Turandot

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

TART. to withdraw, which they do with reluctance.)

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.