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Oh, teil me wherefore thou ever art mournitig. Wherefore thy tears now flow. Aida.—Alas! the cry of war I hear. Vast hosts I see assemble; Therefore the country’s fate I fear, For me, for all I tremble. Amneris.—And art thou sure no deeper woe now bids thy tears to flow ? Tremble! oh thou base vassal! Rad am es (aside, re garding Amneris). Her glance with anger flashing Proclaims our love suspected. Amneris.—Yes, tremble, base vassal, tremble, Lest thy secret stain detected. Radames.—Woe! if my hopes all dash- ing She mar the plans I’ve laid! Amneris.—All in vain thou wouldst dissemble, By tear and blush betrayed! Aida (aside).—No! fate, o’er Egypt looming, Weighs down on my heart dejected. I wept that love thus was dooming To woe a hapless maid! (Enter the King, preceded by his guards and followed by Ramphis, his Ministers, Priests, Captains, etc., etc., an oihcer of the Palace, and afterwards a Messenger.) The King.—Mighty the cause that summons. Round their King the faithful sons of Egypt. From the Ethiop’s land a messenger this moment has reached us. Tidings of import brings he. Be pleased to hear him. Now let the man come forward! (To an otKcer.) Messenger.—The sacred limits of Egyp- tian soil are by Ethiops invaded. Our fertile fields lie all devastated, destroy’d our harvest. Embolden’d by so easy a conquest, the plund’ring horde On the Capital are marching. Ale.—Presumptuous daring! Messenger.—They are led by a warrior, undaunted, never conquered; Amonasro. Ai.l.—The King! Aida.—My father! Messenger.—All Thebes has arisen, and from her hundred portals Pias pour’d on the invader a torrent fierce. Fraught with relentless carnage. The King.—Ay, death and battle be our rallying cry! Radames, Ramphis, Chorus of Priests, Chorus of Ministers and Captains. —Battle! and carnage, war unrelenting. The King (addressing Radames).—Isis, revered Goddess, already has ap- pointed The warrior chief with pow’r supreme invested. Radames! Aida, Amneris, Chorus of Ministers and Captains.—Radames ! Radames.—Ah! ye Gods, I thank you! My dearest wish is crown’d! Amneris.—Our leader! Aida.—I tremble. The King.—Now unto Vulcan’s tem- ple, chieftain, proceed, There to gird thee to vict’ry, donning sacred armor. On! of Nilus’ sacred river Guard the shores, Egyptians brave, Unto death the foe deliver, Egypt they never, never shall enslave! Ramphis.—Glory render, glory abiding, To our Gods, the warrior guiding; In their power alone confiding, Their protection let us crave. Aida (aside).—Whom to weep for? Whom to pray for ? Ah! what pow’r to him now binds me ? Yet I love, tho’ all reminds me That I love my country’s foe! Radames.—Glory’s sacred thirst now Claims me; Now ’tis war alone inflames me; On to vict’ry! Naught we stay for! Forward, and death to every foe! Amneris.—From my hand, thou warrior glorious, Take thy sword, aye victorious; Let it ever lead thee onward To the foeman’s overthrow. Aix.—Battle! No quarter to any foe! May laureis crown thy brow! Aida.—May laureis crown thy brow!
