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

rhadames

(Led in by guards.)

amneris

• Already do the priests assemble,
• Upon their sentence only hangs thy fate.
• Though for the dreadful charge I tremble,
• Thou can’st, perhaps, that charge abate.
• Once I am free, to gain thy pardon
• At my father’s feet I’ll humbly kneel,
• To his mercy sure appeal,
• And life I’ll gain for thee.

rhadames

• Ne’er shall a syllable be spoken
• By my lips my name to clear,
• Yet Heaven’s law I have not broken,
• Nor its judgment do I fear.
• The fatal secret I imparted,
• All heedlessly, but ever pure
• Have been my thoughts; I could endure
• No stain upon my soul to be.

amneris

• Then save thy life, thy honour free.

rhadames

• No!

amneris

• Thou would’st die?

rhadames

• Life I abhor; the spring of all its joy is dry,
• All hope is dead. ’Twere better far to die.

amneris

• To die! Ah, me! consent to live.
• Yes, of all my love assured;
• The keenest anguish death can give
• For thee I have endured.
• I love thee, and for thee I’m dying,
• All the night in torture lying,
• My country, throne, and life itself,
• I’d give them all for thee.

rhadames

For her, I have staked my country and my honour!

amneris

No more of her!

rhadames

• Dishonour
• Awaits me, and yet thou bidst me live?
• Wretched hast thou made life ever,
• From Aïda tried to sever,
• It may be thou hast slain her—and in fee—
• Thou offerest life to me?

amneris

I, the cause of her death! No, Aïda lives.

rhadames

She lives!

amneris

They were beaten and fled in wild confusion. Her father perished.

rhadames

And she?

amneris

• Has disappeared, nor do we
• Aught further know.

rhadames

• Oh, may the gods protect her
• And guide her safe returning,
• Shield her heart from ever learning,
• For her my life I spurn!

amneris

• But, if I save thee, wilt thou swear
• Her image to resign?

rhadames

I cannot!

amneris

• Renounce her forever—
• And life shall be thine!

rhadames

I cannot.

amneris

• But one word more;
• Wilt thou renounce her?

rhadames

Never!

amneris

Life’s thread thou wouldst sever?

rhadames

Ready for death am I.

amneris

• Who will save thee, wretched being,
• From thy overmastering fate?
• Now from all compunction freeing,
• Thou hast changed my love to hate.
• May Heaven all my anguish seeing,
• This cruel blow abate!

rhadames

• A good supreme it is to perish,
• Since my life for her is given.
• When the bands of life are riven,
• With delight my heart will glow.
• Human wrath no more I cherish,
• Only pity do I know.
• [Rhadames is led out surrounded by the guards.]

amneris

(Falling disconsolate upon a seat.)

Ah, me! I feel death approaching. Oh, who will save him? Now he is in their power and I have sealed his fate! Oh, how I curse thee, outrageous jealousy, that hast doomed him to death and me to endless sorrow!

[She turns and sees the priests, who cross the stage to enter the subterranean chamber.]

What do I see? There come the fatal, inexorable ministers of death—let me not look upon those white-robed spectres!

[She covers her face with her hands.]

priests

• (From the lower hall.)
• Heavenly spirit upon us descending,
• Kindle the ray everlasting of light;
• To our decision thy righteousness lending.

amneris

• Gods, show me pity, my bosom relieving—
• He is all innocent, save him, ye gods!
• Now is my heart overwhelmed with its grieving!
• [Rhadames is led by the guards across the stage and descends to the chamber below.—Amneris, on seeing him descend, utters a cry.]

ramphis

(From below.)

Rhadames, Rhadames: thou hast betrayed the secrets of thy country to the enemy.

priests

Defend thyself!

ramphis

He is silent.

all

Traitor!

ramphis

Rhadames, Rhadames: thou wast absent from the camp the day before the battle!

priests

Defend thyself!

ramphis

He is silent.

all

Traitor!

ramphis

Rhadames, Rhadames: thou hast been false to country, king and honour.

priests

Defend thyself!

ramphis

He is silent.

all

• Traitor!
• Rhadames, thus have thy judges decided,
• Thou the cursed death of the traitor must die,
• ’Neath the high altar whose god thou’st derided,
• Thou in thy sepulchre, living, must lie.

amneris

• A sepulchre, living! O wretches accursèd!
• Naught of compassion or pity you know!
• Yet on the mercy of Heaven you’re nursèd!
• [Assailing the priests who reenter from the chamber of justice.]
• Priests, of a hideous crime you are guilty,
• Tigers accursèd, in bloodshed exulting,
• You are the earth and the Heavens insulting,
• For on the guiltless your judgment will fall.

priests

He is a traitor. Let him die!

amneris

• (To Ramphis.)
• Priest, on this man whom thou hast found guilty,
• Poured I my love—to thee I had spoken—
• Take thou the curse of a heart that is broken,
• On thine own head may the penalty fall.

priests

He is a traitor. Let him die!

• [They depart slowly.]
• Impious priesthood, cursed are you all!
• May the justice of Heaven hasten your fall!
• [Exit wildly.]