e I give;
But without Turandot I will not live.
My motto is, "Or death, or Turandot."

PANT. (_aside_.)

He really is a most pig-headed sot!
(_aloud_) Young man, you cannot know the risk you run.
Th' alternative's in earnest--not in fun.
Dame Turandot will spin you a tough riddle,
That's not to be "got thro' like any fiddle."
Not such as this, which any child might guess--
(Though the Emperor could not, I must confess;)
"_What gives a cold, cures a cold, and pays the doctor's bill?_"
Not short enigmas lightly disentangled;
Hard nuts you'll have to crack, fresh made, new-fangled;
And if you cannot guess them all _instanter_,
Your head will be struck off--I do not banter.
You'll have to answer rightly in a twink;
Your head once off, you'll have no time to think.

KAL.

Your warning's vain: "Or death or Turandot."

PANT. (_aside_.)

For all my sermon he don't care one jot.

TART.

D-d-dear s-sir, l-let m-me p-persuade you. _Lasci stare_
Th-this d-dr-dread-f-ful st-str-strife, _bruttissimo affare_.

KAL.

Again I say, "Or death, or Turandot."

TART.

H-he-he's ho-hope-l-l-less-l-ly in l-lo-love. _L'e proprio cot._

ALT.

As no persuasion moves this headstrong man,
Go, summon Turandot to this divan.

(_Exit guards._)

(KALAF, _violently agitated, gazes towards the hareem entrance_.)

KAL.

She comes--her beauty will enchant my sight,
Ye Gods, inspire my mind with sapient might!

(_March heard._ _Enter_ TRUFFALDIN, _with his drawn sabre on his
shoulder_. _Black male and female slaves, beating tantans and
cymbals._ ADELMA, _in Tartar costume, and_ SKIRINA, _both veiled_.
ADELMA _carries a salver upon which are sealed papers_. TRUFFALDIN
_and male slaves prostrate themselves as they pass_ ALTOUM'S _throne;
the female slaves kneel, with their hands to their forehead_. _Then
appears_ TURANDOT, _veiled, in rich Chinese costume_. _The courtiers
and doctors prostrate themselves before her._ ALTOUM _rises; the
Princess makes him a slight inclination, with her hands to her
forehead, then ascends the throne, and seats herself_; ADELMA _and_
SKIRINA _on either side, the former nearest the audience_. TRUFFALDIN
_takes the salver from_ ADELMA, _and with exaggerated ceremony,
distributes the papers to the eight doctors, and resumes his place.
March ceases._)

TUR. (_haughtily_.)

Once more a vain aspirant for my hand,
Compels me here before you all to stand.
This rash intruder, who th