with dreaming it;
This magic rose of all men's fiery dreams,
Which under soft moss hides its gentle beams;
Which is with beauty sweet and goodness shy,
And bears the hope that holds the heavens on high;
This magic flower of purest ray divine,
This flower is: LOVE--dearest, your love and mine.

PANTALONE.

Praised be the Lord! Praised be the Lord!
Here! I can't stand this any longer....

(_Runs up to_ CALAF _and embraces him_.)

TARTAGLIA.

Victory, your Majesty! Hail! Victory!

THE EIGHT DOCTORS.

(_Open the third leaf._) Love! Love! Love!

(_Vociferous hurrahs of the crowd outside and
noisy music._ TURANDOT _falls all of
a heap on her throne_, ZELIMA _and_
ADELMA _busy themselves with her_.
ALTOUM _lifts the PRINCE off his feet
and kisses him_, PANTALONE _and_ TARTAGLIA
_helping_. _The doctors retire in
a row to the background._)

ALTOUM.

And now enough of tyranny and whims--
Do you hear me, Turandot! And you, dear son,
Come to my heart.

(_He embraces_ CALAF.)

TURANDOT.

(_Has recovered herself, and rushes in a rage
at the embracing pair._)

Stay! Do not let this man
Believe he is my husband. I demand
Another meeting and three riddles more.
The time I was allowed was far too short.
Stay!----

ALTOUM (_interrupting her_).

False and cruel child! The game is played.
Thou shalt not so begin a second time.
The edict has run out, and is surrendered
Into the keeping of my ministers.

PANTALONE.

I beg a thousand pardons. But we can't do
with any more of these riddles, Heaven knows!
We can't do with any more head-chopping,
Heaven knows, as if they were nothing but
lettuces. The young man there has guessed
right. The edict must be executed in its entirety.
The bridecake has got to go into the oven. (_To_
TARTAGLIA.) What do you say, my Lord
Chancellor?

TARTAGLIA.

Must be executed--in its entirety. There is no
call for any further explanations, interpretations,
dissertations, appeals, and commentaries. What
do our learned doctors say?

THE EIGHT DOCTORS.

(_All together._) Must be executed! Must be
executed--in its entirety. Decision final--irrevocable!

ALTOUM.

Straight to the altar, then. This stranger prince
Will now reveal his birth and name, the priests----

TURANDOT (_in despair_).

Grant me a respite, father!

ALTOUM.

Not one minute.

TURANDOT.

(_Casting herself on her knees before him._)

If you would have me living, father,