Page:Aida Libretto English.djvu/33

Rh Our faithful love inviting.

There where the virgin forests rise,

'Mid fragrance softly stealing,

Our loving bliss concealing,

The world we'll quite forget, 'mid loving bliss.

To distant countries ranging

With thee thou bidst me fly,

For other lands exchanging

All 'neath my native sky.

The land these arms have guarded,

That first fame's crown awarded,

When I first thee regarded,

How can I e'er forget?

Beneath our skies more freely

To our hearts will love be yielded,

The gods thy youth that shielded

Will not our love forget.

Aida!

Me thou lov'st not! Go!

Not love thee?

Ne'er in mortal bosom

Burnt yet love's flame with ardour more devouring.

Go, thy Amneris 'waits thee!

All in vain!

In vain, thou say'st?

Then fall the axe upon me

And on my wretched father!

Ah no! we'll fly then!

(With passonatepassionate [sic] resolution.)

Yes, we'll fly these walls now hated,

In the desert hide our treasure.

Here the land to woe seems fated,

There all seems to smile with love.

Boundless deserts naught can measure

Where our bridal couch soon spreading,

Starry skies shall lustre shedding

Be our canopy above.

In my native land where lavish

Fortune smiles, a heaven awaits thee,

Balmy airs the sense that ravish

Stray through verdant mead and grove.

'Mid the valleys where nature greets thee

We our bridal couch soon spreading,

There the stars shall lustre shedding

Be our canopy above.

Come, from hence together flying

Where all woe seems to abide,

Thou art lov'd with love undying,

Come, and love our steps shall guide!

But tell me by what path

Shall we avoid alighting

On the soldiers?

By the path that we have chosen

To fall on the Ethiops, 'twill be vacant

Until to-morrow.

Say, which is that?

The gorges of Napata!

Of Napata! 'tis well then.

There will I post my troops.

Who has overheard us?