Prinzessin Turandot Page #4

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eh, daddy-in-law

I believe there's a full moon tonight

really?

because exactly 14 days ago

we had the new moon

I see

it's so beautiful to take a walk under a full moon

the both of us?

alright, we'll meet at the Little Dragon's Gate

it's quite hidden

and there's never any guard around

never any guard?

fine

now I must ask the Princess for leave, good-bye

and now my little daughter mustn't worry anymore

tomorrow morning Calaf will give you an easy riddle,

a mere formality, like a child's game

and if you solve it, you'll be rid of that Calaf

and free

he wants to get rid of me?

why get rid of you?

if only as a formality,

he wants to give me an easy riddle

a child's game for you

but he'll think of something weird,

and I won't be able to solve it, and I'll sit there

and Calaf will laugh his head off

Mian Li,

are you my friend or aren't you?

I swear

- so you want to help me?

- I do

I must find out till tomorrow morning

which riddle Calaf will pose me

good God, but that's difficult!

I know

but I must find it out

and you must help me

yes

I've an idea, Princess

that Calaf has a servant

if we tried to question that servant

I know where to find him

don't you want to change, sir?

I mean make yourself pretty for the engagement ceremony

it has been postponed

damned

then we'll stay here?

yes, if you don't mind

not at all

I've made the bed, sir

thank you, I'm not tired

the apples are on the stove

say, what do you want exactly?

- nothing

- tell me, what do you want?

if you don't need me anymore...

a friend of the Emperor has invited me

is the friend's name perhaps Mian Li?

I don't know his name exactly

- but he has a great influence

- on whom? on you

that too

alright, run along

thank you

thank you very much, sir

# when you stand guard at night

# one knows how slowly time passes

# one wishes for dawn

# 'cause the sweetheart is waiting

# that's what a soldier needs to be happy

# and a drop of wine

# tralala, halt, who's there?

# who's sneaking through the night?

# you thieves, you scum, away with you!

traptraptrap

# a guard's life is hard.

what are you doing here?

as you can see, I stand guard

here at the Dragon's Gate?

but nobody used to stand guard here before

but tonight there is

to guard Calaf's wagon,

the Emperor's son-in-law

tonight of all nights!

say, are you thirsty?

I've never been not thirsty

in my life

then get drunk

on Calaf's health

but who's to stand guard then?

nobody else but me

that's very noble of you

that's me

friend, take this too

thank you

you can entirely rely on me, Princess

I'll question that Willibald in a way

which will please you

because if you don't know the answer to Calaf's question tomorrow...

then you would not only be put to shame for the second time

I beg your pardon, Princess,

but, which is much worse...

you'd be totally in that disagreeable Calaf's power

and that would be just awful, Princess,

no no no

that would be unthinkable,

I'd rather die that let that allow to happen

good-bye Princess

but don't stay away too long!

with that Mr. Calaf

disagreeable

she said

ah, Pingpong

# don't be afraid, everything will work out fine

# I'm surprised at my own courage

# ha, what's that, what do I see?

# my heart almost stands still

# now there's some rustling in the flowery grove

# perhaps that's a robber

# tralala, halt who's there?

# who is sneaking around here in the night?

# thieves, scum, away with you

traptraptrap

# a guard's duty is heavy

Willibald

Mr. Willibald

ah, Miss Mian Li,

good evening

Mr. Calaf

you're here?

so it seems

isn't Mr. Willibald in?

no, Mr. Willibald has an engagement

but he hasn't been at the Dragon's Gate

he hasn't been where?

I mean ... I mean...

with whom has he the engagement?

as far as I know,

with a highly influential person

with a highly influential person?

yes

- well?

- in vain, Princess

why?

Mr. Willibald is not at home.

And Mr. Willibald isn't where he ought to have been.

Mr. Willibald simply isn't there

and the full moon has risen

what are we to do now?

then there remains only one solution:

I'll ask Calaf myself

you?

why you?

but Princess,

do you want to go to Calaf yourself?

why not

you? a Princess of Imperial descent?

sneak to a young man at night, meet him in his garden?

at under a full moon, of all things!

but Princess!

are you in love with Calaf, by the way?

is Your Imperial Highness jealous, by the way?

ridiculous

then I'll sacrifice myself for my adored Princess

and go to Calaf

the things one does for a good friend

yes, who is it?

I, Mian Li

ah, Mian Li

come in

somebody's coming

I'll leave.

good-bye, Mr. Calaf

- Mr. Calaf!

- what is it?

good God, I'm so nervous

so, you'll see to it that Turandot will come here

you can completely rely on me, Mr. Calaf

I'll work her over so that she'll burst with jealousy

but when she comes you mustn't betray me,

otherwise she'll tear my head off

that would be a pity about the pretty head

Princess, a thousand pardons,

but I'm so excited

I completely forgot to knock

but the Princess doesn't wear her shoes

just imagine what happened to me, Princess

just as I was about to elicit out of Calaf

the riddle he intended to pose to you tomorrow

at that moment, unfortunately

somebody crossed the Bridge of the Silvery Bells

and I got so frightened that I ran away like mad

Ive never seen such imbecility in my whole life

you know what is at stake

I entrust you with a charge of the utmost importance

and you abandon me

I wouldn't have thought you capable of that, Mian Li

Your Imperial Highness,

I'm desolate

now you'll have to go to Calaf yourself

I see, now I'll have to go to Calaf myself all of a sudden

and what did you say just a moment ago?

"but Princess, you couldn't possibly think of going to Calaf yourself!"

"a Princess of Imperial descent?

sneak to a young man at night, meet him in his garden?"

"especially under a full moon"

that's true, Princess,

but you could disguise yourself

- as what?

- as Mian Li

put on my jacket and the veil

he knows them already quite well

but I'm not sure if this looks becoming on me

but Princess, he mustn't recognize you!

and besides, inside the wagon it's quite dark

I see

you must have been terribly frightened

you poor thing

not at all, Princess

you're never afraid

when you're with Calaf

is that so?

your jacket and the veil, quick

Mian Li, do you really think he won't recognize me?

underneath my veil?

of course not, Princess

who's there?

Mian Li?

yes

come in

you've come from ... Turandot?

of course

come in

what's the matter?

you weren't that shy a short while ago

but I'm not shy!

it's pretty in here

I've told Turandot about it

if you wander across all those countries

you always find some souvenirs

don't you want to take off your veil?

don't touch me!

but Mian Li, that's not like you!

you weren't so prudish a short while ago

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