полная версия
Фридрих Шиллер
Turandot: The Chinese Sphinx
ALT. (placing his hands on the book) —
This law, tho' it cause tears and blood to flow,
I've sworn to keep, alas! it must be so.
TUR. (rises and declaims) —
A tree on which men grow and fade;
Old as the world, yet ever new;
Its leaves, on one side, live in shade,
On th' other bears the sun's bright show.
Each time it blooms a ring it wears,
It tells the age of each event.
Upon its bark men's names it bears,
Forgotten e'er its life be spent.
What is this tree, so young, so old,
So sunny warm, so icy cold?
KALAF. (ponders awhile, then bows to the Princess) —
Too happy is your slave, divine Princess,
If nothing harder he may have to guess;
This ancient tree which ever buds anew,
Which sun and shade, man's age and deeds doth shew,
It is "a year," revolving day and night.
PANT. (joyfully.)
Shake hands, Tartaglia, I'm quite sure he's right!
TART
A-a-as-ass-tounding! Sono contentissimo!
DOCTORS (having opened the papers)
Eureka! Optime! Optissimo!
(Flourish of gongs and cymbals.)
ALT. (graciously.)
Fo-hi protects thee, son; He'll save thy life.
ADELMA (aside.)
Ye gods, let not my rival be his wife,
Though I rejoice her vanity is vext.
SKIR
I hope he'll be as clever at the next!
TUR
Shall he outwit me? No, by sun and moon;
(to KALAF.) Your joy's precocious – triumph not too soon.
(Rises and declaims) —
Canst thou the fragile mirror name,
Reflecting all creation on its limpid face;
'Tis closed within a narrow frame,
Yet compasses high heav'n's blue vault of endless space.
This crystal is of priceless worth,
But yet the poor possess it, nor possession pay;
It is the brightest gem on earth,
It gives and yet receives its heaven-born brilliant ray.
What is this mirror bright and clear,
Free given to all, to all so dear?
KALAF (ponders, then bows to the Princess)
Your mystery's not hard to penetrate;
The mirror you describe so small, so great,
So priceless, so benign, "the eye" must be,
A heaven 'twill show if thine speak love to me.
PANT. (embraces TART.)
He's shot the bull's-eye through the very middle.
SKIR
I never knew his equal at a riddle.
DOCTORS (having opened the papers)
Eureka! Optime! Optissimo!
(Flourish of gongs and cymbals.)
TART
Bravo-o-o! Bravissimo! Benissimo!
ALT
I give you joy; you are a clever fellow!
PANT
Our Chinese Sphinx with rage is turning yellow.
ADELMA
In vain the Fates themselves would seek to foil me;
My rival shall not of my love despoil me.
SKIR
I wish to Fo-hi all was fairly over!
ADEL. (to Turandot.)
If you be mocked by this conceited lover,
Your former victories will naught avail;
Your honour's lost if this pert fop prevail.
TUR
The world shall perish first! Exultant fool!
My hate increases with thy hope to rule.
Escape my wrath whilst yet thy life is free,
My vengeance dread, and from the contest flee.
KAL
Your hate alone, adored Princess, can move
My soul. If vainly I implore your love,
Then let me die; my life I do not prize
If loathsome I appear in your sweet eyes.
ALT
Hear reason, Prince, nor longer tempt the gods.
Throw up the game, – too fearful are the odds.
With honour canst thou quit this high divan,
For thou'st done more than any other man.
Yet two successes serve not, though they're glorious,
Unless for the third time thou be victorious.
And thou, my domineering, wilful child,
Wilt not relent towards this youth? Be mild,
And graciously accept his suit.
TUR
Relent!
I scorn his love, – his pity I resent.
The law prescribes three trials. Let's proceed,
And try if in the third he may succeed.
KAL
The gods decide! "Or death or Turandot!"
TUR. (angrily.)
Death – death will be your well-deserved lot.
PANT
Keep silence in the court! Ahem! ahem!
(aside) Now for some crackjaw, mystic apophthegm.
TUR. (rises and declaims) —
What is that thing, held cheap as dust,
Yet honor'd by the Emperor's hand?
'Tis made to pierce, with sword's keen thrust,
But sheds no blood, tho' wounds like sand,
In number deep inflicts; robs none;
Enriches thousands; rules the earth;
Makes life with ease and smoothness run;
Has founded kingdoms; ended dearth;
Most ancient cities it has built,
But ne'er caused war, nor war's sad guilt.
Answer my question (unveils). Look me in the face,
Avow you're vanquished and deserve disgrace.
KAL. (gazes on her with rapture.)
Refulgent loveliness! Ecstatic bliss!
PANT. (shaking him.)
Collect your senses! Don't take on like this!
ALT
Alas, I fear his intellect is puzzled;
He's mute, – his tongue seems tied, – his lips tight muzzled.
PANT
Were't not for dignity, into the kitchen,
I'd rush a glass of something short to fetch 'un.
TUR. (who has returned Kalaf's. fixed gaze) —
Unhappy wretch! thou'rt silent; thou must die.
KAL. (recovers himself, and bows to TURANDOT with extreme composure) —
'Twas but your beauty dazed my wondering eye.
My mind can grasp the meaning of the Sphinx,
Tho' it's as puzzling as the "Babe of Ginx."
The iron thing which wounds yet sheds no blood;
That rules the earth, and gives man wealth and food;
On which each year the Khan doth place his hand,
To typify his reign o'er China's land;
In short, the instrument your riddle mentions
Is one of mankind's earliest inventions.
If I mistake not, Hm – ha – Let me see!
"The plough" is meant by Riddle Number three.
DOCTORS (having opened the papers)
Eureka! Optime! Optissimo!
(Flourish of gongs and cymbals.)
PANT
I kiss our future Emperor's great toe!
TART
Th-the S-sp-sphinx is v-van-qui-quished —Vinto è il Demonio!
Sh-she's f-fou-found her m-ma-match. Evviva il matrimonio!
(TURANDOT faints, ADELMA and SKIRINA support her. ALTOUM leaning on PANT. and TART. descends his throne, and embraces KALAF. The DOCTORS quit their seats, and retire to the background.)
ALT
Sweet prince, our son-in-law thou'lt be to-morrow,
A joyful climax to our royal sorrow.
TUR. (recovers her senses, and rashes wildly between ALTOUM and KALAF) —
Oh, make me not his slave! 'Twill drive me mad,
My mind no time for due reflection had.
Too easily his triumph was obtained.
ALT
The hard-won victory he fairly gained.
With gratitude become this good youth's wife,
Obey the law, and end this weary strife.
TUR
Once more call the divan – renew the contest,
If I have time for thought, I'm sure of conquest.
PANT
Fair Princess Tigerheart, that's rather cool;
Don't make his Majesty act like a fool.
D'you think the royal head of your kind Daddy
Is lined with lead, like a Japan tea-caddy;
What say you, colleague; and ye Doctors wise?
(Doctors join hands in a circle, nodding their chins.)
DOCTORS
Let bloodshed cease. The chopped-off heads suffice.
ALT
To great Fo-hi's pagoda we'll repair
And finish off this hymeneal affair.
TUR
Have mercy —
ALT
Mercy hast thou shewn to none,
I've kept my oath; do thou as I have done.
Fulfil Fo-hi's decree.
TUR
Oh, spare me, Sire,
Or at your feet behold your child expire.
(Throws herself at his feet.)
ALT
Thy marriage is ordained. Proud girl, obey,
Too long I've bowed to thy capricious sway.
Entreat no more. I swear by Fo-hi's sword.
TUR
Hold, father, do not speak the sacred word.
This overbearing tyrant I'll not wed;
I'd rather make the sullen grave my bed.
KAL. (to TURANDOT.)
Abate your terror; nor so madly grieve;
I'll intercede myself for your reprieve.
Fair cruel one, who may your tears withstand?
(to ALTOUM.) Great monarch, grant her wish; I'd win her hand
By love's sweet power; not by enforced consent.
(to TURANDOT.) I see thou crav'st my head – then be content.
I love thee so intensely, that my life
Is worthless if I may not call thee wife.
Again a solemn test I'll undergo.
ALT
She's yours by right of law. Fate willed it so.
TUR
You shall not drag me to the bridal altar;
This hand shall slay me first (draws a dagger.) It will not falter.
KAL
Stay, hold your hand, and calm your poignant sorrow;
We'll meet again in high divan. To-morrow
The Chinese Sphinx this problem shall unravel:
"Who is that Prince who, after weary travel
Escaped from slavedom's thrall, and reached the goal
And blissful summit of his longing soul;
Yet at fulfilment of his heart's desire
Was plunged yet deeper into tortures dire?"
Relentless beauty, if you name aright
The name and lineage of this luckless wight
Then shall you gratify your hate, and take
My life. But if you fail, then shall you make
Me blessed, by giving me your hand. Decide.
TUR
By this new compact I consent to abide.
ALT
Imprudent youth, too generously kind,
Thou know'st not her all-penetrating mind.
But, should she conquer thee by female wile,
Thou shalt not fall a victim to her guile.
To-morrow's high divan shall seal her fate;
Her wit may free her; or she'll be thy mate.
Enough of blood's been shed.
TUR. (aside.)
My subtle art
Shall crush his pride. Be firm, fond, wav'ring heart.
(March strikes up. ALTOUM, leaning on KALAF's shoulder, followed by PANT., TART., DOCTORS, and Courtiers, exeunt L. TURANDOT, ADELMA, SKIRINA, TRUFFALDIN, and slaves, exeunt R.)
