To preach to me befits thee not. Desist. My potent will in vain thou wouldst resist. Seize on him, slaves, and do your work. Forbear Awhile. Reflect, and save thy life. I swear By Fo-hi's face, no harm shall touch thy friend Nor thee, if thou consent to serve my end. BAR. Your path's deceitful. Swear by Fo-hi's might My friend shall call you his e'er morrow's night. You hesitate--you dare not swear a lie Before the sacred face of great Fo-hi. ADELMA. Presumptuous wretch, dar'st thou our queen defy? Princess, demur no longer; let him die. (SKIRINA _rushes in._) SKIR. Hold, Princess; hold; your father is at hand! (_aside_.) My knees are knocking; I can hardly stand. ADELMA. Unlucky chance! To prison with this fellow! SKIR. Adelma, hush; you needn't bawl and bellow. TUR. In deepest dungeon let him be confin'd. BAR. My body you may shackle; not my mind. SKIR. (_aside to_ BARAK.) Take courage, husband; do not fear their spite; The pig will save us yet; I tell you it's all right. (_Mutes hastily conduct_ BARAK _through a secret door; others remove the dish of gold_.) TUR. Adelma, thou'rt my only friend. Advise My mind distraught 'twixt love and hate. Despise Me not, but pity me. Some counsel lend. ADEL. As force has failed, by craft we'll gain our end. I have a plan,--I'm sure of its success, If to the stranger's cell we gain access. TUR. Take gold--suborn his guards--the highest meed I hold as nought if thy new scheme succeed. ADEL. Skirina's help I need to work my plot. SKIR. I'd let myself be skinned for Turandot. I wish my service could my husband save. TUR. His life be thy reward, thou faithful slave. (SKIRINA _kisses_ TURANDOT'S _hand_.) ADEL. Your royal father comes. In me confide. (_aside_.) Assist me, love, to quell her haughty pride. (_Exeunt_ ADELMA _and_ SKIRINA.) TUR. What will Adelma's fertile brain devise? (_after a pause_.) In vain the truth I'd hide from mine own eyes; My heart is his--irrevocably his. To be his wife--oh rapture, heavenly bliss! Yet I must spurn his love. I will not bear All China's cold contempt; man's scoffing sneer. What glory would be mine could I but tame This bragging conqueror. Pronounce his name In high divan, and chase him from our city, Abashed and in despair. But yet, with pity My heart would surely break. Come, virgin pride And woman's art my shame and grief to hide. To-day, proud man has made me bear disgrace; To-morrow I must triumph o'er his race. But yet--he did not boastfully rejoice-- Rebuke I welcomed from his gentle voice. How humble was his suit--how mild and good, How unresentful towards my scornful mood. Avaunt, ye tender phantasies, avaunt! I dread the world's disdain--its scoffing taunt. My people shall not see Turandot fall, The slave of one means abject slave to all. (_Enter_ ALTOUM, _perusing a scroll_; PANT, _and_ TART, _following at some distance_.) ALT. (_to himself_.) The Bey of Tefflis dead? So ends this tyrant!