Turandot: The Chinese Sphinx

TRUF. (aside.)I've only got my trouble for my pain;I'll never do a kindly act again. (Exit.)KALCome, gentle sleep. Refresh me, balm divine!Take courage, weary soul, success may yet be mine.

(Retires to the couch, and sinks; into slumber. Enter ADELMA, veiled, bearing a lighted taper.)

ADELI shall not fail. In vain was their endeavour,But I will venture all, the knot to sever.I may not learn his name, – but I'll imploreHis flight from Peking. Then my love, once moreMay hope to win his heart.

(Unveils, and gazes upon him.)

He gently slumbers:Reluctantly I rouse him, but time numbersThe hours yet left for action. Prince, arise!KALWho calls? Another spirit! Do my eyesDeceive me? Can it be? Adelma here?Thy royal person in a slave's mean gear!Such lowly garb is surely some disguise.ADELNo, Prince; Adelma now in slav'ry sighs.Beneath the galling yoke of her who martyredMy wretched brother, and my father slaughtered.Not you alone must suffer from the curseOf Turandot's fell ire; my fate's far worse.KALPrincess, believe me; more your lot I mournThan e'en my own. So fair, so nobly born,So gracious to th' unhappy; – I can ne'erForget your kindness to myself. If e'erIn need of faithful service you may stand,Which I may render in return, commandMe as your slave. My gratitude's eternal.ADELFrom Turandot I'd save you. Her infernalDevices throw a glamour o'er your senses:But did you know her shallow, false pretences,Of her great excellence you'd scorn the notion,Nor waste on her your noble heart's devotion.For all she sets up as a learned Sphinx,She's nothing but a sly, conceited minx.KALNay, blame not her, but adverse destiny,Your brother willed his death; the choice was free.Your father fell in battle – 'twas ill-fateAwarded death, not she. Oh, do not hateYour mistress; surely she your worth esteemsAnd treats you as your gentle birth beseems.To-morrow, if I'm victor as beforeI'll freedom give you, and your throne restore.ADELCan nothing your credulity convince?Oh, fly this wicked woman, dearest Prince.Escape with me! Come haste! Our time is short;I've bribed your guards. We'll sail from the next portTo Keicobad – there all will hail me Queen.KALFarewell, Princess; magnanimous you've been.Escape alone. To die I am content,You cannot turn me from my firm intent.ADELUngrateful man! Then learn the horrid truth.The heart of Turandot can feel no ruth.You've foiled her cunning. Fear her tiger-spring.To-morrow as you pass to join the KingIn high divan, – her slaves, with stealthy blow,Will pierce your heart; – your life will be laid low.KALOh, hapless Kalaf! must thy life thus end?In exile perish – far from ev'ry friend!O Timur, dearest father, couldst thou seeThine only son in such deep misery,All Tartary thou'dst gladly give to saveIts royal heir from such untimely grave.

(Covers his face in despair.)

ADEL. (aside)Kalaf, future Khan of Tartarland!(Most luckily the last-told lie I planned.)He's in my power. If he escape one net,He'll fall into another, closer yet.KAL. (to himself.)I've said "Or death or Turandot." Her willDecrees my death – from her 'tis, welcome still.Adieu, fond hopes. Delusive joys, farewell!ADELOnce more let me implore you. Do not sellYour life thus cheap. We still have time for flight.KALMy honour bids me stay and brave the fight.ADELYou're obstinate. Farewell, then, unknown stranger,(aside.) My love despised! I burn with jealous anger.Prince Kalaf, Timur's son! you're in my snare;I can be fierce as Turandot. Beware! (Exit.)KALAFI'm on the rack! when will this torture cease?

(Enter BRIGHELLA.)

BRIG'Tis time to join divan, Prince, if you please.

(KALAF regards him suspiciously.)

KALArt thou her tool? Shall I by thy hand fall?Stain not thy soul with guiltless blood. Take allI have, if money be thy greed. But knowWithout a struggle I'll not take thy blow.

(Draws his-sword.)

BRIGHis brain is addled, sure as eggs is eggs!Lor', how he stands, astraddling out his legs!

KAL. (throws down his sword.)

I'll not defend myself. Tell her who offeredBase gold for life, my breast I freely profferedTo meet th' assassin's knife. There lies my sword.Fulfil her stern behest.BRIGUpon my wordAnd honour, my strict orders are, to seeYou safely to divan. His MajestyIs all agog to see the fun.

KAL. (to himself.)

AliveI ne'er shall reach divan. My death I'll striveTo calmly meet. Perchance my bleeding corseWill melt her heart to pity and remorse.

(Exit, BRIGHELLA following him; guards receive him outside. Music strikes up.)

SCENE. —High Divan, as in Act II. ALTOUM discovered on his throne; PANT. and TART. beside it; the eight Doctors seated; Guard under arms. Behind a curtain, in the background, is an altar, with a Chinese idol: a Chinese priest on each side of it. KALAF enters, agitated, and looking suspiciously around him; bows to ALTOUMKAL. (aside.)Do I still live? Each step, I thought to feelThe thrust of an assassin's deadly steel.Adelma's warning was some dream, or now I dream.ALTMy son, care sits upon thy brow.Glad news I have in store for thee. AloneJoys come not. Turandot shall be thine own.Three times to-night she sent to me to prayI would defer th' encounter of to-day.'Tis evident her pride is sorely vext,She'd hide her failure by some vain pretext.Rejoice, all blessings for thy weal combine,To-day full happiness on thee shall shine.PANT. (to KALAF, confidentially) —Believe me, if so please your Majesty —(I mean your Majesty that is to be.)Your future wife's ill-temper there's no bearing;Her tantrums and hysterics are quite wearing.A hundred times I was called up last nightTo try and set this knotty question right.I'd scarcely time my slippers to resume,Much less to dress in proper court costume.I just popped on my crimson satin breeches, —I fear I caught a cold; (sneezes) must put on leeches,A blister p'raps – take horrid water-gruel.

(Blows, his nose portentously.)

No breakfast yet I've swallowed 'Tis too cruel!Who'd be Prime Minister? to starve and toil,And fret and fume in an eternal coil.But yet, I would not, for a hundred dollarHave missed the sight of her rampagious choler;I was rejoiced my turn had come to grin,Just as folks do at me when HarlequinBefore my nose runs off with Columbine,In every stupid Christmas pantomime.TARTI-I was c-called up-p inaspettatamente,S-she b-begged m-my a-ai-aid qu-quite disperatamente.ALTPrepare the altar.

(A curtain is raised, disclosing an altar with a Chinese deity.Two priests attending.)

Hither call our daughter;Obedience to the law shall now be taught her.Set open all the doors! Lo, where she comes.

(A slow march is heard. TRUFFALDIN and slaves enter, in mourninggarments, with weepers of crape attached to their pigtails. Femaleslaves in black veils: then TURANDOT, ADELMA, and SKIRINA, alldemonstrating extreme dejection. TURANDOT ascends her thronewith the same ceremonies at in Act II.)

PANTIs this a wedding march, with muffled drums?It sounds more like a dead march, dull and dreary —The one in "Saul," or Verdi's Miserere.Her sulky Highness looks as black as thunderAt having thus in public to knock under.TUR. (to KALAF)This sad procession, Prince IncognitoProfound humiliation is to show.Your arrogance upon my shame will gloat, —Your eyes on your defeated slave will doat.I see the altar – Fo-hi's grand officialPrepared to bind the victim sacrificial.My glory's dead – disgraced is Turandot!Condemned to wear the chain of Hymen's knot.KALOh, couldst thou know how deeply I revereThy maiden dignity, not thus severeThoud'st show thyself, nor my fond love resent.As slave to thee my whole life shall be spent;But deign one gracious sign to give, that thouIn time, responsive tenderness mayst know.ALTPrince, condescend no more. Commence the rite!TUROne moment more. (Sarcastically.) I am not ready, quite.

(Rises and addresses KALAF) —

I raised your hopes, that they might deeper fall.Prince Kalaf, Son of Timur, quit this hallAnd China's realm. Go, seek another bride.In vain my penetration you defied;No secret's hidden from the Chinese Sphinx.SKIR. (aside)She never naps – not e'en for forty winks!KALAh, woe is me!ALTDear me, what is the matter?I cannot hear thro' all this general chatter.PANT, (aside)I shan't attempt just now to make him hear;I'm dazed myself, and his head's never clear.TARTW-what a c-ca-cat-as-ass-astrophe! Corpo di Bacco!H-he m-must r-re-return —colle pive nel sacco.KALMy overloving heart has caused my woe,I gave up all, to please my lovely foe.If yesterday I purposely had failedTo win the day, or from the contest quailed,My soul had now found rest. Ah, whyAltoum, wert thou too merciful? To dieTo-day, if conquered, should have been my meed —Great Emperor, thus shouldst thou have decreed.ALTPoor Kalaf! tears mine aged eyes bedew.

(wipes hit eyes.)

TUR. (aside to SKIRINA) —His grief affects me deeply; strangely newEmotions swell my bosom.SKIRPut an endTo trifling. Far as Jericho I'd sendAll shilly-shally. Do, for goodness' sakeSpeak 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!ADELMAMy 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 andapproaches TURANDOT's throne) —

KALAFThy 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).

TURStay, Kalaf, stay!Or strike thy heart through mine.

(Throws herself across his breast.)

ALTWhat does she say?

(TURANDOT and KALAF gaze at each other in silence, for sometime.)

KALWouldst 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.)

TURFor 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.)ALTWhat do they say? (to PANT., who endeavours to explain).Don't speak. I see all's right.SKIRFo-hi be praised! Now, this is what I callA great success. My pig has done it all.

(Fetches BARAK from behind the crowd) —

Come, dearest husband; much too long you've trembled.TURLet 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 commandAs prize of his achievement, my poor hand.(To KALAF.) But not in deference to lawful rightI gave myself to thee, but through love's might.My heart was thine, when first I did behold thee.KALAFExcess of bliss, thus to my heart to fold thee!ALTWhat do they say? You all make such a noise,I can't hear anything – not my own voice.No doubt it's quite correct, nay, sentimental;So take my blessing and consent parental.TARTF-f-friend F-pa-pantaloon, what j-j-joy! Che dolci affetti!P-prep-p-pare the b-ba-ban-qu-quet. Mangerem confetti!

ALTOUM joins the lover's hands, and places his hands on their heads. The eight Doctors join hands and dance in a circle, nodding their chins. PANT. and TART. dance together. BARAK and SKIRINA ditto. TRUFFALDIN twirls round ADELMA, who snubs him. BRIGHELLA and guards gravely jump up and down. Tableau.

END OF ACT IVFINIS