Aida

Yes, it is rumoured that the Ethiopian has dared to challenge us again

threatening Thebes and the valley of the Nile.

Shortly a messenger will bring us the details.

Have you consulted Holy Isis?

She has named the supreme commander of the Egyptian armies.

Oh, fortunate man!

He is young and brave.

Now I shall go to inform the King of the deity's decree.

If only that warrior were I!

If my dream might come true!

An army of brave men, led by me -

victory, and the applause of all Memphis!

To return to you, my sweet Aida, decked with the victor's laurels

to say: 'I fought, I won for you!'

Heavenly Aida, divine form!

Mystic garland of light and flowers!

You are the queen of my thought!

You are the splendour of my life!

That I might bring you once more the blue skies

the soft breezes of your native land

a royal crown to deck your brow

a royal throne for you, in the sun!

What rare joy shines on your face!

What noble pride flashes in your eyes!

How enviable indeed would be that woman

whose beloved face might kindle so joyful a light in you!

My heart was lost in an adventurous dream.

Today the goddess has named the warrior who will lead the Egyptian legions into battles.

Ah! if I were chosen for such an honour...

Was it not perhaps some greater, sweeter dream which spoke to your heart?

Have you no desires, no hopes, here in Memphis?

I! (What an interrogation!)

(Perhaps she has discovered the secret love which burns in my heart.)

(Oh, woe if love for another should burn in his heart!)

(Perhaps she has read in my thoughts her slave-girl's name!)

(Woe to him if my eyes should see through this fatal mystery!)

It is she!

He is moved!

The glance with which he looked at her!

Aida! Could it be she who is my rival?

Come, my child, come near me.

You are neither slave nor handmaiden here

where for love of you I have called you sister.

You weep? Tell me the reason for your tears, tell me your secret.

Alas, I have heard the frightful war cry sound.

I fear for my country, for myself, for you.

Is this true? No greater care disturbs you?

Ah! Tremble, evil slave, tremble!

In her face, anger and suspicion blaze like a fire.

Let me sound your heart!

Woe if our secret love she should ever read in our hearts!

Tremble, for the truth is clear to me when I see your tears, your blushes!

No, not only for my country is my heart in anguish.

The tears I shed are the tears of unhappy love!

High reasons of state have led me to summon you, o faithful Egyptians.

A messenger has arrived from Ethiopia. He brings grave tidings.

Hear them now.

Let the messenger come forward.

The sacred soil of Egypt has been invaded by the fierce Ethiopian.

Our fields have been laid waste, our crops burned.

Spurred on by this easy victory, the foe is marching now on Thebes.

They dare to do this!

A fierce, relentless warrior heads them - Amonasro!

The King himself! - My father!

Thebes, already in arms, will fall upon the barbarian invader

from her hundred gates, spreading war and death.

Yes! Let war and death be our battle cry!

War! War!

Tremendous, pitiless war!

Holy Isis has already named the leader of our invincible legions

Radamés.

Ah! praised be the gods!

I am afraid! - My prayers are answered!

Go now, o warrior, to the Temple of Vulcan.

There put on the sacred arms; go forth to victory!

Onward! Go forth, Egyptian heroes, to the sacred banks of the Nile.

From every heart let the cry sound out - war and death, death to the invader!

Glory to the gods! Let all remember, it is they who rule our destinies.

Only the power of the gods can dictate the warrior's fate.

Onward! May our breasts be a fortress shielding the sacred banks of the Nile.

Let no cry sound but our united cry, war, war and death to the invader!

For whom do I weep? For whom do I pray? - A sacred thrill of glory

What power binds me to him? - runs through my heart.

I must love him, - Onward, let us hasten to victory!

Yet he is the enemy of my country! - War and death to the invader!

Accept, o leader, from my hands this glorious banner.

May it be as a light and a guide on the road to victory.

War! War!

Death to the invader!

Return victorious!

'Return victorious!'

My lips have spoken the traitorous words!

Victorious over my father, who takes up arms for me

to give me again a country, a kingdom and a great name, which here I must hide.

Victorious over my brothers

that I may see him, stained with their beloved blood

welcomed in triumph by Egypt!

And behind his chariot, a King, my father, in chains!

My mad word, o gods, efface!

Send back this child to her father's heart.

Destroy the legions of our oppressors!

Wretched girl, what have I said?

And my love?

Can I, then, forget this burning love

which, as a wretched slave, I welcome in rapture like a ray of sun?

Shall I invoke death upon Radamés, him whom I love so much?

Ah, never on earth has a broken heart known such anguish!

God, who art of thy spirit both son and father!

We invoke thee!

Uncreated, eternal flame, which sparked the sun, ah!

We invoke thee!

Life of the Universe, mythus of eternal love!

We invoke thee!

Great Phtha!

We invoke thee!

O youth beloved of the gods, you hold in trust the destiny of Egypt.

May the sacred sword, tempered by the gods

become in your hand blazing terror and death for the enemy.

O god, custodian and avenger of this sacred land!

Lift thy hand over the land of Egypt.

O god, leader and judge of every earthly battle!

Protect thou, defend thou the sacred soil of Egypt!

O god, custodian and avenger...

Mighty Phtha!

You - who, to the sounds of hymns and praise, set forth on the flight to glory

like some god of terror, blazing like the sun -

come, on your head shall shower the blossoms won from the laurel

and together the songs of glory shall sound with the songs of love.

Ah, come, my love, bring madness and blessed peace to my heart!

Now where are the barbaric hordes of the mighty invader?

Like mist, they faded away at the first breath of our champion.

Come, victorious warrior, come take the prize of glory.

Victory has smiled upon you, on you love, too, shall smile.

Ah, come, my love, give new life to me, once more, with the words of love!

Silence! Aida is coming.

Child of the vanquished, her grief is sacred.

Seeing her now, the fearful doubt awakens in me again.

Now I shall penetrate this fatal secret!

The fortunes of war have gone against your people! Poor Aida!

Your heart's grief I share with you.

I am your friend.

You shall have whatever you wish from me.

You shall be happy.

Can I be happy, far from my homeland

knowing nothing of the fate of my father and my brothers?

I weep for you.

But there are limits to earthly sorrow.

Time will quiet the anguish of your heart

and, more than time, a powerful god - Love!

Love, love! Tormenting joy, sweet rapture, cruel anxiety!

In thy sorrow I find my life. - Ah, her pallor, her confusion...

In thy smile - ...betray the secret fever of love!

I find heaven itself. - I fear to question her

Love, love! Tormenting joy... - for I share the anxiety of her heart!

What new anguish disturbs you, sweet Aida?

Tell me your secret, trust in my friendship.

Among those brave men who fought and conquered your homeland

was there perhaps one whom you loved?

What do you mean?

Not to all has fate been cruel, since our fearless leader has died on the battlefield.

What did you say? Oh! wretched!

Yes, Radames was killed by your people. - Alas!

And can you weep? - I shall never cease my weeping!

The gods have avenged you! - The gods have always been against me.

Tremble! I have read your heart... you love him.

I! - Do not lie!

One more word and I shall know.

Look into my eyes

I deceived you

Radamés is alive!

Alive! Oh, praised be the gods!

And you still hope to lie to me?

Yes, you love him!

But I too love him, do you hear?

I am your rival, I, daughter of the Pharaohs!

My rival! Then so be it, for I too am...

Ah, what am I saying?

Have pity on me; forgive me, ah!

Let pity for my sorrow move you.

It is true, I love him deeply.

You are happy, you are powerful.

In my life there is nothing but my love!

Fear me now, you slave! Let your heart break.

This love can mean your death.

I am master of your fate

and my heart rages with hate and vengeance!

Onward! May our breasts be a fortress, - In the triumph now being made ready

shielding the sacred banks of the Nile. - you shall take part with me, o slave!

Let no cry sound but our united cry. - You, prostrate in the dust,

War and death to the invader! - I, at the King's side, on the throne!

Ah, have pity! What is left for me? My life is a desert.

Live, reign - soon I shall appease your anger.

This love which distresses you will die with me, in the tomb.

Come, follow me. You shall see if you are worthy to do battle with me.

Ah, have pity...

O gods, take pity on my suffering!

There is no hope for my sorrow!

Glory to Egypt and to Isis, protectress of the sacred land!

To the King who rules the Delta joyful hymns we sing!

Weave the lotus and the laurel into a crown for the victors!