ACT SECOND

On a low bench Zelima is sealed, sewing a gorgeously embroidered garment. About her are other female slaves.

At the back stands Chang, the chief Eunuch.

ZELIMA

[Stops sewing and listens]

There! Hark! I hear it again.

CHANG

I can hear nothing.

ZELIMA

You’re growing deaf, Chang. Some one is knocking—softly.

CHANG

[Opening the door, left]

No one is here.

ZELIMA

Below—at the outer door.See who it is.

Below—at the outer door.

See who it is.

CHANG

I will see.

[He goes out, closing the door. Zelima sews for a moment; then rises, puts away her needle and spreads out the garment, surveying it.

From the right Turandot enters, splendidly arrayed.

She runs impetuously to Zelima and embraces her]

TURANDOT

Zelima! Zelima!Little Zelima!

Zelima! Zelima!

Little Zelima!

ZELIMA

[Affectionately]

My lady!

TURANDOT

Dance with me!—Dance!

ZELIMA

I heard a knocking, my lady.

TURANDOT

[Pressing her left side]

You heard it—here.My lover is knocking, and I have let him in.

You heard it—here.

My lover is knocking, and I have let him in.

ZELIMA

[Frightened]

You’ve let him in, my lady?

TURANDOT

[Laughing]

Into my heart!He came a-begging. Oh, does he love me, Zelima?

Into my heart!

He came a-begging. Oh, does he love me, Zelima?

ZELIMA

[Concernedly]

He kept your rose.

TURANDOT

The rose I tossed from my gardenIn Astrakhan, one year ago to-night—Isn’t he handsome, Zelima?

The rose I tossed from my garden

In Astrakhan, one year ago to-night—

Isn’t he handsome, Zelima?

ZELIMA

[With conscientious pause]

Handsome, my lady?

TURANDOT

Splendid and fair like a prince!

ZELIMA

He is a beggar.

TURANDOT

I spoke of his soul—his eyes. His eyes are sapphires;All other men’s are clay.

I spoke of his soul—his eyes. His eyes are sapphires;

All other men’s are clay.

ZELIMA

[Dubiously]

His face was dirty.

TURANDOT

[Slapping Zelima’s arm]

Stop it, you dunce! His face was nobly tannedBy sun and rugged wind.

Stop it, you dunce! His face was nobly tanned

By sun and rugged wind.

ZELIMA

I thought his beard—

TURANDOT

His beard—God did his best: I want no better.

ZELIMA

You—want a beard, my lady?

TURANDOT

Stupid Zelima!Where’s my new robe? I’ll wear it to-day—for him.

Stupid Zelima!

Where’s my new robe? I’ll wear it to-day—for him.

ZELIMA

[Helping her on with the embroidered garment]

You like it?

TURANDOT

Are not gold and gorgeousnessFor joy? To-morrow ends my year and a day.Then no more suitors—no more severed heads!I shall be free then—free to search for himThrough all the city.

Are not gold and gorgeousness

For joy? To-morrow ends my year and a day.

Then no more suitors—no more severed heads!

I shall be free then—free to search for him

Through all the city.

ZELIMA

Search for a beggar! Why,My lady?

Search for a beggar! Why,

My lady?

TURANDOT

Must I scratch your silly eyes outTo make them see?—Of all men that love women,I will have none for husband—if he’ll have me—Buthim, the man to whom I gave my ring.

Must I scratch your silly eyes out

To make them see?—Of all men that love women,

I will have none for husband—if he’ll have me—

Buthim, the man to whom I gave my ring.

ZELIMA

Holy Confucius save you, lady! You,Princess of Pekin, wed a beggar!

Holy Confucius save you, lady! You,

Princess of Pekin, wed a beggar!

TURANDOT

Hush!Unless I dream so and rejoice to-dayThen I must wake and tear my flesh for griefThat I was born Princess of Pekin. Oh,Little Zelima, let me dream I amA beggar-maid, or he, my beggar—a prince!

Hush!

Unless I dream so and rejoice to-day

Then I must wake and tear my flesh for grief

That I was born Princess of Pekin. Oh,

Little Zelima, let me dream I am

A beggar-maid, or he, my beggar—a prince!

ZELIMA

I hope your royal father hears no wordOf this, my lady. He would kill your loverSooner than you should wed him.

I hope your royal father hears no word

Of this, my lady. He would kill your lover

Sooner than you should wed him.

TURANDOT

I know it well.So I have kept my secret this long year,And let full many a brave prince lose his headTo hide my true love. Do not make me weepAgain for pity and despair. For nowFresh hope has come. This CapocomicoHas changed my father’s heart to set me freeTo-morrow. Only one more day is left;You only know my secret; none can guess it;And for this final day there is no suitorTo claim my hand.

I know it well.

So I have kept my secret this long year,

And let full many a brave prince lose his head

To hide my true love. Do not make me weep

Again for pity and despair. For now

Fresh hope has come. This Capocomico

Has changed my father’s heart to set me free

To-morrow. Only one more day is left;

You only know my secret; none can guess it;

And for this final day there is no suitor

To claim my hand.

[Chang enters, left, in perturbation. Turandot looks up inquiringly]

Well—well?

CHANG

Another suitorHas come, my lady.

Another suitor

Has come, my lady.

TURANDOT

Nay, alas!

ZELIMA

What,—here?Is he at the door?

What,—here?

Is he at the door?

CHANG

Not him,—the emperorIs at the door. He comes to tell you, lady,And asks admittance.

Not him,—the emperor

Is at the door. He comes to tell you, lady,

And asks admittance.

TURANDOT

What, my father!

CHANG

[Fidgetting]

NotYour royal father: The new emperorIs here.

Not

Your royal father: The new emperor

Is here.

TURANDOT

Sir Capo here!

ZELIMA

[Appalled]

Here, in the harem!

CHANG

What should I do, your highness?

TURANDOT

[Staring]

What can it mean?

CAPO.

[Entering, left]

The new régime, fair ladies!

[To Zelima, who runs with the other slave girls toward the door, right]

I beseech you,Do not be timid: All true love romancesAre hatched in harems. ’Tis my specialty.

I beseech you,

Do not be timid: All true love romances

Are hatched in harems. ’Tis my specialty.

[Dressed in robes of royal splendor, Capocomico stands smiling at them]

TURANDOT

Sir, this intrusion breaks our ancient law.

CAPO.

To-day—O lovely daughter!—Iam the lawAnd legalize intrusion.

To-day—O lovely daughter!—Iam the law

And legalize intrusion.

[To Chang]

You may go.

[Chang pauses, dubious, but at a gesture from Capo, departs hastily. Zelima goes timorously to Turandot, whose eyes flash]

TURANDOT

Will you make entrance here against our wills,Or why, then, have you come?

Will you make entrance here against our wills,

Or why, then, have you come?

CAPO.

[Smiling]

For a beggar’s sake.

TURANDOT

[With sudden start]

A beggar’s?

CAPO.

What I bring will fill four ears—No more.

What I bring will fill four ears—

No more.

TURANDOT

[Faintly]

Zelima, wait within—close by.

[Zelima goes out, right with the slave girls]

Well, Sire, what do you bring me?

CAPO.

Riches, child,In a ragged wallet.

Riches, child,

In a ragged wallet.

[He takes out Calafs wallet, and holds it toward her.]

TURANDOT

[Starting]

This! Why bring me this?

CAPO.

Hold it, and feel how heavy.

TURANDOT

[Slowly takes it, peering in]

Why, ’tis empty.

CAPO.

What is so heavy as an empty heartHollow with yearning! This has yearned for loveUntil it cracked. Look there—those sorry gashes

What is so heavy as an empty heart

Hollow with yearning! This has yearned for love

Until it cracked. Look there—those sorry gashes

TURANDOT

What should I do with it?

CAPO.

Heal its wounds, and fill itWith royal favor.

Heal its wounds, and fill it

With royal favor.

TURANDOT

[Reticent]

Sire, you talk in riddles.

CAPO.

Daughter, you kill in riddles.—Will you kill,Or heal, this beggar’s heart I bring?

Daughter, you kill in riddles.—Will you kill,

Or heal, this beggar’s heart I bring?

TURANDOT

Ah me!

[No longer suppressing her feelings, she kisses the wallet passionately.]

How have you guessed my soul? How have you guessed?

CAPO.

The souls of lovers are my specialty.—When princesses grow pale, and beggars swoon,Then I bring forth my wallet—and prescribe.

The souls of lovers are my specialty.—

When princesses grow pale, and beggars swoon,

Then I bring forth my wallet—and prescribe.

TURANDOT

Alas—he swooned? Where is he? Is he ill?

CAPO.

Unnecessary questions, child: Of courseHe swooned. Where is he? He’s in love,Of course, and so of course is deathly ill.

Unnecessary questions, child: Of course

He swooned. Where is he? He’s in love,

Of course, and so of course is deathly ill.

TURANDOT

Oh, by the simple truth you’ve torn from me,Do not, I beg, speak sideling, but straight out:That beggar whom I love—how fares he now?Where have you left him?

Oh, by the simple truth you’ve torn from me,

Do not, I beg, speak sideling, but straight out:

That beggar whom I love—how fares he now?

Where have you left him?

CAPO.

By the city gate.There, when he saw your ring, he fell in swoon;And so I left him.

By the city gate.

There, when he saw your ring, he fell in swoon;

And so I left him.

TURANDOT

[Passionately]

Find him! Find him for me,And I will give you kingdoms!

Find him! Find him for me,

And I will give you kingdoms!

CAPO.

Kingdoms, child,Are shaky things. Give me your confidence:Then I will find him for you.

Kingdoms, child,

Are shaky things. Give me your confidence:

Then I will find him for you.

TURANDOT

All my faith,My gratitude and wonder—they are yours!—When will you fetch him?

All my faith,

My gratitude and wonder—they are yours!—

When will you fetch him?

CAPO.

Soft! To achieve for youJoy in a perfect marriage of romance—That ismyvow. ’Tis yours, for a single day,To swear me loyalty.

Soft! To achieve for you

Joy in a perfect marriage of romance—

That ismyvow. ’Tis yours, for a single day,

To swear me loyalty.

TURANDOT

I swear it.—Ah,But do not tell my father. He would killMy hopes.

I swear it.—Ah,

But do not tell my father. He would kill

My hopes.

CAPO.

Your father—I will educate;And for your low-born lover, I’ll despatchThe eight proud legs of my prime-ministerTo stalk the city till they stumble on him.By nightfall, I will give you news what luckThey meet. Meantime, you must prepare once moreYour riddles for your final suitor.

Your father—I will educate;

And for your low-born lover, I’ll despatch

The eight proud legs of my prime-minister

To stalk the city till they stumble on him.

By nightfall, I will give you news what luck

They meet. Meantime, you must prepare once more

Your riddles for your final suitor.

TURANDOT

[Appalled]

What!

CAPO.

Keedur, the young khan of Beloochistan,Waits in the hall below, to try his fateTo-day.

Keedur, the young khan of Beloochistan,

Waits in the hall below, to try his fate

To-day.

TURANDOT

Keedur? Another! Must anotherStill die on this last day? Oh, misery!And I to run the awful risk once more!—When must this be?

Keedur? Another! Must another

Still die on this last day? Oh, misery!

And I to run the awful risk once more!—

When must this be?

CAPO.

This hour, in the great hallOf the imperial Divan. Rest you merry,My child, and whet your riddles sharp.—Good-bye!

This hour, in the great hall

Of the imperial Divan. Rest you merry,

My child, and whet your riddles sharp.—Good-bye!

TURANDOT

[Detaining him by a swift gesture]

Not yet! Stay yet a little: Help me!

CAPO.

How?

TURANDOT

To shape my riddles so no man that livesCan answer them.

To shape my riddles so no man that lives

Can answer them.

CAPO.

[Bows, smiling]

Why, that’s my specialty.

TURANDOT

[Slowly, with desperation.]

Capo, those riddles hold his life or mine:If Keedur guesses them—I’ll kill myself.

Capo, those riddles hold his life or mine:

If Keedur guesses them—I’ll kill myself.

Curtain

Scene II:Great Hall of the Emperor’s Divan.

On either side is a high tower, with entrance.

Down scene on the left stands the Emperor’s throne, opposite the throne of Turandot.

As the curtain rises, Scaramouche, Punchinello, Pantaloon, and Harlequin enter, dragging in Barak by four purple ropes attached to his neck.

Barak carries a ragged bundle.

At the centre he falls, prostrating himself before them.

The four Maskers are dressed sumptuously in Chinese garments, worn over their own tattered garbs of motley, which—at times, when they gesticulate or move abruptly,—are fantastically visible.

BARAK

Mercy and clemency, your highnesses!

PUNCHINELLO

Yourhighness, slave! Address thy vermin speechTo the Prime-Minister.

Yourhighness, slave! Address thy vermin speech

To the Prime-Minister.

BARAK

To which, O Lord?

SCARAMOUCHE

By the eye of Og and head of Hamongog,Tous, thou quaking mongrel! Howl thy prayersQuadrately to thy quadrigeminal master!

By the eye of Og and head of Hamongog,

Tous, thou quaking mongrel! Howl thy prayers

Quadrately to thy quadrigeminal master!

BARAK

[Revolving himself fearfully]

Mercy, O Master!

PANTALOON

First confess thyself!Where is he?

First confess thyself!

Where is he?

PUNCHINELLO

Where’s thy fellow beggar? Speak!

SCARAMOUCHE

Tooth of the Turk!—Disgorge him!

[Harlequin thwacks Barak on the head with his flat-stick]

BARAK

Lord, I know not.I am an old poor man. I have no fellowTo beg with me.

Lord, I know not.

I am an old poor man. I have no fellow

To beg with me.

PANTALOON

Thou lousy bag of lies!He swooned beside thee at the city gate.

Thou lousy bag of lies!

He swooned beside thee at the city gate.

PUNCHINELLO

He took the Princess’ ring for alms. Where is he?

SCARAMOUCHE

[Tightening his rope]

By Sardanapalus! Squeeze off his neckAnd pick the secret from his gullet.

By Sardanapalus! Squeeze off his neck

And pick the secret from his gullet.

BARAK

[As Harlequin bangs him again]

Spare me!

[Enter, left, Capocomico]

CAPO.

Hah! here’s our beggar’s crony.—Where’s thy mate,Old gaffer?

Hah! here’s our beggar’s crony.—Where’s thy mate,

Old gaffer?

BARAK

Spare me, lord! I have no mate—I beg alone.

Spare me, lord! I have no mate—

I beg alone.

CAPO.

Where was he found—this fellow?

SCARAMOUCHE

Godbodikins! We caught him gutter-skulkingBehind the palace.

Godbodikins! We caught him gutter-skulking

Behind the palace.

CAPO.

What’s here in this pack?

BARAK

[Fearfully clutching his bundle]

Old rags, your mightiness: poor worthless pickings.

CAPO.

Conduct him to my quarters. Search him thereAnd look what this contains.

Conduct him to my quarters. Search him there

And look what this contains.

[The four begin to drag him out with the ropes]

BARAK

A—yi! Alas!

PUNCHINELLO

[Mocking him]

A—yi, old pickings!

SCARAMOUCHE

[Pulling]

Sacrasacristan!Heave-ho, my hearts!

Sacrasacristan!

Heave-ho, my hearts!

CAPO.

Hold him in custodyTill I can question further.

Hold him in custody

Till I can question further.

BARAK

[Crying aloud]

Calaf, save me!

PANTALOON

We’ll save ’ee in salt, old calf!

SCARAMOUCHE

Yank-ho, there!

[They drag him out, left]

CAPO.

[Stands meditating]

Calaf!

[Hardly have they disappeared, when Calaf enters hastily, looking about him with a startled expression. He is dressed in princely regalia, and his face is shaved. Seeing Capo., he pauses abruptly, and makes obeisance]

CAPO.

Greetings, Sir Keedur!—You aresearchinghere?

CALAF

[Embarrassed]

Nothing, your majesty. It seemed I heardA voice here cry in terror.

Nothing, your majesty. It seemed I heard

A voice here cry in terror.

CAPO.

Cry—onwhom?

CALAF

Nay, Sire, I do not know.

CAPO.

’Twas just a beggarThat cried at being expelled.

’Twas just a beggar

That cried at being expelled.

CALAF

Expelled?—Where to?

CAPO.

[With a flitting smile]

You—care to know?

CALAF

Nay, Sire, why should I care?

CAPO.

Nay, why indeed? You caught me querying.

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