ACT THIRD

In the centre of the columned room is a table, on which—softly illumined—stands a large crystal bowl, filled with swimming gold fishes.

Nearby, Turandot sits weeping, Zelima beside her. Outside, the shrill voice of Punchinello is heard singing to the twang of stringed instruments:

O Lady, Lady, let fall your tearsNo more, no more, for foolish fears,But let in your true playfellow;For Sorrow’s a thiefBrings Love to grief,But a merry heart makes him mellow,And a merry heart, O, a merry heartNever yet kept fond lovers apart,Nor pinched the shoe of their Punchinello.

O Lady, Lady, let fall your tears

No more, no more, for foolish fears,

But let in your true playfellow;

For Sorrow’s a thief

Brings Love to grief,

But a merry heart makes him mellow,

And a merry heart, O, a merry heart

Never yet kept fond lovers apart,

Nor pinched the shoe of their Punchinello.

TURANDOT

[Savagely]

Drive them away, Zelima! Drive them away!

PUNCHINELLO, SCARAMOUCHE, AND PANTALOON

[Singing together outside]

And a merry heart, O, a merry heartNever yet kept fond lovers apart!

And a merry heart, O, a merry heart

Never yet kept fond lovers apart!

ZELIMA

[Going to the door, puts her head out]

Begone!

[She returns to Turandot. The twanging outside decreases, but still continues]

Take courage, Lady.

TURANDOT

Oh, I have lostCourage and faith and kindness. All is dark—Dark and disgrace.

Oh, I have lost

Courage and faith and kindness. All is dark—

Dark and disgrace.

ZELIMA

’Tis no disgrace to winA husband.

’Tis no disgrace to win

A husband.

TURANDOT

Winhim!—To be tricked and soldIn slavery to one I love not—loseThe one I love, and truckle to the wordOf an upstart—a false, masquing popinjayOf an emperor!—Yet, no disgrace! Ah me,Why did your little dagger fail me? NowI have no pluck of soul to try once more.

Winhim!—To be tricked and sold

In slavery to one I love not—lose

The one I love, and truckle to the word

Of an upstart—a false, masquing popinjay

Of an emperor!—Yet, no disgrace! Ah me,

Why did your little dagger fail me? Now

I have no pluck of soul to try once more.

ZELIMA

The gods forbid! ’Twere very wicked, Lady:And him, that saved you, and gave back your freedomSo gentlemanly!

The gods forbid! ’Twere very wicked, Lady:

And him, that saved you, and gave back your freedom

So gentlemanly!

TURANDOT

Ha! and caught me againWith his own riddle! Heaven, I hate him. Yet—Zelima, did you see his eyes?

Ha! and caught me again

With his own riddle! Heaven, I hate him. Yet—

Zelima, did you see his eyes?

ZELIMA

[Nodding]

Most strangelikeThey were.

Most strangelike

They were.

TURANDOT

I must not think upon his eyes,Or I might hate him less. No, only oneOf all men wears the gazes which I love,And he is lost to me.

I must not think upon his eyes,

Or I might hate him less. No, only one

Of all men wears the gazes which I love,

And he is lost to me.

ZELIMA

Why lost, my Lady?The emperor promised you to search the cityAnd find your beggar.

Why lost, my Lady?

The emperor promised you to search the city

And find your beggar.

TURANDOT

Capo’s promisesAre like himself—all lies. Nay, I must answerThis false Khan’s riddle, or be doomed to-morrow.But how?—“His true-born name, his father’s fame—”Where shall I find the clue? Ah, heartless fateAnd stony hearted men!

Capo’s promises

Are like himself—all lies. Nay, I must answer

This false Khan’s riddle, or be doomed to-morrow.

But how?—“His true-born name, his father’s fame—”

Where shall I find the clue? Ah, heartless fate

And stony hearted men!

THE VOICE OF PUNCHINELLO

[Sings outside to the instruments]

O Lady, Lady, lift up your moanNo more, no more ’gainst hearts of stone,But let in your blithe playfellow!

O Lady, Lady, lift up your moan

No more, no more ’gainst hearts of stone,

But let in your blithe playfellow!

TURANDOT

[Wildly]

Go! Stop them!

THE VOICE OF PUNCHINELLO

For a stubborn willMakes Love to be ill,But a merry heart makes him well, O!And a merry heart—

For a stubborn will

Makes Love to be ill,

But a merry heart makes him well, O!

And a merry heart—

ZELIMA

[Opening the door]

StopYour noises!

Stop

Your noises!

PUNCHINELLO

[Outside]

—O, a merry heartNever yet kept fond lovers apart,Nor tweaked the nose of their Punchinello.

—O, a merry heart

Never yet kept fond lovers apart,

Nor tweaked the nose of their Punchinello.

ZELIMA

Cease! Her royal highness orders—

PUNCHINELLO, SCARAMOUCHE AND PANTALOON

[Pushing past Zelima, enter the room bearing bright Chinese lanterns, and singing in chorus]

A merry heart, O, a merry heartNever yet kept fond lovers apart!

A merry heart, O, a merry heart

Never yet kept fond lovers apart!

[Joined by Harlequin, they pause together before Turandot and, pointing simultaneously their left toes, strike sharply their instruments with a sweeping bow]

TURANDOT

What fresh presumption of your brazen lordIs this?

What fresh presumption of your brazen lord

Is this?

PUNCHINELLO

This is our homage, Lady, Lady![Thrumming their instruments again,they accompany a dance of Harlequin,who by his pantomime indicatesto Turandot the bowl of gold fishes,while Punchinello lilts shrilly:]

This is our homage, Lady, Lady!

[Thrumming their instruments again,they accompany a dance of Harlequin,who by his pantomime indicatesto Turandot the bowl of gold fishes,while Punchinello lilts shrilly:]

[Thrumming their instruments again,

they accompany a dance of Harlequin,

who by his pantomime indicates

to Turandot the bowl of gold fishes,

while Punchinello lilts shrilly:]

And thus our Harlequin: He’s showingHow all our hearts be overflowingWith little, lovely, golden wishesFor your delight—as fine as fishes!

And thus our Harlequin: He’s showing

How all our hearts be overflowing

With little, lovely, golden wishes

For your delight—as fine as fishes!

TURANDOT

Go—go!

[Harlequin draws back]

Why have you come?

PUNCHINELLO

To celebrateOur lord Sir Capo’s great discovery.

To celebrate

Our lord Sir Capo’s great discovery.

PANTALOON

[Mysteriously]

He’s found.

TURANDOT

Who’s found?

SCARAMOUCHE

[Darkly]

By the yawn of Jonah’s whale,We have disbellied him from Pekin’s mawAnd blackest hollowness.

By the yawn of Jonah’s whale,

We have disbellied him from Pekin’s maw

And blackest hollowness.

PUNCHINELLO

He’s trapped, my Lady!

TURANDOT

[Chafing]

Will you tellwho?

PUNCHINELLO

[In a loud whisper]

The beggar.

SCARAMOUCHE AND PANTALOON

[Sepulchrally]

Hush!

TURANDOT

[Faintly]

A beggar!

SCARAMOUCHE

[Speaks at her ear]

The louse-gray mongrel with the chalkish beard—We’ve got him kennelled, ha!

The louse-gray mongrel with the chalkish beard—

We’ve got him kennelled, ha!

TURANDOT

Anoldman?

PANTALOON

[Nodding]

Pickled!

TURANDOT

Alas! What are these tidings? Have you searchedOnly to find an old poor man?

Alas! What are these tidings? Have you searched

Only to find an old poor man?

CAPO.

[Who has entered behind them]

They foundYour beggar’s gaffer, Lady.—Barak heIs called, and lies imprisoned now below,Where I will learn from him about your lover.

They found

Your beggar’s gaffer, Lady.—Barak he

Is called, and lies imprisoned now below,

Where I will learn from him about your lover.

TURANDOT

[Bitterly]

Soyoucome too. Have you, then, come to breakOnce more the vow you made?

Soyoucome too. Have you, then, come to break

Once more the vow you made?

CAPO.

[Quietly]

A single day,Lady, you swore me faith and loyalty;Yet in one little hour you cast awayYour faith, to call me traitor.

A single day,

Lady, you swore me faith and loyalty;

Yet in one little hour you cast away

Your faith, to call me traitor.

TURANDOT

Had I cause,Or no?

Had I cause,

Or no?

CAPO.

Is there good cause to break an oath?

TURANDOT

You broke your own. You vowed to achieve for meJoy—joy, and perfect marriage with my love.—Am I, then, joyful? Am I with my love?

You broke your own. You vowed to achieve for me

Joy—joy, and perfect marriage with my love.—

Am I, then, joyful? Am I with my love?

CAPO.

A single day; a single day, I said!

TURANDOT

So by to-morrow I must wed this Khan,This nameless prince—unless I guess his name.

So by to-morrow I must wed this Khan,

This nameless prince—unless I guess his name.

CAPO.

Why not, then, guess it?

TURANDOT

[Glancing quickly]

How?

CAPO.

[Indulgently]

Will you renewYour broken allegiance?

Will you renew

Your broken allegiance?

TURANDOT

I am desperate.I will do anything to free myself.—What shall I do?

I am desperate.

I will do anything to free myself.—

What shall I do?

CAPO.

First swear me faith again.

TURANDOT

I swear it. Now tell!

CAPO.

How easily ladies swearWhen they are in love!—Prime-Minister, retire!

How easily ladies swear

When they are in love!—Prime-Minister, retire!

[The four Maskers, bowing, withdraw to the background, where they are entertained by Zelima, whom they instruct to play upon their instruments with a low strumming]

In the general practice of my specialties,Lady, I often recommend for loveA sleeping-charm—like this.

In the general practice of my specialties,

Lady, I often recommend for love

A sleeping-charm—like this.

[Capo takes from his sleeve a small vial and hands it to Turandot]

TURANDOT

What should I doWith this?

What should I do

With this?

CAPO.

This, if ’tis poured upon the sleeping lipsOf man by a maid, or maiden by a man,Will make the sleeper murmur in his dreamWhatever secret thing his soul concealsWhen it is asked of him.

This, if ’tis poured upon the sleeping lips

Of man by a maid, or maiden by a man,

Will make the sleeper murmur in his dream

Whatever secret thing his soul conceals

When it is asked of him.

TURANDOT

[After a pause, gives a sudden cry of joy]

Ah, now I see!—But how can I find access to this KhanWhen he is sleeping?

Ah, now I see!—

But how can I find access to this Khan

When he is sleeping?

CAPO.

I am emperor,And by my new régime, at midnight, allThe guards retire, and in the men’s hall, menMay pass unnoticed by the others.

I am emperor,

And by my new régime, at midnight, all

The guards retire, and in the men’s hall, men

May pass unnoticed by the others.

TURANDOT

[Searchingly]

Men?

CAPO.

[Calls, beckoning]

Here, Harlequin!—I pray you, princess, standBack to back with this boy.

Here, Harlequin!—I pray you, princess, stand

Back to back with this boy.

[Turandot looks puzzled, and then turns and stands back to back with Harlequin. Capo measures their heights with his flattened hand. They separate and Capo indicates Harlequin]

A hair’s breadth higher.

[With a questioning glance at Turandot]

A hair’s breadth! Will you risk it—by a hair?

TURANDOT

[Growing suddenly radiant]

O wonderful!—At midnight, did you say?

CAPO.

[Smiling]

Noware we friends—and may I kiss your hand?

TURANDOT

[Ardently]

No, I will kiss yours!

[She seizes Capo’s hand and kisses it. He laughs softly]

Curtain

Scene II:A bedchamber, mysteriously lighted. The room is vast and magnificent. In the centre, by a divan couch, Calaf is seated in deep brooding.

CALAF

If she should guess!—If she should fail to guess!If she should fail to guess!—If she should guess!O endless, awful night, you are like thought—Hollow, unanswering and full of echoes!And like my heart you, too, are sleepless, yearningWith dim and palpitating mystery.If she should guess?—Then would I doubly loseMy love—my life. If she should fail to guess?Then how might I dare hold her to my bondAnd wed against her will?—If she should guess—If she should fail—Ah, God! The night gives backOnly my emptiness, and moment buildsOn moment mountains of hell, and here I sitAlone.

If she should guess!—If she should fail to guess!

If she should fail to guess!—If she should guess!

O endless, awful night, you are like thought—

Hollow, unanswering and full of echoes!

And like my heart you, too, are sleepless, yearning

With dim and palpitating mystery.

If she should guess?—Then would I doubly lose

My love—my life. If she should fail to guess?

Then how might I dare hold her to my bond

And wed against her will?—If she should guess—

If she should fail—Ah, God! The night gives back

Only my emptiness, and moment builds

On moment mountains of hell, and here I sit

Alone.

[Rising, he reaches his arms with a low cry]

Alone!

CAPO.

[Entering in the dimness]

There is no lonelinessWhere thoughts are merry.

There is no loneliness

Where thoughts are merry.

CALAF

[Staring at him for a moment]

Merry!—Sire, I haveForgot the meaning of that word.

Merry!—Sire, I have

Forgot the meaning of that word.

CAPO.

Recall it,Then, quickly, for I bring you pleasant news.

Recall it,

Then, quickly, for I bring you pleasant news.

CALAF

[Eagerly]

From her? fromher, O Sire?

CAPO.

From Turandot.The lady loves you.

From Turandot.

The lady loves you.

CALAF

Loves me! You are mad,Or jesting.

Loves me! You are mad,

Or jesting.

CAPO.

To the sober-seriousJesting’s a sort of madness.—But no matter.The lady loves you none the less.

To the sober-serious

Jesting’s a sort of madness.—But no matter.

The lady loves you none the less.

CALAF

How is itPossible?

How is it

Possible?

CAPO.

You’ve forgot my specialtySo soon?—or am I skilled in guessing riddles?

You’ve forgot my specialty

So soon?—or am I skilled in guessing riddles?

CALAF

I should have failed without you.

CAPO.

Will you try meAgain?

Will you try me

Again?

CALAF

But how—

CAPO.

Come hither in more light.

[Calaf moves out of the deeper shadow. Capo tips Calaf’s face upwards, examining it]

What color are your eyes?

CALAF

I do not know.

CAPO.

[Nods approvingly]

Sapphire.—That might describe them, with some licenseOf love and rhetoric.

Sapphire.—That might describe them, with some license

Of love and rhetoric.

CALAF

What have my eyesTo do with guessing riddles?

What have my eyes

To do with guessing riddles?

CAPO.

Much to do!They have to close and go to sleep, beforeThe guessing. Softly now: lie down and close themUntil to-morrow.

Much to do!

They have to close and go to sleep, before

The guessing. Softly now: lie down and close them

Until to-morrow.

CALAF

Would I might!

CAPO.

Then do so!For on to-morrow morn, I promise youDelight—and perfect marriage with your love.

Then do so!

For on to-morrow morn, I promise you

Delight—and perfect marriage with your love.

CALAF

O friend, I am too weary to refuse.I will lie down and dream it is to-morrow.

O friend, I am too weary to refuse.

I will lie down and dream it is to-morrow.

[He lies on the couch. A far chiming is heard]

What bell is sounding?

CAPO.

Midnight.—Merry dreams!

[Capo steals out. Calaf closes his eyes and is still. The room is silent and dim. After a few moments, out ofthe darkness there emerges, scarlet and pied, the Figure of Harlequin, who tiptoes toward the couch. At a sigh from Calaf, the Figure starts back, returning more reticently. Again Calaf murmurs in his sleep:]

CALAF

Turandot! Lady beloved!

[Standing in a shaft of vague light, the Figure of Harlequin lifts cautiously a vial and, unstopping it, dances softly three times around the divan; then pauses close to Calaf, who murmurs once more]

Princess! Love.

THE FIGURE OF HARLEQUIN

[Chants in a low voice]

Reveal, O dreamer: What is he,His true-born name,His father’s fame,Who, desperate for love of me,Assumed from far BeloochistanThe false name—Keedur, Khan!

Reveal, O dreamer: What is he,

His true-born name,

His father’s fame,

Who, desperate for love of me,

Assumed from far Beloochistan

The false name—Keedur, Khan!

[Bending above the dreaming form ofCalaf, the Figure sprinkles from the vial upon his lips; then draws back and listens]

CALAF

[Murmurs louder in his sleep]

Be gracious unto me: Calaf, the sonOf Timur, King of Astrakhan!

Be gracious unto me: Calaf, the son

Of Timur, King of Astrakhan!

THE FIGURE OF HARLEQUIN

[Laughing silverly]

Aha!Calaf! Calaf, the son of Timur, KingOf Astrakhan!

Aha!

Calaf! Calaf, the son of Timur, King

Of Astrakhan!

CALAF

[Starting up on the divan]

Who calls me?

THE FIGURE

[Lifting a mandolin strung from the shoulder, strikes a swift chord and bounds away toward the door]

Ahaha!

CALAF

[Leaping to the floor, and following]

What are you? Stop!

[The Figure pauses]

Come from your shadow!

[The Figure takes a timid step forward, and stops]

You!You, the dumb player, servant of our lordThe emperor! What brings you here?

You!

You, the dumb player, servant of our lord

The emperor! What brings you here?

THE FIGURE

Aha!Reveal, O Lady: What is heHis true-born name,His father’s fame—

Aha!

Reveal, O Lady: What is he

His true-born name,

His father’s fame—

CALAF

How’s that? Can the dumb speak?

THE FIGURE

Calaf, the sonOf Timur—hail!

Calaf, the son

Of Timur—hail!

CALAF

By heaven, a spy!

[He springs toward the door. The Figure tries to pass him but, thwarted, leaps back]

Not yet!You shall not go till I have plucked the faceOut of that mask.

Not yet!

You shall not go till I have plucked the face

Out of that mask.

[At the door he turns the key and takes it]

The door is locked. RevealYourself!

The door is locked. Reveal

Yourself!

[The Figure draws away. He strides toward it. It escapes]

Light footed imp! Now by my soul,You shall not live to blab beyond these wallsThe secret you have stolen from my sleep.

Light footed imp! Now by my soul,

You shall not live to blab beyond these walls

The secret you have stolen from my sleep.

[He starts again toward the Figure. It dances away from him, striking the strings of its mandolin. Round the great couch and about the shadowy room he pursues it, ever eluding him. Suddenly he pauses, and stares]

Stay! Am I, then, asleep? Are you indeedSome imp of dreamland, sent to plague my soulWith fever shuttle-dances, a pied phantomPainting the dark, and tinkling with your timbrelThese rafters of my riddle-tortured brain?—If she should guess—If she should fail to guess!—O Night, it is your Echo, mocking me:’Tis but a Question, and beneath that maskThere are no lips to answer!

Stay! Am I, then, asleep? Are you indeed

Some imp of dreamland, sent to plague my soul

With fever shuttle-dances, a pied phantom

Painting the dark, and tinkling with your timbrel

These rafters of my riddle-tortured brain?—

If she should guess—If she should fail to guess!—

O Night, it is your Echo, mocking me:

’Tis but a Question, and beneath that mask

There are no lips to answer!

[Desperately, he throws himself down bythe couch, burying his face against it. After a moment, the Figure approaches, cautious, surveys his prone form closely, bends as if to snatch at his robe, but draws back and stands hesitant; then with a gesture half frightened removes its mask, and speaks low]

THE FIGURE

Calaf, sonOf Timur—grace! Give me the key!

Calaf, son

Of Timur—grace! Give me the key!

[Turning, Calaf slowly staggers to his feet, gazing with awe on the face of Turandot]

CALAF

O Dream!Dream of my love transmuted to a boy—O little dream in motley, speak once more!

O Dream!

Dream of my love transmuted to a boy—

O little dream in motley, speak once more!

TURANDOT

The key! Unlock the door, and let me forth.

CALAF

My lady—and her voice! Yet, shining boy,Before my soul loses belief in you,Still let me wonder, looking on your image,And worship at your shrine—Saint Harlequin!

My lady—and her voice! Yet, shining boy,

Before my soul loses belief in you,

Still let me wonder, looking on your image,

And worship at your shrine—Saint Harlequin!

[He kneels before her]

TURANDOT

Back to Index Next