Barak monologue (Act 1) — Turandot: The Chinese Sphinx

'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.