Turandot: The Chinese Sphinx Part 7

I ne'er accused you of disdain or coldness.

I duly honour maidenly reserve.-- Your favour I pretend not to deserve; But who would not risk all, with blindfold eyes,-- To win a heaven on earth,--a Paradise?

Each day do we not see, for smaller gain, Great captains brave the dangers of the main?

For glory's empty bubble thousands perish, Above all treasures your fair hand I cherish; Your heart and not your throne, is my desire; Condemn me not if madly I aspire.

SKIR. (_aside to_ Turandot.)

For Fo-hi's sake! three easy riddles give, Don't let him die, but as your husband live.

ADELMA.

How n.o.ble are his words! Ah, had my sire But known he was a prince. My heart's desire I'll yet obtain; I'll save him by some plot, He ne'er shall wed the hateful Turandot.

(_to_ Turandot.) Princess, you're agitated; calm your nerves, And treat him with contempt as he deserves.

TUR.

You're right, Adelma; thanks for your kind zeal; He's woman's foe; no pity must I feel.

(_to_ Kalaf.) Prepare then, arrogant young man.--

ALT.

Dear prince, May not our Royal words your ear convince?

KAL.

I still repeat: "Or death or Turandot!"

PANT. (_aside_.)

My poor young man, you'll surely go to pot!

ALT.

Then read the awful mandate.

SKIR.

How I tremble.

ADELMA.

My jealousy I scarcely can dissemble.

(PANTALOON _receives the Doomsday Book, first prostrating Himself before it; then reads in a loud voice_:)--"By command of his Celestial Majesty, the Son of the Moon, cousin to the planets, and near relative to the firmament in general,--oyes! oyes!

oyes!" (_Rings crier's bell._) (_Aside_.) If I said what I liked, I should say, oh no! oh no! oh no! (_Aloud_.) "Any person of royal descent may sue for the hand of our daughter, Empress Turandot, on the following conditions:--The Princess shall propound three riddles to any suitor proposing himself as her husband; should he be unable to unravel them, his head shall be struck off with an axe, and exposed on the city-gate of Peking; should he unravel them, the Empress Turandot shall become his lawful bride, and together they shall inherit the throne of the celestial empire. We swear it by our ancestor, the sun."

ALT. (_placing his hands on the book_)--

This law, tho' it cause tears and blood to flow, I've sworn to keep, alas! it must be so.

TUR. (_rises and declaims_)--

A tree on which men grow and fade; Old as the world, yet ever new; Its leaves, on one side, live in shade, On th' other bears the sun's bright show.

Each time it blooms a ring it wears, It tells the age of each event.

Upon its bark men's names it bears, Forgotten e'er its life be spent.

What is this tree, so young, so old, So sunny warm, so icy cold?

KALAF. (_ponders awhile, then bows to the Princess_)--

Too happy is your slave, divine Princess, If nothing harder he may have to guess; This ancient tree which ever buds anew, Which sun and shade, man's age and deeds doth shew, It is "a year," revolving day and night.

PANT. (_joyfully_.)

Shake hands, Tartaglia, I'm quite sure he's right!

TART.

A-a-as-a.s.s-tounding! _Sono contentissimo!_

DOCTORS (_having opened the papers_).

_Eureka! Optime! Optissimo!_

(_Flourish of gongs and cymbals_.)

ALT. (_graciously_.)

Fo-hi protects thee, son; He'll save thy life.

ADELMA (_aside_.)

Ye G.o.ds, let not my rival be his wife, Though I rejoice her vanity is vext.