Page:Aida Libretto English.djvu/15

Rh O'er my brothers! e'en now I see him stained

With their blood so cherished, 'mid the

Clamorous triumph of Egyptian battalions!

Behind his chariot a king, my father comes,

His fettered captive!

Ye Gods watching o'er me,

Those words deem unspoken;

A father restore me.

His daughter heart-broken;

Oh, scatter their armies,

For ever crush our foe!

What wild words do I utter? of my affection

Have I no recollection?

That sweet love that consoled me, a captive pining,

Like some bright sunny ray on my sad lot shining!

Shall I invoke destruction on the man

For whom with love I languish?

Ah! ne'er yet on this earth lived one

Whose heart was crushed beneath such anguish!

The names so holy of father, of lover,

No more dare I utter or e'en recall,

Abashed and trembling, to Heaven would hover

My prayers for both, for both my tears would fall.

Ah, woe! transformed seemed my prayers to blaspheming,

To suffer is a crime, dark sin to weep.

My senses lost, wrapt in deep night are dreaming.

To my grave would in sorrow I might creep!

Merciful Gods, look from on high!

Pity these tears hopelessly shed,

Love! mystic power, mystic and dread,

Break, break my weak heart, let me now die!

Hail, mighty, hail, mighty Phthà! that wakest

In all things breathing life, hail!

Lo! we invoke thee!

Hail, mighty Phtha! that makest

All fruitful things grow rife,

Lo! we invoke thee!

Flame, uncreated, eternal!

Fount of all light above,

Lo! we invoke thee!

Hail, thou who madest all things created,

Earth, water, heaven,

Lo! we invoke thee!

Thou, who of thine own nature

Art son as well as sire,

Lo! we invoke thee!

Life-giver universal,

Great gift of boundless love,

Lo! we invoke thee!

To thee, god-favoured mortal, is now confided

All the welfare of Egypt. The weapon tempered

By hand immortal, in thy grasp is destined

To deal on thy foes ruin and carnage.

(Turning to the God.)

Hear us, oh, guardian deity,

Our sacred land protecting,

Thy mighty hand extending,

Danger, danger, to Egypt ward!

Lord o'er each mortal destiny,

War's dreadful course directing,

Aid unto Egypt sending,

Keep o'er her children guard!