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

Scene I

chorus

• (Within the temple.)
• O thou, who art of Osiris
• Mother immortal and wife,
• Goddess, who all chaste desires
• Hath placed in the heart by thy might,
• Bend o’er us in pity exceeding,
• Mother of love and of light.
• [From a boat which approaches the bank, descend Amneris and Ramphis, followed by women closely veiled, and guards.]

ramphis

(To Amneris.)

Come to the temple of Isis, on the eve before thy marriage, and pray for the goddess’s favor. To Isis are all hearts open. To her thy inmost thoughts are known.

amneris

Yes, and I will pray that Rhadames may give me all his heart, as my heart to him has e’er been wholly given.

ramphis

Pray thou until dawn. I shall be near thee.

[All enter the temple.—The chorus repeat their hymn.]

aïda

• (Enters cautiously, with her head veiled.)
• Rhadames will come—what will he tell me?
• My heart is troubled! If thou com’st to me,
• O cruel one, a last farewell to speak,
• The rushing waters of the Nile shall hide me;
• Oblivion there—and dreamless peace—I’ll seek.
• O pleasant skies, O breezes softly blowing,
• Where the calm morning of life seemed so bright,
• O grassy hills, O sweet rivers flowing,
• Blest native country, lost is thy light!