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What, can my lips pronounce language so impious! Wish him victor o’er my fathen— O’er him who wages war but that I may be restored to my country, To my kingdom, to the high Station I now perforce dissemble! Wish him conqu’ror o’er my brothers! E’en now I see him stain’d with their blood so cherished. ’Mid the clam’rous triumph of Egyp- tian battalions! Behind his chariot a King, my father, as a fetter’d captive! Ye Gods watching o’er me, Those words deem unspoken ! A father restore me, his daughter heart-broken, Oh, scatter their armies, forever crush our foe! Ah! what wild words do I utter ? Of my affection have I no recollec- tion? That sweet love that consol’d me, a captive pining, Like some bright, sann'- ray on my sad lot Shilling? Shall I invoke destruction on the man for whom in love I languish? Ah ! never yet on earth liv’d one whose heart Was torn by wilder anguish! Those names so holv, of father, of lovef, No more dare I now utter or e’en re- call; Abashed and trembling, to heav’n fain would hover My prayer for both, for both my tears would fall. Ah! all my prayers seem transformed to blaspheming, To suffer is a crime, dark sin to sigh; Thro’ darkest night I do wander as dreaming, j-rnd so cruel my woe, I fain would die. Merciful gods! look from on high! Pity these tears hopelessly shed. Eove, fatal pow’r, mystic and dread, Break thou my heart, now let me die. Scene II.—Interior of the Temple of Vulcan at Memphis. A mysterious light from above. A long row of columns, one behind the other, vanish- ing in the darkness. Statues of va- rious deities. In the middle of the stage, above a platform covered with carpet, rises the altar, surmounted ivith sacred emblems. Golden tripods emitting the fumes of incense. (Priests.—Ramphis at the foot of the altar.) PriEstesses.—Almighty Phtha ! That wakest in all things breathing life, Hail! High Priestess {in the interior).—Lo, we invoke thee. Ramphis and Priests.—Thou who mad’st ev’ry creature, Earth, water, air and fire, Lo. we invoke thee! High Priestess.—Flame uncreated, eternal, Fount of all light above, Hail! lo, we invoke thee, Thee we invoke! High Priestess and Priestesses.—Al mighty Phtha! {Sacred Dance of Priestesses.) Ramphis {to Radames).—Of gods the favor’d mortal, To thee confided be the favor of Egypt. Thy weapon, temper’d by hand im- mortal, In thy hand shall bring to the foeman Alarm, agony, terror! {Turning to the god.) Hear us, oh, guardian deity, Our sacred land protecting, Thy mighty hand extending, Danger from Egypt ward. RadamIjs.—Hear us, each mortal des- tiny, War’s dreadful course directing, Aid unto Egypt sending, Keep o’er her children ward. Chorus op Priests.—Thy weapon tem per’d by hand immortal, etc. Chorus of Priestesses.—Almighty Phtha!
