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 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!