The Online Library of Liberty

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• Introduction
• Characters
• Atto Primo
• Scena I
• Scena Ii
• Scena Iii
• Scena Iv
• Scena V
• Atto Secondo
• Scena I
• Scena Ii
• Scena Iii
• Atto Terzo
• Scena I
• Scena Ii
• Scena Iii
• Scena Iv
• Scena V
• Atto Quarto
• Scena I
• Scena Ii
• Scena Iii
• Act One
• Scene I
• Scene Ii
• Scene Iii
• Scene Iv
• Scene V
• Act Ii
• Scene I
• Scene Ii
• Scene Iii
• Act Iii
• Scene I
• Scene Ii
• Scene Iii
• Scene Iv
• Scene V
• Act Iv
• Scene I
• Scene Ii
• Scene Iii

ACT ONE

Scene I

Rhadames and Ramphis

ramphis

Yes, the story goes that the Ethiopian once more ventures to threaten our power in the valley of the Nile as well as at Thebes. I shall soon learn the truth from a messenger.

rhadames

Hast thou consulted the mysteries of Isis?

ramphis

She has declared who shall be commander of all the Egyptian hosts.

rhadames

Oh, happy man!

ramphis

(With a meaning look at Radames.)

Young is he in years, and fearless. I go to bear the goddess’ bidding to the King.

(Exit.)

rhadames

What if I am chosen! Be now my dream accomplished! I, the chosen leader of a mighty army! Mine, the victory! Mine the acclaim of all Memphis! To thee, returning, my sweet Aïda, crowned with laurel! To tell thee, that for thee I fought, for thee I conquered!

• Radiant Aïda, beauty all glorious,
• Mystical garland of brightness and bloom,
• Queen o’er my bosom reigning victorious,
• All of my soul with thy light to illume!
• Would that the skies of thy country now blessed thee,
• That thou could’st breathe its soft fragrance divine.
• Would that its diadem royal caressed thee,
• And that a throne next the sun could be thine!

Scene II

Amneris and the Same

amneris

In thy face I see a joy unwonted! What noble fury glistens in thine eye! Ah me! How worthy of envy would be the woman whose loved presence could awaken such a glow of rapture in thy soul!

rhadames

A dream of wild ambition in my heart’s heart I cherished. To-day has the goddess told his name who shall lead the Egyptian host to battle,—what if I were chosen for this distinguished honour!

amneris

Has not another dream, and one more gentle, more alluring, spoken to thy heart? Hast thou not in Memphis something more earnestly desired and hoped for?

rhadames

• (Aside.)
• I? fatal inquisition!
• Has she the hidden yearning
• Divined, within me burning,
• And learned that toward her slave-girl
• My every thought is turned?

amneris

• (Aside.)
• If toward another yearning
• His heart for her is burning
• Through my unguarded glances
• The fatal truth he’s learned.

Scene III

Aïda and the same

rhadames

(Catching sight of Aida.)

Aida!

amneris

• (Aside.)
• He is troubled—ne’er a lover
• His devotion showed so clear!
• Aida! should I discover
• To my heart a rival here?
• (After a short pause turning to Aida.)
• Come, my darling, now draw nearer.
• Nor slave nor menial be thy name
• Who deserv’st a fashion dearer.
• I in thee a sister claim.
• Thou weepest? Of thy sorrow’s flow
• Let me the secret know.

aïda

• Alas! a war is raging,
• The dreadful cry—I hear it
• For this unhappy country,
• For me—for all I fear it.

amneris

• Thou speak’st the truth? Nor art aware
• Thy bosom feels a deeper care?
• [Aida casts down her eyes and tries to hide her confusion.]
• (Aside, looking steadily at Aïda.)
• Tremble, O thou slave, yes, tremble
• Lest thy secret be detected,
• For the truth I have suspected,
• How she wept and how she blushed!

aïda

• (Aside.)
• No! This sore-afflicted country
• Not alone my heart is wringing;
• Hopeless love the tear is bringing,
• That upon destruction rushed!

rhadames

• (Aside, looking at Amneris.)
• Now her face is full of anger
• And with scorn her glances lower,
• What if she exert her power,
• And my heart’s desire be crushed!

Scene IV

the king

Mighty the cause that summons you, O faithful sons of Egypt, round your King. From the land of Ethiopia a messenger has this moment reached us, bringing news of gravest import. Be pleased to hear him.

• (To an officer.)
• Let the messenger come forward!

messenger

The sacred soil of Egypt is invaded by the barbarous Ethiop. Our fields are ravaged and the crops are burned. Emboldened by this easy victory, the plunderers are e’en now marching upon Thebes.

all

Outrageous insult!

messenger

A warrior indomitable, fierce, conducts them—Amonasro.

all

The King!

aïda

(Aside.)

My father!

messenger

All Thebes is up in arms and, from her hundred gates, will pour on the invader her answer of war and carnage.

the king

Yes, war and carnage be our cry henceforward.

all

War! War!

the king

Terrible, unrelenting!

(Addressing Rhadames.)

Isis, most holy, has already appointed the supreme leader of all our dauntless hosts—Rhadames.

all

Rhadames!

rhadames

I thank you, O ye Gods! My dearest wish is won.

amneris

(Aside.)

The leader!

aïda

(Aside.)

I tremble!

the king

Now to Vulcan’s temple let us go, O warrior, there to gird thee with thy sacred armour and then to victory speed.

• Rise! the invading host defy,
• Guard your sacred Nile, Egyptians;
• Burst from each heart the battle cry,
• Death and destruction to the stranger!

ramphis and the priests

• Praise to the Gods, not one forgetting,
• All of life they give its setting,
• From their hands all changes letting;
• Save us from this mortal danger.

chorus

• Rise and on your strength rely,
• Guard your sacred Nile, Egyptians,
• And shout this one stern battle cry—
• Death and destruction to the stranger!

rhadames

• Glory’s sacred ravings claim me,
• Thoughts of war alone inflame me;
• Ne’er disaster come to shame me—
• Death and destruction to the stranger!

amneris

• (Presenting a banner to Rhadames.)
• From my hand, O leader brave,
• Take this banner ever glorious,
• May it still for victory wave,
• Be thy foeman’s source of danger!

aïda

• (Aside.)
• For whom weeping? For whom praying?
• In my love for him delaying,
• Though my country I’m betraying
• For an enemy—a stranger.

all

• War! War! and root the invaders out,
• For Rhadames, returned victorious, shout!
• [Exeunt, except Aïda.]

aïda

Returned victorious! Can my lips pronounce the impious word! Victorious o’er my father, o’er him who leads an army for me—that I may be restored to a country, a kingdom, and an illustrious name that now I’m forced to hide! Victorious o’er my brothers! E’en now I see him stained with their dear blood, amid the roaring triumph of the Egyptian host! And behind his chariot a King—my father—bound with chains!

• That word, soul-destroying,
• O deem it unspoken;
• Ye Gods, and my father,
• His daughter heart-broken,
• Restore, with a crushing
• Defeat for our foemen!
• O madness! What say I? And to my heart’s yearning,
• Is there no turning?
• What of the love that consoled me, oppressed,
• Like a ray of the sun that has cheered me and blessed?
• Shall I implore destruction
• On Rhadames, for whose love I languish?
• Ah! Never heart upon this earth
• Was crushed by so great anguish.
• The sacred names of father and of lover
• I dare not utter, dare not e’en recall,
• Confused and trembling for the one, the other
• My prayers shall rise and still my tears shall fall,
• Alas my prayer in doubt and sin seems shrouded.
• To suffer is a wrong for me, a sin to cry.
• In gloomy shadows wrapt, my mind is clouded,
• And of this two-fold anguish I must die.
• Take pity on me, O ye Gods most high!
• No shelter have I for my sorrow here—
• O fatal love, yet love I hold so dear,
• Break, break, my trembling heart and let me die!

Scene V

priestesses

• (Within.)
• Omnipotent Phtha! of creation,
• Spirit life-giving, pure!
• Thee, in our prayer, we invoke!
• Phtha, who pervadest the whole of creation,
• Spirit of fruitfulness,
• Thee, in our prayer, we invoke!
• Flame uncreated, eternal,
• Sovereign dispenser of light,
• Thee, in our prayer, we invoke!

priests

• Thou, who all things hast created,
• The water, the earth, and the sky,
• Thee, in our prayer, we invoke!
• Thou, who of thine own nature,
• Art son as well as father,
• Thee, in our prayer, we invoke!
• Life of all things created,
• Giver of love everlasting,
• Thee, in our prayer, we invoke!
• [Rhadames enters without his armor.—As he advances to the altar the priestesses (corps de ballet) perform their sacred dance.—There is placed on Rhadames’ head a silver veil.]

ramphis

Mortal, beloved of the gods, to thee is confided the destiny of Egypt. The sacred sword, divinely tempered, is placed in thy hands, to bring upon the enemy terror and ruin and death.

• (Turning to the god.)
• O God, protector, avenger
• Of all we hold most dear,
• Thy mighty hand extending,
• Save the Egyptian soil.

rhadames

• O God, thou judge of battles,
• The path of war make clear,
• Protecting and defending,
• Egypt’s most sacred soil!
• [During the investiture of Rhadames with the sacred armor, the Priests and Priestesses resume the devotional hymn and the mystic dance.]

end of the first act