Page:Aida Libretto English.djvu/29

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Yet recall how Egyptian hordes descended

On our homes; our temples, our altars dared profane!

Cast in bonds sisters, daughters undefended,

Mothers, children, helpless old men slain!

Too well remembered are those days of mourning,

All the keen anguish my poor heart that pierced;

Gods! grant in mercy peace once more returning,

Once more the dawn soon of glad days may burst.

Lose not a moment! our people armed

Are panting for the signal; now to strike the blow,

Success is sure: naught but one thing is wanting,—

That we know by what path will march the foe.

Who that path will discover? Canst tell?

Thyself will!

Myself!

Radames, whom thou expects, will tell thee;

He commands the Egyptians, and loves thee.

Thought hateful!

What prompst thou me to do? No! ask it not!

Then, Egypt's fierce nation,

Our cities devoting

To flames, and denoting

What ruins your path!

Spread wide devastation,

Your fury unbridle,

Resistance is idle,

Give loose to your wrath!

Ah, father!

Call'st thyself my daughter!

(Frightened and supplicating.)

Nay, hold! have mercy!

Torrents of blood shall crimson flow,

Grimly the foe stands gloating,

Seest thou from DeathDeath's [sic] dark gulf below

Shades of the dead upfloating,

Crying as thee in scorn they show

Thou hast thy country slain!

Have mercy, pray!

One among those phantoms dark

E'en now it stands before thee.

Tremble! now stretching o'er thee

Its withered hands thy head doth mark!

Thy mother's hands see there again,

Stretched out to curse thee!

(With the utmost terror.)

Ah no! my father!

Thou'rt not my daughter!

No! of the Pharaohs thou art a bond-maid.

Father, no, their slave am I no longer.

Ah, with thy curse do not appal me,

Still thine own daughter thou mayst call me,

Ne'er shall my country her child disdain.