Page:Aida Libretto English.djvu/21

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Glory to Isis and the land

By her firm arm protected!

To Egypt's King elected,

Raise we our festive songs!

Hither advance, oh glorous band,

Mingle your joy with ours.

Green bays and fragrant flowers

Scatter their path along.

The laurel with the lotus bound

The victors' brows enwreathing,

Let flowers, sweet perfume breathing,

Veil their grim arms from sight.

Dance, sons of Egypt, circling round,

And sing your mystic praises,

As round the sun in mazes

Dance the bright stars of night.

Unto the powers war's issue dread

Deciding, our glances raise we,

Thank we our gods, and praise we

On this triumphant day.

Thus our dread foes once more dispersed,

And honour vindicated,

May we ne'er fall prostrated

Beneath their hated sway.

Saviour brave of thy country, Egypt salutes thee!

Hither now advance, and on thy head

My daughter will place the crown of triumph.

What thou askest

Freely I'll grant it; naught can be denied thee

On such a day: I swear it

By the crown I am wearing, by Heaven above us.

First deign to order that the captives

Be before you brought

What see I? He here? My father?

Her father!

And in our power!

Thou captive made!

Tell not my rank.

Come forward!

So then thou art—

Her father! I joined the war,

Fought, and was conquered. Death I vainly sought.

This my habit has told you already,

I my king, I my country defended.