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.
Radames.
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?
Aida.
Beneath our skies more freely
To our hearts will love be yielded,
The gods thy youth that shielded
Will not our love forget.
Radames (Hesitating).
Aida!
Aida.
Me thou lov'st not! Go!
Radames.
Not love thee?
Ne'er in mortal bosom
Burnt yet love's flame with ardour more devouring.
Aida.
Go, thy Amneris 'waits thee!
Radames.
All in vain!
Aida.
In vain, thou say'st?
Then fall the axe upon me
And on my wretched father!
Radames.
Ah no! we'll fly then!
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.
Aida.
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.
Both.
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!
(They are hastening away when suddenly Aida pauses.)
Aida.
But tell me by what path
Shall we avoid alighting
On the soldiers?
Radames.
By the path that we have chosen
To fall on the Ethiops, 'twill be vacant
Until to-morrow.
Aida.
Say, which is that?
Radames.
The gorges of Napata!
SCENE IV.
Amonasro, Aida, and Radames.
Amonasro (Springing forward).
Of Napata! 'tis well then.
There will I post my troops.
Radames.
Who has overheard us?
