SCENE II

                 Entrance gate to the city of Thebes.

  In front a clump of palms. R.H. a temple dedicated to Ammon —
  L.H. a throne with a purple canopy; at back a triumphal arch. —
  The stage is crowded with people.

    Enter the King, followed by State Officers, Priests, Captains,
     Fanbearers, Standard-bearers. &mdash Afterwards Amneris, with Aida
     and Slaves — The King takes his seat on the throne. — Amneris
     places herself at his left hand.

PEOPLE      Glory to Isis and the land
            By her firm arm protected!
            To Egypt's King elected,
            Raise we our festive songs!
            Hither advance, oh glorious band, 
            Mingle your joy with ours,
            Green bays and fragrant flowers
            Scatter their path along.

WOMEN       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.

PRIESTS     Unto the powers war's issue dread
            Deciding, our glances raise we
            Thank we our gods, and praise we
            On this triumphant day.

   [The Egyptian troops, preceded by trumpets, defile before the
    King — Other troops enter, following war chariots, banners,
    sacred vessels, and images of the Gods. — A group of Dancing
    Girls appears bringing the spoils of the conquered  —  Enter
    Radames under a canopy carried by twelve officers].

KING [descends from the throne to embrace Radames]
        Saviour brave of thy country, Egypt salutes thee!
        Hither now advance, and on thy head my daughter
        Will place the crown of triumph.
   [Radames bows before Amneris, who hands him the crown]

KING [to Radames]                     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.

RAD.    First deign to order that the captives
        Be before you brought.

               [enter Ethiopian Prisoners, surrounded by Guards.
                 Amonasro last, in the dress of an officer]

AIDA                          What see I? He here? My father?

ALL     Her father!

AMN.               And in our power!

AIDA [embracing her father]
        Thou captive made!

AMON. [whispering to Aida]  Tell not my rank.

KING [to Amonasro]                       Come forward!
        So then thou art —

AMON.                     Her father! I joined the war
        Fought, and was conquered. Death I vainly sought.
                          [pointing to the uniform he is wearing]
        This my habit has told you already.
        I my king, I my country defended.
        Adverse fortune against us ran steady,
        Vainly sought we the fates to defy.
        At my feet in the dust lay extended
        Our King — countless wounds had transpierced him;
        If to fight for the country that nursed him
        Make one guilty, we are ready to die.
                             [turning to the King supplicatingly]
        But, O King, in thy power transcendent,
        Spare the lives on thy mercy dependent,
        By the fates though to-day overtaken,
        Say, who can to-morrow's event descry.

AIDA, PRISONERS, SLAVES
        We on whom Heaven's anger is falling,
        Thee implore, on thy clemency calling,
        May ye ne'er be by fortune forsaken,
        Nor like us in captivity lie!

RAMPHIS, PRIESTS
        Death, O King, be their just destination,
        Close thy heart to all vain supplication,
        By the Heavens they doomed are to perish,
        We the Heavens are bound to obey.

PEOPLE  Holy priests, calm your anger exceeding,
        Lend an ear to the conquered foe pleading;
        Mighty King, thou whose power we cherish,
        In thy bosom let mercy have sway.

RAD. [regarding Aida]
        (See her cheek wan with weeping and sorrow,
        From affliction new charm seems to borrow,
        In my bosom love's flame seems new lighted
        By each tear-drop that flows from her eyes.)

AMN.    (With what glances on her he is gazing,
        Glowing passion within them is blazing;
        She is loved and my passion is slighted,
        Stern revenge in my breast loudly cries.)

KING    High in triumph since our banners now are soaring,
        Let us spare those our mercy imploring,
        By the gods mercy aye is requited,
        And gives strength to princely sway.

RAD. [to King]  O King, by Heaven above us,
        And by the crown upon thy brow, thou sworest
        Whate'er I asked thee thou wouldst grant it.

KING                                               Say on!

RAD.    Vouchsafe thee, I pray, freedom and life
        To freely grant unto these Ethiop captives here.

AMN.                                             (Free all, then!)

PRIESTS Death be the doom of Egypt's enemies.

PEOPLE                                        Compassion
        To the wretched.

RAM.                      Hear me, O King:           [to Radames]
                                          And thou too,
        Dauntless young hero, list to the voice of prudence:

        They are foes to battle hardened,
        In them vengeance ne'er will die,
        Growing bolder if now pardoned
        They to arms once more will fly.

RAD.    With Amonasro, their warrior king,
        All hopes of revenge have perished.

RAM.                                       At least
        As earnest of safety and of peace
        Keep we back fair Aida's father;
        Set the others free.

KING                         I yield me to thy counsel,
        Of safety now and peace a bond more certain
        Will I give you. Radames, to thee our debt
        Is unbounded. Amneris my daughter shall be
        Thy guerdon. Thou shalt hereafter o'er Egypt
        With her hold conquering sway.

AMN.                                (Now let yon bondmaid
        Rob me of my love — she dares not!)

KING    Glory to Egypt, sacred land,
        Isis hath aye protected;
        With laurel and with lotus
        Bind round the victor's head.

PRIESTS Praise be to Isis, Goddess bland,
        Who hath our land protected,
        And pray the favours granted us
        Ever be o'er us shed.

AIDA    (Alas! to me what hope is left?
        He wed, a throne ascending,
        I left to measure all my loss
        Like some poor widowed dove.)

PRIS.   Glory to Egypt's gracious land
        Who hath revenge rejected,
        And liberty hath granted us
        Once more our soil to tread.

RAD.    (Now Heaven's bolt the clouds hath cleft
        Upon my head descending.
        Ah no! all Egypt's treasure
        Outweighs not Aida's love).

AMN.    (Almost of ev'ry sense bereft
        By joy my hopes transcending,
        Scarce I the triumph now can measure
        Crowning all my love.)

AMON. [to Aida]
        Take heart, there yet some hope is left,
        Thy country's fate amending,
        Thou'lt soon behold with pleasure
        Vengeance light from above.

PEOPLE  Glory to Egypt's Goddess bland
        Who hath our land protected,
        With laurel and with lotus
        Bind round the victor's head.