The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• 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

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.