Turandot Read online

  It tells the age of each event.

  Upon its bark men's names it bears,

  Forgotten e'er its life be spent.

  What is this tree, so young, so old,

  So sunny warm, so icy cold?

  KALAF. (ponders awhile, then bows to the Princess)-

  Too happy is your slave, divine Princess,

  If nothing harder he may have to guess;

  This ancient tree which ever buds anew,

  Which sun and shade, man's age and deeds doth shew,

  It is "a year," revolving day and night.

  PANT. (joyfully.)

  Shake hands, Tartaglia, I'm quite sure he's right!

  TART.

  A-a-as-ass-tounding! Sono contentissimo!

  DOCTORS (having opened the papers).

  Eureka! Optime! Optissimo!

  (Flourish of gongs and cymbals.)

  ALT. (graciously.)

  Fo-hi protects thee, son; He'll save thy life.

  ADELMA (aside.)

  Ye gods, let not my rival be his wife,

  Though I rejoice her vanity is vext.

  SKIR.

  I hope he'll be as clever at the next!

  TUR.

  Shall he outwit me? No, by sun and moon;

  (to KALAF.) Your joy's precocious-triumph not too soon.

  (Rises and declaims)-

  Canst thou the fragile mirror name,

  Reflecting all creation on its limpid face;

  'Tis closed within a narrow frame,

  Yet compasses high heav'n's blue vault of endless space.

  This crystal is of priceless worth,

  But yet the poor possess it, nor possession pay;

  It is the brightest gem on earth,

  It gives and yet receives its heaven-born brilliant ray.

  What is this mirror bright and clear,

  Free given to all, to all so dear?

  KALAF (ponders, then bows to the Princess).

  Your mystery's not hard to penetrate;

  The mirror you describe so small, so great,

  So priceless, so benign, "the eye" must be,

  A heaven 'twill show if thine speak love to me.

  PANT. (embraces TART.)

  He's shot the bull's-eye through the very middle.

  SKIR.

  I never knew his equal at a riddle.

  DOCTORS (having opened the papers).

  Eureka! Optime! Optissimo!

  (Flourish of gongs and cymbals.)

  TART.

  Bravo-o-o! Bravissimo! Benissimo!

  ALT.

  I give you joy; you are a clever fellow!

  PANT.

  Our Chinese Sphinx with rage is turning yellow.

  ADELMA.

  In vain the Fates themselves would seek to foil me;

  My rival shall not of my love despoil me.

  SKIR.

  I wish to Fo-hi all was fairly over!

  ADEL. (to Turandot.)

  If you be mocked by this conceited lover,

  Your former victories will naught avail;

  Your honour's lost if this pert fop prevail.

  TUR.

  The world shall perish first! Exultant fool!

  My hate increases with thy hope to rule.

  Escape my wrath whilst yet thy life is free,

  My vengeance dread, and from the contest flee.

  KAL.

  Your hate alone, adored Princess, can move

  My soul. If vainly I implore your love,

  Then let me die; my life I do not prize

  If loathsome I appear in your sweet eyes.

  ALT.

  Hear reason, Prince, nor longer tempt the gods.

  Throw up the game,-too fearful are the odds.

  With honour canst thou quit this high divan,

  For thou'st done more than any other man.

  Yet two successes serve not, though they're glorious,

  Unless for the third time thou be victorious.

  And thou, my domineering, wilful child,

  Wilt not relent towards this youth? Be mild,

  And graciously accept his suit.

  TUR.

  Relent!

  I scorn his love,-his pity I resent.

  The law prescribes three trials. Let's proceed,

  And try if in the third he may succeed.

  KAL.

  The gods decide! "Or death or Turandot!"

  TUR. (angrily.) Death-death will be your well-deserved lot.

  PANT.

  Keep silence in the court! Ahem! ahem!

  (aside) Now for some crackjaw, mystic apophthegm.

  TUR. (rises and declaims)-

  What is that thing, held cheap as dust,

  Yet honor'd by the Emperor's hand?

  'Tis made to pierce, with sword's keen thrust,

  But sheds no blood, tho' wounds like sand,

  In number deep inflicts; robs none;

  Enriches thousands; rules the earth;

  Makes life with ease and smoothness run;

  Has founded kingdoms; ended dearth;

  Most ancient cities it has built,

  But ne'er caused war, nor war's sad guilt.

  Answer my question (unveils). Look me in the face,

  Avow you're vanquished and deserve disgrace.

  KAL. (gazes on her with rapture.)

  Refulgent loveliness! Ecstatic bliss!

  PANT, (shaking him.)

  Collect your senses! Don't take on like this!

  ALT.

  Alas, I fear his intellect is puzzled;

  He's mute,-his tongue seems tied,-his lips tight muzzled.

  PANT.

  Were't not for dignity, into the kitchen,

  I'd rush a glass of something short to fetch 'un.

  TUR. (who has returned KALAF'S. fixed gaze)-

  Unhappy wretch! thou'rt silent; thou must die.

  KAL. (recovers himself, and bows to TURANDOT with extreme composure)-

  'Twas but your beauty dazed my wondering eye.

  My mind can grasp the meaning of the Sphinx,

  Tho' it's as puzzling as the "Babe of Ginx."

  The iron thing which wounds yet sheds no blood;

  That rules the earth, and gives man wealth and food;

  On which each year the Khan doth place his hand,

  To typify his reign o'er China's land;

  In short, the instrument your riddle mentions

  Is one of mankind's earliest inventions.

  If I mistake not, Hm-ha-Let me see!

  "The plough" is meant by Riddle Number three.

  DOCTORS (having opened the papers).

  Eureka! Optime! Optissimo!

  (Flourish of gongs and cymbals.)

  PANT.

  I kiss our future Emperor's great toe!

  TART.

  Th-the S-sp-sphinx is v-van-qui-quished-Vinto è il Demonio!

  Sh-she's f-fou-found her m-ma-match. Evviva il matrimonio!

  (TURANDOT faints, ADELMA and SKIRINA support her. ALTOUM

  leaning on PANT. and TART. descends his throne, and embraces

  KALAF. The DOCTORS quit their seats, and retire to the background.)

  ALT.

  Sweet prince, our son-in-law thou'lt be to-morrow,

  A joyful climax to our royal sorrow.

  TUR. (recovers her senses, and rashes wildly between ALTOUM and

  KALAF)-

  Oh, make me not his slave! 'Twill drive me mad,

  My mind no time for due reflection had.

  Too easily his triumph was obtained.

  ALT.

  The hard-won victory he fairly gained.

  With gratitude become this good youth's wife,

  Obey the law, and end this weary strife.

  TUR.

  Once more call the divan-renew the contest,

  If I have time for thought, I'm sure of conquest.

  PANT.

  Fair Princess Tigerheart, that's rather cool;

  Don't make his M
ajesty act like a fool.

  D'you think the royal head of your kind Daddy

  Is lined with lead, like a Japan tea-caddy;

  What say you, colleague; and ye Doctors wise?

  (Doctors join hands in a circle, nodding their chins.)

  DOCTORS.

  Let bloodshed cease. The chopped-off heads suffice.

  ALT.

  To great Fo-hi's pagoda we'll repair

  And finish off this hymeneal affair.

  TUR.

  Have mercy-

  ALT.

  Mercy hast thou shewn to none,

  I've kept my oath; do thou as I have done.

  Fulfil Fo-hi's decree.

  TUR.

  Oh, spare me, Sire,

  Or at your feet behold your child expire.

  (Throws herself at his feet.)

  ALT.

  Thy marriage is ordained. Proud girl, obey,

  Too long I've bowed to thy capricious sway.

  Entreat no more. I swear by Fo-hi's sword.

  TUR.

  Hold, father, do not speak the sacred word.

  This overbearing tyrant I'll not wed;

  I'd rather make the sullen grave my bed.

  KAL. (to TURANDOT.)

  Abate your terror; nor so madly grieve;

  I'll intercede myself for your reprieve.

  Fair cruel one, who may your tears withstand?

  (to ALTOUM.) Great monarch, grant her wish; I'd win her hand

  By love's sweet power; not by enforced consent.

  (to TURANDOT.) I see thou crav'st my head-then be content.

  I love thee so intensely, that my life

  Is worthless if I may not call thee wife.

  Again a solemn test I'll undergo.

  ALT.

  She's yours by right of law. Fate willed it so.

  TUR.

  You shall not drag me to the bridal altar;

  This hand shall slay me first (draws a dagger.) It will not falter.

  KAL.

  Stay, hold your hand, and calm your poignant sorrow;

  We'll meet again in high divan. To-morrow

  The Chinese Sphinx this problem shall unravel:

  "Who is that Prince who, after weary travel

  Escaped from slavedom's thrall, and reached the goal

  And blissful summit of his longing soul;

  Yet at fulfilment of his heart's desire

  Was plunged yet deeper into tortures dire?"

  Relentless beauty, if you name aright

  The name and lineage of this luckless wight

  Then shall you gratify your hate, and take

  My life. But if you fail, then shall you make

  Me blessed, by giving me your hand. Decide.

  TUR.

  By this new compact I consent to abide.

  ALT.

  Imprudent youth, too generously kind,

  Thou know'st not her all-penetrating mind.

  But, should she conquer thee by female wile,

  Thou shalt not fall a victim to her guile.

  To-morrow's high divan shall seal her fate;

  Her wit may free her; or she'll be thy mate.

  Enough of blood's been shed.

  TUR. (aside.)

  My subtle art

  Shall crush his pride. Be firm, fond, wav'ring heart.

  (March strikes up. ALTOUM, leaning on KALAF'S shoulder,

  followed by PANT., TART., DOCTORS, and Courtiers, exeunt L.

  TURANDOT, ADELMA, SKIRINA, TRUFFALDIN, and slaves, exeunt R.)

  END OF ACT II.

  ACT III.

  SCENE.-Street in Peking. (Enter KALAF and BARAK.)

  KALAF.

  None know my name in Peking's busy town,

  Your trusty tongue's as secret as my own;

  E'en to your wife I hope you've not revealed-

  BARAK.

  From her especially the truth's concealed.

  KALAF.

  For many years, as dead I've been, given o'er.

  No mortal here has seen my face before.

  Fear not.

  BARAK.

  Dear Prince, forgive me if I blame you,

  I can't help dreading lest the Sphinx may name you.

  You were not wise to give her this last chance;

  She's so astute! She'll lead you a fine dance.

  You had possession-nine points of the law,

  Why should you for her meagrims care one straw?

  KALAF.

  Oh, had you seen her grief.

  BARAK.

  I needs must smile

  To think the tears of this sly crocodile

  Should take you in!

  KAL.

  Perhaps my tender love

  Her heart to mutual tenderness may move.

  BAR.

  No gratitude you'll get from that proud snake.

  KAL.

  Revile her not!

  BAR.

  I for your safety quake.

  She's quite as cunning as she's fierce.

  Her eyes can even through a millstone pierce.

  KAL.

  Nay, hope the best. My lucky stars preside,

  They'll crown me victor of my lovely bride.

  BAR.

  You're just the same dear, sanguine, thoughtless boy

  As ever. I can't bear to spoil your joy.

  (Enter BRIGHELLA, marching backwards, commanding a few

  Chinese guards; PANT. and TART.)

  BRIG.

  Halt! Pigtails, right! Attention! Royal Black Guards!

  (aside.) How I do hate this dangerous marching backwards!

  PANT.

  Oh, here he is! At last we've caught our bird.

  Prince, how d'ye do! Allow me just one word.

  But who's this man? (points to BARAK.)

  Of what has he been talking?

  BAR. (aside.)

  I hope they don't suspect-(aloud.) As I was walking,

  This man accosted me (I do not know him),

  He asked if I his way would kindly show him.

  PANT.

  Great Prince, you're compassed round about with traps.

  If we don't keep you in our eye-perhaps

  The Sphinx may have you murdered. To prevent

  Unpleasant little accidents we're sent

  By his celestial Majesty, to take you

  In our safe custody. We'll not forsake you.

  (to BARAK.) And you're her spy, I do believe; get out!

  And mind your own affairs, Sir Pry-about.

  (to KALAF.) As Minister, I hope I may make bold

  To say "Sweet Prince, take care you are not sold."

  Pray whisper not your name to any one

  Except to me, your friend. I'll blab to none.

  On my discretion you may safe repose,

  Confide in me; your name I'll not disclose.

  No more than I would jump right o'er the moon.

  KAL.

  No doubt; but yet my name, good Pantaloon,

  Like yours, must be quite "inexpressible."

  PANT.

  My wish to please is irrepressible.

  Command me, pray. Henceforth I will be dumb.

  The watchword is,-I understand you,-"Mum!"

  TART.

  G-go-ood Pr-prince, d-don't m-mi-mind th-that st-stu-pid P-pa-pantaioon,

  H-he's n-nothing b-but a g-go-gossipping B-buff-ffoon.

  C-co-conf-fi-fide in m-me. Your s-se-secret I won't u-u-ut-ter,

  I-in f-f-fact I c-ca-can't, 'c-ca-cause of my d-de-deuced s-st-stutter.

  PANT.

  Your Highness! to the palace, if you please.

  (Signs to BRIGHELLA.)

  BRIG.

  Recover, Pigtails! Black Guards, stand at ease!

  (Exeunt KALAF, PANT., and TART., Guards and BRIGHELLA.)

  BARAK, (who has been watching in the background, comes forward ).

  Ye Tartar deities, watch o'er his life!

  Good gracious, what can hith
er bring my wife?

  (Enter SKIRINA.)

  Where art thou going, wife, in such a hurry?

  SKIR.

  Oh, dearest husband, I'm all in a flurry.

  Our handsome guest will be Chang's future

  Who'd have believed such an astounding thing?

  The Princess Turandot is in despair;

  She weeps, she wrings her hands, she tears her hair.

  She'll kill herself if she can't tell to-morrow

  The name of your young friend. To calm her sorrow,