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(Approaches TURANDOT'S throne.)
Most cruel Princess, does it not offend you To know the heart still beating that has dared To love you? Look upon your victim here, Calaf, hateful to you, hateful to Heaven, To the world hateful, and to fortune too— Calaf, who at your feet now dies.
(He draws a dagger, and makes a thrust at his heart. TURANDOT leaps down from her throne and seizes his arm.)
TURANDOT (in a tone of tenderness).
Calaf, What are you doing?
ALTOUM.
Dare I trust my eyes?
CALAF.
Leave me alone, cold woman! Let me die!
(Points the dagger again at his breast. TURANDOT restrains him.)
TURANDOT.
Stay! You shall live! and you shall live for me! Listen!
(To ZELIMA.)
Run to the prisoners, Zelima! Comfort old faithful Barak and your mother!
ZELIMA.
Mistress, I will, and lose no time.
(Exit.)
ADELMA (excitedly, aside).
This moment Spells death for me.
TURANDOT.
Now hear me: I have won By accident. For in a sudden burst Of feeling you betrayed yourself last night To my quick-witted slave Adelma here. But let the whole world know: I am above Injustice. And know you: your chivalrous Demeanour and fair features have o'ercome This stubborn heart. Live then, live and be proud: I am your prize.
ADELMA (in pain, aside).
Oh, torment worse than death....
CALAF (casts his dagger to the floor).
Mine! You! Oh, do not kill me, supreme joy!
ALTOUM (descends from his throne).
Let me embrace thee, daughter. This one hour Makes good the pain you heaped upon my heart.
PANTALONE.
Wedding! Wedding! Reverend doctors, your presence is no longer required here.
TARTAGLIA.
Have the goodness to withdraw to the posterior apartment.
(Exeunt doctors back of stage.)
ADELMA (comes to the front. In the greatest excitement to CALAF).
Live! Oh, yes, live! Live with my enemy In happiness.
(To TURANDOT.)
To you, Princess, I say: I hate you. All I tried to do last night I did to snatch from you the man I love, Whom secretly I loved ere he loved you. Last night I sought to have him flee with me. He would not. All my arts could lure from him Were those two names, which I betrayed because I hated you. I planned you should reject him, And that I then should have him. All in vain. There is one last way open to me now. I, too, am royal, and I am ashamed. That so long I have suffered servitude. Take now the last of all the Carcasenes To crown your triumphing....
(She picks CALAF'S dagger up from the floor.)
This steel, which you Have warded from his breast, shall open me The way to freedom....
CALAF (restrains her).
Stay!
ADELMA.
Off! Let me die.
(In a voice stifled with tears.)
Ungrateful wretch!
CALAF (snatches the dagger from her).
No, for I owe you all. It was your treachery saved me. You shall not Call me ungrateful.
TURANDOT.
Are you mad, Adelma, All of a sudden?
CALAF.
Generous Emperor, If my petition may in aught avail, Give her her freedom!
TURANDOT.
I petition, too, My noble father. I conceive it well, She never can forgive me her distress; No, nor believe that I can pardon her. Give her her freedom.... And if you could grant Some greater favour, do it for our sake!
ALTOUM.
On such a day of gladness be the measure Of mercy full. I give her not alone Her freedom but her father's kingdom back. So let her choose a consort she can love, And rule the realm with him....
ADELMA.
To all the weight Of guilt upon my conscience, to my load Of love sent back from where it should have lodged, You add the burden of the greatest mercy. I cannot yet conceive it. Give me time To understand the height of my good fortune. But now I have no answer save these tears....
CALAF.
Oh that I knew now where to find you, father! My heart, so full of joy, burns to embrace you.
ALTOUM.
Calaf, rejoice exceedingly. This empire You have twice won. Your father, too, has won His kingdom back. Slain is the Sultan who Robbed it from him. Until your sire's return A faithful servant wields the sceptre for him, And in the meantime sends out messengers To seek you in all countries. Read this leaf I It signifies the end of all your grief.
CALAF.
Ye heavenly gods, you raise and you cast down. You cast down and make mighty, heavenly gods.
(All present sob in their emotion.)
TURANDOT.
Now nothing more trouble this wedding-day.
(Comes meditatively somewhat to the front.)
Calaf here risks his head to win a wife. A faithful friend and servant risks his life To save his Prince. A man wins back a throne For his lost King, and makes it not his own. A woman, who made out she loved me, hid A false heart's treachery. And could I then, After all this, look down in scorn on men? No. And may Heaven forgive me all I did That made me seem a monster in men's sight!
(Steps quite up to the footlights.)
Dear gentlemen, I tell you this because I love you all; and if you are polite Let my conversion have your loud applause.
QUICK CURTAIN
UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, THE GRESHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON.
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