Page:Aida Libretto English.djvu/17

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Our songs his glory praising,

Heavenward waft a name

Whose deeds the sun outblazing

Eclipse his dazzling flame.

Come, bind thy flowing tresses round

With laurel and with flowers,

While loud our songs of praise resound

To celebrate Love's powers.

(Come, love, with rapture fill me,

To joy my heart restore!)

Ah! where are now the foes who dared

Egypt's brave sons attack?

As doves are by the eagle scared,

Our warriors drove them back.

Now wreaths of triumph glorious

The victor's brow shall crown,

And love o'er him victorious

Shall smooth his warlike frown.

(Come, love, let thy voice thrill me

With accents dear once more.)

Ah, cease now, 'tis Aida who this way advances,

Child of the conquered, to me her grief is sacred.

Once more to see her

My soul again with doubt is tortured—

Thy dread secret at last shall be surrendered!

'Neath the chances of battle succumb thy people,

O hapless Aida; the sorrows that afflict thee

Be sure I feel as keenly; my heart towards thee yearns fondly:

Ask what thou wilt of me, thy days shall be happy.

Ah, how can I be happy

Far from my native country, where I can never

Know what fate has befallen father and brothers?

Deeply you move me, yet no human sorrow

Is lasting here below. Time will bring comfort—

And heal your present anguish—

Greater than time the healing power of love is.

(Oh, love, sweet power! oh, joy tormenting!

Rapturous madness, bliss fraught with woes,

Thy pangs most cruel, a life contenting,

Thy smiles enchanting bright heaven disclose!)

(Yon deadly pallor, her bosom panting,

Tell of love's passion, tell of love's woes:

Her heart to question, courage is wanting,

My bosom feels of her torture the throes.)

(Eyeing her fixedly.)

Nay, tell me, then, what new fledged love

Assails my gentle Aida?

Unbosom all thy secret thoughts,

Come, trust securely in my affection;