Turandot

I shan't attempt just now to make him hear;

I'm dazed myself, and his head's never clear.

TART.

W-what a c-ca-cat-as-ass-astrophe! Corpo di Bacco!

H-he m-must r-re-return-colle pive nel sacco.

KAL.

My overloving heart has caused my woe,

I gave up all, to please my lovely foe.

If yesterday I purposely had failed

To win the day, or from the contest quailed,

My soul had now found rest. Ah, why

Altoum, wert thou too merciful? To die

To-day, if conquered, should have been my meed-

Great Emperor, thus shouldst thou have decreed.

ALT.

Poor Kalaf! tears mine aged eyes bedew.

(wipes hit eyes.)

TUR. (aside to SKIRINA)-

His grief affects me deeply; strangely new

Emotions swell my bosom.

SKIR.

Put an end

To trifling. Far as Jericho I'd send

All shilly-shally. Do, for goodness' sake

Speak out and say, 'As husband I thee take.'

I've married twice, and know how shy one feels-

Plunge in at once, right over head and heels.

A royal Crown Prince, too; my stars and garters!

Crême de la crême-the cream of Crimean Tartars!

ADELMA.

My soul by doubt and hate is torn;

She loves him, though she shows such bitter scorn.

I'm stung to anguish, yet I'll not repine,

My rival's torture is as sharp as mine.

(KALAF has stood bowed down by grief; he starts suddenly and

approaches TURANDOT'S throne)-

KALAF.

Thy cruel will shall find no more resistance;

Why need the headsman end my sad existence?

This dagger shall release....

(Unsheathes a dagger. ADELMA makes a movement of horror.

TURANDOT precipitates herself from the throne, and stays his hand).

TUR.

Stay, Kalaf, stay!

Or strike thy heart through mine.

(Throws herself across his breast.)

ALT.

What does she say?

(TURANDOT and KALAF gaze at each other in silence, for some

time.)

KAL.

Wouldst doom me to a life, of love bereft?

My hopes and joys all faded-nothing left.

Such mercy seeks more cruelly to kill;

But my despair is stronger than thy will.

(Attempts to stab himself.)

Tur.

For my sake, live; nor ever quit my side;

Prince, take me as your loving, happy bride.

ADELMA (aside).

'Tis agony; I cannot bear this sight. (Retires.)

ALT.

What do they say? (to PANT., who endeavours to explain ).

Don't speak. I see all's right.

SKIR.

Fo-hi be praised! Now, this is what I call

A great success. My pig has done it all.

(Fetches BARAK from behind the crowd)-

Come, dearest husband; much too long you've trembled.

TUR.

Let it be known to all those here assembled-

I may not justly claim the victor's crown,

Adelma's shrewdness served me; not my own.

Prince Kalaf vanquished me, and may command

As prize of his achievement, my poor hand.

(To KALAF.) But not in deference to lawful right

I gave myself to thee, but through love's might.

My heart was thine, when first I did behold thee.

KALAF.

Excess of bliss, thus to my heart to fold thee!