Turandot, Princess of China Part 6

BARAK.

Stop looking on her face and look on that!

That head up yonder, smoking yet with blood, Is the last lunatic's. And the same headsman Who set it there to-morrow will be yours.

(_Bursts into tears._)

CALAF (_turning towards the Prince's head_).

Unhappy man! What unknown power decrees That I must be thy mate? Up, Barak, up!

Thou hast already once mourned me for dead, And why not once again? I will venture it.

Tell no one who I am. Perchance the heavens Are tired of heaping troubles on my back.

If fortune crown me in this game of riddles, Barak, I shall be grateful! Now, farewell!

BARAK.

O Heaven! My son.... My child....

(_Notices his wife coming out of her house._)

Come hither, quick!

Skirina, help thou also! See, this youth, Whom I love well, is running from me now To woo the Princess and her riddles....

SCENE VI

SKIRINA. _The foregoing._

SKIRINA.

Hold!

What drives thee on, fair youth, to meet thy death?

CALAF.

My fate, good woman, and this loveliness....

(_Shows the picture._)

SKIRINA.

Who gave him the she-devil's image? (_Weeps._)

BARAK (_weeps likewise_).

Chance.

CALAF (_frees himself_).

Ha.s.san, farewell! Farewell, thou worthy dame I My charger and this purse I give to you.

(_Draws his purse and hands it to_ SKIRINA.)

My poverty has nothing else to show Its grat.i.tude. I pray you, if you will, Give something of it to the Heavenly Powers That they protect me. And something to the poor, That they may pray for me. And so farewell!

(_Exit in the direction of the city._)

BARAK.

Prince, do not go! My son.... My dear, dear son....

SKIRINA.

Confucius be merciful to us!

SCENE VII

_The great hall of the imperial Divan: two high doors on each side, on the right to_ TURANDOT'S _harem, on the left to the_ EMPEROR'S _chambers_.

TRUFFALDINO, EUNUCHS.

TRUFFALDINO.

Halt! First scrubbing company, at ease, march. Stack muskets. Attention! Present besoms. Sweep. Sweep like the devil. Roll up, spread, smooth.

(_Eunuchs roll up the carpets._)

There's nothing I like better than watching other people work. Quite so. This here is the Great Throne. His Majesty the Emperor of China sits on that.

(_Two eunuchs carry the throne past._)