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{Priests.) Chorus. (Priestesses.)— Aid us, thy portal who seek, Aid us who seek thy portal. Parent of deathless love, O aid us, thy portal who seek. (Aida enters cautiously veiled.) Aida.—He will ere long be here! What would he teil me ? I tremble! Ah! if thou comest to bid me, Harsh man, farewell forever, Then Nilus, thy dark and rushing stream Shall soon o’erwhelm me; peace shall I find there, And a long oblivion. My native land no more, no more shall I behold! O sky of azure hue, breezes softly blowing, Whose smiling glances saw my young life unfold, Fair verdant hillsides, oh streamlets gently flowing, Thee, oh, my country, no more shall I behold! Yes, fragrant valleys, your sheltering bowers, Once ’twas my dream, should love’s abode hang o’er; Perish’d those dreams now like win- ter-blighted flowers, Land of my fathers, ne’er shall I see thee more! (Enter Amonasro.) Heav’n! my father! Amonasro.—Grave cause leads me to seek thee here. Aida. Naught escapes my attention. For Radames thou’rt dying of love; He loves thee, thou await’st him. A daughter of the Pharaohs is thy rival, Race accursed, race detested, to us aye fatal! Aida.—And I am in her grasp! I, Amonasro’s daughter! Amonasro.—In her power thou! No! if thou wishest, Thy all-powerful rival thou shalt van- quish, Thy country, thy scepter, thy love, shall all be thine. Once again shalt thou on our balmy forests, Our verdant valleys, our golden tem- ples gaze! Aida—Once again I shall on our balmy forests, Our verdant valleys, our golden tem- ples gaze! Amonasro.—The happy bride of thy heart’s dearest treasure, Delight unbounded there shalt thou enjoy. Aida (with transport).—One day alone of such enchanting pleasure, Nay, but an hour of bliss so sweet, then let me die! Amonasro.—Yet recall how Egyptian hordes descended On our homes, our temples, our altars dar’d profane! Cast in bonds sisters, daughters unde- fended, Mothers, graybeards, and helpless children slain. Aida.—Too well remember’d are those days of mourning! All the keen anguish my poor heart that pierc’d! Gods! grant in mercy, peace once more returning, Once more the dawn soon of glad days may burst. Amonasro.—Remember! Lose not a moment. Our people arm’d are panting For the signal when to strike the blow. Success is sure, only one thing is want- ing: That we know by what path will march the foe. Aida.—Who that path will discover? Canst teil? Amonasro—Thyself will! Aida.—I ? Amonasro.—Radames knows thou art waiting, He loves thee, he commands the Egyp- tians. Dost hear me? Aida.—O horror! What wilt thou that I do? No! Nevermore!