Radames

“ It was in this vast and beautiful hall that Radames, a gallant soldier and favourite of the Egyptian court, met Ramphis, the High Priest, on the day when the Oracle, Isis, was to choose the general of the army.
Isis had already spoken, and Ramphis knew it, but he did not tell Radames. Together they spoke of Radames's loyal wish to serve his people, either as a great general or as a soldier. He was too modest to think that Isis would choose him, out of all the worthy men of the army, to lead the hosts of Egypt. ”

“ The desert shall be our nuptial couch!—the silent stars the witness of our love. Let my black hair cover thee as a tent; my eyes sustain thee; my kisses console thee." And as she twines about him and he inhales the perfume of her lips and feels the beating of her heart, Radames forgets country and honor and faith and fame; and the fatal word is spoken. Napata!—Amonasro, from the shadows of the palm-trees, shouts the word in triumph! There is a clash of brazen blades; Radames is seized by priests and soldiers: Amonasro and his daughter fly under cover of the night. ”

“ While the Princess was speaking, Aïda clasped her hands wildly and cried out. Thus, she betrayed instantly all her love for Radames, and Amneris was no longer in doubt.
"So, you love him?" she cried. "That was what I wished to know. Now let me tell thee that he lives and is returning with honours—but not for thee. If you love him, so do I. What chance has one like you—a slave—beside a princess like me? I feel nothing but hate now for you, and from this moment you shall know all the humility of a slave. Since you have dared to love Radames, I shall be revenged." ”

“ Radames is discovered in the Crypt, on the steps of the staircase leading into the vault.—Above, two Priests in the act of letting down the stone which closes the subterranean.
Radames.
The fatal stone upon me now is closing,
Now has the tomb engulfed me. I never more
The light shall behold. Ne'er more see gentle Aida.
Dear Aida, where now art thou? whate'er befalls me
May'st thou be happy. Ne'er may my frightful doom
Reach thy gentle ear. What groan was that? 'Tis a phantom!
Some vision dread. No! sure that form, is human!
Heaven! 'tis Aida.
Aida.
Yes! Aida!
Radames. ”

“ Radames alone knows—and Radames loves thee," he finished significantly.
"But since he loves me, how can I betray him, father?" she asked.
"Choose—between thy father and the man who is to-299- marry Amneris.—Or—" with a new thought he hesitated a moment—"or why should Radames not leave these cold people for a fairer place and kinder? Why should he not become one of us?" Aïda stared at her father in amazement.
"Betray his people?"
"Why not? Since he loves thee, shall not thy people become his people, even as thou wouldst have made his people thine, hadst thou been wedding him. ”

“ Our people have risen in arms again! Radames loves thee!—he will tell thee all! What! dost thou hesitate? Refuse!—and they who died to free thee from captivity shall arise from the black gulf to curse thee! Refuse!—and the shade of thy mother will return from the tomb to curse thee! Refuse!—and I, thy father, shall disown thee and invoke upon thy head my everlasting curse!"
Radames comes! Amonasro, hiding in the shadow of the palms, hears all. Radames betrays his country to Aïda. "Save thyself!—fly with me!" she whispers to her lover. "Leave thy gods ”

“ Radames (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.)
Amneris.
(With what glances on her is he gazing,
Glowing passion witin 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.
Radames (To King) . ”

“ Amonasro shouted, and as the people began to pour from the Temple, he sprang forward and would have plunged his sword through her had Radames not sprung between them.
"Thou art a madman," he shouted, horrified at the deed Amonasro would have done. Meantime all was confusion. People shouted for the guard, and Radames cried to Aïda:
"Fly with thy father. Fly or thou art lost." His voice was so full of agony for her that she suddenly turned and fled.-302-
"Follow them," Ramphis demanded of the soldiers, while Radames said hopelessly:
"Ramphis, I yield to thee." ”

“ 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! ”

“ But Aïda was filled with despair, being torn by conflicting feelings; and when all the resplendent company had departed to the Temple of Vulcan to witness the investiture and dedication of Radames to his heaven-chosen office, she remained behind, that none might witness her sorrow.
"How dare I wish victory to my beloved one, when that means defeat and bondage for my native land?" she murmured, in anguish. "Shall I desire my own royal father, my brothers, and my people to be destroyed? Yet, if they are victorious, my lover will [381] be dishonoured and ruined! ”

“ Amneris.
Then save thy life and clear thyself.
Radames.
No!
Amneris.
Wouldst thou die?
Radames.
Detested
Life is; of all pleasure
From henceforward divested.
Without hope's priceless treasure
'Tis better far to die!
Amneris.
Wouldst die then? ah me! consent to live.
Live, of all my love assured ”

“ Thou shalt be happy made.
SCENE V.
Enter Amneris from the Temple, then Ramphis, Priests, Guards, and the above.
Amneris.
Traitor vile!
Aida.
The Princess here!
Amonasro.
(Advancing with a dagger towards Amneris.)
Comest thou here to mar my projects?
Die then!
Radames.
(Rushing between them.) Nay, strike not, thou madman!
Amonasro.
O fury!
Ramphis.
Guards there, advance!
Radames.
(To Aida and Amonasro.) Fly! quick! Delay not!
Amonasro (Dragging Aida) .
Come then, my daughter!
Ramphis (To the Guards) .
Guards! quick, follow!
Radames (To Ramphis) . ”

“ In a hall of the Royal Palace, flanked by a colonnade with statues and flowering shrubs, and commanding a view of the city's palaces and temples and the pyramids, Radames, an Egyptian soldier, and Ramfis, a high priest, discuss a report that the Ethiopians are in revolt in the valley of the Nile, and that Thebes is threatened. The high priest has consulted Isis, and the goddess has designated who shall be the leader of Egypt's army against the rebels. An inspiring thought comes into the mind of Radames. ”

“ We reach the last act of the drama. Radames is to be tried for treason in having betrayed a secret of war to his country's enemy. Amneris fain would save him were he to renounce Aïda and accept her love. She offers on such terms to intercede for him with her father, the king. From her Radames learns that Aïda escaped the guards who slew her father. He is resolute to die rather than prove faithless to her, and is led away to the subterranean trial chamber. Amneris, crouched without, hears the accusing voices of the priests and the awful silence which follows each accusation ”

“ This was more than Radames could endure; and, clasping Aïda in his arms once again, he declared that they would indeed fly that night, since her love was more to him than anything else the world could offer.
Intoxicated with the intensity of their passion, the lovers prepared to carry out their resolve at once; but, as they were about to depart, Aïda, remembering with a pang her father's command, said in a trembling voice: "How shall we escape being seen by the Egyptian soldiers?" ”

“ Thou canst generously do so much for us." At this, Aïda understanding that she must not let it be known that the King himself was a prisoner, added her entreaties to Amonasro's.
"Nay, ye must face the fortune of war. Death is thy portion," the King answered. Then Aïda's grief became pitiful, and Radames, who was watching her lovingly, was sorrowful on her account. While all others clamoured for the death of the Ethiopians, Radames stepped forth and asked the King to hear him.
"My King, thou hast said that I should have whatever I would ask of thee." ”

“ The Princess Amneris then came forward, and placed the royal standard of Egypt in the hands of Radames, bidding him in a voice that trembled with emotion to bear it ever into the paths of victory and renown; for she was filled with exaltation that the man she loved was chosen for this honour, and already looked ahead to the time when he should return, covered with glory, a hero for whom even the hand of a Princess of Egypt would not be too great a reward. ”

“ In the second act Amneris, in order to test Aïda's feelings, tells her, that Radames fell in battle, and finds her doubts confirmed by Aïda's terror. Amneris openly threatens her rival, and both hasten to receive the soldiers, who return victorious. In Radames' suite walks King Amonasro, who has been taken prisoner, disguised as a simple officer. Aïda recognizes her father, and Amonasro telling his conqueror, that the Ethiopian King has fallen, implores his clemency. Radames, seeing Aïda in tears, adds his entreaties to those of the Ethiopian ”

“ Within the temple burn the holy lights; incense smoulders in the tripods of brass; solemn hymns resound through the vast-pillared sanctuary. Without, under the stars, Aïda glides like a shadow to meet her lover.
It is not her lover who comes. It is her father! "Aïda," mutters the deep but tender voice of Amonasro, "thou hast the daughter of Pharaoh in thy power! Radames loves thee! Wilt thou see again the blessed land of thy birth?—Wit thou inhale the balm of our forests?—Wilt thou gaze [Pg 301] upon our valleys and behold our temples of gold, and pray to the gods of thy fathers? ”

“ But Aïda was not satisfied with this, knowing that the rage and jealousy of Amneris would never permit them to marry; and she cried eagerly:
"Nay, there is but one course, my beloved! Let us fly to-night, and in a far-away land, where we are [386] not known, we may pass our life in perfect joy together!"
Then, seeing that Radames hesitated at this suggestion, which meant his resignation of all the glory and renown he had won, she thrust him from her, exclaiming passionately: "Ah, then, you love me not! ”

“ Fly with us. Even now the Ethiopians are without the gates ready for battle. Join them, lead them, and——"
"A traitor to my country!" he cried, stricken with horror at the thought.
"Then there is no hope. The Princess will drive us to death and despair." She drew a picture that brought it all vividly into Radames's mind. At last with breaking heart he cried:
"I will go with thee—making thy people my people," and he started to leave the Temple with her.
"What path shall we take to avoid the Egyptian soldiers?" she questioned wildly. ”

“ When the first joy of meeting was over, Aïda asked her lover to tell her of his plans, for since his nuptials with the Princess were now so near at hand, it seemed well-nigh impossible for him to avoid the step, which was the express command of the King and the wish of the people; and the hopelessness of the situation made her have misgivings whether he would care to make so great a sacrifice for her sake. Radames, however, declared that not all the wealth of Egypt could make up to him for the loss of Aïda's love ”

“ Their country is conquered. Oh, King! Do not take their lives," and he looked quickly at Aïda, to inspire her with hope.
The King thought upon this for a moment, and was inclined to grant the plea, but Ramphis and the other priests clamoured for their death.
"At least keep this girl's father as a surety," they persisted.
"It shall be so," the King answered. "Aïda's father shall remain our prisoner; and since I cannot grant your request, Radames, yet love thee so for thy valour, I give-297- thee instead the greatest prize within man's gift; my daughter, Amneris." ”

“ Referring to Aïda the notice runs:—"The consecration scene, in which Radamès is invested with the command of the Egyptian army, is highly dramatic; still finer is the finale of the second act. Here are found the most telling points, for the composer revels in the expression of extreme emotion; he has varied and conflicting passions to set; there is the glorification of the return of a victorious general with his army; there is the lament of the Ethiopian prisoners ”

“ Then thou, like Mars courting the queen of love,
Mayst drive away this melancholy fit.
Rasni. The proof is good and philosophical;
And more, thy counsel plausible and sweet.—
Come, lords, though Rasni wants his Radagon,
Earth will repay him many Radagons,
And Alvida with pleasant looks revive
The heart that droops for want of Radagon. ”

“ When King Radama died, it was reported and firmly believed that his ghost was seen one night in the garden of his country seat, dressed in one of the uniforms which had been buried with him, and riding one of the best horses killed opposite his tomb. [803] Turanian tribes of North Asia avow that the motive of their funeral offerings of horses and sledges, clothes and axes and kettles, flint and steel and tinder, meat and butter, is to provide the dead for his journey to the land of souls, and for his life there. ”