Turandot Page 4
I bade her not torment herself, for you
Knew all about him, and his father too.
BAR.
Unhappy woman, thou hast ruined us!
SKIR.
Why, what harm's done? Why make you such a fuss?
BAR.
My head will have to answer for thy tongue.
SKIR.
Oh, nonsense, dear; I'm sure I've done no wrong.
(Enter TRUFFALDIN and slaves.)
BAR.
Behold what thou hast done, thou Chatterbox.
(TRUFFALDIN, with pompous exaggerated ferocity,
holds his sabre to BARAK's breast.)
TRUF.
Make no resistance! Yield thee, sly old fox!
SKIR.
Have mercy, Truffaldin,-my husband spare!
TRUF.
Of his bald head I'll not disturb one hair.
Good female, you're of the fem'nine gender,
And therefore towards your weakness my heart's tender.
Your husband shall not come to any harm,
So pray don't needlessly yourself alarm.
The highest honour is in store for him,
Free entrance's offered to our Hareem.
BAR.
The gilded trap of the fair Serpent-Sphinx.
She's found me out; she's eyes like any lynx.
There's no escape.
TRUF. (flourishing his sabre).
Lead on, my free-born slaves,
To where the flag of slavedom freely waves.
(Exeunt BARAK, TRUF. menacing him, and slaves.)
SKIR.
Forgive me, husband dear. Adieu, adieu!
Oh dear, oh dear, what ever shall I do?
Adelma urged me to my boastful prating-
She always is so very aggravating;
I'd like to drop a lump of deadly pison
In her next cup of "best strong-flavoured Hyson."
I do declare my brain's all in a fuddle-
Fo-hi, do help me out of this sad muddle!
I'll sacrifice another guinea-pig,
For mortals, then, I needn't care one fig. (Exit.)
SCENE II.-A vestibule in TURANDOT'S Hareem. BARAK is fastened
to one of its pillars, black mutes, with drawn daggers, stand on each
side of him. A large porcelain dish, fitted with golden coins is on a
table near him. TURANDOT stands before him in a threatening
attitude. (ADELMA beside her.)
TUR.
Yet hast thou time. Obey my royal pleasure,
And thine shall be this pile of golden treasure.
If not, my slaves shall pierce thy heart. His name
Reveal at once; his parentage proclaim.
BAR.
Your threats are vain; your treasures I despise.
Repent your obstinate resolve. Be wise
And learn, a woman's highest happiness
Is, by her love a worthy man to bless.
TUR.
To preach to me befits thee not. Desist.
My potent will in vain thou wouldst resist.
Seize on him, slaves, and do your work. Forbear
Awhile. Reflect, and save thy life. I swear
By Fo-hi's face, no harm shaft touch thy friend
Nor thee, if thou consent to serve my end.
BAR.
Your path's deceitful. Swear by Fo-hi's might
My friend shall call you his e'er morrow's night.
You hesitate-you dare not swear a lie
Before the sacred face of great Fo-hi.
ADELMA.
Presumptuous wretch, dar'st thou our queen defy?
Princess, demur no longer; let him die.
(SKIRINA rushes in.)
SKIR.
Hold, Princess; hold; your father is at hand!
(aside.) My knees are knocking; I can hardly stand.
ADELMA.
Unlucky chance! To prison with this fellow!
SKIR.
Adelma, hush; you needn't bawl and bellow.
TUR.
In deepest dungeon let him be confin'd.
BAR.
My body you may shackle; not my mind.
SKIR. (aside to BARAK.)
Take courage, husband; do not fear their spite;
The pig will save us yet; I tell you it's all right.
(Mutes hastily conduct BARAK through a secret door; others
remove the dish of gold.)
TUR.
Adelma, thou'rt my only friend. Advise
My mind distraught 'twixt love and hate. Despise
Me not, but pity me. Some counsel lend.
ADEL.
As force has failed, by craft we'll gain our end.
I have a plan,-I'm sure of its success,
If to the stranger's cell we gain access.
TUR.
Take gold-suborn his guards-the highest meed
I hold as nought if thy new scheme succeed.
ADEL.
Skirina's help I need to work my plot.
SKIR.
I'd let myself be skinned for Turandot.
I wish my service could my husband save.
TUR.
His life be thy reward, thou faithful slave.
(SKIRINA kisses TURANDOT'S hand.)
ADEL.
Your royal father comes. In me confide.
(aside.) Assist me, love, to quell her haughty pride.
(Exeunt ADELMA and SKIRINA.)
TUR.
What will Adelma's fertile brain devise?
(after a pause.) In vain the truth I'd hide from mine own eyes;
My heart is his-irrevocably his.
To be his wife-oh rapture, heavenly bliss!
Yet I must spurn his love. I will not bear
All China's cold contempt; man's scoffing sneer.
What glory would be mine could I but tame
This bragging conqueror. Pronounce his name
In high divan, and chase him from our city,
Abashed and in despair. But yet, with pity
My heart would surely break. Come, virgin pride
And woman's art my shame and grief to hide.
To-day, proud man has made me bear disgrace;
To-morrow I must triumph o'er his race.
But yet-he did not boastfully rejoice-
Rebuke I welcomed from his gentle voice.
How humble was his suit-how mild and good,
How unresentful towards my scornful mood.
Avaunt, ye tender phantasies, avaunt!
I dread the world's disdain-its scoffing taunt.
My people shall not see Turandot fall,
The slave of one means abject slave to all.
(Enter ALTOUM, perusing a scroll; PANT, and TART, following at
some distance.)
ALT. (to himself.)
The Bey of Tefflis dead? So ends this tyrant!
PANT. (aside to TART.)
What makes his Majesty indulge in high rant?
ALT. (as above.)
Prince Kalaf, heir to Tartary's high throne,
Is called to fill the Bey's, besides his own.
This scroll informs me Kalaf is the stranger
Who overthrew the Sphinx and 'scaped her danger.
I'm glad to find the Prince is no bad catch,-
My daughter's will be quite a splendid match.
PANT. (to TART.)
What is he muttering all to himself,
Just like a miser counting o'er his pelf?
I do believe he's talking in blank verse,
Or reasoning in rhyme, which would be worse.
He's deaf; if he were blind, 't would suit us better,
For then he couldn't read his private letter.
TART. (to PANT.)
A s-sp-special Es-taf-fette! Ci cova gatto!
S-such m-my-mystery! Capisco niente affatto.
(ALT. places the scroll in his breast, and signs to PANT. and
ALT.
My child, the night is far advanced; yet still
Thy restless steps pace through thy hareem chill.
Quite hopeless is thy task; not all the College
Of Doctors could impart the wished-for knowledge.
Thou canst not guess thy 'pponent's name, tho' we
Have fully learned his family history.
He's worthy of thy hand; my wish obey,
Avoid to-morrow's public exposée.
Thou'rt sure to fail. For my sake save thy fame,
My soul recoils from witnessing thy shame.
TUR.
I shall not put my father to the blush;
My adversary's arrogance I'll crush.
ALT.
Ah, flatter not thyself. Let one defeat
Suffice; do not the painful scene repeat.
TUR.
The high divan shall judge. Firm as a rock
Is my strong will. His easy task I mock.
ALT.
Has thy keen wit discovered-tell me truth-
The secret of this overtrusting youth?
If so, be gen'rous; let him go in peace;
From further strife and public struggle cease.
Deal gently with this boy of noble race,
Nor wantonly expose him to disgrace.
Thus shalt thou earn all Chang's high admiration.
Thy harsh decree has much estranged the nation.
They tell strange tales about the Chinese Sphinx,
Men's skulls she gnaws-hot human blood she drinks.
Oh, show thyself as modest, tender, duteous,-
More homage this commands than being beauteous.
TUR.
Your mercy, Sire, beseems your hoary age;
Your words might well convert a Grecian sage,
But cannot change my purpose. I'll not bow
My neck to any man: so runs my vow.
In public this pert boy my power defeated,-
In public shall my vengeance be completed.
ALT.
Dear child, paternal love shall condescend
To humbly beg obedience. Do but bend
To my desire, and thou shalt from me learn
The whole of what this stranger may concern.
In public thou shalt triumph-name aloud
Thy foe, in face of an applauding crowd.
But swear, if thus I'm traitor for thy sake
Thou wilt this suitor for thy husband take.
Thy deed will bless thine aged father's days-
Reward a loving heart-win all men's praise.
TUR. (who has listened with increasing emotion)-
His words are torture to my wav'ring pride,
How shall I act? How may I best decide?
Adelma shall I trust? Her plot may fail;
Without disgrace a father may prevail.
Down, stubborn soul (advances towards ALT., then
hesitates), and yet, beneath Man's yoke
To crouch? No, no, my vow I'll not revoke.
ALT.
Thou'rt touched. Sweet daughter, grant my fond desire.
TUR.
He fears I may succeed and thwart him. Sire,
I'll meet in high divan. My will is steady.
ALT.
Then, if thou fail, the altar shall be ready;
The rite shall be performed with solemn fitness,
While vulgar crowds shall thy confusion witness.
Their scoffing jeers shall be thy wedding hymn;
Thy father stooped in vain; now stoop to him. (Exit.)
TUR.
Oh, murder not your child! Adelma, friend,-
Forsake me not. My grief some comfort send;
My only hope's in thee. If great Fo-hi
Withhold success, to-morrow sees me die. (Exit.)
END OF ACT. III.
ACT IV.
SCENE.-A magnificent apartment, with divers outlets; in the
background an oriental couch. The scene is dark. KALAF discovered
pacing up and down, BRIGHELLA holding a torch, observing him,
and shaking his head.
BRIG.
Just three o'clock! by Kong's pagoda-chimes.
You've paced this floor just twice three hundred times.
Your Highness had much better go to sleep.
You'll have to rise with dawn's first ruddy peep.
I can't watch any more; my eyelids close.
KALAF. Thou'rt right, Brighella; go to thy repose.
(BRIG. going, returns cautiously.)
BRIG.
One word, your Highness,-when I've left my post,
Don't be astonished if you see a ghost.
You understand? You needn't be afraid;
I daren't say more; my silence is prepaid.
Forewarned, forearmed, you know. To a blind horse
A nod's as good as twenty winks, of course.
KALAF. (looking about, uneasily.)
What spectres shall I see? what dreary sprite?
BRIG.
Oh, nothing, (yawns.) I'm so sleepy, Prince, good night.
(Going, returns.)
I hope you are not angry with Brighella-
I'm but a poor, ill-paid, hardworking fellah-
The Emperor has ordered that no fly
Shall enter this apartment-you know why;
But tho' he's king, his daughter really rules.
It's hard to keep one's balance 'twixt two stools!
And what a woman wills, for good or evil.
That must be done, or she will play the devil.
(Going, returns.)
Mind, I know nothing. Keyholes may suffice;
If any noise you hear, it's only mice!
(Exit, winking significantly.)
KAL.
Good night, and thanks; your hint I comprehend.
Will treachery be used my life to end?
Nay, Turandot's too noble-I'll not fear.
The fateful hour approaches (opens a casement.)
Dawn is near,
I'll seek to drown my care in dreamy rest.
(As he sinks on the couch, a secret door opens, admitting SKIRINA
dressed in male attire, a false beard on.)
SKIR.
My lord.
KALAF. (starting up.) What man is this? Some silly jest.
SKIR.
What, don't you know Skirina? (takes off the beard.)
I'm so frightened!
Disguised I've passed your guards, in these clothes tightened.
I've got so much to tell. Your poor old tutor
Is put in chains! Yes, nothing less would suit her.
He's anxious for your life-he begs you'll sign
Your name to show you're safe; just write one line
To pacify him; or he'll all declare;
The Princess Turandot's in such a flare.
I tremble for my husband,-he's demented,
Until you've kindly to his wish consented.
I've brought a tablet-just your name indite
To ease his mind.
KAL. (takes the tablet.)
To please him, I will write.
(Suddenly recollects himself, and looks at her searchingly.)
Skirina, would'st thou traitress turn? Thy guest I've been.
SKIR. (aside.)
I promised I would do my best.
But such reproaches down I cannot gulp,
Not if my mistress beat me to a pulp.
So Miss Adelma may play off her tricks
Herself, (to KALAF.) Please don't your eyes thus on me fix.
(whimpering.) I should have thought some slight consideration
You would have felt for my sad situation.
If you suspect me.
KAL.
Nay, I'm sure you acted
All out of kindness.
SKIR. (aside.)
I shall go distracted.
(to KALAF.) My husband waits your news. My leave I'll take;
(aside.) Adelma's sharp; but he's as wide awake. (Exit.)
KAL.
Brighella warned me well.
(Enter TRUFFALDIN, covered by a long black mantle.)
Another visit!
Nocturnal ghosts abound. Well, friend, what is it?
TRUF.
Your Excellency, news excellent I bring-
You'll hear a wonderfully wondrous thing.
KAL.
Speak on, good vision; I am all attention.
TRUF.
T'explain in plainest words is my intention.
The keeper of the Hareem stands before you!
But that's not here nor there; so I'll not bore you
With all my titles. The Princess Turandot