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No indeed! that I decline. From yourselves have I not heard That he's fiercer than the pard? If by him I were accosted He would have me plucked and roasted. |
"Have no fear, but do as you are bid. The Prince and his flute shall keep thee safe from Sarastro."
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I wish the Prince at all the devils; For death nowise I search; What if, to crown my many evils, He should leave me in the lurch? |
He did not feel half as brave as he had seemed when he told Tamino how he had killed the serpent.
Then another of the ladies of the court gave to Papageno a chime of bells, hidden in a casket.
"Are these for me?" he asked.
"Aye, and none but thou canst play upon them. With a golden chime and a golden flute, thou art both safe. The music of these things shall charm the wicked heart and soothe the savage breast. So, fare ye well, both." And away went the two strange adventurers, Papageno and Tamino, one a prince, the other a bird-catcher.
Scene II
After travelling for a week and a day, the two adventurers came to a fine palace. Tamino sent the fowler with his chime of bells up to the great place to spy out what he could, and he was to return and bring the Prince news.
Without knowing it they had already arrived at the palace of Sarastro, and at that very moment Pamina, the Queen's daughter, was in great peril.