ACT II.
SCENE I.
Slaves.
Our songs his glory praising,
Heavenward waft a name
Whose deeds the sun outblazing
Eclipse his dazzling flame.
Come, bind thy flowing tresses round
With laurel and with flowers,
While loud our songs of praise resound
To celebrate Love's powers.
Amneris.
(Come, love, with rapture fill me,
To joy my heart restore!)
Slaves.
Ah! where are now the foes who dared
Egypt's brave sons attack?
As doves are by the eagle scared,
Our warriors drove them back.
Now wreaths of triumph glorious
The victor's brow shall crown,
And love o'er him victorious
Shall smooth his warlike frown.
Amneris.
(Come, love, let thy voice thrill me
With accents dear once more.)
Ah, cease now, 'tis Aida who this way advances,
Child of the conquered, to me her grief is sacred.
(At a sign from Amneris the Slaves retire as Aida enters.)
Once more to see her
My soul again with doubt is tortured—
Thy dread secret at last shall be surrendered!
SCENE II.
Amneris and Aida.
Amneris.
(To Aida, with counterfeited affection.)
'Neath the chances of battle succumb thy people,
O hapless Aida; the sorrows that afflict thee
Be sure I feel as keenly; my heart towards thee yearns fondly:
Ask what thou wilt of me, thy days shall be happy.
Aida.
Ah, how can I be happy
Far from my native country, where I can never
Know what fate has befallen father and brothers?
Amneris.
Deeply you move me, yet no human sorrow
Is lasting here below. Time will bring comfort—
And heal your present anguish—
Greater than time the healing power of love is.
Aida (Much moved).
(Oh, love, sweet power! oh, joy tormenting!
Rapturous madness, bliss fraught with woes,
Thy pangs most cruel, a life contenting,
Thy smiles enchanting bright heaven disclose!)
Amneris.
(Looking fixedly towards Aida.)
(Yon deadly pallor, her bosom panting,
Tell of love's passion, tell of love's woes:
Her heart to question, courage is wanting,
My bosom feels of her torture the throes.)
Nay, tell me, then, what new fledged love
Assails my gentle Aida?
Unbosom all thy secret thoughts,
Come, trust securely in my affection;
Amongst the warriors who fought
Fatally against thy country
It may be that one has wakened
In thee gentle thoughts of love.
Aida.
What meanest thou?
Amneris.
The cruel fate of war
Not all alike embraces,
And then the dauntless warrior
Who leads the host may perish!
Aida.
What dost thou tell me?
Amneris.
Yes, Radames by thine
Is slaughtered—and canst thou mourn him?
Aida.
For ever my tears shall flow!
Amneris.
The Gods have wrought thee ven-vengeance.
Aida.
Celestial favour
To me was ne'er extended.
Amneris.
Tremble! thou art discovered!
Thou lovest him, ne'er deny it.
Aida.
I love!
Amneris.
Nay, to confound thee
I need but one word; gaze on my visage—
I told thee falsely—Radames liveth!
Aida.
He liveth!
Gods, I thank ye!
Amneris.
Dost hope still now deceive me?
Yes, thou lovest him; so e'en do I.
Dost hear my words? behold thy rival here
In a Pharaoh's daughter.
Aida.
Thou my rival!
What though it were so?
I too—
(Checking herself, and falling at the feet of Amneris.)
Ah, heed not my words, but spare and pardon!
Ah! on all my anguish sweet pity take,
'Tis true that all else for his love I'd forsake,
While thou art mighty—all joy's thy dower,
Naught save my love have I left in life!
Amneris.
Tremble, slave, would thy heart I saw breaking
On thy mad passion life thou art staking.
Do I not hold thee fast in my power,
While in my breast hate and envy are rife.
In the pageant now preparing
Shall a part by thee be taken,
Thou the dust, slave abject, biting.
On the throne while I find room!
Come, this strife with me inviting,
Thou ere long shalt learn thy doom.
Aida.
Pray thee spare a heart despairing,
Life's to me a void, forsaken;
Live and reign, thy anger blighting
O'er my head no more shall loom;
Soon this love thy hate inviting
Shall be buried in the tomb.
SCENE III.
Chorus.
Glory to Isis and the land
By her firm arm protected!
To Egypt's King elected,
Raise we our festive songs!
Hither advance, oh glorous band,
Mingle your joy with ours.
Green bays and fragrant flowers
Scatter their path along.
Women.
The laurel with the lotus bound
The victors' brows enwreathing,
Let flowers, sweet perfume breathing,
Veil their grim arms from sight.
Dance, sons of Egypt, circling round,
And sing your mystic praises,
As round the sun in mazes
Dance the bright stars of night.
Priests.
Unto the powers war's issue dread
Deciding, our glances raise we,
Thank we our gods, and praise we
On this triumphant day.
Thus our dread foes once more dispersed,
And honour vindicated,
May we ne'er fall prostrated
Beneath their hated sway.
King.
(Descends from throne to embrace Radames.)
Saviour brave of thy country, Egypt salutes thee!
Hither now advance, and on thy head
My daughter will place the crown of triumph.
(Radames bows before Amneris, who hands him the crown.)
King (To Radames).
What thou askest
Freely I'll grant it; naught can be denied thee
On such a day: I swear it
By the crown I am wearing, by Heaven above us.
Radames.
First deign to order that the captives
Be before you brought
Aida.
What see I? He here? My father?
All.
Her father!
Amneris.
And in our power!
Aida (Embracing her father)
Thou captive made!
Amonasro (Whispering to Aida.)
Tell not my rank.
King (To Amonasro).
Come forward!
So then thou art—
Amonasro.
Her father! I joined the war,
Fought, and was conquered. Death I vainly sought.
(Pointing to the uniform he is wearing.)
This my habit has told you already,
I my king, I my country defended.
Adverse fortune against us ran steady,
Vainly sought we the fates to defy.
At my feet in the dust lay extended
Our King—countless wounds had transpierced him;
If to fight for the country that nursed him
Make one guilty, we are ready to die.
(Turning to the King supplicatingly.)
But, O King, in thy power transcendent,
Spare the lives on thy mercy dependent.
By the fates though to-day overtaken,
Say, who can to-morrow's event descry.
Aida, Prisoners, and Slaves.
We on whom Heaven's anger is falling,
Thee implore, on thy clemency calling,
May ye ne'er be by fortune forsaken,
Nor like us in captivity lie!
Ramphis and Priests.
Death, O King, be their just destination,
Close thy heart to all vain supplication.
By the Heavens they doomed are to perish,
We the Heavens are bound to obey.
People.
Holy priests, calm your anger exceeding,
Lend an ear to the conquered foe pleading;
Mighty King, thou whose power we cherish,
In thy bosom let mercy have sway.
Radames (Regarding Aida).
(See her cheek wan with weeping and sorrow,
From affliction new charm seems to borrow,
In my bosom love's flame seems new lighted
By each tear-drop that flows from her eyes.)
Amneris.
(With what glances on her is he gazing,
Glowing passion witin them is blazing;
She is loved and my passion is slighted,
Stern revenge in my breast loudly cries.)
King.
High in triumph since our banners now are soaring,
Let us spare those our mercy imploring,
By the gods mercy aye is requited,
And gives strength to princely sway.
Radames (To King).
O King, by Heaven above us,
And by the crown upon thy brow, thou sworest
Whate'er I asked thee thou wouldst grant it.
King.
Say on!
Radames.
Vouchsafe thee, I pray, freedom and life
To freely grant unto these Ethiop captives here.
Amneris.
(Free all, then!)
Priests.
Death be the doom of Egypt's enemies.
People.
Compassion to the wretched.
Ramphis.
Hear me, O King;
And thou too,
Dauntless young hero, list to the voice of prudence:
They are foes, to battle hardened,
In them vengeance ne'er will die,
Growing bolder if now pardoned
They to arms once more will fly.
Radames.
With Amonasro, their warrior king,
All hopes of revenge have perished.
Ramphis.
At least,
As earnest of safety and of peace
Keep we back fair Aida's father;
Set the others free.
King.
I yield me to thy counsel,
Of safety now and peace a bond more certain
Will I give you. Radames, to thee our debt
Is unbounded. Amneris my daughter shall be
Thy guerdon. Thou shalt hereafter o'er Egypt
With her hold conquering sway.
Amneris.
(Now let yon bondmaid
Rob me of my love—she dare not!)
King.
Glory to Egypt, sacred land,
Isis hath aye protected;
With laurel and with lotus
Bind round the victor's head.
Prisoners.
Praise be to Isis, Goddess bland,
Who hath our land protected,
And pray the favours granted us
Ever be o'er us shed.
Aida.
(Alas! to me what hope is left?
He wed, a throne ascending,
I left to measure all my loss
Like some poor widowed dove.)
Prisoners.
Glory to Egypt's gracious land
Who hath revenge rejected,
And liberty hath granted us
Once more our soil to tread.
Radames.
(Now Heaven's bolt the clouds hath cleft
Upon my head descending.
Ah no! all Egypt's treasure
Outweighs not Aida's love.)
Amneris.
(Almost of e'vry sense bereft
By joy my hopes transcending,
Scarce I the triumph now can measure
Crowning all my love.)
Amonasro (To Aida).
Take heart, there yet some hope is left,
Thy country's fate amending,
Thou'lt soon behold with pleasure
Vengeance light from above.
People.
Glory to Egypt's Goddess bland
Who hath our land protected,
With laurel and with lotus
Bind round the victor's head.
END OF THE SECOND ACT.