Act 2 — Scene II: Great Hall of the Emperor’s Divan.

On either side is a high tower, with entrance.

Down scene on the left stands the Emperor’s throne, opposite the throne of Turandot.

As the curtain rises, Scaramouche, Punchinello, Pantaloon, and Harlequin enter, dragging in Barak by four purple ropes attached to his neck.

Barak carries a ragged bundle.

At the centre he falls, prostrating himself before them.

The four Maskers are dressed sumptuously in Chinese garments, worn over their own tattered garbs of motley, which—at times, when they gesticulate or move abruptly,—are fantastically visible.

BARAK

Mercy and clemency, your highnesses!

PUNCHINELLO

Your highness, slave! Address thy vermin speech

To the Prime-Minister.

BARAK

To which, O Lord?

55SCARAMOUCHE

By the eye of Og and head of Hamongog,

To us, thou quaking mongrel! Howl thy prayers

Quadrately to thy quadrigeminal master!

BARAK

[Revolving himself fearfully]

Mercy, O Master!

PANTALOON

First confess thyself!

Where is he?

PUNCHINELLO

Where’s thy fellow beggar? Speak!

SCARAMOUCHE

Tooth of the Turk!—Disgorge him!

[Harlequin thwacks Barak on the head with his flat-stick]

BARAK

Lord, I know not.

I am an old poor man. I have no fellow

To beg with me.

PANTALOON

Thou lousy bag of lies!

He swooned beside thee at the city gate.

56PUNCHINELLO

He took the Princess’ ring for alms. Where is he?

SCARAMOUCHE

[Tightening his rope]

By Sardanapalus! Squeeze off his neck

And pick the secret from his gullet.

BARAK

[As Harlequin bangs him again]

Spare me!

[Enter, left, Capocomico]

CAPO.

Hah! here’s our beggar’s crony.—Where’s thy mate,

Old gaffer?

BARAK

Spare me, lord! I have no mate—

I beg alone.

CAPO.

Where was he found—this fellow?

SCARAMOUCHE

Godbodikins! We caught him gutter-skulking

Behind the palace.

CAPO.

What’s here in this pack?

57BARAK

[Fearfully clutching his bundle]

Old rags, your mightiness: poor worthless pickings.

CAPO.

Conduct him to my quarters. Search him there

And look what this contains.

[The four begin to drag him out with the ropes]

BARAK

A—yi! Alas!

PUNCHINELLO

[Mocking him]

A—yi, old pickings!

SCARAMOUCHE

[Pulling]

Sacrasacristan!

Heave-ho, my hearts!

CAPO.

Hold him in custody

Till I can question further.

BARAK

[Crying aloud]

Calaf, save me!

PANTALOON

We’ll save ’ee in salt, old calf!

58SCARAMOUCHE

Yank-ho, there!

[They drag him out, left]

CAPO.

[Stands meditating]

Calaf!

[Hardly have they disappeared, when Calaf enters hastily, looking about him with a startled expression. He is dressed in princely regalia, and his face is shaved. Seeing Capo., he pauses abruptly, and makes obeisance]

CAPO.

Greetings, Sir Keedur!—You are searching here?

CALAF

[Embarrassed]

Nothing, your majesty. It seemed I heard

A voice here cry in terror.

CAPO.

Cry—on whom?

CALAF

Nay, Sire, I do not know.

CAPO.

’Twas just a beggar

That cried at being expelled.

59CALAF

Expelled?—Where to?

CAPO.

[With a flitting smile]

You—care to know?

CALAF

Nay, Sire, why should I care?

CAPO.

Nay, why indeed? You caught me querying.

CALAF

[Turning to leave]

Forgive that I disturbed your thoughts.

CAPO.

My thoughts

Were trying to construe the beggar’s cry.

“Calaf, save me!” he called.

CALAF

[Pausing, with a faint start]

Ah—Calaf? So!

CAPO.

An odd coincidence, for ’tis one year

To-night since Calaf, prince of Astrakhan,

Perished by drowning in the river Yen.—

[With slow emphasis]

He was the Emperor’s arch-enemy.

60CALAF

[Calmly]

An odd coincidence!

CAPO.

And still more odd

It might be—might it not?—if Keedur, Khan

Of far Beloochistan, had chanced to know

Or meet this Calaf.

CALAF

Still more odd.

CAPO.

Perchance

He never did!

CALAF

[Fidgetting slightly]

I never met him, Sire.

CAPO.

[With a quick glance]

That being so, we must no more delay

Your audience with the princess. My ear itches.

Methinks by that your suit will prosper; let me

Conduct you to your place of waiting. Come,

And by the way, I will confide to you—

I have a specialty.

61CALAF

In what, Sire?

CAPO.

[Smiling, as they go out]

Riddles.

[Enter Altoum and Chang. They look after Capo as he departs]

ALTOUM

In the harem, with my daughter—?

CHANG

[Obsequiously]

Even so,

O Majesty.

ALTOUM

And closeted, you say,

An hour with her!

CHANG

An hour, O Majesty.

ALTOUM

But you kept watch: The Princess, she was not

Alarmed?

CHANG

Her royal highness seemed

Moved in her spirit, O Majesty.

62ALTOUM

Moved? So!

Well, Chang, inform me further what you note.

To-day this stranger reigns as Emperor.

Obey him.

[Capo reënters, right]

CHANG

[Salaaming to a gesture of dismissal from Altoum]

As your Majesty decrees.

[Exit]

ALTOUM

[Greets Capo cordially]

Hail, friend! You wear my Empire as you’d worn it

Life long.

CAPO.

[Laughing]

I’ll wear it longer if you like.

ALTOUM

Perchance I’ll let you. As for me, I feel

Lighthearted as a schoolboy playing truant.

This abdicating gives me appetite

For holidays.—And what success so far?

63CAPO.

So far—perfection.

ALTOUM

Have you, then, discovered

My daughter’s malady?

CAPO.

I’ve diagnosed

Already, and prescribed.

ALTOUM

[Eagerly]

What is the ailment?

CAPO.

Ah! question the doctor when he makes the cure.—

Another twenty hours!

ALTOUM

To rule is sweet,

I see. Good luck attend your reign! If so,

I have four kingdoms waiting for your fellows,

And for yourself a petty empire—but,

Forget not—Sire! For failure I’ve prepared

Five torture chambers and a sharpened axe.

CAPO.

To-morrow, then, four kingdoms shall have kings!

As for the petty empire, I’ll return it

64With compliments, and count myself well quit

To have served your Majesty and true Romance.

[Kettledrums are sounded within]

Now, then, to pass the first ordeal.—Pray follow!

ALTOUM

[Attending him, left]

This suitor Keedur—I like well his looks

And bearing. What if he should guess the riddles?

CAPO.

That lies now with the Fates—and they obey me.

[They go out.

To the sound of kettledrums, tambourines and music outside, the scene is now for a moment empty. Then from both entrances two processions enter simultaneously.

From the right enter Eunuchs and female slaves of the harem; from the left Chinese soldiers and courtiers of the Emperor’s suite.

With ceremonial, salaaming and flare of music, the persons in the processions group themselves on either side about the thrones.

65Entering last in their separate processions come Turandot and Capocomico—the latter accompanied by Altoum, as a subordinate.

On the right throne Turandot sits, on the left—Capocomico.

All the others prostrate themselves, except Altoum, who stands beside a lesser seat, at the right of Capo’s throne.

Having taken their positions, at a signal from Capo, all are served with tea in little cups, which they sip simultaneously thrice, then resume their former obeisances.

To this gathering now enter three of the Maskers—Scaramouche, Punchinello and Pantaloon—bearing severally three golden platters, on which stand little jeweled boxes, closed.

Behind them follows Harlequin, who bears a great parchment roll, which—with bows and ballet-dancings—he lays before the throne of Capo; then takes his stand at Capo’s left.

Lastly Calaf enters, alone.

66Bowing to the throne, he remains in the centre, where he gazes rapt at Turandot.

Capo now rises, and Altoum seats himself]

CAPO.

Powers of our royal Divan and our Harem,

Once more, in token of our sovereign will,

We are assembled. Let the law be read!

[He sits. Harlequin, stepping forward with a flourish, presents the roll of parchment to Punchinello, who, exchanging with him his platter for the script, reads in a shrill voice]

PUNCHINELLO

To high Confucius and our ancestors—

Worship and awe! The edict of Altoum

In re the royal princess Turandot

Perpends: To suitors of her august hand

Who guess her riddles—marriage, riches, joy!

To all who fail—shame, execution, death!

None save of royal blood shall qualify.

[Harlequin receives back the roll from Punchinello, and resumes his place]

67CAPO.

Who seeks the august hand of Turandot?

CALAF

[Standing forward]

I, Keedur, Khan of great Beloochistan.

CAPO.

Keedur, full many noble youths before you

Have made this trial; all have failed—and died.

Have you considered well their doom, O Khan?

CALAF

There is no doom for me but loss of her;

If then I fail, death can but ease my doom.

TURANDOT

[In a low voice]

His eyes, Zelima! Oh, I would he’d look

Another way.

ZELIMA

It is a lovely youth.

CAPO.

Think well, you are young. You may even still withdraw

And live these many years.

68CALAF

[His eyes meeting Turandot’s, who looks at him anxiously]

If I must die,

I shall have lived forever in this instant.

CAPO.

Then let the trial proceed.

TURANDOT

Fair stranger, first

Hear me, and so relent.

CALAF

My spirit, lady,

Stands tiptoe to your words.

TURANDOT

You have not well

Considered what you seek; but I, who know,

Can better advise you. Turandot you seek,

But I, who know this Turandot, can tell you

She is a lady of too little worth

To cause the noble lineage in your blood

To die. She neither wants you, nor your death.

Now leave her, Sir, and give her leave to wish you

Joy of your twice escape.

69CALAF

I hear you, yet

I hear like one who dies out on the desert

And dreams he hears sweet water tinkling.—Lady,

I parch and drink dream-water. Would you dash

That boon from my soul’s lips?

TURANDOT

Nay, then, no more!

Hear now my riddles.—But, I pray you, look not

This way, but elsewhere.

CALAF

I will close my eyes

And look upon you, listening.—I am ready.

[Closing his eyes, he waits with a faint smile]

TURANDOT

Tell me, O friend: What is that flower

Which, dying, steals its lover’s breath,

And being dead, still blooms in death,

Living beyond its little hour

To grow more sweet in fragrance as it grows

In memory?

[Turandot gazes pityingly. Calaf speaks with closed eyes]

70CALAF

A withered rose.

[Turandot starts suddenly from her throne and sinks back, whispering to Zelima. Capo despatches Harlequin to Turandot, who gives him tremblingly a key, which he carries to Scaramouche]

CAPO.

Unlock the secret box.

SCARAMOUCHE

[As Harlequin unlocks the little box on his platter and presents to him a strip of parchment from within it, reads aloud]

A withered rose.

[A murmur runs through the assembly]

ALTOUM

Now by my star, well guessed!

CAPO.

[With a gesture for silence]

The second riddle!

TURANDOT

[With emotion]

Stranger, you are the first of all my suitors

71That ever reached the second.—I have spoken

To you in pity, but my pity now

Is for myself, lest you should guess too well.

Cease, then, I beg you. Rest content with passing

Your rivals. Go! And I will give you triumph

In your departure.

ALTOUM

Shame! Fair play, my daughter!

CAPO.

Silence, my lord Altoum!—What says the Khan?

CALAF

I answer here by law, risking my death.

Therefore, O lady, since my love of you

Surpasses life, I claim my right of law.

TURANDOT

[Her eyes flashing]

By heaven, cold prince, I see I wasted pity

Upon a heart of ice. Meet, then, your fate!

I will not weep to watch the headsman’s axe.

CALAF

I trust you will not, princess.—I am ready.

TURANDOT

[To Zelima]

O fiend! My fingers itch to scratch him.

72[To Calaf]

Hear, then:

Reveal, O youth: What is that fetter

Which, chaining, sets its captive free,

But broken, makes of liberty

A weary bondage, little better

Than death, to one whose spirits mount and sing

In manacles?

[Calaf remains silent, pressing his closed eyes in thought. Altoum leans forward. The people mutter low. Turandot gazes disdainfully. Soon, letting his raised hands fall, Calaf speaks with tense calmness.]

CALAF

A lover’s ring.

TURANDOT

[Cries out]

What’s that?

[Clutching Zelima’s arm]

My God! here is some treachery.

CAPO.

Open the second lock!

[Harlequin unlocks the little box held by Punchinello, who reads aloud]

73PUNCHINELLO

A lover’s ring.

[A great murmur goes up from the assembly]

ALTOUM

Wondrous! The fates are with him.

TURANDOT

[Rising, fiercely]

Not the fates fates—

The fiends are with him. I cry out upon

This answer. Some perfidious hand

Has tampered with those locks.

CAPO.

Respect this hall

And presence, Princess: We shall judge alone.

TURANDOT

False friend, is this your pay for all my trust,

And this the perfect joy you bid me hope for?

[To Altoum]

Father, I cry on you to right this wrong!

ALTOUM

The wrong is yours to flout your own decree.

But right or wrong, my power is hushed: Not here

But yonder sits the Emperor of China.

74TURANDOT

Why, this is monstrous. I am sold a slave

By an abdicated father and a motley

Who apes the emperor in a player’s mask!—

I’ll put no further riddle.

CAPO.

[Smiling]

As you like,

Princess, but let us keep our humors. If

There be no final riddle, Keedur wins:

The priests are ready to perform your wedding.

TURANDOT

[Trembling with rage]

My wedding!—Ah, then, I am duped indeed,

And must submit to treachery. But you—

O subtle Khan, dream not to shame me so,

And win. I will not live to be your wife.—

Do you still claim your riddle?

CALAF

[Who has stood in utter calmness]

I am ready.

TURANDOT

[In fury]

Then may your answer spike your head in death!

75[Clutching her throne, she speaks with voice quivering]

Reply, O Prince: What may that be

Which, light of heart, causes despite,

But heavy-laden, renders light

Its bearer, making care so free

That kings might give their crowns to call it

Their treasure house?

[A deep hush falls on the assembly. Calaf stands, silent, swaying.

Slowly he totters and falls on the steps of Capo’s Throne.

There, as Harlequin raises him, Capo whispers swiftly at his ear. Suddenly then, fixing his eyes on Turandot, who stands pale and rigid, Calaf speaks thrillingly.]

CALAF

A beggar’s wallet.

TURANDOT

[With a low cry, holding her side]

Ah!

76CAPO.

[To Harlequin]

Quickly!—The third key!

[Swiftly Harlequin unlocks the box held by Pantaloon, who reads aloud]

A beggar’s wallet.

TURANDOT

[Turning, desperately]

Zelima!

ZELIMA

[Screaming]

Lady!

[Snatching from Zelima a little dagger, she lifts it and strikes at her own breast. Leaping to the throne, Calaf intercepts her and turns the dagger against himself]

CALAF

Not you, my love!

CAPO.

Disarm them!

ALTOUM

Turandot!

[Amid uproar, the four Maskers rush upon Calaf and wrest from him the dagger]

77TURANDOT

[With fierce disdain]

Coward hearts!

CALAF

[Uplifting his hands to Capo]

Sire, hear my plea!

CAPO.

Order and silence!—Speak, Sir Keedur.

CALAF

Sire,

If I have won this ordeal by the law—

Declare it.

CAPO.

You have won.

CALAF

Then I renounce

All I have won, and place before this court

A counter plea. Shall it be granted?

CAPO.

What

Do you petition?

CALAF

Sire, since it would shame me

And her, to take this noble princess’ hand

78Without her heart, I quit my claim, but ask

In substitute, a boon:—I, whom you call

Sir Keedur, Khan, am royal and a prince,

But I am not Khan of Beloochistan.

Keedur is not my name.

TURANDOT

So, treachery

Once more!

ALTOUM

Peace, daughter!

CAPO.

[To Calaf]

Speak. What is your plea?

CALAF

This, Sire: Since I have answered now three riddles

Of Turandot, that she—to make fair play—

Shall answer one of mine. If she shall guess it,

I then depart, but if she fail, I stay—

And wed her.

TURANDOT

[Scornfully to Capo]

Ha! This jesting, Sire, fits well

Your new régime.

79CAPO.

[To Calaf]

What is your riddle?

CALAF

This:

Reveal, O Lady: What is he,

His true-born name,

His father’s fame,

Who, desperate for love of thee,

Assumed from far Beloochistan

The false name—Keedur, Khan?

TURANDOT

Nay sir, I’d scorn to answer. What you are,

Or who, or whence—to me henceforth ’tis nothing.

CAPO.

Softly, quick tongue! To us the game seems fair.

Sir nameless lover, you shall have your plea.

’Tis granted.

TURANDOT

[Trembling with rage]

What!—O miracle of shame!

Perfidious Masker!

CAPO.

This your riddle shall

Be answered here to-morrow by this lady,

80Or else you shall be wedded to her here

Before high noon.

TURANDOT

[Descending swiftly from the throne]

Fools! I defy you—both!

[Flinging her sceptre at Capo’s feet, she rushes out]

CAPO.

[Rising]

Follow her!

[At his gesture, the four Maskers follow after. Amid loud murmur and commotion Calaf stands staring at the empty throne]

Curtain

83