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 idoclass="underline" 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;