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Read Ebook: Turandot: The Chinese Sphinx by Schiller Friedrich Novello Sabilla Translator
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Ebook has 641 lines and 12317 words, and 13 pages
BARAK.
Already kings and princes by the dozen She's managed by her subtlety to cozen; For she's so clever that she always diddles The keenest wits by her confounding riddles.
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.
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.
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.
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!
BARAK.
Are you convinced?
KALAF.
I'm perfectly amazed. How can a painted semblance thus have crazed So sensible a prince?
BARAK.
For heaven's sake, Avoid that picture as you would a snake.
KALAF .
No harm will happen, dear old tutor, sure From picking up a picture from the floor. No woman yet has caused my heart to throb,-- Shall painted lines my soul of freedom rob?
Ye gods! an angel's face. Oh ecstacy!
BARAK.
Now, there; he's caught. I knew how it would be!
KALAF.
Beneath this beaming smile, these lustrous eyes, There cannot lurk a cruel heart of ice.
BARAK.
I tell you she's the wickedest of creatures; Oh, gaze not on the Syren's fatal features, More baneful than the Gorgon head, Medusa.
KALAF.
Hush, hush, I will not hear you thus abuse her, I never saw a face and form diviner; Her's is not mortal clay, but porcelain China, Some magic power, some demon, I know not, Enchains my soul to beauteous Turandot.
These eyes to meet, these rosy lips to kiss, Who would not hazard all to win such bliss? My senses reel, my veins are all afire! Good Barak, help me to my heart's desire. Her stern ordeal I'll undergo--to solve Her problems or to die, is my resolve.
BARAK.
Desist from your intention, I conjure you, Let my remonstrance of this madness cure you.
KALAF.
You speak in vain. My fortune now or never, Shall be ensured for aye, or lost for ever. One stroke will end my life, or I shall gain The fairest woman e'er beheld, and reign An Emperor of Chang's celestial state. O smile upon my hopes, benignant Fate!
But tell me, Barak, shall I in divan Behold the lovely daughter of the Khan?
BARAK.
A spectacle more thrilling now behold, That head just smitten off. My blood runs cold, To think that yours may be thus closely shaven.
KALAF.
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