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 II

Scene I

slaves

• Ever his name and his praises
• We’ll raise to the glory on high,
• That like a divinity blazes,
• Outshining the sun in the sky,
• Come, bind in thy glorious tresses,
• The laurels of victory sweet,
• Whom triumph and power caresses,
• And Love lays his song at thy feet.

amneris

• (Aside.)
• (Come, my love, my one desire,
• Fill my heart with rapture sweet.)

slaves

• Oh! the stranger’s host is shattered,
• That had ventured Egypt’s might,
• As doves are by the eagle scattered,
• Were they driven in the fight.
• Now, a crown of triumph presses
• On his brow—for that is meet—
• Him whom victory caresses
• Shall caress devotion sweet.

amneris

(Aside.)

• (Come, my loved one, and revive me
• With thy accents dear once more!)

Silence! Aïda is coming toward me—a daughter of the conquered race, to me her grief is sacred.

[At a sign from Amneris all the slaves retire.]

Seeing her again, the dreadful doubt awakens in my heart! At last I’ll wrest her fatal secret from her!

Scene II

Amneris and Aïda

amneris

(To Aïda, with pretended affection.)

The chances of battle have proved disastrous to thee, my poor Aïda! Be sure that I divide with thee the sorrow that weighs down thy heart. I am thy friend—ask what thou wilt of me, I would make thee happy!

aïda

How can I be happy, far from my native land and ignorant of the fate of my father and brothers!

amneris

I feel with thee deeply; and yet there is a limit to all sorrow here below. Time will cure the anguish of thy heart. And there is a powerful God, greater than time—Love.

aïda

• (Aside, deeply moved.)
• O Love! Love! a joy tormenting,
• Exquisite madness, cruel delight,
• By thy affliction, a life-time contenting,
• And in thy smile a radiance bright.

amneris

• (Aside, looking intently at Aïda.)
• Ah! She is troubled, her countenance paling,
• This is the secret, the fever of love.
• How shall I question—my courage is failing—
• Still has her anguish the power to move.
• (Gazing at her more intently.)
• Nay, but tell me, do not tremble,
• What my sweet Aïda fears.
• Nor thy secret thoughts dissemble,
• Confidence a friend endears;
• Of the many warriors bold
• ’Gainst thy country’s peace enrolled,
• One perhaps his love has told,
• Nor received an answer cold?

aïda

What meanest thou?

amneris

• The cruel fate of war
• Not all alike embraces,
• Sometimes the dauntless warrior,
• The leader, it effaces.

aïda

Wretch, to say so!

amneris

Yes, Rhadames by thy tribe is slaughtered—And thou mourn’st him?

aïda

Forever I shall mourn!

amneris

The gods have avenged thee.

aïda

Forever hostile to me have been the gods—

amneris

(Bursting forth with rage.)

Ah! Tremble! In thy heart of hearts thou lovest him—

aïda

Yes!

amneris

Away with seeming! A little word and I shall know the truth. Look on my face—I told thee falsely—Rhadames lives.

aïda

(Kneeling in ecstasy.)

He lives! The gods be praised!

amneris

Dost thou hope still to deceive me! Yes, thou lovest him—but I love him (with the utmostfury)—even I—dost thou hear me? Thy rival is a daughter of the Pharaohs!

aïda

(Drawing herself up with pride.)

My rival! If ’twere true—even I—

(Checking herself and falling at Amneris’ feet.)

• What have I said? O pity me and pardon!
• O pity for my sore distresses give,
• ’Tis true! For this o’ermastering love I live,
• But thou art happy—thou all things possesest.
• And only in this love of mine I live.

amneris

• Tremble, vile slave! For thy heart thou’rt betraying,
• With thine own life for thy love thou art paying,
• On my sole power thy fate is dependent.
• Reins to my envious rage thou dost give.
• [Sounds heard within.]
• In the pageant they prepare,
• Thou, O slave, shalt have thy share,
• Prostrate in the dust thou’lt lie,
• See me, with the King on high.
• Come—behind me—thou did’st dare
• Overmuch my power to try.

aïda

• Ah, thy pity! Full of care,
• Life to me is but a snare.
• Live and reign, thy furious rage
• Death will presently assuage,
• And my love the grave shall bear,
• That war with thee did’st wage.

Scene III

chorus

• Glory to Egypt and to Isis,
• Who our sacred land enfoldeth!
• And to him the throne who holdeth
• Now our festive song we sing!
• Hither come, O warriors glorious,
• Mingle, now, your joy with ours,
• Wreaths of laurel and of flowers
• For their royal progress bring!

women

• Laurel leaves with lotus woven
• Shall the conquering brows entwine,
• While a cloud of flowers combine
• Warlike arms to hide from sight;
• Circle round, Egyptian dancers,
• And your mystic carol sing,
• As the stars, a heavenly ring,
• Circle round their sovereign bright.

priests

• Now we lift our humble glances
• To the gods above, most glorious,
• Who have made our arms victorious,
• Sing their praise this festive day.
• For through them our foes were scattered,
• And our honor cleared from blame.
• Never let us feel the shame
• Of the hated stranger’s sway!
• [The Egyptian troops announced by the blaring of trumpets, march before the King. They are followed by war-chariots, banners, the sacred vessels and statues of the gods. A band of dancing girls bearing the captured spoils. At the end, Rhadames enters under a canopy borne by twelve officers.]

king

(Descends from the throne to embrace Rhadames.)

Saviour of thy country, I salute thee. Come, and my daughter, with her own hand, shall give thee the crown of triumph.

[Rhadames bows before Amneris, who gives him the crown.]

king

(To Rhadames.)

Ask what thou wilt and freely will I grant it. Naught shall be denied thee on such a day as this. I swear it by my crown and by the holy gods.

rhadames

First deign to order that the captives be brought before thee.

[Enter the Ethiopian captives surrounded by a guard. Amonasro last, in the dress of simple officer.]

aïda

(Aside.)

Whom see I! Is he here? My father?

all

Her father!

amneris

And in our power!

aïda

(Embracing her father.)

Thou! A prisoner!

amonasro

(Aside to Aïda.)

Betray me not!

king

(To Amonasro.)

Approach thou—so then—thou art—?

amonasro

• Her father—in my country’s cause, I fought.
• Nor, conquered, could I find the death I sought.
• (Pointing to his uniform.)
• This you have learned from the dress I am wearing,
• I have my King and my country defended.
• Vain, ’gainst our fate were all courage and daring,
• We were unable its might to defy.
• Then I perceived ’mid the carnage extended,
• The form of the King—it was covered with gore.
• Now if to fight for the land we adore,
• Be worthy of death, we are ready to die!
• (Turning to the King, as a suppliant.)
• But thou, O King, in thy power transcendent,
• Spare thou the lives on thy mercy dependent,
• We, by the fates are to-day overtaken,
• What in the fates of to-morrow may lie?

AÏDA, CAPTAINS AND SLAVES

• Yes, though the anger of Heaven seems chiding,
• Show us thy pity, thy mercy abiding,
• Ah! May ye never, by fortune forsaken,
• In the despair of captivity sigh!

RAMPHIS AND PRIESTS

• Death is, O King, their just destination,
• Close, then, thy heart to all vain supplication.
• Since they are doomed by high Heaven to perish,
• Heaven’s decree we ought not to delay.

people

• Calm, holy priests, your anger exceeding,
• Graciously list to the desolate, pleading,
• And thou, O King, whose dominion we cherish,
• The mandates of mercy haste to obey.

rhadames

• (Aside, looking at Aïda.)
• Wan is her cheek with weeping and sorrow,
• Yet from affliction beauty doth borrow.
• Now in my bosom love’s flame is new lighted,
• By every drop that flows from her eyes.

amneris

• (Aside.)
• Ah! With the passionate zeal of a lover,
• Round her his glances linger and hover,
• She hath been chosen: in my bosom slighted,
• Furious promptings of envy arise.

king

• Now since our banners in triumph are waving,
• Mercy to show, the unfortunate saving,
• This to the Heavens above us is pleasant,
• Adding new strength to a powerful sway.

rhadames

(To the King.)

O King, by the holy gods and by the splendor of thy crown, thou didst swear to give me whatever I might ask.

king

I swore it.

rhadames

Even so: I pray that thou grant life and liberty to these Ethiopian captives.

amneris

(Aside.)

All of them!

priests

Death to Egypt’s enemies!

people

Mercy for the wretched!

ramphis

Hear me, O King;

(To Rhadames.)

And thou, too, youthful hero, the voice of prudence hear:

• Thy foes to battle hardened,
• Are yet thy foes at heart,
• Will bolder grow, if pardoned,
• And soon from peace depart.

rhadames

With Amonasro, their warrior king slain, all hope of vengeance is lost.

ramphis

At least, we should detain Aïda’s father, as a hostage to peace and safety. Set all the others free.

king

I yield to thy advice. Yet now a surer bond of peace and safety will I give you. Rhadames, thy country owes thee all. The hand of Amneris, my daughter, shall be thy reward. Sovereign of Egypt shalt thou reign with her hereafter.

amneris

(Aside.)

Now, now, let the slave-girl rob me of my love—she dare not!

king

• Egypt praise, and Isis fair,
• Our sacred land is in her care;
• Laurel now with lotus twine
• For the mighty victor’s brow.

priests

• Raise your hymns to Isis fair,
• Our sacred land is in her care.
• May she, with her favor blest,
• Our country still endow.

aïda

• (Aside.)
• Alas! to me what hope remains?
• He glory and a throne attains,
• But only loneliness and tears
• Shall be my portion now.

captives

• Praise to Egypt’s gracious land,
• Who pity on a captive band
• Hath ta’en, and granted liberty
• Once more our soil to tread.

rhadames

• (Aside.)
• Now Heaven’s bolt upon my head
• Hath fallen! All my hopes are dead.
• Nought to me were Egypt’s treasure
• Could I Aïda’s love avow.

amneris

• (Aside.)
• Almost bereft of every sense
• By joy unspeakable, immense,
• ’Tis triumph’s wondrous recompense!
• Now my love I can avow.

amonasro

• (To Aïda.)
• Take heart: we may amend the fate
• Of our country desolate.
• Presently this haughty state
• Shall before our vengeance bow.

people

• Egypt praise, and Isis fair,
• Our sacred land is in her care.
• Laurel now with lotus twine
• For the mighty victor’s brow!

end of second act