Turandot, Princess of China Part 29

ADELMA (_in pain, aside_).

Oh, torment worse than death....

CALAF (_casts his dagger to the floor_).

Mine! You! Oh, do not kill me, supreme joy!

ALTOUM (_descends from his throne_).

Let me embrace thee, daughter. This one hour Makes good the pain you heaped upon my heart.

PANTALONE.

Wedding! Wedding! Reverend doctors, your presence is no longer required here.

TARTAGLIA.

Have the goodness to withdraw to the posterior apartment.

(_Exeunt doctors back of stage._)

ADELMA (_comes to the front_. _In the greatest excitement to_ CALAF).

Live! Oh, yes, live! Live with my enemy In happiness.

(_To_ TURANDOT.)

To you, Princess, I say: I hate you. All I tried to do last night I did to s.n.a.t.c.h from you the man I love, Whom secretly I loved ere he loved you.

Last night I sought to have him flee with me.

He would not. All my arts could lure from him Were those two names, which I betrayed because I hated you. I planned you should reject him, And that I then should have him. All in vain.

There is one last way open to me now.

I, too, am royal, and I am ashamed.

That so long I have suffered servitude.

Take now the last of all the Carcasenes To crown your triumphing....

(_She picks_ CALAF'S _dagger up from the floor_.)

This steel, which you Have warded from his breast, shall open me The way to freedom....

CALAF (_restrains her_).

Stay!

ADELMA.

Off! Let me die.

(_In a voice stifled with tears._)

Ungrateful wretch!

CALAF (_s.n.a.t.c.hes the dagger from her_).

No, for I owe you all.

It was your treachery saved me. You shall not Call me ungrateful.

TURANDOT.

Are you mad, Adelma, All of a sudden?

CALAF.

Generous Emperor, If my pet.i.tion may in aught avail, Give her her freedom!

TURANDOT.

I pet.i.tion, too, My n.o.ble father. I conceive it well, She never can forgive me her distress; No, nor believe that I can pardon her.

Give her her freedom.... And if you could grant Some greater favour, do it for our sake!

ALTOUM.

On such a day of gladness be the measure Of mercy full. I give her not alone Her freedom but her father's kingdom back.

So let her choose a consort she can love, And rule the realm with him....

ADELMA.

To all the weight Of guilt upon my conscience, to my load Of love sent back from where it should have lodged, You add the burden of the greatest mercy.

I cannot yet conceive it. Give me time To understand the height of my good fortune.

But now I have no answer save these tears....

CALAF.

Oh that I knew now where to find you, father!

My heart, so full of joy, burns to embrace you.