Turandot Read online

  Right thro' the heart by Cupid's dart is shot!

  I would not flatt'ringly your Highness flatter

  With mincing terms, nor will I mince the matter.

  My mistress is distracted to-distraction

  By your attractive personal-attraction.

  If truth I speak not, may the high Fo-hi

  Grind all my bones to make his next meat-pie!

  KAL.

  So far, so good; what hast thou more to say?

  TRUF.

  Be not impatient, Royal Highness, pray.

  My mistress is a tiger-cat-(permit

  The term; tho' coarse, 'tis graphically fit.)

  She gnashes her white teeth with frantic ire,

  And raves against you, "Robbers, murder, fire!"

  If truth I speak not, may the high Fo-hi

  Make mince-meat of me for his sacred pie.

  KAL.

  No need of oaths. But hast thou not, good keeper,

  Some better news to tell a waken'd sleeper?

  Truf.

  Of course I have. Without circumlocution

  I now proceed to instant elocution:

  My charming mistress sent me here to beg

  You'll trust her with your secret. Her last leg

  She's standing on; and in sheer desperation

  She'll marry you; but must before the nation

  Appear to vanquish you-in mere appearance.

  Be quick, and of your secret make a clearance.

  Clear up the matter, and I'll then clear out;

  My time is precious. Finish off this bout.

  KAL.

  One thing thou hast forgotten.

  TRUF.

  What have I?

  KAL.

  To imprecate thy bones to Fo-bi's pie.

  Return to Turandot. Tell her from me

  She'll glorious shine in high divan, if she

  Benignant prove herself; more true distinction

  She'll gain by this, than by my hope's extinction.

  (Signs to TRUF. to withdraw.)

  TRUF. (aside.)

  I've only got my trouble for my pain;

  I'll never do a kindly act again. (Exit.)

  KAL.

  Come, gentle sleep. Refresh me, balm divine!

  Take courage, weary soul, success may yet be mine.

  (Retires to the couch, and sinks; into slumber.Enter ADELMA,

  veiled, bearing a lighted taper.)

  ADEL.

  I shall not fail. In vain was their endeavour,

  But I will venture all, the knot to sever.

  I may not learn his name,-but I'll implore

  His flight from Peking. Then my love, once more

  May hope to win his heart.

  (Unveils, and gazes upon him.)

  He gently slumbers:

  Reluctantly I rouse him, but time numbers

  The hours yet left for action. Prince, arise!

  KAL.

  Who calls? Another spirit! Do my eyes

  Deceive me? Can it be? Adelma here?

  Thy royal person in a slave's mean gear!

  Such lowly garb is surely some disguise.

  ADEL.

  No, Prince; Adelma now in slav'ry sighs.

  Beneath the galling yoke of her who martyred

  My wretched brother, and my father slaughtered.

  Not you alone must suffer from the curse

  Of Turandot's fell ire; my fate's far worse.

  KAL.

  Princess, believe me; more your lot I mourn

  Than e'en my own. So fair, so nobly born,

  So gracious to th' unhappy;-I can ne'er

  Forget your kindness to myself. If e'er

  In need of faithful service you may stand,

  Which I may render in return, command

  Me as your slave. My gratitude's eternal.

  ADEL.

  From Turandot I'd save you. Her infernal

  Devices throw a glamour o'er your senses:

  But did you know her shallow, false pretences,

  Of her great excellence you'd scorn the notion,

  Nor waste on her your noble heart's devotion.

  For all she sets up as a learned Sphinx,

  She's nothing but a sly, conceited minx.

  KAL.

  Nay, blame not her, but adverse destiny,

  Your brother willed his death; the choice was free.

  Your father fell in battle-'twas ill-fate

  Awarded death, not she. Oh, do not hate

  Your mistress; surely she your worth esteems

  And treats you as your gentle birth beseems.

  To-morrow, if I'm victor as before

  I'll freedom give you, and your throne restore.

  ADEL.

  Can nothing your credulity convince?

  Oh, fly this wicked woman, dearest Prince.

  Escape with me! Come haste! Our time is short;

  I've bribed your guards. We'll sail from the next port

  To Keicobad-there all will hail me Queen.

  KAL.

  Farewell, Princess; magnanimous you've been.

  Escape alone. To die I am content,

  You cannot turn me from my firm intent.

  ADEL.

  Ungrateful man! Then learn the horrid truth.

  The heart of Turandot can feel no ruth.

  You've foiled her cunning. Fear her tiger-spring.

  To-morrow as you pass to join the King

  In high divan,-her slaves, with stealthy blow,

  Will pierce your heart;-your life will be laid low.

  KAL.

  Oh, hapless Kalaf! must thy life thus end?

  In exile perish-far from ev'ry friend!

  O Timur, dearest father, couldst thou see

  Thine only son in such deep misery,

  All Tartary thou'dst gladly give to save

  Its royal heir from such untimely grave.

  (Covers his face in despair.)

  ADEL. (aside) Hah, Kalaf, future Khan of Tartarland!

  (Most luckily the last-told lie I planned.)

  He's in my power. If he escape one net,

  He'll fall into another, closer yet.

  KAL. (to himself.)

  I've said "Or death or Turandot." Her will

  Decrees my death-from her 'tis, welcome still.

  Adieu, fond hopes. Delusive joys, farewell!

  ADEL.

  Once more let me implore you. Do not sell

  Your life thus cheap. We still have time for flight.

  KAL.

  My honour bids me stay and brave the fight.

  ADEL.

  You're obstinate. Farewell, then, unknown stranger,

  (aside.) My love despised! I burn with jealous anger.

  Prince Kalaf, Timur's son! you're in my snare;

  I can be fierce as Turandot. Beware! (Exit.)

  KALAF.

  I'm on the rack! when will this torture cease?

  (Enter BRIGHELLA.)

  BRIG.

  'Tis time to join divan, Prince, if you please.

  (KALAF regards him suspiciously.)

  KAL.

  Art thou her tool? Shall I by thy hand fall?

  Stain not thy soul with guiltless blood. Take all

  I have, if money be thy greed. But know

  Without a struggle I'll not take thy blow.

  (Draws his-sword.)

  BRIG.

  His brain is addled, sure as eggs is eggs!

  Lor', how he stands, astraddling out his legs!

  KAL. (throws down his sword.)

  I'll not defend myself. Tell her who offered

  Base gold for life, my breast I freely proffered

  To meet th' assassin's knife. There lies my sword.

  Fulfil her stern behest.

  BRIG.

  Upon my word

  And honour, my strict orders are, to see

  You safely to divan. His Majesty

  Is all agog to see the fun.

/>   KAL. (to himself.)

  Alive

  I ne'er shall reach divan. My death I'll strive

  To calmly meet. Perchance my bleeding corse

  Will melt her heart to pity and remorse.

  (Exit, BRIGHELLA following him; guards receive him outside.

  Music strikes up.)

  SCENE.-High Divan, as in Act II. ALTOUM discovered on his

  throne; PANT. and TART. beside it; the eight Doctors seated; Guard

  under arms. Behind a curtain, in the background, is an altar,

  with a Chinese idol: a Chinese priest on each side of it. KALAF

  enters, agitated, and looking suspiciously around him; bows to

  ALTOUM.

  KAL. (aside.)

  Do I still live? Each step, I thought to feel

  The thrust of an assassin's deadly steel.

  Adelma's warning was some dream, or now I dream.

  ALT.

  My son, care sits upon thy brow.

  Glad news I have in store for thee. Alone

  Joys come not. Turandot shall be thine own.

  Three times to-night she sent to me to pray

  I would defer th' encounter of to-day.

  'Tis evident her pride is sorely vext,

  She'd hide her failure by some vain pretext.

  Rejoice, all blessings for thy weal combine,

  To-day full happiness on thee shall shine.

  PANT. (to KALAF, confidentially)-

  Believe me, if so please your Majesty-

  (I mean your Majesty that is to be.)

  Your future wife's ill-temper there's no bearing;

  Her tantrums and hysterics are quite wearing.

  A hundred times I was called up last night

  To try and set this knotty question right.

  I'd scarcely time my slippers to resume,

  Much less to dress in proper court costume.

  I just popped on my crimson satin breeches,-

  I fear I caught a cold; (sneezes) must put on leeches,

  A blister p'raps-take horrid water-gruel.

  (Blows, his nose portentously.)

  No breakfast yet I've swallowed 'Tis too cruel!

  Who'd be Prime Minister? to starve and toil,

  And fret and fume in an eternal coil.

  But yet, I would not, for a hundred dollar

  Have missed the sight of her rampagious choler;

  I was rejoiced my turn had come to grin,

  Just as folks do at me when Harlequin

  Before my nose runs off with Columbine,

  In every stupid Christmas pantomime.

  TART.

  I-I was c-called up-p inaspettatamente,

  S-she b-begged m-my a-ai-aid qu-quite disperatamente.

  ALT.

  Prepare the altar.

  (A curtain is raised, disclosing an altar with a Chinese deity.

  Two priests attending.)

  Hither call our daughter;

  Obedience to the law shall now be taught her.

  Set open all the doors! Lo, where she comes.

  (A slow march is heard. TRUFFALDIN and slaves enter, in mourning

  garments, with weepers of crape attached to their pigtails.Female

  slaves in black veils: then TURANDOT, ADELMA, and SKIRINA, all

  demonstrating extreme dejection. TURANDOT ascends her throne

  with the same ceremonies at in Act II.)

  PANT.

  Is this a wedding march, with muffled drums?

  It sounds more like a dead march, dull and dreary-

  The one in "Saul," or Verdi's Miserere.

  Her sulky Highness looks as black as thunder

  At having thus in public to knock under.

  TUR. (to KALAF).

  This sad procession, Prince Incognito

  Profound humiliation is to show.

  Your arrogance upon my shame will gloat,-

  Your eyes on your defeated slave will doat.

  I see the altar-Fo-hi's grand official

  Prepared to bind the victim sacrificial.

  My glory's dead-disgraced is Turandot!

  Condemned to wear the chain of Hymen's knot.

  KAL.

  Oh, couldst thou know how deeply I revere

  Thy maiden dignity, not thus severe

  Thoud'st show thyself, nor my fond love resent.

  As slave to thee my whole life shall be spent;

  But deign one gracious sign to give, that thou

  In time, responsive tenderness mayst know.

  ALT.

  Prince, condescend no more. Commence the rite!

  TUR.

  One moment more. (Sarcastically.) I am not ready, quite.

  (Rises and addresses KALAF)-

  I raised your hopes, that they might deeper fall.

  Prince Kalaf, Son of Timur, quit this hall

  And China's realm. Go, seek another bride.

  In vain my penetration you defied;

  No secret's hidden from the Chinese Sphinx.

  SKIR. (aside).

  She never naps-not e'en for forty winks!

  KAL.

  Ah, woe is me!

  ALT.

  Dear me, what is the matter?

  I cannot hear thro' all this general chatter.

  PANT, (aside).

  I shan't attempt just now to make him hear;

  I'm dazed myself, and his head's never clear.

  TART.

  W-what a c-ca-cat-as-ass-astrophe! Corpo di Bacco!

  H-he m-must r-re-return-colle pive nel sacco.

  KAL.

  My overloving heart has caused my woe,

  I gave up all, to please my lovely foe.

  If yesterday I purposely had failed

  To win the day, or from the contest quailed,

  My soul had now found rest. Ah, why

  Altoum, wert thou too merciful? To die

  To-day, if conquered, should have been my meed-

  Great Emperor, thus shouldst thou have decreed.

  ALT.

  Poor Kalaf! tears mine aged eyes bedew.

  (wipes hit eyes.)

  TUR. (aside to SKIRINA)-

  His grief affects me deeply; strangely new

  Emotions swell my bosom.

  SKIR.

  Put an end

  To trifling. Far as Jericho I'd send

  All shilly-shally. Do, for goodness' sake

  Speak out and say, "As husband I thee take."

  I've married twice, and know how shy one feels-

  Plunge in at once, right over head and heels.

  A royal Crown Prince, too; my stars and garters!

  Crême de la crême-the cream of Crimean Tartars!

  ADELMA.

  My soul by doubt and hate is torn;

  She loves him, though she shows such bitter scorn.

  I'm stung to anguish, yet I'll not repine,

  My rival's torture is as sharp as mine.

  (KALAF has stood bowed down by grief; he starts suddenly and

  approaches TURANDOT'S throne)-

  KALAF.

  Thy cruel will shall find no more resistance;

  Why need the headsman end my sad existence?

  This dagger shall release....

  (Unsheathes a dagger. ADELMA makes a movement of horror.

  TURANDOT precipitates herself from the throne, and stays his hand).

  TUR.

  Stay, Kalaf, stay!

  Or strike thy heart through mine.

  (Throws herself across his breast.)

  ALT.

  What does she say?

  (TURANDOT and KALAF gaze at each other in silence, for some

  time.)

  KAL.

  Wouldst doom me to a life, of love bereft?

  My hopes and joys all faded-nothing left.

  Such mercy seeks more cruelly to kill;

  But my despair is stronger than thy will.

  (Attempts to stab himself.)

  Tur.

&nbs
p; For my sake, live; nor ever quit my side;

  Prince, take me as your loving, happy bride.

  ADELMA (aside).

  'Tis agony; I cannot bear this sight. (Retires.)

  ALT.

  What do they say? (to PANT., who endeavours to explain ).

  Don't speak. I see all's right.

  SKIR.

  Fo-hi be praised! Now, this is what I call

  A great success. My pig has done it all.

  (Fetches BARAK from behind the crowd)-

  Come, dearest husband; much too long you've trembled.

  TUR.

  Let it be known to all those here assembled-

  I may not justly claim the victor's crown,

  Adelma's shrewdness served me; not my own.

  Prince Kalaf vanquished me, and may command

  As prize of his achievement, my poor hand.

  (To KALAF.) But not in deference to lawful right