Act 3 — Scene II: A bedchamber, mysteriously lighted. The room is vast and magnificent. In the centre, by a divan couch, Calaf is seated in deep brooding.

CALAF

If she should guess!—If she should fail to guess!

If she should fail to guess!—If she should guess!

O endless, awful night, you are like thought—

Hollow, unanswering and full of echoes!

And like my heart you, too, are sleepless, yearning

With dim and palpitating mystery.

If she should guess?—Then would I doubly lose

My love—my life. If she should fail to guess?

Then how might I dare hold her to my bond

And wed against her will?—If she should guess—

If she should fail—Ah, God! The night gives back

Only my emptiness, and moment builds

On moment mountains of hell, and here I sit

Alone.

[Rising, he reaches his arms with a low cry]

Alone!

96CAPO.

[Entering in the dimness]

There is no loneliness

Where thoughts are merry.

CALAF

[Staring at him for a moment]

Merry!—Sire, I have

Forgot the meaning of that word.

CAPO.

Recall it,

Then, quickly, for I bring you pleasant news.

CALAF

[Eagerly]

From her? from her, O Sire?

CAPO.

From Turandot.

The lady loves you.

CALAF

Loves me! You are mad,

Or jesting.

CAPO.

To the sober-serious

Jesting’s a sort of madness.—But no matter.

The lady loves you none the less.

97CALAF

How is it

Possible?

CAPO.

You’ve forgot my specialty

So soon?—or am I skilled in guessing riddles?

CALAF

I should have failed without you.

CAPO.

Will you try me

Again?

CALAF

But how—

CAPO.

Come hither in more light.

[Calaf moves out of the deeper shadow. Capo tips Calaf’s face upwards, examining it]

What color are your eyes?

CALAF

I do not know.

CAPO.

[Nods approvingly]

Sapphire.—That might describe them, with some license

Of love and rhetoric.

98CALAF

What have my eyes

To do with guessing riddles?

CAPO.

Much to do!

They have to close and go to sleep, before

The guessing. Softly now: lie down and close them

Until to-morrow.

CALAF

Would I might!

CAPO.

Then do so!

For on to-morrow morn, I promise you

Delight—and perfect marriage with your love.

CALAF

O friend, I am too weary to refuse.

I will lie down and dream it is to-morrow.

[He lies on the couch. A far chiming is heard]

What bell is sounding?

CAPO.

Midnight.—Merry dreams!

[Capo steals out. Calaf closes his eyes and is still. The room is silent and dim. After a few moments, out of 99the darkness there emerges, scarlet and pied, the Figure of Harlequin, who tiptoes toward the couch. At a sigh from Calaf, the Figure starts back, returning more reticently. Again Calaf murmurs in his sleep:]

CALAF

Turandot! Lady beloved!

[Standing in a shaft of vague light, the Figure of Harlequin lifts cautiously a vial and, unstopping it, dances softly three times around the divan; then pauses close to Calaf, who murmurs once more]

Princess! Love.

THE FIGURE OF HARLEQUIN

[Chants in a low voice]

Reveal, O dreamer: What is he,

His true-born name,

His father’s fame,

Who, desperate for love of me,

Assumed from far Beloochistan

The false name—Keedur, Khan!

[Bending above the dreaming form of 100Calaf, the Figure sprinkles from the vial upon his lips; then draws back and listens]

CALAF

[Murmurs louder in his sleep]

Be gracious unto me: Calaf, the son

Of Timur, King of Astrakhan!

THE FIGURE OF HARLEQUIN

[Laughing silverly]

Aha!

Calaf! Calaf, the son of Timur, King

Of Astrakhan!

CALAF

[Starting up on the divan]

Who calls me?

THE FIGURE

[Lifting a mandolin strung from the shoulder, strikes a swift chord and bounds away toward the door]

Ahaha!

CALAF

[Leaping to the floor, and following]

What are you? Stop!

101[The Figure pauses]

Come from your shadow!

[The Figure takes a timid step forward, and stops]

You!

You, the dumb player, servant of our lord

The emperor! What brings you here?

THE FIGURE

Aha!

Reveal, O Lady: What is he

His true-born name,

His father’s fame—

CALAF

How’s that? Can the dumb speak?

THE FIGURE

Calaf, the son

Of Timur—hail!

CALAF

By heaven, a spy!

[He springs toward the door. The Figure tries to pass him but, thwarted, leaps back]

Not yet!

You shall not go till I have plucked the face

Out of that mask.

102[At the door he turns the key and takes it]

The door is locked. Reveal

Yourself!

[The Figure draws away. He strides toward it. It escapes]

Light footed imp! Now by my soul,

You shall not live to blab beyond these walls

The secret you have stolen from my sleep.

[He starts again toward the Figure. It dances away from him, striking the strings of its mandolin. Round the great couch and about the shadowy room he pursues it, ever eluding him. Suddenly he pauses, and stares]

Stay! Am I, then, asleep? Are you indeed

Some imp of dreamland, sent to plague my soul

With fever shuttle-dances, a pied phantom

Painting the dark, and tinkling with your timbrel

These rafters of my riddle-tortured brain?—

If she should guess—If she should fail to guess!—

O Night, it is your Echo, mocking me:

’Tis but a Question, and beneath that mask

There are no lips to answer!

[Desperately, he throws himself down by 103the couch, burying his face against it. After a moment, the Figure approaches, cautious, surveys his prone form closely, bends as if to snatch at his robe, but draws back and stands hesitant; then with a gesture half frightened removes its mask, and speaks low]

THE FIGURE

Calaf, son

Of Timur—grace! Give me the key!

[Turning, Calaf slowly staggers to his feet, gazing with awe on the face of Turandot]

CALAF

O Dream!

Dream of my love transmuted to a boy—

O little dream in motley, speak once more!

TURANDOT

The key! Unlock the door, and let me forth.

CALAF

My lady—and her voice! Yet, shining boy,

Before my soul loses belief in you,

Still let me wonder, looking on your image,

And worship at your shrine—Saint Harlequin!

[He kneels before her]

104TURANDOT

I do not ask for worship—but a key.

CALAF

The key you ask for locks the gate of heaven

And we are shut within. Love builds him bars

To stablish heaven where lovers are locked in.

TURANDOT

Lovers? You dare much.

CALAF

[Rising]

He dared more, to say

You love me, and I dared believe.

TURANDOT

[Amazed]

Who dared

To say it?

CALAF

He who shuttles through our lives,

Unriddling and riddling, like a restless loom—

The motley emperor.

TURANDOT

Capocomico!

He is a jester, Sir.

105CALAF

Did he, then, jest

To furnish you that vial in your hand

And charm the fateful secret from my lips

Into your power? Ah, if you do not love me,

Why have you stolen here now to drag my name

From dreams—Calaf, your father’s enemy,

Doomed unto death?

TURANDOT

[Struggling with herself]

Nay, ask not.

CALAF

Turandot,

Princess of Pekin, stoops not to betray

Her enemy, nor steal a riddle’s answer

Thiefwise by night, to slay her enemy.

The thought is slander. No!—Therefore you love me:

So you have robbed—to save me.

TURANDOT

Turn your eyes

Away!

CALAF

Is it not so, Lady beloved?

106TURANDOT

Oh, ask not with your eyes!—Nor with your thoughts

Ask not why this bold Harlequin is here

Thiefwise by night, to steal your secret name;

But let me go!

CALAF

[Holding out the key, gazes at her]

Will you, then, go?

TURANDOT

[Reaches for it, but pauses and turns back her hand, screening her face]

Your eyes!

They blind the space between. I cannot grope

The key I reach for.

CALAF

Will you go?

TURANDOT

The air

Is dim, but bright with pathways to your face,

And where they lead I falter, like a moth

To where the lamp shines.

CALAF

[In hushed triumph]

You will stay!

107TURANDOT

O dark!

What light and darkness and the murmur of waters

Lure me toward you?

CALAF

Night and yearning stars

And rush of winds blend us, beloved. Listen!

Look in my eyes, O love!—Lean to my lips!

TURANDOT

[Closing her eyes]

I lean: Let me not fall!

CALAF

Thus will I save you!

[Reaching his arms passionately, he kisses her]

TURANDOT

[Starting back, with a cry]

Ah me! I am betrayed.

CALAF

By Buddha, I swear—

TURANDOT

Destroyed. O shame of all my vows forsworn,

Where have I fallen?

108CALAF

On your lover’s heart.

Look, it is I.

TURANDOT

Who’s there?

CALAF

Calaf, your prince.

TURANDOT

Calaf!—Now shame put acid on my lips

And sere them of your kiss! A prince hath touched me!

O you poor bloody heads on Pekin’s wall,

Have you, then, died for this?—and Turandot

Shamed by a prince at last!

CALAF

Lady, I beg—

TURANDOT

Not that!—Ah, do not stab me with that word,

And make me bleed for one who begs.—The key,

Give me the key!

CALAF

Mistress, your words go by me

Like leaves blown wildly. I cannot gather them.

109TURANDOT

Sir prince, I blow them wildly, and I care not

Whither they whirl.

CALAF

Love changes blood to wine.

The kiss of our communion hath turned wine

To madden you.

TURANDOT

The key!

CALAF

[Giving her the key]

Take it, my lady,

So you may know your freedom and my love,

And me your lover, Calaf.

TURANDOT

Calaf, not

My lover.—Calaf, or Keedur, Khan, you are

Mine enemy in my power.—Until to-morrow,

Good-night!

[She hastens toward the door. Grasping her arm, his eyes glow passionately]

CALAF

You came here to betray me?—Speak!

110TURANDOT

I came to win your secret, and to shame you

To-morrow at the trial. Let me pass.

CALAF

No! We are in each other’s power. Let doom

Strike on us both together.

[Inexorably he compels her. She sinks on the couch]

TURANDOT

In your power!

What, I? You would not dare—

CALAF

Who would not dare?

Infinite ages climbed to this little moment;

Infinite ages shall sink after it.

I stand here on its peak to make it mine.—

Open the door!

TURANDOT

[Trembling]

Open it?—What will you do?

CALAF

Now shall the rafters of your palace ring

With “Turandot, the Harlequin, Calaf’s lover

Stolen to his arms beside his midnight couch!”

111TURANDOT

[Shrinking from his gesture]

Touch me not!

CALAF

[Seizing her]

Wine! Your kiss turns in my blood

To wine of fire poured foaming, and the flames

Burn outward toward your lips.

TURANDOT

Kiss not again!

Be merciful, and hear me!

CALAF

Mercy cries

To God, not to our enemy.—Your lips!

TURANDOT

[With fearful appeal]

My lover, then!

CALAF

[Drawing back amazed]

Your lover!

TURANDOT

Yea—my love!

Your eyes—another blazes in your eyes.

112CALAF

Another! Who?

TURANDOT

The noblest in this world:

I love him. I have sworn it. Yet—O Yet—

My flesh cries out to yours, my soul to yours,

My lips, my lips to yours.

CALAF

[Clasping her]

Ha, mine at last!

TURANDOT

[Repulsing him]

Clasp me not, lest I cling to you.—No more!

I will not. I am his. No kiss of yours

Can quench his burning image. Let me go!

But ah, the spell and rapture of your arms—

Reach them where yearning lovers starve in hell,

And bless them.—Stop! My body and soul are his.

I hate you—I hate you—hate you!

[She rushes into the dark. Calaf reaches—groping—with a wild cry.]

Curtain

115