:56:00
in the days of the Manchus...
:56:03
I could have had
her tongue cut out.
:56:06
But now, since you missionaries
have taught her to read and write,
:56:09
she's a constant menace
as long as she's alive.
:56:16
I feel sorry for you, General Yen.
:56:18
A powerful man like you
afraid of a poor little slave.
:56:23
The only way to get
loyalty is to compel it.
:56:26
Take Captain Li,
for example.
:56:29
He's the only son of a very powerful
family which claims to support my rule.
:56:34
All right, I believe them.
:56:37
But as evidence
of their good faith,
:56:39
I made them place him
in my hands as a hostage.
:56:43
Now, if they would betray me,
:56:47
the life of Captain Li enables
me to save my own face.
:56:50
That's the way
we get loyalty in China.
:56:53
That's why China is 2,000 years
behind the times. Don't you see...?
:56:56
Why are you so
interested in Mah-Li?
:57:00
I'm just as much
interested in you.
:57:05
Oh. I am deeply flattered.
:57:07
But not deeply moved.
:57:09
Can't you forgive her?
She's only a child.
:57:13
You can always do so much more
with mercy than you can with murder.
:57:16
Why don't you give her
another chance?
:57:18
Oh, I know you feel that she has deceived
you and sold information to your enemies,
:57:22
perhaps even been unfaithful
to you. All that's dreadful.
:57:25
And if it's true, you have a certain
justification in wanting to crush her.
:57:28
But I want you to think of all
those things and then forgive her.
:57:31
I don't know how you feel
about Mah-Li.
:57:33
I mean, whether you love
her as... Well, as a lover.
:57:37
But that's of no importance.
:57:39
I want you to see the beauty
of giving love where it isn't merited.
:57:42
Any man can give love where he's sure
it's returned. That isn't love at all.
:57:45
But to give love
with no thought of merit,
:57:47
no thought of return,
no thought of gratitude even.
:57:49
That's ordinarily
the privilege of God.
:57:52
And now it's your privilege.
:57:54
Oh, general, with all you have within
you, your superior brain, your culture,
:57:58
how can you be so blind
to spiritual greatness?