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

Amonasro and Aïda

aïda

Heavens! My father!

amonasro

The weightiest reasons have brought me to thy side, Aïda. Naught escapes my eye. For love of Rhadames thou art dying. He loves thee, thou awaitest him. A daughter of the Pharaohs is thy rival.

aïda

O race accursed, abhorred and fatal to us! And I am in her power! I, Amonasro’s daughter!

amonasro

In her power! No! If thou wishest, thou shalt conquer thy powerful rival; and country and throne and love, all shall be thine. Thou shalt see again our balmy forests, our verdant vales, our temples built of gold!

aïda

I shall see again our balmy forests, our verdant vales, our temples built of gold!

amonasro

• The happy bride of him for whom thou’rt panting,
• Exultant joy, thou’lt feel, with rapture sigh.

aïda

• A single day of sweetness so enchanting,
• An hour of such delight—then let me die!

amonasro

• Ah, but recall how Egypt’s host descended,
• Daring our homes, our altars to profane,
• Loading with chains the maidens undefended,
• Leaving the aged and the helpless slain.

aïda

• Yes, I remember that heart-crushing sorrow,
• Remember the strife in my bosom it woke.
• Ah! That they grant us a brighter to-morrow,
• All of the gods, in their mercy, invoke!

amonasro

• Lose not a moment! Our people, undaunted,
• Ready in arms are preparing the blow.
• Vict’ry is sure, and but one thing is wanted,
• What is the path they have chosen—the foe?

aïda

• Who will discover that path? Dost thou know?

amonasro

• Thou wilt.

aïda

• I!

amonasro

• Rhadames, whom thou await’st, will tell thee.
• He leads the Egyptian forces—and he loves thee!

aïda

• Horror!
• Thou promptest me to this? No! No! I cannot!

amonasro

• (With savage violence.)
• Up, then, and plunder,
• Egypt’s band!
• Rending asunder
• Our native land.
• Scatter wild terror,
• Confusion and error,
• Give reins to your fury,
• Let nothing stand!

aïda

• O Father!

amonasro

• (Repulsing her.)
• Thou call’st thyself my daughter!

aïda

• (Terrified and supplicating.)
• Have mercy!

amonasro

• Torrents of blood shall crimson flow
• O’er the city of the vanquished,
• Seest thou? From death’s dark gulf below,
• They raise their bosoms anguished,
• And with accusing finger show
• Thee as their cause of woe!

aïda

• Have mercy!

amonasro

• A phantom terrible
• From that gulf dread,
• Withered hands stretched
• Over thy head.
• Thy mother’s hands—O see!
• She curses thee.

aïda

• (With the utmost terror.)
• Ah, no!—father!

amonasro

(Repulsing her.)

Go, misbegotten, thou art not my daughter. Thou art the Pharaohs’ slave.

aïda

• Father, no more I’ll be their slave,
• Ah, thy curses dread appal me!
• Still thy daughter thou may’st call me,
• For I will my country save.

amonasro

• Think of thy race, conquered, effaced,
• Restored by thy grace, to freedom and place.

aïda

• O my country, my country, at how great cost!

amonasro

• Courage! He comes! I’ll hide me here.
• [Conceals himself among the palms.]