Too true is all you've heard through common rumour, The Princess Turandot's ferocious humour Has many princes caused to lose their life In seeking to obtain her as a wife. Her beauty is so wonderful, that all As willing victims to her mandate fall; In vain do various painters daily vie To limn her rosy cheek, her flashing eye, Her perfect form, and noble, easy grace, Her flowing ebon locks and radiant face. Her charms defy all portraiture: no hand Can reproduce her air of sweet command. Yet e'en such counterfeits, from foreign parts Attract fresh suitors,--win all hearts. But she, whose outward semblance thus appears To be Love's temple, such fierce hatred bears To all marital sway, or marriage tie, That rather than submit to man, she'd die. Great kings and princes, all have sued in vain, One glance of love or pity to obtain. (KALAF: In Keicobad I heard this oft-told tale, But thought it paradoxical--and stale.) 'Tis true. Her poor old father's in despair, For China's throne is now without an heir; He longs for her to wed some prince or other, And not perplex him with continual bother. He's of an age to live in peace and quiet, And not be plagued with wars and civil riot; He's tried all means his daughter's mind to soften, Has often sternly threatened--coaxed as often; Used prayers for such a monarch infra dig -- But all in vain; she's headstrong as a pig. At length she said she'd make a compromise, The Khan consented--(he's not over-wise!) His artful daughter wheedled him to swear, By great Fo-hi, that she should never wear The hateful Hymeneal yoke, unless Some suitor for her hand should rightly guess Three difficult conundrums by herself composed: But if the man who for her hand proposed Should fail to solve her problems--then his pate Should be struck off, and grace the city-gate. (KALAF: Why, what a tigress must this Princess be! I never heard such cruelty--Bless me!) Already kings and princes by the dozen She's managed by her subtlety to cozen; For she's so clever that she always diddles The keenest wits by her confounding riddles.

Barak Monologue from Turandot: The Chinese Sphinx

Rehearse Barak's monologue