Turandot

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).