Turandot

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!