ZELIMA, CALAF.
_Enter_ ZELIMA.
ZELIMA.
My Prince, I am a slave of Turandot,
And hither come by ways which even to her
Are closed. Good news I bring you.
CALAF.
Slave, you lie.
The heart of Turandot is pitiless.
ZELIMA.
You speak the truth. And yet: you are the first
That ever touched it. You believe me not,
And yet it is quite true. She says she hates you,
And she already loves you. May the earth
Swallow me if it is not true she loves you.
CALAF.
The news _is_ good. I will believe. What next?
ZELIMA.
She bids me tell you, only her ambition
Drives her to desperation. Now she sees
That what she undertook she cannot do,
But thinking of to-morrow and its shame
She is consumed.... May the earth swallow me,
If here I lie!
CALAF.
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._)