Turandot: The Chinese Sphinx

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 hisshoulder. Black male and female slaves, beating tantans andcymbals. 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. Thenappears TURANDOT, veiled, in rich Chinese costume. The courtiersand doctors prostrate themselves before her. ALTOUM rises; thePrincess makes him a slight inclination, with her hands to herforehead, 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.
He's young and handsome, do have some compassion,
Don't doubly kill him, in your usual fashion.
Accept him as your husband, my sweet daughter,
Don't keep us any longer in hot water.

TUR. (after gazing at KALAF, aside to SKIRINA) —

Skirina, what can ail me? Heigho! surely
This can't be love – I feel so faint – quite poorly.
No man has ever touched my heart – but now
For this sweet youth I feel – I don't know how.
In all my life I never felt so queer.

SKIR

At last you've fall'n in love; that's very clear.
So much the better! make your riddles plain.
And then he needn't puzzle his poor brain.

TUR

Nay, peace, Skirina, recollect my glory.

(ADELMA has observed KALAF with emotion.)

ADELMA

'Tis he! my former slave. I guessed his story.
My heart was right, he's one of noble birth.

TUR