Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-01-14
"AIDl.r

"AIDA.r
The following extract is from Aida the
Ethiopian Slave:V
Radames paused on the top of the
fight Of the stairs leading to the bottom of the
vault, and sted.awhile on the uppermost step.
This. then, is my tomb, i" he said. The fatal
stone has already closed upon me shall be
hold no more the light of day never again shall
l look upon the fair face of earth, and, above
all, on that of my beloved Aida, On where
at thou now, delight of my soul? Mayst thou,
&. least, live in ignorance of my fearful fate un
II that moment when we shall meet again in the
abode of the gods y
A deep sigh interrupted him. Startled, Rad
anes listened. The sigh was repeated. The
Egyptian rose and deeended a few steps; upon
them lay the PROSTATE form Of woman.
"A phantom-a vision ~ exclaimed Radames.
But no It's human being Heavens what
20 l seel It's Aida! Is it in truth thou Aida ~
90 lis l, Radames,' answered the maiden in
faint accents.
Thou, within this tomb? But how % inquir-
Il the Egyptian, finging himself down by her
side on the stairs
When 1 learnt TO what terrible doom thou
hadst been condemned" said Aida, my heart
prompted me to leave no means untred that
would enable me TO reach thy side and die with
n thine arms. In this spot, hidden from all hu-
man eyes, l have waited for thee-these two
days"
But how vert thou able to come hither, IN
seen by our persecutOrsP'
Closely confined in q dungeon afar from
tHee and from my father, suffered intensely
and all the more that could learn naugut con-
corning the fate of either of you. l sought to
interest in my behalf the man allotted me as
jailer. Advanced in years, himself q father
my grief touched him, and by every kindness in
ms power he strove TO console and comfort me.
Ohe day he presented himself before me, his
countenance expressing great sadness i anxi-
ously inquired the cause. He told me that my
iGther had that morning been found, dead
or the stone floor of his dungeon the old man
suspected, by poison, and that thou hadst been
Condemned 70 be buried alive Thou Inayst
conceive my agony on hearing this ] sought
relief in tears and my jailor tried to utter words
81 comfort. Deprived of my father, thou didst
yet remain TO me true; but how far away from
ay side All endeavor to gain admittance TO the
prison would have been vain Another thought
Gawned on my mind what that thought was 1
ave already told thee. determined at all risks
20 reJoin thee, and perish with the!'
Oh, glorious creature !" cried Radames,
pressing Aida TO his breast; surely no being of
earthly mould art thou, but the heaven-born
laughter of one of the gods How far beyond
mortal, thus sacrificing thyself, dost thou appear
70 me But proceed, my hearts adored-
thy words fall like blam upon my troubled soul"
Il waited for the morning to carry out my in
tention. The aged jailer came at the usual hour
'Arew myself at his feet, and earnestly prayed
IN 10 coduct me TO the spot wherein twas Or
Gained thou shouldst be entombed, and TO leave
me there TO await thy coming. At first he st:oVe
al in his power TO dissuade me from my pur-
pose, but on hearing my firm resolve to starve
myself to death if my-prayer were denied, the
old man-his eyes filed with tears, and exclam-
ing" Let what will become of me, can no lon
ger resist thy.entreaties '-tookmy hand and led
me through long galleries and subterranean
passages conducting to the interior of the Tenn
pie. The time was that in which the sacred
building was free from intrusion. In one corner
q large stone had been removed. exposing q dark
-avity beneath and 20 that spot my guide led
me. Here, he said is the grave which to-mor-
-Ow, or at the latest on the day after, Will en-
close Radames within it forevermore! Art
thou still minded TO descend into It's dark
lepths| Yes l answered, Al the same time
about to step into the gloomy aperture. Let
ne embrace thee, my daugeter, before thou
eEterest that sad abodeT With fearful emotion
ny aged guide pressed me TO his breast There
yet time for thee 20 draw back, to fly, even
ne whispered in roy ear, TO effect thy escape
'TuaeCOnpHuied by him, never will do so %
-ey,ied; and having him for what he had done
10 my behalf, l boldly descended into the vaul,
ard the good old man withdrew, weeping.
Peace attended his steps ~
oh, Aida To come hither % die And 10
die for me, in the flower Of thine age, in all the
pride of thy beauty The mighty AmnOn had
created thee for love- and by loving thee too
well have killed theel But thou must not,
thou shalt not die thus mo i will strive 20 ro-
open this cruel grave! ] viii cry aloud 20 them
20 save theel'
Thou wouldst strive in vain, Rad
nues The priests would not give hearing
., thy cries they will keep watch above, until,
tie stone covering TIE entrance shall be firmly
cemented, and beyond al efforts of the prisoner
20 remove it. No, RadRmes let Us rather pre-
pare our selves TO die. See yonder where there
.uIneth towards us. shrouded in robes of spotless
yhite, the kindly spirit Of death sent 10 guide US
rrt 10 the regions OF the blest There ar sorrow
s unknown and there We shall enter on AZ
eternity of bliss %
Yes, Aida, let us prepare 70 welcome death
We are welded now forever, BE- then on
Lridal bed and funeral bier IN one-ths damp
dungeon floor. While fondly embraced thus in
each other arms, oar Immortal Souls VIII take
their flight from earth and ascend, united, %
the presence Of the s1prefne essence ~ !oVo
i.5elfH
The two beihro,hsd lovers embraced, The
.0lntonauces of both became irradia-cc WIZ %
gI5-riovs ethereal new'y.
I"rae world fo'-s. TRY ty 'ie world forgo.'
f..y y4s,sl AZ - cug. g.r.h heir ias. breath
,..-. "a in one ig1g. srEeHtti-g mi eaile7. Owe.