Turandot: The Chinese Sphinx

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.
Behold on yonder gate the ghastly row
Of livid heads set up in dismal show.
All these belonged to men who dared to hope
With Turandot in subtlety to cope.
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.
Within her royal hareem serves my wife,
And with her mistress leads a happy life.
The only fault of Turandot is pride, —
Her many virtues cannot be denied.

KALAF

Who comes this way?

BARAK

'Tis Ishmael, the friend
Of him who just has met his tragic end.

Enter ISHMAEL, weeping.

ISH

His life is o'er! Ah, would the cruel knife
Had struck my worthless self, and spared his life.

BARAK

Bear up, good friend, I pity you sincerely,
Your master for his love has paid too dearly.
Why did you not dissuade him from the trial —

ISH

My prayers he met with kind, but firm denial.
His dying words still echo in mine ear —
"Good friend," he said, "to die I do not fear;
My life's a blank if without her I live.
Speed to my father, – beg him to forgive
His hapless son, who staked his life on one
Whose face is fair, whose heart is cold as stone.
Shew him this portrait: (takes a miniature from hisbreast) when its charms he views,
My frenzied love, my rashness he'll excuse."
This said, he clasped the portrait to his breast,
Fond kisses on its icy beauty pressed;
Then bent his head, and closed his eyes,
The death blow fell, and sent him to the skies.

(Dashes the portrait to the ground.)

Away, thou false deceit! thou cause of woe,
Th' original I'd trample even so.
To dust I'd grind her tiger heart; – her soul,
I'd send to Eblis' region dark and foul! (Exit.)

BARAK

Are you convinced?

KALAF

I'm perfectly amazed.