LITMIR.BIZ

      Desist from your intention, I conjure you,

      Let my remonstrance of this madness cure you.

      You speak in vain. My fortune now or never,

      Shall be ensured for aye, or lost for ever.

      One stroke will end my life, or I shall gain

      The fairest woman e'er beheld, and reign

      An Emperor of Chang's celestial state.

      O smile upon my hopes, benignant Fate!

      But tell me, Barak, shall I in divan

      Behold the lovely daughter of the Khan?

      A spectacle more thrilling now behold,

      That head just smitten off. My blood runs cold,

      To think that yours may be thus closely shaven.

      Nay, fear is not for princes – I'm no craven.

      Poor youth, deserving of a better fate.

      Sweet prince, renounce th' attempt.

      Too late, too late!

      I fear you'll fail to guess the Sphinx's riddles.

      I'll cut the Gordian knots right down their middles!

      I'm not so stupid as some folks suppose;

      'Twill not be easy my quick wit to pose.

      I fancy I shall come off with éclat;

      But if I fail, it does not matter, pshaw!

      If in this enterprise I lose my life,

      Present my compliments to your good wife;

      My horse be hers, in payment of her trouble.

      Heigho! this world's a dream, and life's a bubble!

      Reveal my name to none. Nay, do not cry,

      You've wept me once before as dead. Goodbye.

      Why, what's the matter? You are melancholy.

      Oh, help me, wife, restrain this youth's mad folly;

      He's off to Peking – means to dare the Sphinx!

      He's sure to die – my heart within me sinks!

      What put such silly nonsense in your head?

      You've got brain fever; bless you, go to bed.

      Pray save your breath. My fever needs no nurse

      But Turandot's fair hand. Here, take my purse,

      I have no farther need of money; for

      I either die, or shall become an Emperor.

      Dear master, hear me; stay; all, all in vain;

      I ne'er shall see his blessèd face again!

      You know my stranger-guest? how very funny,

      Let's try to catch him, and return his money.

      Wife, be not curious; no questions ask,

      He's gifted with such mental powers, the task

      Of coping with the Sphinx he may achieve —

      His doom unto the gods we now must leave.

      We'll sacrifice a pig to great Fo-hi,

      He'll perhaps contrive your handsome friend shan't die.

      Come, look alive! His Majesty's Divan

      Will soon assemble. Now, look sharp, my man!

      A carpet for this throne; here sits her Highness;

      Bring brooms, and sweep up all this horrid dry mess.

      I say, Truffaldin, what's this grand array?

      The high Divan again – twice in one day?

      Eight seats here for the doctors!

      They're all muffs,

      But look imposing in their brocade stuffs.

      Truffaldin, do you hear? What is the matter?

      How dare you make such a confounded clatter?

      You stupid, don't you know the whole Divan

      Are called to meet as quickly as they can?

      Another suitor for my mistress' heart

      Is anxious from his silly head to part.

      For shame! Three hours ago one victim fell.

      This new pretender seems a precious swell.

      His curly poll will grace the hangman's pole,

      A charming barber's block, upon my soul!

      'Twill cut a figure in our "Rotten Row;"

      I think that jest is witty – Ho, ho, ho!

      Your soul in blackness with your visage vies —

      You grin whene'er a fellow-creature dies.

      You jackanapes! None of your paltry spite;

      My heart's not black, – your liver 'tis that's white;

      So hold your jaw. Why should I grieve to see

      That men for love such arrant fools can be?

      The more the merrier; for on each day,

      Our Princess 'scapes a husband's dreaded sway;

      She gives us all a good jollification,

      Besides munificent gratification.

      How barbarous.

      Now, don't you be so silly.

      Her suitors are not dragged here willy-nilly;

      They

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