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 hither 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,
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!