"A little chastising won't hurt her in the least," Sarastro assured her. "I know all about how she prowls around here, and if only Tamino resists his temptations, you will be united and your mother sent back to her own domain where she belongs. If he survives the ordeals we have set before him, he will deserve to marry an orphan." All this was doubtless true, but it annoyed Pamina exceedingly. As soon as Sarastro had sung of the advantages of living in so delightful a place as the temple, he disappeared, not in the usual way, but by walking off, and the scene changed.
Tamino and the speaker who accompanied the priests and talked for them were in a large hall, and Papageno was there also.
"You are again to be left here alone; and I caution ye to be silent," the speaker advised as he went out.
"Papageno, whoever breaks the silence here, brings down thunder and lightning upon himself." He, too, went out.
"You are only to think it is pleasant--not to mention it," Tamino cautioned. Meantime, Papageno, who couldn't hold his tongue to save his life, grew thirsty. And he no sooner became aware of it, than an old woman entered with a cup of water.
"Yes, my love," she replied, and Papageno drank it.
"Well, next time when you wish to quench my thirst you must bring something besides water--don't forget. Sit down here, old lady, it is confoundedly dull," the irrepressible Papageno said, and the old lady sat. "How old are you, anyway?"
"Just eighteen years and two minutes," she answered.
"Um--it is the two minutes that does it, I suppose," Papageno reflected, looking at her critically.
"Does anybody love you?" he asked, by way of satisfying his curiosity.
"The deuce you say? Well, well, I never would have thought it of myself. Well, what's your name, mam?" but just as the old lady was about to answer, the thunder boomed and off she rushed.
"Oh, heaven! I'll never speak another word," Papageno cried. He had no sooner taken that excellent resolution than the three Genii entered bearing a table loaded with good things to eat. They also brought the flute and the chime of bells.
"Now, eat, drink, and be merry, and a better time shall follow," they said, and then they disappeared.
"Well, well, this is something like it," Papageno said, beginning at once to obey commands, but Tamino began to play upon the flute.