Turandot

ALT.

What do you say?

PANT. (despairingly.)

It doesn't signify.

ALT.

'Twould break my aged heart to see thee die.

I'd save thy life if possible. Oh, quit

The sharp encounter with my child's keen wit.

My heart and eyes are sickened by the blood

That's daily shed.

KAL.

Your Majesty's too good.

ALT.

I'm captivated by thy noble air;

With thee my royal throne I'll gladly share.

So thou but force me not to take thy life;

Avoid the fatal Sphinx-give up the strife.

KAL.

My thanks are all I have, and these I give;

But without Turandot I will not live.

My motto is, 'Or death, or Turandot.'

PANT. (aside.)

He really is a most pig-headed sot!

(aloud) Young man, you cannot know the risk you run.

Th' alternative's in earnest-not in fun.

Dame Turandot will spin you a tough riddle,

That's not to be 'got thro' like any fiddle.'

Not such as this, which any child might guess-

(Though the Emperor could not, I must confess;)

'What gives a cold, cures a cold, and pays the doctor's bill? '

Not short enigmas lightly disentangled;

Hard nuts you'll have to crack, fresh made, new-fangled;

And if you cannot guess them all instanter,

Your head will be struck off-I do not banter.

You'll have to answer rightly in a twink;

Your head once off, you'll have no time to think.

KAL.

Your warning's vain: 'Or death or Turandot.'

PANT. (aside.)

For all my sermon he don't care one jot.

TART.

D-d-dear s-sir, l-let m-me p-persuade you. Lasci stare

Th-this d-dr-dread-f-ful st-str-strife, bruttissimo affare.

KAL.

Again I say, 'Or death, or Turandot.'

TART.

H-he-he's ho-hope-l-l-less-l-ly in l-lo-love. L'è proprio cot.

ALT.

As no persuasion moves this headstrong man,

Go, summon Turandot to this divan.

(Exit guards.)

(KALAF, violently agitated, gazes towards the hareem entrance.)

KAL.

She comes-her beauty will enchant my sight,

Ye Gods, inspire my mind with sapient might!

(March heard.Enter TRUFFALDIN, with his drawn sabre on his

shoulder. Black male and female slaves, beating tantans and

cymbals. ADELMA, in Tartar costume, and SKIRINA, both veiled.

ADELMA carries a salver upon which are sealed papers. TRUFFALDIN

and male slaves prostrate themselves as they pass ALTOUM'S throne;

the female slaves kneel, with their hands to their forehead. Then

appears TURANDOT, veiled, in rich Chinese costume. The courtiers

and doctors prostrate themselves before her. ALTOUM rises; the

Princess makes him a slight inclination, with her hands to her

forehead, then ascends the throne, and seats herself; ADELMA and

SKIRINA on either side, the former nearest the audience. TRUFFALDIN

takes the salver from ADELMA, and with exaggerated ceremony,

distributes the papers to the eight doctors, and resumes his place.

March ceases.)

TUR. (haughtily.)

Once more a vain aspirant for my hand,

Compels me here before you all to stand.

This rash intruder, who thus fondly thinks

To overcome in wit the Chinese Sphinx,

Must little prize his life. His downfall's sore.

ALT.

There stands the man. Now don't be so demure.