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 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!