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Amneris.—Once more thy answer; Wilt thou renounce her? Radames.—No, never! Amneris.—Life’s thread wouldst thou then sever ? Radames.—I am prepared to die. Amneris.—From the fate now hanging o’er thee, Who will save thee, wretched being? She whose heart could once adore thee, Now is made thy mortal foe. Heaven all my anguish seeing, Will avenge this cruel blow. Radames.—Void of terror death now appeareth, Since I die for her I cherish; In the hour when I perish, With delight my heart will glow; Wrath no more this bosom feareth, Scorn for thee alone I know. CExit Radamäs attended by guards. AmnEris, overcome, sinks on a chair.) AmnEris.—Ah me! ’tis death ap- proaches! Who now will save him? He is now in their power, his sentence I have seal’d! Oh, how I curse thee, jealousy, vile monster, Thou who hast doom’d him to death, And me to everlasting sorrow! (The Priests cross and enter the subterranean hall.) Now yonder come, remorseless, Relentless, his merciless judges. Ah! let me not behold those white- rob’d phantoms! He is now in their power, ’Twas I alone his fate that seal’d! Ramphis and Chorus.—Heavenly spirit in our hearts descending, Kindle of righteousness the flame, eternal; Unto our sentence truth and righteous ness lending. AmnEris.—Pity, oh heav’n, this heart so sorely wounded! His heart is guiltless, save him, pow’rs supernal! For my sorrow is despairing, deep un- bounded! (Radames crosses with guards and enters the subterranean hall. She sees Radames, and exclaims.) Ah! who will save him ? I feel death approach! Ramphis (in the crypt).—Radames! Ra dames ! Radames! Thou hast betrayed of thy country the secrets To aid the foeman. Defend thyself! Chorus.—Defend thyself. RAMppis.—He is silent. All.—Traitor vile! Amneris.—-Mercy! spare him, ne’er was he guilty; Ah, spare him, heaven, ah, spare his life. Ramphis.—Radames ! Radames! Ra dames ! Thou hast deserted the encampment the very day Before the combat. Defend thyself! Chorus.—Defend thyself. Ramphis.—He is silent. All.—Traitor vile! AmnEris.—Mercy, spare him, save him, oh heav’n, Ah! spare him, heav’n, ah spare his life! Ramphis.—Radames! Radames! Ra dames ! Hast broken faith as a traitor to coun- try, To King, to honor. Defend thyself! Chorus.—Defend thyself. Ramphis.—He is silent. All.—Traitor vile! Amneris.—Mercy, spare him, save him, oh heav’n, Ah heav’n, spare him, heav’n spare his life! Ramphis and Priests.—Radames, we thy fate have decided; Of a traitor the fate shall be thine: ’Neath the altar whose god thou’st derided, Thou a sepulchre living shall find. AmnEris.—Find a sepulchre living! Oh, ye wretches! Ever blood-thirsty, vengeful, and blind, Yet who serve of kind heaven the shrine! (The Priests re-enter out of the crypt.)
