Turandot, Princess of China Part 23

Enough, my pretty slave.

I will believe. Go! Tell her: it is easy To give the contest up. And she would win Fairer renown by softening her heart, And giving of her own free will the hand He longs for to the man who loves her true.

Is this the message, haply, that you bring?

ZELIMA.

No, Prince. My message runs not so. We ask Consideration for our weaknesses.

The Princess begs you for a favour. Spare Her vanity. Help her to say those names In the Divan to-morrow. Then she herself Will from her throne descend, and reach to you Her right hand. You it costs so little. Say The names, and in this manner win her heart.

CALAF (_with a smile_).

H'm! Pretty slave, where is the speech's end?

ZELIMA.

What speech's end, your Highness?

CALAF.

"Let the earth Swallow me if I lie in this."

ZELIMA.

You doubt it?

CALAF.

I do a little doubt it--just so much That I refuse to do what you desire.

Go, tell your mistress, if I hide the names It is because a lover must be cautious-- I do not hide them with intent to pain her.

ZELIMA (_violently_).

Fool, fool! you little know what this will cost you!

CALAF.

And if it cost my life!

ZELIMA.

You soon will see.

Good-night.

(_Aside._)

The fool! He has made a fool of me.

(_Exit in a rage._)

CALAF.

Be steadfast, heart! Only a few hours more The skies will clear, and fear will have an end.

That I could sleep.... My tortured spirit yearns For rest. Sink down upon me, gentle sleep!

(_Goes to sleep._)

SCENE XII

CALAF, TRUFFALDINO.

TRUFFALDINO.

(_Comes creeping in cautiously from right, creeps under the divan._)

Well, thank G.o.d! he's gone to sleep at last.

'Sh! 'Sh! (_In the front of the stage before the footlights._) As my poor old mother used to say, "A good name is worth a fortune." What a good name this idiot of a Prince must have, considering how my gracious Princess is throwing all her money away on him! Skirina's got some, Zelima's got some, Brigella's got some. I've got some, and I'm going to get two purses extra if I get this young hopeful's name. And I shall get it! You watch me. I'm going to! (_With much ceremony he pulls a big turnip, wrapped in a strip of paper, out of his dress._) Here I have the famous magic root mandragora. The Universal Doctor and Great Herbalist Pimpernel, Market Square, second door to the right, let me have it for a tanner. Warranted, of course.

Warranted to go two years. Printed instructions for use attached. (_Unwraps the turnip, reads:_) "The root mandragora opens all doors, bursts all locks, raises hidden treasure, confers riches and wisdom...." (_Looks up._) Aha! just what I want. (_Reads on:_) "It has influence over the constellations and the planets, makes the blind to see and the deaf to hear, is a protection against the evil eye, heals all maladies of the mind, depression in men and melancholy in women...." (_Looks up._) Aha! Depression, quite so. Melancholy, quite so. (_Reads on:_) "It confers the gift of second sight, reveals hidden secrets...." (_Looks up._) Ah! now we have it. Hidden secrets.... "Let it be placed under the pillow of the person, whether male or female, whose secret it is desired to know, when the said person is asleep. Then the person aforesaid..."

Hurrah! (_jumps for joy_) "will, by dreaming aloud, communicate what it is desired to know." Did you hear that? Isn't that the very thing? (_Creeps up to_ CALAF'S _bed, and, with excessive caution, places the turnip under his pillow_.) 'Sh! 'Sh!

(_Draws back a little, and waits, in the greatest excitement, for what is going to happen._ CALAF _does not utter a sound_. _With a disappointed face_ TRUFFALDINO _creeps nearer the bed again_. CALAF _remains dumb_.)

Do say something, my dear boy! Do say something, please! (_Waits a little._) Out with the name, my sweet little lambkin.

(_With transfigured face_ CALAF _whispers terms of endearment_.)

What's he saying now? Tu... Tu...

Turandot. Oh, bother! I know that name already, the name of my adored Princess. It's _your_ name I want to know, my darling boy.

(CALAF _goes on whispering excitedly_. _He smiles in his happy dream, and raises himself on his elbow during the following without opening his eyes_.)

Tu... nothing but Turandot! Well, then, here I am, duckie. Here I am, lovey, here I am--my own very self, your own little lovey duckie Turandot. (_Purses up his lips._ CALAF _smiles as though in rapture_.) What wouldst thou have of me, my sweetest heart? Eh? Well, what? Something like this? (_Smacks his lips._) Well, then, you _shall_ have it, and more besides.

But first of all, darling, you must tell me your name, your own delightful, sweet little name, my honey!...

(CALAF _sinks back and lies dumb again, sulkily_.)