Turandot, Princess of China Part 11

ALTOUM.

Proceed, then, with the public recitation Of that bad edict. Hark, and tremble, you!

(_Music, ceremony._ PANTALONE _takes the Book of the Law from the folds of his raiment, kisses it, holds it first to his breast and then to his forehead, and hands it to_ TARTAGLIA, _who has just cast himself on the floor, whereupon_ TARTAGLIA _recites with a loud voice_.)

TARTAGLIA.

There is no prince of royal lineage But shall be free to woo. But first to him Three riddles of the Princess shall be set Before eight doctors in the full Divan.

Let him solve these, and TURANDOT is his; But if he solve them not, he shall straightway Be yielded up into the headsman's hands, Who promptly shall, by severing his head, Do him to death. Immediate execution Of this our solemn edict we affirm And swear by oath, by great Confucius, We, Khan Altoum, Emperor of China.

(_The recital ended_, TARTAGLIA _kisses the Book of the Law, holds it to his breast, then to his forehead, and hands it to_ PANTALONE, _who has cast himself down with his face to the earth, and so receives it_. _He rises, and extends the book to_ ALTOUM, _who lays one hand upon it to swear the oath_.)

ALTOUM (_sighing_).

Oh, b.l.o.o.d.y edict! To observe thee now I do affirm, and by Confucius swear.

(PANTALONE _replaces the book in the folds of his garment_. _The whole Divan waits in profound silence_. TURANDOT _rises_.)

TURANDOT (_in a didactic tone_).

Come, stranger, name that tender pair of doves, As white as innocence, as frail as roses, Hiding from all men's eyes save his who loves To see how by the other each reposes, Even as a sister by her sister's aide.

But he that loves and finds them where they hide Roams restless till he holds them to his breast.

They bring him from the Islands of the Blest Heroic fire to make him do and dare, And tidings from the Land of Heart's Desire.

Name, cunning stranger, name this tender pair.

(_Sits down again._)

CALAF.

(_Gazes upwards for a moment in meditation, then makes a bow to_ TURANDOT _and lifts his hand to his brow_.)

Two doves, thou sayest, doves so tender-hearted That they are always paired and never parted; Scarce grown enough to bear their weight aloft, And yet already plump, and firm, and soft; Two smooth, white doves to which my yearning wings, To which by night my secret dreaming sings.

These two white doves which hold me free from scaith, These doves my fortune--they are: HOPE and FAITH.

PANTALONE.

He's. .h.i.t the mark, my dear Lord Chancellor!

TARTAGLIA.

Hit the bull's-eye.

THE EIGHT DOCTORS.

(_Open the first of the sealed papers._ _All together._)

Optime. Hope and Faith! Hope and Faith!

Hope and Faith!

ALTOUM (_joyfully_).

Heaven help thee farther, my beloved son!

ZELIMA (_aside_).

Ye G.o.ds, protect him!

ADELMA (_aside_).

Blind him, O ye G.o.ds!

O give him not to her, or I shall die!

TURANDOT (_aside, indignantly_).

Can it be possible that _he_ should win?

(_To_ CALAF, _aloud_.)

Listen, poor fool! And solve this riddle now:

(_She stands up, and continues in her didactic tone._)

Come, stranger, name those slender pillars twain Which bear a bristling fortress on their summit, A fort which still is in my sire's domain, Although thy heart burns high to overcome it; Pillars in strength and beauty smooth and rounded, On which thy Hope and Faith are firmly founded: These pillars holding Heaven upon their height-- Tell me the names, now, of these pillars white.

CALAF.

(_After some meditation, and with the same bow as before._)

These two white pillars soaring to the skies, That bear a kingdom and all Paradise; That bear the magic land my dreams divine, Which are as slender as a forest pine; Of every prince the very n.o.blest aim; Thine empire's fairest ornament and fame, To which my hope clings like a climbing flower-- I call these pillars twain: KNOWLEDGE and POWER.

PANTALONE.

(_Joyfully_.) Hits the bull right in the eye, my dear Lord Chancellor!