(Music strikes up with a march.ALTOUMturns, followed by the guards, the doctors, PANTALONE,andTARTAGLIA,to left exit.ExeuntTURANDOT, ZELIMA, TRUFFALDINO,the eunuchs, and female slaves, with their tambourines, through the door to the right.)
END OF THE FIRST ACT.
Chamber in the harem.
TURANDOT, ZELIMA.AfterwardsADELMA.
TURANDOT.I cannot bear to think of it, Zelima;I cannot bear the thought of my disgrace.ZELIMA.I cannot think you mean it, mistress mine.A young prince, noble, handsome, so enamoured,And you so full of hatred and disgust?TURANDOT.Torture me not. That is the very reason...I am ashamed to say that it is so....But there are other feelings strange to me....I seem to shiver both with heat and frost....No, no, I hate him, I am sure, Zelima—Hate him for making me a laughing-stockBefore the whole Divan—nay, the whole world!How they will laugh at me! Help me, Zelima!Come to my help! How did his riddle run:"Who is that Prince and of what stock is he,Who was a beggar, porter, menial,Yet in good fortune more unfortunate?"So much is clear that he himself is meant.But how in all the world am I to guessHis and his father's names? Here no one knows him.The Emperor himself has granted himFor the time being still to be unknown.Only to save time did I take the odds.What shall I do now? I am helpless, helpless!ZELIMA.How would it do to ask a fortune-teller?TURANDOT.A fortune-teller?ZELIMA.No, that would not do.But think, how genuine his pain, his sighs!And how he cast himself at your father's feetTo plead for you!TURANDOT.Enough of this—enough!I said, indeed... my heart... believe it not.It is not true. I hate him. For I knowThey all are treacherous: pretending loveUntil they have the maiden in their toils;But when they have their will, they laugh at us,Dallying with now this woman and now that;Nor is there any slave too base for them,Nor any harlot at too low a price.Zelima, speak no more of him. If heTo-morrow is victorious again,Oh, I shall hate him worse than death.ZELIMA.Dear mistress,So long as you are young and beautiful,Rebellion beseems you. But when ageComes creeping on, and wooers stay away,What will be yours beside too late regret?...What would you lose now save a little pride,The phantom of your fame?...ADELMA.(Has slowly come nearer, and now interrupts her.)They that are baseIn birth may, it is true, so basely thinkAs thou, Zelima. How couldst thou conceiveThe feelings of our noble mistress, whenAfter so many years with triumph crowned,A stranger roving here from who knows wherePuts her to shame in public? How shouldst thouKnow anything of pride and pain and shame?Thou didst not see the looks of mockery,The slanted smile round every mouth. I saw it,Saw it and shook with rage and shame for her.I love her. And shall I stand and see her now,Against the promptings of her heart and will,Delivered up into a stranger's hands?TURANDOT(vehemently).Stop! Do not make me mad beyond control!ZELIMA.Delivered up? Is it so bad as that?ADELMA.Be silent, thou! Thou pretty little slave,Thou hast no need to understand these things.What matters it to thee if, heedlessly,She pledged her word? And what shall come to passIn the Divan to-morrow if in shameShe hold her tongue? I can already seeThe mockery scarcely hid, the open scorn,And the base wit, such wit as is the meedOf a poor actress.TURANDOT(beside herself).Hold your tongue, Adelma!Unless I know the names before to-morrow,I shall have nothing save this dagger....ADELMA.Do not despair, Princess. By taking thought—Or, if it must be so, by trickery—We yet will find the names.ZELIMA.Oh, find the names,Dear, wise Adelma....TURANDOT.I must know the names,Adelma. His name, and his father's name.How shall I find them out? Adelma, help me!ADELMA.One thing I know: to-day in the DivanHimself betrayed it: in this city livesOneman who knows his name and origin.Now what behoves us is to ferret throughThe town, and if we make no stint of goldHaply we may discover what we seek.TURANDOT.Take anything—gold, gems—do what you will.ZELIMA.What can she do with gold or precious stones?Whom shall she give them to, to purchase help?And if the plan succeed, what will you doIf some one find your mesh of trickery?ADELMA.Who would betray the trick—if not Zelima?ZELIMA(flaring up).Shame on your venomous tongue! Princess, hearme:Cast not your gold away. I had indeedHoped to appease, convince you in the end,Hoped you would give the Prince your hand—the PrinceWho loves you, and well is worthy of your love.Now I will be obedient. My old mother,Skirina, came to visit me just now.Rejoicing at the fortune of the Prince,And knowing nothing of the imminentEncounter which to-morrow shall decide,She told me she had spoken to the strangerThe night before, and said that my step-father,Old Hassan, knows him. There and then I askedWhat might his name be, but she did not know,Or swore she did not. Hassan, so she said,Would not betray his name for any price.This notwithstanding, she has promised meTo do her best to worm the secret out.Now, Princess, doubt my zeal, if still you can.(Exit in excitement.)TURANDOT.Come, to my arms! Why does she run away?ADELMA.Let the fool go. Now we have got the scent,And let us with swift cunning track the game.But come with me straightway and let me tell youThe plan I have. Put all your trust in me.TURANDOT.Adelma, I put all my trust in you.But save me from this stranger whom I loathe.
(Exeunt both.)
Before the Palace.
CALAF, BARAK.
CALAF.But seeing that in all Pekin no manKnows me, save you, and since my country liesA hundred days of journeying from here,And when you think we have been wanderersO'er the earth's face eight years as unknown men,And when you think we are reported dead:I say, Barak, the wretched have no name.BARAK.And yet my mind misgives me: Here you winAt one throw of the dice the loveliestOf maidens and a mighty empire too:You stake your head to win, and, having won,You throw the prize away.CALAF.You must not measureMy actions by the ell: I am in love....But you have been discreet, Barak, I know?Even to your wife?BARAK.Even to my wife, be sure.And yet my heart forebodes much evil hap.
PANTALONE, TARTAGLIA, BRIGELLA, SOLDIERS.The foregoing.
PANTALONE.Here he is, by the Lord Harry, here he is!TARTAGLIA.Who is this man, your Royal Highness?PANTALONE.Where the dickens have you been to, my dearestPrince? What sort of people are you honouringwith your intercourse, my dearest Prince?BARAK(aside).Great heavens, what threatens now?CALAF.This is some stranger,Whom here I met and questioned of the way.TARTAGLIA.By your leave, my dearest Royal Highness, Ihad not previously noticed that there was anyscrew loose under your turban. Your conductso far had led me, I trust not misled me, tobelieve that your head was screwed on quite safe.But what the deuce are you up to now, if youwill allow me to say so?PANTALONE.'Sh! 'Sh! It's no use crying over spilt milk.Heaven knows, my dear Prince, you little suspectwhat hot water you've got into, and if we hadn'tkept a sharp eye on you, you'd be in a finepickle at this moment. (ToBARAK.) Yourpresence here, Mr. Nanny-goat, is no longerdesired! As for you, my dearest Royal Highness,will you have the goodness to withdraw toyour private apartments? Brigella, you willforthwith call two thousand men of the guards toarms, and with your corps of pages sentinel theentrance to his suite, taking care that no onegains admission. Our most Sublime Majesty,the Emperor, is so much in love with the Princethat he is all the time in a perfect state lestanything should happen to him. If he is not hisson-in-law by to-morrow morning, Heaven knowsthe old gentleman will succumb to this violentpassion. (ToCALAF.) And let me tell you,you've been making a fool of yourself. (Whisperingto him.) For Heaven's sake, don't let yourname get between your teeth! But if by anychance you would care to whisper it to a venerable,discreet old man, I can assure you it would bein good keeping. What do you say?CALAF.You serve your Emperor ill, old gentleman!PANTALONE.Oh, bravo! Oh, bravo! Now then, Mr.Brigella, off you go!BRIGELLA.You stop your parleying first. I'll see to myduty in due course.TARTAGLIA.I should advise you to. Off you go, or offgoes your head.BRIGELLA.My head's hard enough to standyourpecking,old cock.TARTAGLIA.(Whispering toCALAF.) I'm simply burstingwith curiosity to know your dear, delightful name.If you would only have the kindness to confide itto me!CALAF.Enough! Enough! To-morrow you shall hear it.TARTAGLIA.Excellent. By George!PANTALONE.Your Royal Highness, I take my leave! (ToBARAK.) And you, my worthy Mr. Nanny-goat,you will do well to depart this place and smokeyour pipe on the market square instead of standingabout here. I urgently recommend you tomind your own business. I believe that woulddo you a lot more good.(Exit.)TARTAGLIA.(ToBARAK.) A lot more good, believe me!You have, if I may say so, a rascal's face; andI can tell you I don't like it.(Exit.)BRIGELLA.Permit me, your Royal Highness, to executemy commission. Have the goodness to followme to your apartments!CALAF.I am coming.(ToBARAK.)Friend, until we meet again,Some better time, farewell.BARAK.Your humble servant.BRIGELLA.Come along! Come along! No more fooling.
(Exit at the head of his guards, who march in two lines, withCALAFbetween them.)
BARAK, then SKIRINA.
BARAK.(SeesSKIRINAcoming from the Palace.)Who's there? Skirina? What! And in such haste?Whence come you? Whither are you going?SKIRINA.Why,For sheer delight because the unknown PrinceHad won the game; a little, too, becauseI itched to hear how the proud tigress took it,I ran to see Zelima in the harem.BARAK.Incautious woman! What is this you say?I see. I hear you boasting: "Yes, just fancy,The strange Prince spoke to us; my husband knows him...."Is it not as I say?SKIRINA.Well, if it is,What harm is there?BARAK.Confess it! You have told!SKIRINA.Well, yes! She asked me straightway for his name,And, to be frank, I promised her...BARAK(angrily).Damnation!The cat's out of the bag. Insensate woman!Come hence! Away out of the town!(TRUFFALDINOappears with his eunuchs inthe background.)Too late!There come the eunuchs.(ToSKIRINA.)Fool of a woman, go!Go home and hide thy folly!(To the eunuchs.)Here I am!
TRUFFALDINO, EUNUCHS.The foregoing.
TRUFFALDINO.(Aside.) You ass! (Aloud.) Stop bleatingand shaking your tags, you old ram you! (In akindly tone.) You're going to have a fine timeof it to-day, old boy.BARAK.I'm wanted in the harem. Good! let us go.TRUFFALDINO.Ass! you're going to have a fine time of it,you old baa-baa. And I'll help you. Againstall the rules of etiquette and good breeding, Icondescend to introduce you alive into the harem.Can you appreciate the height of your good fortune?H'm! A vigorous old chap like you!Inside the most holy seraglio? Baa! Baa! Allthose pretty ladies? Baa! Baa! Eh! is thatnothing to you? Baa! Baa! (More to thepublic.) As a rule, we are very particular onthis point—absolutely rigorous. As a rule, noteven a flea is admitted into the harem before ithas been carefully examined to see whether it'sa male or a female. We tickle it, and if itlaughs it's a she. Females have a silk threadtied round their left leg. Males are immediatelyexecuted. Baa! Baa! And now you have thisgood fortune thrust upon you.BARAK.I know the Princess sends you afterme.What of the woman there? I know her not.TRUFFALDINO.Thou knowest her not! Baa! Baa! Thouart a liar, old chap. Thou liest in thy throat,thou silvery ram. Thou knowest her not! Thouparalytic pack of prevarication! This buxomsmiling lady, with her attractive, plump figure,thou knowest her not? Thou thrice-bleachedhypocrite! And all the time you share all shehas, year in, year out, as far as you are able to.Baa! Baa! I'll help you. Baa! Baa! I'llteach you to tell me lies! Baa! Baa! Me,the Grand Eunuch of China! (Beckons to theeunuchs to bringSKIRINAcloser toBARAK.) Well,do you know her now? This lady? Your wife,you wretch, you wretch! Baa! Baa!SKIRINA.I can't make head or tail of it.BARAK.RememberWhat I have said. And hold your tongue.Poor fool,You have now what you wanted.SKIRINA.Heaven help us!TRUFFALDINO.(To the eunuchs.) Up! Take the pair of'em between you. Slope swords! Halt! Attention!Eyes front! Quick march!
In the harem.Anteroom with columns.In the middle a table, on which stands a large basin filled with gold coins.It is night.
(TRUFFALDINOand his eunuchs surroundBARAK,who is fettered to a pillar.To the right standSKIRINAandZELIMA,weeping; to the left, in an imperious attitude, TURANDOT.)
TURANDOT.There still is time. I offer you againThis dish of gold, if you will speak the names.If you refuse, I'll have you whipped to death.Come hither, slaves!(The eunuchs make her a deep bow and grip their sticks.)BARAK(toSKIRINA).Now see what you have done!(ToTURANDOT.)Princess, feed on your prey. Strike on, ye slaves!I know the son's name and I know the sire's.But direst torture shall not make me speak;No, nor the pains of death. Your dish of goldIs so much dirt to me.SKIRINAandZELIMA.(Cast themselves down beforeTURANDOT.)Princess, have mercy....TURANDOT.I am sick of this obstinacy. Slaves, hither!Give this old man a whipping!ZELIMA.Frightful! Stay!SKIRINA.My husband! My poor husband!ADELMA(enters from behind the scenes).Take heed, Princess!Hasten away! The Emperor hither comes!(Pointing toBARAKandSKIRINA.)Conceal this pair here in the deepest dungeon.Give me this dish of gold, and let ZelimaCome with me. I have bribed the sentinelsThat stand at guard before the stranger's room.Zelima, if you love your mother, doWhat now I bid.TURANDOT.In you I put my trust,Adelma. Help me! Do what you think fit!(At a sign fromADELMA, TRUFFALDINOleadsBARAKandSKIRINAout to theright.)ADELMA.Zelima, come. (To the eunuchs.) One of youbring this basin.
(ExitADELMA,followed byZELIMAand one of the eunuchs, carrying the basin.)
TURANDOT.
TURANDOT.What will Adelma do? If I should win,Who would be greater then than Turandot?Who then would dare to challenge her again?Ah! what a joy, to cast the names to-morrowInto his face, and drive him from my presence,Shamed, disappointed! Not pure joy, perhaps....I see him weeping, sad, depressed.... I feelSomething like pity at the thought of it....Stay, Turandot, thou little soul, what thoughtIs this thou harbourest now! Didheshow pity,Whenhein the Divan had solved the riddles?Did he not make thee red with rage and shame?Heaven, help Adelma now, and help me, Heaven,To annihilate him utterly! Help me nowTo guard my virgin freedom, succour meAgainst the coarse and domineering sex!
ALTOUM, PANTALONE, TARTAGLIA, GUARDS, TURANDOT.
ALTOUM(meditatively, aside, reading letter).So Fate at last has stricken that bloody robber,The Sultan of Tashkent. And the same fateBrings, by strange dispensation, Timur's son,Calaf, to us, and to a great good-fortune.Who dares to penetrate Thy mysteries,Just Heaven?PANTALONE(whispering toTARTAGLIA).What the devil is the old gentleman alwaysdrivelling about now?TARTAGLIA(whispering).A secret messenger has arrived. Hell's loose somewhere.ALTOUM(stepping up toTURANDOT).Child, the night is almost gone,And, sleepless yet, you wander to and fro,Seeking to know-something you cannot know.I, who have nowise sought, have found it out:You seek, and know it not.(Shows her the letter.)Both names are writUpon this sheet. From countries far awayA secret rider bore it even now,With other tidings, grave and full of joy.The messenger I hold in custodyUntil to-morrow night. Your unknown suitorIs of a truth a prince, and a King's son.You will not, cannot guess the names. My child,It is a father's pity brings me here:Why will you once again, this day that dawns,Have yourself put to shame before a crowd,Suffering the cruel malice of their hate?(Makes signs toPANTALONEandTARTAGLIAto leave him alone.Exeunt both withtheGUARDS.)Leave us alone! I hold it in my handTo spare you all.TURANDOT(wavering).To spare me what? I thank you,Father. I have no need of any help.In my own wits I have my best defence.ALTOUM.You are now at your wits' end; you know it, too.A desperate confusion fills your eyes.We are alone with one another now.Come, tell your father! Do you know the names?TURANDOT.You will know that in the Divan to-morrow.ALTOUM.Listen, my child. You do not know these names.But if you do, trust in my love and say.Then I will let the poor man know, and seeThat he shall quit my lands without delay,And we will have it noised abroad that youHave conquered him, and spared him public shame.Thus you escape the hatred of the crowd.Will you deny your father this light boon?TURANDOT.I know the names.... I do not know the names....Didheshow any pity whenhewon?Now let him bear what I myself have borne.If Idoknow the names, I shall announce themTo-morrow to the crowd in the Divan.ALTOUM(makes first a gesture of impatience andthen forces himself to be calm.)All that he did was done in love, my daughter,And in a game played for his head. Now bidAmbition leave your heart, and anger too,And let me show you how a father loves.I pledge my head you do not know the names.I have them here—and I will tell you them.To-morrow then you may in the DivanPut him to shame and contumely, and seeHis anguish and his torture call for death,Because with you he loses all he loved.And only one thing do I crave: when youHave fed your vengeance on him to the full,Reach him your hand and be his willing wife.Swear it; we are alone. Then have the names.And all shall be a secret, mine and yours.TURANDOT(uncertain and excited, aside).What shall I do? Depend upon Adelma?Or shall I let my father tell the names,And bow my head to the yoke?... Less is the shame,Beyond all doubt, to yield to one's own father.But what if wise Adelma had succeededAlready, and my oath had been too soon?ALTOUM.Why will you rack your brains when all is clear?Let not irresolution harry you!Would you still have me think you know the names?Child, be persuaded!TURANDOT(aside).No, I will wait for Adelma.My father urges me. This is a signThe mystery is not impenetrable.He is in league with that strange man, and seeksTo talk me over.ALTOUM.Hesitate no longer!Make up your mind! Rein in your rearing pride!Torture yourself no more.TURANDOT.Iamresolved.Call the Divan together in good time.I have no more to say.ALTOUM.You are resolvedRather to yield to force than to your father!TURANDOT.I am resolved to fight.ALTOUM(in a rage).Fool without heart!I will indeed call the Divan togetherTo be your temple and your altar too.And I will summon priests, to celebrateYour marriage while a crowd looks on and mocks.Yea, have your will, you stupid fool! Good night.(Exit.)
Scene shifted.A magnificent apartment with several doors.In the middle of the room an Oriental divan, which servesCALAFas a bed.Deep night.
BRIGELLA, CALAF.
BRIGELLA.(With a candlestick in his hand.) Three hundredand seventy-seven, three hundred andseventy-eight, three hundred and seventy-nine.It's already three o'clock in the morning, yourRoyal Highness, and you've walked now exactlythree hundred and eighty times from one cornerof the room to the other. To be quite frank, I'mdone up, and if youwouldlie down a little,it would do us both good. You're in safety here.CALAF.Yes, you are right. But my excited mindGives me no peace. Forgive me! Leave me!Go!BRIGELLA.I should like to give you a piece of advice,my dearest Royal Highness: if a ghost paysyou a visit, be prudent, be prudent;tryto be prudent.CALAF.Ghosts, do you say? What ghosts? Is the place haunted?BRIGELLA.Well.... H'm.... We have the moststringent orders to admit nobody, under penaltyof death. H'm.... Poor servantsweare, poorservants! The Emperor is the Emperor, youunderstand, but the Princess, she is the Empress,so to speak. Poor servants... it's hard to haveto pick your way between two puddles. Nothalf! If you only knew it, we've always gotour heads between the hammer and the anvil.We don't want to get intoanybody'sbad graces.I'm sure you understand me. And a man wantsto put something aside for his old days. Andso you see we poor devils are in the hell of ahole. Not half!CALAF.What are you driving at? Is my life in danger?BRIGELLA.I won't say that; but you are aware of theblessed interest people about here take in yourname. By way of example it might possiblyhappen that a hobgoblin or a fairy steps inthrough the keyhole and leads you into temptation.Keep a tight rein on your five senses, that'sall. You see what I mean, don't you? Poorservantswepeople! Poor devils! Not half!CALAF.Go. Have no fear. I stand upon my guard.BRIGELLA.(Slapping him on the back.) That's right, yourHighness, that's right. I commend myself toyour most gracious protection. (Aside.) Ihaveheard that some people can find it in their heartsto refuse a purse of florins.Ihave done myvery best, but I can't find it in my heart. Sohelp me, God! A man can only do what he cando. I can't do it; no, I can't do it.(Exit.)
CALAF.
CALAF.What is this fellow warning me against?Who is to visit me? Well, I can fight,Yea, fight the very devil, if he come.My thoughts are all for her. Short time remainsOf fearing and of torment: Dawn is nigh!And can it be her heart is still so hardAnd pitiless? Well, let us try to sleep.
ZELIMA, CALAF.
EnterZELIMA.
ZELIMA.My Prince, I am a slave of Turandot,And hither come by ways which even to herAre closed. Good news I bring you.CALAF.Slave, you lie.The heart of Turandot is pitiless.ZELIMA.You speak the truth. And yet: you are the firstThat ever touched it. You believe me not,And yet it is quite true. She says she hates you,And she already loves you. May the earthSwallow me if it is not true she loves you.CALAF.The newsisgood. I will believe. What next?ZELIMA.She bids me tell you, only her ambitionDrives her to desperation. Now she seesThat what she undertook she cannot do,But thinking of to-morrow and its shameShe is consumed.... May the earth swallow me,If here I lie!CALAF.Enough, my pretty slave.I will believe. Go! Tell her: it is easyTo give the contest up. And she would winFairer renown by softening her heart,And giving of her own free will the handHe longs for to the man who loves her true.Is this the message, haply, that you bring?ZELIMA.No, Prince. My message runs not so. We askConsideration for our weaknesses.The Princess begs you for a favour. SpareHer vanity. Help her to say those namesIn the Divan to-morrow. Then she herselfWill from her throne descend, and reach to youHer right hand. You it costs so little. SayThe names, and in this manner win her heart.CALAF(with a smile).H'm! Pretty slave, where is the speech's end?ZELIMA.What speech's end, your Highness?CALAF."Let the earthSwallow me if I lie in this."ZELIMA.You doubt it?CALAF.I do a little doubt it—just so muchThat I refuse to do what you desire.Go, tell your mistress, if I hide the namesIt is because a lover must be cautious—I do not hide them with intent to pain her.ZELIMA(violently).Fool, fool! you little know what this will cost you!CALAF.And if it cost my life!ZELIMA.You soon will see.Good-night.(Aside.)The fool! He has made a fool of me.(Exit in a rage.)CALAF.Be steadfast, heart! Only a few hours moreThe skies will clear, and fear will have an end.That I could sleep.... My tortured spirit yearnsFor rest. Sink down upon me, gentle sleep!(Goes to sleep.)
CALAF, TRUFFALDINO.
TRUFFALDINO.(Comes creeping in cautiously from right,creeps under the divan.)Well, thank God! he's gone to sleep at last.'Sh! 'Sh! (In the front of the stage beforethe footlights.) As my poor old mother used tosay, "A good name is worth a fortune." Whata good name this idiot of a Prince must have,considering how my gracious Princess is throwingall her money away on him! Skirina's got some,Zelima's got some, Brigella's got some. I've gotsome, and I'm going to get two purses extra ifI get this young hopeful's name. And I shallget it! You watch me. I'm going to! (Withmuch ceremony he pulls a big turnip, wrappedin a strip of paper, out of his dress.) Here Ihave the famous magic root mandragora. TheUniversal Doctor and Great Herbalist Pimpernel,Market Square, second door to the right, let mehave it for a tanner. Warranted, of course.Warranted to go two years. Printed instructionsfor use attached. (Unwraps the turnip, reads:)"The root mandragora opens all doors, bursts alllocks, raises hidden treasure, confers riches andwisdom...." (Looks up.) Aha! just whatI want. (Reads on:) "It has influence overthe constellations and the planets, makes the blindto see and the deaf to hear, is a protectionagainst the evil eye, heals all maladies of themind, depression in men and melancholy inwomen...." (Looks up.) Aha! Depression,quite so. Melancholy, quite so. (Reads on:) "Itconfers the gift of second sight, reveals hiddensecrets...." (Looks up.) Ah! now we haveit. Hidden secrets.... "Let it be placed underthe pillow of the person, whether male or female,whose secret it is desired to know, when thesaid person is asleep. Then the person aforesaid..."Hurrah! (jumps for joy) "will,by dreaming aloud, communicate what it is desiredto know." Did you hear that? Isn't that thevery thing? (Creeps up toCALAF'Sbed, and,with excessive caution, places the turnip underhis pillow.) 'Sh! 'Sh!(Draws back a little, and waits, in thegreatest excitement, for what is goingto happen.CALAFdoes not utter asound.With a disappointed faceTRUFFALDINOcreeps nearer the bedagain. CALAFremains dumb.)Do say something, my dear boy! Do say something,please! (Waits a little.) Out with thename, my sweet little lambkin.(With transfigured faceCALAFwhispersterms of endearment.)What's he saying now? Tu... Tu...Turandot. Oh, bother! I know that namealready, the name of my adored Princess. It'syourname I want to know, my darling boy.(CALAFgoes on whispering excitedly.Hesmiles in his happy dream, and raiseshimself on his elbow during the followingwithout opening his eyes.)Tu... nothing but Turandot! Well, then, hereI am, duckie. Here I am, lovey, here I am—myown very self, your own little lovey duckieTurandot. (Purses up his lips.CALAFsmilesas though in rapture.) What wouldst thouhave of me, my sweetest heart? Eh? Well,what? Something like this? (Smacks his lips.)Well, then, youshallhave it, and more besides.But first of all, darling, you must tell me yourname, your own delightful, sweet little name, myhoney!...(CALAFsinks back and lies dumb again,sulkily.)Oh, you won't, won't you? You really won't?How nasty of you, my love! Just look at me.See how pretty I am! (Trips coquettishly upand down in front of the bed.) Look at mylovely white arms and my lovely plump legs,and my glorious hair hanging all down my back!...Just look at it, my sweet little chick!(CALAFbegins to whisper excitedly, raisinghimself the while.)That's right, that's right, quite so: talk, talk,my bonny babe! (Bends down again, till hismouth almost touches the sleeper's.) Once again,my sweet one! Say it once again, my little whitelambkin! It shall have its kiss, it shall, rightaway.
(CALAFturns suddenly and violently round on the other side, and deals him a ringing box on the ear. (Squeaking noisily, TRUFFALDINOruns away. CALAFsits up for a moment in astonishment, opens his eyes, shuts them again immediately, and sinks back on his couch.)
ADELMA,veiled, with a lantern in her hand. CALAFsleeping.
ADELMA(aside).O moment I have sighed for long! O love,That lendest cunning courage unto me!And Fortune, thou that through all obstaclesHast led me hither: help a lovesick maid!Oh, bring me to the goal of my desires!Silence this yearning, love! And, Fortune, breakThese galling fetters....(She lets the light of her lantern rest onCALAF,and gazes at him.)My belovèd sleeps.Oh, burst not, heart! Dear eyes, how loth I amTo trespass on the rest possessing you!And yet I must. At once. The short night flees.(She puts her lantern down.)Stranger, awake!CALAF(starts up in a fright).Whose voice awakens me?What seekest thou again, thou creeping ghost?Why are my eyes denied their sleep?ADELMA.Be calm!Only a wretched woman stands before you.And she does not come, as the other did,To lure the names from you by trickery.CALAF.Let be! You cannot cheat me.ADELMA.I cheatyou?Has not a slave been here with such intent?(Puts her lantern down.)CALAF.Yes, and she went as wise, as when she came,And you will go as wise as when you came.ADELMA.You know me ill to be so rude. Sit upAnd listen.(Sits down on the divan.)CALAF.Well, then, what is your desire?ADELMA.First look at me, and then.... Prince, tell me now,Who do you think I am?CALAF.In shape and bearingNoble you seem, but by your dress a slave.And as a slave I saw you yesterdayIn the Divan.ADELMA.Five years since I saw you,And thenyouwere a slave.(Raises her veil.)Look at this face!Do you not know it?CALAF.Adelma! How! Adelma,Whom I thought dead!ADELMA.She is a serving-maid,Who was the daughter of King Kaikobad.CALAF.Adelma! A slave!ADELMA.A slave! I'll tell you why.I had a brother, blind with love, as you are,For Turandot. In the Divan he met her.(Weeps.)You saw his head above the city gateWith all the others.CALAF.It is true, then, true.ADELMA.My father Kaikobad, in fury bold,Led his array against Altoum. Fortune,The fickle jade, lured him to his defeatAnd death. Altoum's general devisedAt one fell stroke to extirpate our race.My brothers he assassinated. Me,Together with my mother and three sisters,He cast into the river, then in spate.The gentle Emperor, coming on the scene,Ordered his guards to fish us out again.I was the only one brought to the shore,And I was led in the triumphal train,And given as a slave to Turandot,To wait on the hard-hearted woman whoWas cause of all my griefs. Now, Calaf, speak,Am I not worth compassion?(Weeps.)CALAF(moved).Indeed you are,Adelma, Princess of the Carcasenes!But what can so unfortunate a manAs I am do for you? If fortune smileOn me to-morrow, I will promise helpFor you, and freedom. And your grieving nowCan only heap the measure of my own.ADELMA.You know me now, my destiny, my race.May you the better credit a King's daughter,What pity—I will not say love—constrains herNow to confide to you. False Turandot,Malicious, cunning, cruel Turandot,Soon as the morning dawns, will have you murdered.All orders are already given. So muchFrom her, who is the mistress of your dreams.CALAF(starts up savagely).She will have me murdered, do you say?ADELMA.(Rises likewise, with the most solemn emphasis.)Yes, murdered:While you are on your way to the Divan.A score of swords await your setting out.CALAF(beside himself).I will call the guards.(Makes for the door.)ADELMA(holds him back).Bethink yourself, rash man!The guards? They have been bought by Turandot!CALAF(in blind despair).Timur, my wretched father, thus it stands.With Calaf, thy proud son; he that set outTo seek good fortune for himself and thee!(Covers his face with his hands.)ADELMA(aside).Haha! Timur... Calaf.... Be thrice blest, lieThat lured this forth. Doubly I hold him now.CALAF.Can it be possible that Turandot...Howcanit be that such an angel's faceShould hide such devilry?...(Contemptuously.)No. You deceive me,Adelma. Go!ADELMA.I will forgive your doubt.An angel's face? Oh, would that you had seen herAs I have! In the harem rages she,And like a snapping bitch runs to and fro,Green in the face, and with her bloodshot eyesShining with hate under distorted brows.Doubt if you will. That you should doubt my wordsIs not such pain as your approaching death.(Weeps.)CALAF.What treachery! By the very guards betrayedAppointed to protect me! He spake right,That rascal of a captain: Gold kills duty.Life, fare thee well!ADELMA.And yet you may escapeYour evil star. Up, I will show the way.By saving you from death, I save myselfFrom slavery. With my jewels I have boughtTwo of the guards, an escort I have hired,And horses are in readiness. The KhanOf Berlas is my kinsman. Leagued with himLet us invade and seize my kingdom—yours,If so you will. And this my hand be yours,If you will have it. But if you will not,The Tartar Kings are not unblest with daughters,Fair maidens full of love and fit for you.Be you the King, and I will be your subject.Only flee, death. Only deliver me.And I will conquer even my love, which now,Crimson with shame, I have confessed.....Day dawns!Day dawns! My head swims.... Stranger, flee with me!CALAF.In vain. I have resolved to stay and die.ADELMA.Then I will, too, stay for a little whileIn slavery yet. And soon it will be seenWhich of us two is readier to die.(Aside.)Often persistent love attains at last!Calaf, Timur's son?(Aloud.)Stranger Prince, good-night!(Exit.)CALAF.Oh, will this night of horrors never end?And this fight of the soul that is consumedIn burning love? By Fortune cast away—Cast into perils, by her hate pursued,I tarry for the dawn and traitorous knives.(The scene grows light.)See, the sun rises. Now the hour is comeFor her to feed her pleasure on my blood,The hour has come that sees my torment end!
BRIGELLA, GUARDS, CALAF.
BRIGELLA.Time's up, your Highness. Fun begins in a minute.CALAF.Oh, is it you? Well, carry out your orders!Be quick! It doesn't matter. Get it over.BRIGELLA(astonished).What orders? Eh? I haven't got any orders.The only order I've got is to escort you to theDivan. Double quick! The Emperor has alreadycombed his beard and may appear in the Divanany minute.CALAF(in a tragedy tone).Up, then, to the Divan! What though I do notReach it alive? What matters it? See here,Am I the man to be afraid of death?(Casts his sword away.)I need no weapon. Let the Princess knowThat I have offered of my own free willTo her assassins my defenceless breast(Exit.)BRIGELLA.What the devilisthe fellow raving about?Women, those damned women! They've been athim the whole night, not half, and his brain'scollapsed! Hello, you! Present arms! Dressyour ranks! March!
(Exeunt.Music of drums and other instruments of war.)
END of the SECOND ACT.
The great hall of the imperial Divan. In the "background, covered by a curtain, an altar with a Chinese idol; two priests standing beside it.ALTOUMon his throne, the doctors on their cushions, PANTALONEandTARTAGLIAon each side of theEMPEROR. ALTOUM, PANTALONE, TARTAGLIA,theDOCTORS,theGUARDS.LaterCALAF. (EnterCALAFexcitedly from right.He looks round uneasily and suspiciously.When he arrives at the middle of the room he bows toALTOUM.)
CALAF(aside).How's this? No trace of ambushed murderers?Did the slave lie? Can Turandot have foundThe names out, and rescinded her commands?Then I lose all. Death had been better far.ALTOUM.My son, you seem excited and in fear,And I were fain had you a merry face.Now all is well. Your sorrows are at end.Glad tidings that concern you I will saveA little while. As for my daughter, sheIs yours. She sent to me thrice in the nightPetitioning release from this encounter.Therefore I charge you, son, be of good cheer!PANTALONE.Heaven knows, my dearest Royal Highness, Imyself had to trot off in the night to pay a callon her Royal Highness in the Seraglio and receiveher most illustrious commands. I didn't evenhave the time to tumble into my slippers andget dressed properly. And it was so cold,Heaven knows (coughs), I'm shivering yet. Nevermind! Never mind!TARTAGLIA.They fetched me out of bed at 5 a.m. It wasjust beginning to get light a bit. She mademe stand in front of her half an hour while shewent on whining something or other. For sheercold and vexation I talked the most clottednonsense to her. (Aside.) It would have suitedmy humour better if I could have given her adownright good spanking.ALTOUM.You see yourself: she is so slow in coming.I have already sent explicit ordersIn case of need to bring her here by force.Here she shall stand and learn to blush, a painShe would not let me spare her. Therefore, son,Take good heart at the prospect of near joy.CALAF.I crave your pardon, sire, and give you thanks!I am tormented by most fearful doubts,And by the thought that for my sake she nowIs suffering shame and force. Much rather... NoNot that. If Idolose her, what remainsTo me of life? With time and tendernessI will compel her to forget this rage.My will shall be her wish, my heart her heart.For her sake I will grant what either asks,And my love's banner be: Fidelity!ALTOUM.Let there be no more dallying! This DivanBe changed into a temple, so that she,Soon as she enters here, may recognizeThat I too have a will. Prepare the marriage.Unveil the altar.(The curtain in the background opens, andthe altar with the priests is seen.)PANTALONE.She's coming, my dear Lord Chancellor, she'scoming. I believe I can already hear her whining.TARTAGLIA.The accompaniment does at all events sounddecidedly dismal. That's what I call a genuinewedding march, just the same as for a funeral.
TURANDOT, ADELMA, ZELIMA, TRUFFALDINO, EUNUCHS, SLAVES.The foregoing.(To the strains of a gloomy marchTURANDOTappears.Before her proceed eunuchs.Her whole escort wear signs of mourning.With the same ceremonial as in First Act, TURANDOTascends the throne, and at sight of the altar and the priests starts with surprise.The position of the actors is exactly the same as in the First Act.CALAFstands erect in the centre.)
TURANDOT.This mourning of my escort,Prince unknown,These gloomy faces and these necks bowed down,Are (well I know it) sweet to your hard heart;And, mourning, I behold the altar ready.For all my efforts to avenge the shamePut on me yesterday, I still am helpless.I have fought my fight. I bow my neck to fate.CALAF.Would you could read the heart you say is hard,Princess, to see what wormwood your hate blendsWith all its rapture. Let not your heart rueCrowning the man with happiness who loves youAnd worships you, and if it is a crimeTo worship you, I beg you here: forgive!ALTOUM.Enough. She is not worth such humble words.Now teachherto be humble! Music, ho!Up! To the altar! Let the priests begin!TURANDOT.One moment more! What vengeance is so sweetAs this: to cradle in securityAnd restfulness an unsuspecting heart,And then from the pinnacle of happinessTo dash it down into the blackest hellOf torment?(She rises.)Hear me, all of you: DepartFrom this Divan,Calaf, son of Timur!There is the riddle solved you set me. Wretch,Go! seek another wife, and shake with fearOf Turandot, whom none can overcome.CALAF(confounded and stricken).Great Heaven! Lost! Lost!ALTOUM(taken aback).What do I hear? Great Heaven!PANTALONE.Holy Madonna, she's gone and done it in hisbeard, my dear Lord Chancellor, Heaven knows.TARTAGLIA.(Mopping his face.) Holy Gorgonzola! thisgets over me and no mistake.CALAF.Lost! No one helps me. Whocouldhelp me now?I have-been my own assassin, and in the endI lose by too much loving love itself.Why did I solve the riddles yesterday?If I had failed to solve them, I were nowCold, dumb, and free from torture worse than death.Great-hearted Emperor, why do you notLet that grim law hold good another time?Now she has found the names, give your cold daughter,To be her crowning triumph, this last head.(ApproachesTURANDOT'Sthrone.)Most cruel Princess, does it not offend youTo know the heart still beating that has daredTo love you? Look upon your victim here,Calaf, hateful to you, hateful to Heaven,To the world hateful, and to fortune too—Calaf, who at your feet now dies.(He draws a dagger, and makes a thrust athis heart. TURANDOTleaps down fromher throne and seizes his arm.)TURANDOT(in a tone of tenderness).Calaf,What are you doing?ALTOUM.Dare I trust my eyes?CALAF.Leave me alone, cold woman! Let me die!(Points the dagger again at his breast.TURANDOTrestrains him.)TURANDOT.Stay! You shall live! and you shall live for me!Listen!(ToZELIMA.)Run to the prisoners, Zelima!Comfort old faithful Barak and your mother!ZELIMA.Mistress, I will, and lose no time.(Exit.)ADELMA(excitedly, aside).This momentSpells death for me.TURANDOT.Now hear me: I have wonBy accident. For in a sudden burstOf feeling you betrayed yourself last nightTo my quick-witted slave Adelma here.But let the whole world know: I am aboveInjustice. And know you: your chivalrousDemeanour and fair features have o'ercomeThis stubborn heart. Live then, live and be proud:I am your prize.ADELMA(in pain, aside).Oh, torment worse than death....CALAF(casts his dagger to the floor).Mine! You! Oh, do not kill me, supreme joy!ALTOUM(descends from his throne).Let me embrace thee, daughter. This one hourMakes good the pain you heaped upon my heart.PANTALONE.Wedding! Wedding! Reverend doctors, yourpresence is no longer required here.TARTAGLIA.Have the goodness to withdraw to the posterior apartment.(Exeunt doctors back of stage.)ADELMA(comes to the front.In the greatestexcitement toCALAF).Live! Oh, yes, live! Live with my enemyIn happiness.(ToTURANDOT.)To you, Princess, I say:I hate you. All I tried to do last nightI did to snatch from you the man I love,Whom secretly I loved ere he loved you.Last night I sought to have him flee with me.He would not. All my arts could lure from himWere those two names, which I betrayed becauseI hated you. I planned you should reject him,And that I then should have him. All in vain.There is one last way open to me now.I, too, am royal, and I am ashamed.That so long I have suffered servitude.Take now the last of all the CarcasenesTo crown your triumphing....(She picksCALAF'Sdagger up from the floor.)This steel, which youHave warded from his breast, shall open meThe way to freedom....CALAF(restrains her).Stay!ADELMA.Off! Let me die.(In a voice stifled with tears.)Ungrateful wretch!CALAF(snatches the dagger from her).No, for I owe you all.It was your treachery saved me. You shall notCall me ungrateful.TURANDOT.Are you mad, Adelma,All of a sudden?CALAF.Generous Emperor,If my petition may in aught avail,Give her her freedom!TURANDOT.I petition, too,My noble father. I conceive it well,She never can forgive me her distress;No, nor believe that I can pardon her.Give her her freedom.... And if you could grantSome greater favour, do it for our sake!ALTOUM.On such a day of gladness be the measureOf mercy full. I give her not aloneHer freedom but her father's kingdom back.So let her choose a consort she can love,And rule the realm with him....ADELMA.To all the weightOf guilt upon my conscience, to my loadOf love sent back from where it should have lodged,You add the burden of the greatest mercy.I cannot yet conceive it. Give me timeTo understand the height of my good fortune.But now I have no answer save these tears....CALAF.Oh that I knew now where to find you, father!My heart, so full of joy, burns to embrace you.ALTOUM.Calaf, rejoice exceedingly. This empireYou have twice won. Your father, too, has wonHis kingdom back. Slain is the Sultan whoRobbed it from him. Until your sire's returnA faithful servant wields the sceptre for him,And in the meantime sends out messengersTo seek you in all countries. Read this leaf IIt signifies the end of all your grief.CALAF.Ye heavenly gods, you raise and you cast down.You cast down and make mighty, heavenly gods.(All present sob in their emotion.)TURANDOT.Now nothing more trouble this wedding-day.(Comes meditatively somewhat to the front.)Calaf here risks his head to win a wife.A faithful friend and servant risks his lifeTo save his Prince. A man wins back a throneFor his lost King, and makes it not his own.A woman, who made out she loved me, hidA false heart's treachery. And could I then,After all this, look down in scorn on men?No. And may Heaven forgive me all I didThat made me seem a monster in men's sight!(Steps quite up to the footlights.)Dear gentlemen, I tell you this becauseI love you all; and if you are politeLet my conversion have your loud applause.
QUICK CURTAIN
UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, THE GRESHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON.