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Amneris (confronting the Priests).— Priests of Isis, your sentence is odious! Tigers, ever exulting in slaughter! Of the earth and the gods all laws ye outrage! He is guiltless, whose death you de- vise! Ramphis and Priests.—He is con- demned ! He dies ! Amneris (to Ramphis).—Priest of Isis, this man whom you murder, Well ye know in my heart I have cherish’d; May the curse of a heart whose hope has perish’d Fall on him who mercy denies! Ramphis and Priests.—He is con- demned! He dies! (Exeunt Ramphis and Priests.) Amneris.—Impious priesthood ! curses light on ye all! On your heads heaven’s vengeance will fall! Scene II.—The scene is divided into two ßoors. The upper ßoor represents the inferior of the remple of Vulcan, re- splendent with gold and glittering light. The lower ßoor is a crypt. Long arcades vanislting in the gloom. Colossal statues of Osiris with crossed hands support the pillars of the vault. Radam£s is dis covere d in the crypt on the steps of the stairs leading into the vault. Above, two Priests are in the act of letting ■down the stone which closes the subterranean apartment. Radames.—The fatal stone upon me now is closing! Now has the tomb engulf’d me. I never more shall light behold. Ne’er shall I see Aida; Aida, where now art thou? Whate’er befall me, may’st thou be happy, , Ne’er may my frightful doom reach thy ear. What groan was that? ’Tis a phan- tom, Some vision dread! No! sure that form is human! Heav’n! Aida! Aida.—’Tis I, love! Ra da müs (in the utmost despair).— Thou? with me here buried? Aida.—My heart foreboded this thy dreadful sentence, And to this tomb, that shuts on thee its portal, I crept unseen by mortal. Here, far from all, where none can more behold us, Clasped in thy arms I am resolved to perish. Radames.—To die! so pure and lovely! For me thyself so dooming, In all thy beauty blooming, Fade thus forever! Thou whom the heav’ns alone for love created, But to destroy thee was my love then fated! Ah, no, those eyes so clear I prize, For death too lovely are! Aida (as in a trance).—Seest thou, where death, in angel guise, In heav’nly radiance beaming, Would waft us to eternal joys, On golden wings above? See, heaven’s gates are open wide, Where tears are never Streaming, Where only joy and bliss abide, And never fading love. PriEstesses and Priests.—Almighty Phtha, that wakest, In all things breathing life, Lo! we invoke thee. Aida.—Doleful chanting! Radames.—Of the Priests ’tis the in- vocation. Aida;—It is our death chant resound- ing. Radames (trying to displace the stone closing the vault).—Cannot my lusty sinews move from its place A möment this fatal stone! Aida.—In vain! All is over, Hope on earth have we none. Radames (zvith sad resignation).—I fear it! I fear it! Aida and Radames.—Farewell, oh earth, farewell, thou vale of sorrow, Brief dream of joy condemn’d to end in woe, To us now opens the sky, an endlcss morrow Unshadow’d there eternally shall glow. Ah! now opens the sky. (AmnEris appears habited in mourn- ing, and throws herseif on the stone closing the vault.) Amneris (suffocating with emotion). Peace everlasting. Oh, my beloved. Isis relenting greet thee on high! Priests.—Almighty Phtha!
