Turandot, Princess of China Part 22

(_With a candlestick in his hand._) Three hundred and seventy-seven, three hundred and seventy-eight, three hundred and seventy-nine.

It's already three o'clock in the morning, your Royal Highness, and you've walked now exactly three hundred and eighty times from one corner of the room to the other. To be quite frank, I'm done up, and if you _would_ lie down a little, it would do us both good. You're in safety here.

CALAF.

Yes, you are right. But my excited mind Gives me no peace. Forgive me! Leave me!

Go!

BRIGELLA.

I should like to give you a piece of advice, my dearest Royal Highness: if a ghost pays you a visit, be prudent, be prudent; _try_ to be prudent.

CALAF.

Ghosts, do you say? What ghosts? Is the place haunted?

BRIGELLA.

Well.... H'm.... We have the most stringent orders to admit n.o.body, under penalty of death. H'm.... Poor servants _we_ are, poor servants! The Emperor is the Emperor, you understand, but the Princess, she is the Empress, so to speak. Poor servants... it's hard to have to pick your way between two puddles. Not half! If you only knew it, we've always got our heads between the hammer and the anvil.

We don't want to get into _anybody's_ bad graces.

I'm sure you understand me. And a man wants to put something aside for his old days. And so you see we poor devils are in the h.e.l.l of a hole. Not half!

CALAF.

What are you driving at? Is my life in danger?

BRIGELLA.

I won't say that; but you are aware of the blessed interest people about here take in your name. By way of example it might possibly happen that a hobgoblin or a fairy steps in through the keyhole and leads you into temptation.

Keep a tight rein on your five senses, that's all. You see what I mean, don't you? Poor servants _we_ people! Poor devils! Not half!

CALAF.

Go. Have no fear. I stand upon my guard.

BRIGELLA.

(_Slapping him on the back._) That's right, your Highness, that's right. I commend myself to your most gracious protection. (_Aside._) I _have_ heard that some people can find it in their hearts to refuse a purse of florins. _I_ have done my very best, but I can't find it in my heart. So help me, G.o.d! A man can only do what he can do. I can't do it; no, I can't do it.

(_Exit._)

SCENE X

CALAF.

CALAF.

What is this fellow warning me against?

Who is to visit me? Well, I can fight, Yea, fight the very devil, if he come.

My thoughts are all for her. Short time remains Of fearing and of torment: Dawn is nigh!

And can it be her heart is still so hard And pitiless? Well, let us try to sleep.

SCENE XI

ZELIMA, CALAF.

_Enter_ ZELIMA.

ZELIMA.

My Prince, I am a slave of Turandot, And hither come by ways which even to her Are closed. Good news I bring you.

CALAF.

Slave, you lie.

The heart of Turandot is pitiless.

ZELIMA.

You speak the truth. And yet: you are the first That ever touched it. You believe me not, And yet it is quite true. She says she hates you, And she already loves you. May the earth Swallow me if it is not true she loves you.

CALAF.

The news _is_ good. I will believe. What next?

ZELIMA.

She bids me tell you, only her ambition Drives her to desperation. Now she sees That what she undertook she cannot do, But thinking of to-morrow and its shame She is consumed.... May the earth swallow me, If here I lie!

CALAF.