Friedrich Schiller

“ Attract fresh suitors,—win all hearts.
But she, whose outward semblance thus appears
To be Love's temple, such fierce hatred bears
To all marital sway, or marriage tie,
That rather than submit to man, she'd die.
Great kings and princes, all have sued in vain,
One glance of love or pity to obtain.
KALAF.
In Keicobad I heard this oft-told tale,
But thought it paradoxical—and stale.
BARAK.
'Tis true. Her poor old father's in despair,
For China's throne is now without an heir;
He longs for her to wed some prince or other,
And not perplex him with continual bother. ”

“ To-day a prince is led to execution,
Who failed to give her riddles due solution.
That is the reason of the noise you hear,
Pray go not to the town.
KALAF.
What should I fear?
BARAK.
The bloody spectacle your nerves might shake;
The severed head is fastened to a stake.
(Gong sounds within the city watts.)
But hark! yon tantan's loud infernal dinning,
Tells that the tragedy is now beginning.
KALAF.
A monster like this princess should be strangled,
Her body by wild horses torn and mangled.
BARAK.
To all she is not cruelly inclined,
'Tis Man she hates; to women she's most kind. ”

“ 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!
ADELMA.
My 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 and
approaches TURANDOT's throne) —
KALAF.
Thy cruel will shall find no more resistance ”

“ Take courage, husband; do not fear their spite;
The pig will save us yet; I tell you it's all right.
(Mutes hastily conduct BARAK through a secret door; others
remove the dish of gold.)
TUR.
Adelma, thou'rt my only friend. Advise
My mind distraught 'twixt love and hate. Despise
Me not, but pity me. Some counsel lend.
ADEL.
As force has failed, by craft we'll gain our end.
I have a plan,—I'm sure of its success,
If to the stranger's cell we gain access.
TUR.
Take gold—suborn his guards—the highest meed
I hold as nought if thy new scheme succeed. ”

“ KALAF.
You speak in vain. My fortune now or never,
Shall be ensured for aye, or lost for ever.
One stroke will end my life, or I shall gain
The fairest woman e'er beheld, and reign
An Emperor of Chang's celestial state.
O smile upon my hopes, benignant Fate!
(During this speech, a Chinese executioner has
appeared on the city gate, bearing a pole upon
which is fixed a turbaned head: he places it in
the row, and disappears.) ”

“ The keenest wits by her confounding riddles.
KALAF.
As wife, decidedly I should decline her,
She's made of dragon-pattern stony China.
What fools her suitors are, their hearts to fix on
So termagant and bloodthirsty a vixen!
BARAK.
So fascinating is she, none withstand her,
All men for her do nothing but philander. ”

“ Why should my person, throne, and wealth be booty
To one harsh, jealous master? No, all beauty
Is heaven's gift, and like the sun, should shine
To glad earth's children, and their souls refine.
I hate proud man, and like to make him feel
He may not crush free woman 'neath his heel. ”

“ So priceless, so benign, "the eye" must be,
A heaven 'twill show if thine speak love to me.
PANT. (embraces TART.)
He's shot the bull's-eye through the very middle.
SKIR.
I never knew his equal at a riddle.
DOCTORS (having opened the papers) .
Eureka! Optime! Optissimo!
(Flourish of gongs and cymbals.)
TART.
Bravo-o-o! Bravissimo! Benissimo!
ALT.
I give you joy; you are a clever fellow!
PANT.
Our Chinese Sphinx with rage is turning yellow. ”

“ Your wife (for a Chinese) is not so ugly,
And kind as kind can be, though somewhat droll,
Adieu,—I'll through the city take a stroll.
And then proceed to visit the great Khan,
And beg him to engage me as his man.
BARAK.
Stay, Prince, how rash!—you do not know your danger:
'Tis evident to Peking you're a stranger. ”

“ Thine only son in such deep misery,
All Tartary thou'dst gladly give to save
Its 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 will
Decrees my death—from her 'tis, welcome still.
Adieu, fond hopes. Delusive joys, farewell!
ADEL.
Once more let me implore you. ”

“ Thus shalt thou earn all Chang's high admiration.
Thy harsh decree has much estranged the nation.
They tell strange tales about the Chinese Sphinx,
Men's skulls she gnaws—hot human blood she drinks.
Oh, show thyself as modest, tender, duteous,—
More homage this commands than being beauteous.
TUR.
Your mercy, Sire, beseems your hoary age ”

“ Glad news I have in store for thee. Alone
Joys come not. Turandot shall be thine own.
Three times to-night she sent to me to pray
I would defer th' encounter of to-day.
'Tis evident her pride is sorely vext,
She'd hide her failure by some vain pretext. ”

“ My child, the night is far advanced; yet still
Thy restless steps pace through thy hareem chill.
Quite hopeless is thy task; not all the College
Of Doctors could impart the wished-for knowledge.
Thou canst not guess thy 'pponent's name, tho' we
Have fully learned his family history.
He's worthy of thy hand; my wish obey,
Avoid to-morrow's public exposée.
Thou'rt sure to fail. For my sake save thy fame,
My soul recoils from witnessing thy shame.
TUR.
I shall not put my father to the blush ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ALTOUM.
KAL. (aside.)
Do I still live? Each step, I thought to feel
The thrust of an assassin's deadly steel.
Adelma's warning was some dream, or now I dream.
ALT.
My son, care sits upon thy brow. ”

“ Black male and female slaves, beating tantans and
cymbals. 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. Then
appears TURANDOT, veiled, in rich Chinese costume. ”

“ Of his bald head I'll not disturb one hair.
Good female, you're of the fem'nine gender,
And therefore towards your weakness my heart's tender.
Your husband shall not come to any harm,
So pray don't needlessly yourself alarm.
The highest honour is in store for him,
Free entrance's offered to our Hareem.
BAR.
The gilded trap of the fair Serpent-Sphinx. ”

“ Prepare 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 mourning
garments, with weepers of crape attached to their pigtails. Female
slaves in black veils: then TURANDOT, ADELMA, and SKIRINA, all
demonstrating extreme dejection. TURANDOT ascends her throne
with the same ceremonies at in Act II.)
PANT.
Is this a wedding march, with muffled drums? ”

“ Of coping with the Sphinx he may achieve—
His doom unto the gods we now must leave.
SKIR.
We'll sacrifice a pig to great Fo-hi,
He'll perhaps contrive your handsome friend shan't die.
(Exeunt into the cottage.)
END OF ACT I.
ACT II. SCENE.—Grand saloon of the Divan. L. Doors leading to the Emperor's apartment. R. Doors leading to TURANDOT's Hareem. Black slaves discovered, engaged in setting the saloon in order; TRUFFALDIN majestically directing them.
TRUF.
Come, look alive! His Majesty's Divan
Will soon assemble. Now, look sharp, my man!
A carpet for this throne ”

“ R. Small suburban dwellings, from one of which issues PRINCE KALAF, dressed in a fantastic Tartar warrior's costume.
KALAF.
The Gods be thanked, at last by patient seeking,
I've found a lodging in this crowded Peking.
(Enter BARAK, in Persian costume; sees KALAF and starts, surprised.)
BARAK.
Prince Kalaf? 'tis not possible. He's dead!
Yet, sure 'tis he—his eyes—his legs—his head,—
My Lord!
KALAF.
What—Barak! here—alive?
BARAK.
And kicking. ”

“ Th-the S-sp-sphinx is v-van-qui-quished—Vinto è il Demonio!
Sh-she's f-fou-found her m-ma-match. Evviva il matrimonio!
(TURANDOT faints, ADELMA and SKIRINA support her. ALTOUM
leaning on PANT. and TART. descends his throne, and embraces
KALAF. The DOCTORS quit their seats, and retire to the background.)
ALT.
Sweet prince, our son-in-law thou'lt be to-morrow,
A joyful climax to our royal sorrow.
TUR. (recovers her senses, and rashes wildly between ALTOUM and
KALAF) —
Oh, make me not his slave! ”

“ KALAF, Prince of Tartary.
BARAK, his former Tutor.
ISHMAEL.
DOCTORS of THE DIVAN.
Courtiers, Guards, Priests, Slaves of the Hareem.
TURANDOT, Heiress to the Celestial throne: generally known as "The Chinese Sphinx."
SKIRINA, her attendant, wife to Barak.
ADELMA, Princess of Keicobad, slave to Turandot.
Female slaves of the Hareem.
SCENE.—Peking and its environs.
TURANDOT: THE CHINESE SPHINX. ACT I. SCENE.—Outskirts of Peking. L. View of town gate, above which are reared long poles, bearing turbaned and shorn heads, symmetrically disposed so as to form a kind of architectural ornament. ”