know So well what has passed I'll

say nothing of it; but I'll tell you what perhaps you

know nothing at all of, which is this: When the

Princess was confined to her own Palace she was delivered

of a Son, whom she called The Orphan of the

Family Tchao ; and all that I fear is when Tou

ngan cou comes to know it he'll cause him to be taken,

and if he once falls into his Hands he'll barbarously

destroy him, and the Family Of Tchao will be in reality

without an Heir.

KONG SUN.

Has anybody saved this poor little Orphan ? Where

is he?

TCHING YNG.

Sir, you seem to have so great Compassion for the

Family that I can hide nothing from you; the princess,

before she died, gave her Son to me, and desired

me to take care of him till he comes to Man's Estate,

and shall be able to revenge himself of the Enemy of

his Family; as I was coming out of the Palace with

my precious Trust I found Han Kouè at the Gate,

who let me pass, and killed himself in my Presence ;

upon this I fled with my little Orphan, and could

think of nothing more safe than to bring him to your

House; I know, Sir, that you were an intimate

Friend of Tchao tun, and I make no doubt but you

will take pity on his poor Grandson, and preserve his

Life.

KONG SUN.

Where have you left this dear Infant ?

TCHING YNG.

Without, under the Bananae-Trees.

KONG SUN.

Don't be afraid, go and take him and bring him

to me. 

Blessed be Heaven and Earth, the young Prince is

still asleep!

KONG SUN sings of the Orphan's Misfortunes.

Tcbing yng says, that the whole Remains of the Family

of Tchao is in this Infant, [He sings.] and as for

me, I say he is the Cause of all the Misfortunes of his

Family.

TCHING YNG.

Sir, I suppose you don't know that Tou ngan cou,

finding that the Orphan has escaped, is going to destroy

all the Children who are about his Age, and

therefore I was desirous of concealing him at your

House, by which I shall acquit myself of all the 

Obligations that I had to his Father and Mother, and

save the Life of all the little Innocents in the Kingdom:

I am in the forty-fifth Year of my Age, and

have a Son born about the time of our dear Orphan ;

he shall pass for little Tchao, you shall go and inform

against me to Tou ngan cou, and accuse me of

having concealed the Orphan that he seeks after : I

am Willing to die with my Son, and you shall educate

the Heir of your Friend till he is old enough to

revenge his Relations. What say you Of this Design?

Is it not agreeable to your Taste?

KONG SUN.

How old do you say you are?

TCHING YNG.

Forty-five.

KONG SUN.

It will be at least twenty Years before this Orphan

can revenge his Family; you will be then sixty-five,

and I shall be ninety what Assistance can I lend at

such an Age? O Tching yng since you are willing to

sacrifice your Son bring him to me, and go and inform

Against me to Tou ngan cou, and let him know that

conceal in my House the Orphan he searches after ;

Tou ngan cou will come with his Guards and encompass

213 

educate the Orphan of till he is able to revenge

 his Family: This Design is farer than yours,

what do you say to it?

TCHING YNG.

I like it very well, but it will coSt you too dear;

let us immediately give little Tchao's Cloaths to my

Son ; go and accuse me to the Tyrant, and I and my

Son will die together.

KONG SUN.

I have said I am resolved upon, therefore

don't offer to oppose me. [He sings.] Yet twenty

Years and we shall be revenged : Could I be so happy

as to Jive till that Day

TCHING YNG.

Sir, you are yet sufficiently strong.

KONG SUN.

I am no longer what I was, but I Will do as much

as I can ; follow my Counsel.

TCHING YNG.

YOU lived altogether at ease, and l, without knowing

what I did, have involved you in Misfortunes

which greatly troubles me.

KONG SUN.

What is it you say ? -- A man of seventy like me must expect to die very soon, and to part a few Days sooner is not very difficult. [He sings.

TCHING YNG.

Sir, since you have undertaken this Affair be sure

to carry it on, don't go back from your Word.

KONG SUN.

Of what use are Words that can't be depended upon?

TCHING YNG.

If you have the Orphan you will obtain immortal

Fame. [Kong sun sings.] But, Sir, there is something

still behind; if Tou ngan cou takes you up can you

undergo the and endure the Torture 

Son must be put to death, and all my pain will be

to see the Heir of Tcbao die notwithstanding all this,

troublesome Affair.

KONG SUN.

I know that the two Families are nor to be: reconciled;

When Tou ngan cou takes me up he will say a

Thousand severe things, call me old Rascal, old Villain:

Did know my Orders, and conceal my

sworn Enemy to destroy me? Tching yng fear nothing,

whatever happens I'll make no Discovery ; do

you go and take care of the Orphan; the Death of

an old Man like me is a matter of less consequence.

[He sings, and Exit.

TCHING YNG.

Things being as they are there is no time to be lost,

I'll take my Son and bring him to this Village, and am

glad I can rave the Orphan by that means ; 'tis with

respect to me a kind of Justice, but it is a great Loss

to the generous Kong sun.

THE THIRD PART.

SCENE I.

TOU NGAN COU, and Train.

CAN little escape me? I have fixed up an

Order, that if he is not found in three Days, all

the Male Infants under six Months old shall be put to

Death ; let somebody go to the Gate of the Palace

and look about, and if any one brings an Accusation

give me immediate notice of it. 

carefully every thing that is brought out; and if any

one is daring as to conceal the lnfant, I Will destroy

him and all his Generation: This Order shall

be up every where, and the inferior Mandarins

shall have notice, that if any one acts contrary to it

he shall be deemed guilty of the same Crime.

SCENE II.

PRINCESS, holding her Son in her Arms

It seems as tho' the Misfortunes of all Mankind

Were in league to me: I am Daughter to the

King of Tsin; the Traytor Tou ngan cou has destroyed

all my Family, except this poor Orphan I have in

my Arms remember that my Husband, just before

his Death, spoke these Words: My Princess, said

he, if you have a Son call him The Orphan of the

Tchao, and take great care or him, that

when he comes to Age he may revenge his Family;

but alas! how shall I convey him out of this Prison ?

There comes a Thought into my Head; I have now

no Relation but Tching Yng, he is Of my Husband's.

Family, and, happily for him, his Name was not in

Lift; when he comes I'll trust him with the Secret.

SCENE III.

TCHING YNG, with his Chest of Medicines.

I am called Tching yng, and am a Physician by Profession;

I serv'd the King's Son-in-Iaw, and he had

a Kindness for that he had not for any Other ; but

alas! this Villain, Tou ngan cou, has destroyed all the

Family of Tchao, tho' I was so fortunate as not to be

in the List: The Princess is at present in her own

House, and I Carry her Provisions every Day; I know

that she has called her Son The Orphan of Family

Tchao, and designs to bring him up, hoping that

Will one Day revenge the Death of his Father, and the 

hardly escape the Talons of the cruel Tou ngan cou.

It is said the poor Princess wants to give her Physick

undoubtedly after her Lying-in; I must make

haste, I am now at the Door; I have no Occasion to

send word, but will go in directly.

SCENE IV.

TCHING YNG, the PRINCESS.

T CHING Y N G.

Madam, I understand you have sent for me; what

would you be pleased to have with me ?

PRINCESS.

Alas! how has our Family been destroyed in a

cruel manner! Tcbing yng I have sent for you, and

the reason is this; I am brought to bed of a Son, and

his Father, just before his Death, gave him the Name

Of The Orphan of the Tchao: you are One Of

Our People, and have always been well used : Is there

no Method of conveying away my Son that he

One Day revenge his Family?

TCHING YNG.

Madam, I see plainly you don't yet know all; the

Traytor, Tou ngan cou, knowing that you have

Son has put up Advertisement at all the Gates,

That if any one offers to conceal the little Orphan

he and all his Family shall be put to death ; after

this who dares receive him, or convey him out OF the

Palace ?

The PRINCESS,

Tching yng , it is a common Saying, That  a Person

who wants speedy help thinks of his Relations, and when

he is in danger trusts to his ancient Friends ; if you save

my Son our Family will have an Heir: [She kneels

Down.] Tching yng, take pity on me, the three hundred

Persons that Tou ngan cou has massacred are contained

in this Orphan. 

Madam, rise I beseech you; if I hide my little

Master, and the Traytor comes to know it, he'll ask

where is your Son? and you will say I have given

him to Tching yng, and then both myself and Family

will be put death, and your Son will share the same

Fate.

PRINCESS.

Banish all Fear, and make haste away ; listen to

what I say, and behold my Tears; his Father died

by a Dagger, [She take her Girdle. ] the thing is

determined, the Mother will follow him.

TCHING YNG.

I did not think that the Princess would have hanged

Herself as I see she has done; 'tis not fare for me to

stay here moment, I'll my open my Chest of Medicines,

put the little Prince in it, cover him with Bundles

Of Physical Herbs. O Heaven! take compassion on

us ; all the Family of his perished by the

Sword, and none but this poor Orphan is left ; if I

can save him I shall be very happy, and do

great piece of Service; but if I am discovered I

shall be put to death, and all that belongs to me: Oh

Tching yng! consider a little, if this Orphan is saved

he must be taken out of the Hands of Tou ngan cou,

and to hope for this is to hope to get free from the

Nets of Heaven and Earth.

SCENE V.

HAN KOUE, attended with Soldiers.

I am Han Kouè, General under Tou ngan cou, he has

order'd me to guard the Palace of Tchao so's Widow;

bur why guard it? because the Princess has had a Son;

it seems he is afraid that they should carry off the Infant,

so has order'd me to keep strict guard, and if

any one takes him away he and all his Family will

be made shorter by the Head. Well, Tou ngan cou, 

King's best Subjects, and those of the greatest Merit?

[He sings] The two Families of Tou and Tchao nouish

an Enmity which will not soon be extinguished.

[He sing] O Tou nga cou, how odious art thou!

[He still sings, and threatens Tou ngan cou with the

Punishments of Heaven] I command you to keep

strict Watch, and if anyone comes out of the Palace

give me immediate notice.

[To the soldiers.

SCENE VI.

TCHING YNG, HAN KOUE', and Soldiers.

HAN KUE.

Seize this Man that carries a Physician's Chest.

Who are you ?

TCHING YNG.

I am a poor Physician called Tching.

 HAN KOUE

Whence come you ? Whither do you go ?

TCHING YNG.

I come from the Princess to whom I have been

giving Physick.

 HAN KOUE

What Physick have you given her?

TCHING YNG.

That which is proper for Childbed-Women.

HAN KOUE.

What is it then that you carry in your Chest?

TCHING YNG

'Tis full of Medicines.

HAN KOUE

What Medicines ?

TCHING YNG

Such as is usually taken.

HAN KOUE

Is there nothing else? 

No, nothing else in the World.

HAN KOUE

If what you say is true you may be gone about

Business. [He goes away, and Han koué calls

Tching yng back.] Tching ying, Tching yng come back and

tell me what is in your Chest.

TCHING YNG.

Medicines.

HAN KOUE.

Is there nothing else besides?

TCHING YNG.

Nothing at all.

Go your ways then. [He goes away, Han kouè recalls

him, be returns.] You certainly conceal something

or other, for when I say Be gone you seem to

fly and when I say Come back you seem scarce able

to walk: O Tching yng, do you think I don't know

you? You are of the Family of Tchao,

an d I am under Tou ngan cou: I am sure you have

got the young Child in that Chest, who is not yet

a Month old: O take notice of what I

say. how can you get out of the Tiger's

Den? Am not I the next General to Tou ngan cou?

Do you think I will let you go without asking any

Questions? O know you have great

Obligations to the Family OF Tchao.

TCHING YNG.

I own it, I know them, and will endeavour to repay them.

HAN KOUE sing.

You say you will repay the Favours you have

received, but I am afraid you Cannot save yourself. [He

sends the Soldiers away.] Withdraw; if I call

come; if I don't call you, don't come.

SOLDIERS.

We will do as you say. 

O Tching yng, you said there was nothing here but

Medicines, and see here is a little Man.

[Tching yng fell upon his knees in confusion; Han kouè

sings over the Infant that he found.

TCHING YNG.

My Lord, I beseech you be not angry, but permit

me to tell you how things have happened : Tchao tun

was one of the King's most faithful Subjects, Tou

Ngan cou was jealous of him, and would have killed

him by a Dog; Tchao made his Escape, and got

out of the Palace ; his Chariot could not get along,

but the brave Ling che, remembring the Favours he

had received, carried him into the Mountains, where

it is not known what is become of him; the King

believed the Calumnies of Tou ngan cou; the Son of

Tchao tun had Orders to kill himself, the princess

was confined to her Palace, where she had a Son she

Called The Orphan, the Mother and Child were without

any Assistance; the Princess trusted me with her son; 

you have found him, my Lord, and I hope

you won't blame me ; you cannot desire to destroy

this young Branch, and extinguish the Family without

Redemption.

HAN KOUE.

Tching yng, you see that if I was to Carry this

Child to its Enemy, there are no Riches or Honours

that I might not gain ; but Han Kouè has too much

Integrity to commit so base Action.

If Tou ngan cou was to see Child —O Tching yng,

wrap up the dear Orphan; if Tou ngan cou asks where

he is I'll answer for you.

TCHING YNG.

How great are my Obligations !

[He wraps up the Infant, goes his way, returns back and

Kneels down.

Tching yng, when I required you go it was not

to deceive you, therefore make the best of your way.

TCHING YNG

Sir, a thousand Thanks.

[He goes his way and returns back again.

HAN KOUE

Tching yng, why do you return so often? [He sings]

you are afraid I should deceive you : O

if you have not Courage to expose your Life, what

obliges you to save the Orphan against your Inclinations?

Learn that a faithful Subject is not afraid to

die, and he who is afraid to die is not a faithful

Subject.

TCHING YNG.

Sir, if I go out of the Palace they'll send after me,

and I shall be taken, and this poor Orphan will be

put to death; be it as it will —go, Sir, receive the

Reward; all that I wish is to die with Orphan of

the Family of Tchao.

HAN KOUE.

You may easily save yourself and the Orphan, but

you are afraid to credit what I say.

[He sings to express his last thought, and kills himself.

TCHING YNG.

Alas! what do I see? Han Kouè has laid violent

Hands on himself; if one of the Soldiers mould give

notice of it to Tou ngan cou what will become of

Me and the Infant? We will be gone as fast as possible,

and make the best of our way to the Village

Tai ping, and there we will consider Of proper Measures.

OR, THE

Little Orphan of the Family of Tchao.

SIE TSEE, or The PROLOGUE.

SCENE I

Tou NGAN COU, alone.

A MAN seldom molests a Tiger, and yet

a Tiger is always mischievous to a Man.

If we do not satisfy ourselves, when occasion

offers, we are sure to repent. I am

Tou ngan cou, Prime Minister of War in

the Kingdom of Tsin: The King Ling cong, my

Master, had two Servants in whom he placed intire

Confidence; the Business of the one was to rule the

People, and was called Tchao tun; the other was to

govern the Army — that's myself: Our Employments

have set us at Enmity, and I have always been

desirous of destroying Tchao, but have not been able

to compass my Design. Tchao so his Son has married

the King's Daughter; I hired a Ruffian to rake

a Dagger, get over the Walls of Tchao tun's palace,

and 

execute my Orders, beat his Head against a Tree and

died the Spot : One Day Tchao tun went out

to animate the husbandmen in their Labour, and

found under a Mulberry-tree a Man half dead with

Famine; he gave him Victuals and Drink as long as

he would, and saved his Life : About this time

western King made his Majesty a Present of a great

Dog, called Tchin ngao, who gave him to me; him

I trained up to destroy my Rival in the following

manner: I Shut up the Dog in a By-Room, ordered

him to be kept from eating four or five Days ;

at the bottom of my Garden I had placed a Man of

Straw dressed like Tchao, and of the same size, in the

Belly of which were put the Entrails of a Sheep ; I

shew'd him the Entrails, and let him go, when he

soon tore in pieces the Man of Straw, and devour'd

The Contents : After this he was shut up close again, kept

from eating, and brought back to the same Place ; as

soon as he perceived the Man of Straw he fell barking,

I then let him go when he fell upon the Image, tore

out the Entrails, and devour'd them as before : This

Exercise lasted hundred Days, at the end of which

I went to Court, and sail publickly to the King,

Prince, here is Traitor has a Design upon your

Life; the King earnestly demanded who the Traitor

Was; I reply'd, The Dog your Majesty gave me can

distinguish him the King seemed pleas'd with it :

Formerly, he, in the Reigns of and Yao and Chun

there was a Sheep that could discover a Criminal by

Instinct, and am so happy as to see something like

it in my Reign; where is this wonderful Dog? I

sent for him to the King, and at the same moment

was near the King in his usual Dress; as

soon as Chin ngao saw him he fell a barking; the King

ordered me to let him loose, faying, Surely Tchao tun

must be the Traitor; upon which let him go, and

pursued Tchao tun, who ran as fast as he could

Thro' 

Dog displeased a Mandarin of War, who killed him ;

Tchao tun ran out of the Palace with a design to get

into his Chariot and four Horses, but I had taken

care to send away two of them, and broke one of the

Wheels, so that it was not fit to be used; but there

appeared a bold able Fellow, who with his Shoulder

supported the Chariot, and drove the Horses with

his Hand, and so conducted it through Passage between

the Mountains and saved the Life of Tchao tun:

Who was this Fellow? why the very same that Tchao Tun

had brought back from the Gates of Death : As

for myself I staid with the King, and told him what

was going to do for his Service, and upon the spot

Caused all the Family and Domesticks of Tchao

to be massacred to the number Of three hundred;

there only remains Tchao  so with the Princess his

Wife; he is the King's Son-in-law, and it will not

be proper to put him publickly to Death; however

to hinder a Plant from growing again it is necessary

to destroy even the smallest Root ; I have counterfeited

the King's Order, and have sent to Tchao so, as

from him, three things, a Cord, a poisonous Draught,

and a Dagger, with Orders to chuse one ; my Commands

will be executed, and I wait for an Answer.

[Exit.

SCENE II.

TCHHAO SO, and the PRINCESS his wife.

TCHAO SO.

I am Tchao so, and I have such a Mandrinate:

Who would have thought that Tou ngan cou, urged

by Jealousy, Which always divides th Mandarins Of

the Army and the Mandarins of Letters, should deceive

the King, and cause him to put to death our

whole Family to the number of three hundred persons:

Princess, hearken to the last Words of your

Spouse ; I know you are with Child, and if it happens

199 

It should be a Boy I'll give him a Name before he

is born, and would have him called Orphan of

Tchao ; bring him up carefully that he may one Day

revenge his Relations.

PRINCESS.

 Alas! you overwhelm me with Grief.

An ENVOY from the KING enters, and say,

I bring from his Majesty a Cord, Poison, and a

Dagger, and I have Orders to make these Presents to

his Son-in-law ; he may chuse which of the three he

pleases, and after his Death I must shut up the Princess

his Wife, and turn her Palace into a Prison; the

Order imports that there should not be a Moment's

delay: (Perceiving Prince, he says] Tchao so, kneel

down, and hear the King's Order, [He reads] Because

your Family is guilty of High-Treason a that

belong to it have been executed besides yourself; but

remembering that you are my Son-in-law I was not

willing to put you publickly to death ; I have therefore

sent you three Presents, commanding you to chuse

one. [The Messenger continues, and says] The Order

directs also that your Wife should be shut up in the

Palace, with strict Prohibition not to let her go out,

with design that the Name of may be quite

extinct ; the King's Order admits of no delay, therefore

make haste, and put yourself to death.

TCHAO SO.

 Alas! Princess, what is to be done in this Misfortune ?

[He sings, bewailing his lot.

PRINCESS.

O Heaven! take pity on us, our whole Family

have been massacred, and these unfortunate Wretches

lie unburied.

TCHAO SO, singing

I Shall have no Grave no more than they : Princess,

 remember what I required you to do. 

I shall never forget it.

[Tchao so repeats to the Princess, singing, the last Advice

that he gave her, and kills himself with the

Dagger.

PRINCESS.

Alas! my Spouse; this Sight will kill me with

Grief.

The MESSENGER.

Tchao so has stabbed himself, and is dead, and his

Wife is imprisoned in her own House, I must therefore

go and give an Account of my Commission.

[Then he repeats two or three verses.

The End of the Prologue.

THE FIRST PART.

SCENE I.

TOU GAN COU, and Attendants.

I FEAR that if the Wife of Tchao so should bring

her Son into the World, when he is grown up he

will become a formidable Enemy, for which reason

keep her up in the Palace as in a Prison. It is

almost Night, I wonder why the Messenger stays so

Long; I cannot see him coming back.

Enter a SOLDIER.

The Princess is brought to bed of Son, called The

Orphan of the Family of Tchao

TOU NGAN COU.

Is this true? What! this little Imp be called The

Orphan of the Family of Tchao? I will let him live a

Month, for I shall have opportunity enough to make

away with the little Orphan; I'll send Orders to Han

Kouê that he may guard the Entrance of the Palace

where