Chapter TwoThe deception
Amneris has played such a trick on me.1 She is a cruel woman. She did it just before the victory parade. It was a very hot and terrible day for me. I had to stand by and watch my people being dragged through the streets.2All of the Egyptians were cheering and shouting out, “Victory to Egypt!”
Horses came by and they were pulling carts full of gold and precious things from my country.3 Amneris was standing in front of me. She was dressed beautifully. Her clothing was sparkling from the emeralds and rubies and gold sewn through it.4
Key Words
deception (n): sự lừa dối
play a trick: lừa gạt, giở thủ đoạn
cruel (adj): độc ác, xấu xa
parade (v): diễu hành
stand by: chờ, đợi
drag (v): kéo lê, lôi đi
(drag - dragged - dragged)
cheer (v): tung hô, reo hò
come by: đi qua
cart (n): xe ngựa, xe kéo
clothing (n): quần áo, y phục
sparkle (v): lấp lánh
sew (v): may, đính
(sew - sewed - sewn)
Key Sentences
1 Amneris has played such a trick on me.
2 I had to stand by and watch my people being dragged through the streets.
3 Horses came by and they were pulling carts full of gold and precious things from my country.
4 Her clothing was sparkling from the emeralds and rubies and gold sewn through it.
She tricked me while we were still in her room. She said to me in a sad voice, “This would be a happy day if Radames had not been killed in battle.”1
Her words shocked me and I burst into tears. I covered my face and cried and cried.
Then Amneris said to me in a cruel voice, “Stop it, Aida. Radames is not dead. You love him, don’t you? I suspected you did and now I have found out.”
Again, I was shocked. I should have suspected her lie.2 I was so foolish not to.3
She hissed at me, “You are nothing more than a slave. My father has promised that Radames will marry me. Stop crying and dry your eyes. You must come with me to the victory parade. You must see Radames promising to be MY husband.”4
I felt such pain. If only I could tell her that I was a princess, too.5 If only she knew that I was suitable to be the wife of a noble man, too.6
Check up
Her words shocked me and I burst into tears.
= Her words shocked me and I_______________ .
a. started to cry
b. burst out laughter
c. started to tear out
Key Words & Sentences
trick (v): lừa gạt
shock (v): làm bàng hoàng,
làm hoảng hốt
burst into tears: bật khóc
suspect (v): hoài nghi, ngờ vực
hiss (v): rít lên (vì giận dữ)
nothing more than: chỉ là,
không hơn gì
dry (v): lau khô
suitable (adj): thích hợp, xứng đáng
1 She said to me in a sad voice, “This would be a happy day if Radames had not been killed in battle.”
2 I should have suspected her lie.
3 I was so foolish not to.
4 You must see Radames promising to be MY husband.
5 If only I could tell her that I was a princess, too.
6 If only she knew that I was suitable to be the wife of a noble man, too.
I was nearly crying, thinking of this at the parade when something even more terrible happened.1 I saw my father, Amonasro among my country’s people being dragged in the streets. I ran to his side.
“Father! Father! What have they done to you?”2 I cried out. But my father hushed me. “Shh! Don’t say anything. They cannot find out that I am the King of Ethiopia. If they do, they will kill us both. We must be quiet,” he said.
I went to the King of Egypt to beg for my father’s life.3
“Your Majesty! This man is my father. Since you have been so kind to me, please set these people free.4 They are not criminals,” I begged.
But then, Ramfis said, “We should kill them all. Kill all of the Ethiopians!”
Radames looked shocked and quickly said, “No, we won the battle. We have their gold and their land. Let’s not take their lives. Let them go.”
Check up
Choose the common verb for the following sentences.
• Aida ______________ for her father’s life.
• The old man ______________ for money on the street.
a. begged
b. borrowed
c. boasted
Key Words & Sentences
nearly (adv): suýt, gần như
side (n): phía, bên cạnh
hush (v): suỵt, ra hiệu im lặng
beg (v): van xin, khẩn cầu
(beg- begged - begged)
Your Majesty: thưa Bệ hạ
set A free: trả tự do cho A
criminal (n): tội phạm
take one’s life: giết ai đó
1 I was nearly crying, thinking of this at the parade when something even more terrible happened.
2 What have they done to you?
3 I went to the King of Egypt to beg for my father’s life.
4 Since you have been so kind to me, please set these people free.
Ramfis then said, “Alright, let them go. But keep Aida and her father. They must stay hostages in Egypt.”
The King agreed to this. The King now looked at Radames and embraced him like a son. I knew what would happen next. I felt my heart hit the ground.1
“Radames! You are the greatest warrior. You are the victor in this war, so you should receive the greatest prize of all.2 I give you Amneris to be your bride.”
I heard the words and even though I knew they were coming, I could not know how badly I would feel.3 I could not breathe and I felt my soul had been taken from me.4 I looked at Radames. He had turned pale. He looked at me and in his eyes I could see his love for me. My own eyes were filling with tears. What would we do?
Check up
Which can be replaced with the words in bold letters?
He was so shocked that he turned pale.
a. red
b. white
c. away
Key Words & Sentences
hostage (n): con tin
embrace (v): ôm, ghì chặt
warrior (n): chiến binh
victor (n): người thắng cuộc
prize (n): giải thưởng, phần thưởng
bride (n): cô dâu
breathe (v): thở
soul (n): tâm hồn, tâm trí
turn pale: trở nên tái nhợt
1 I felt my heart hit the ground.
2 You are the victor in this war, so you should receive the greatest prize of all.
3 I heard the words and even though I knew they were coming, I could not know how badly I would feel.
4 I could not breathe and I felt my soul had been taken from me.
I arranged to meet Radames on the bank of the River Nile.1 It is so beautiful there in the evening. The evening was very clear, and I could see each star twinkling in the sky. It was like they knew the pain deep in my heart.
I meant to put an end to my miserable life, and the reason I wanted to meet Radames was to say goodbye to him.2
I went to the river and waited. I heard a noise in the reeds by the river and I said, “Radames?” But he didn’t reply.
It was my father. “I have to speak to you,” he said.
“Speak quickly father,” I replied.
I didn’t want Radames to see me with my father. I wanted our final meeting to be perfect, just between the two of us.3
My father quickly spoke, “One day you will be princess again. The Egyptians are planning to attack our soldiers, and we must be ready for them this time. We must find out where they are going and wait for them so that we can surprise them with an attack.”4
My father looked lovingly into my eyes. He knew how sad I was and how I longed to return to my country.5
“But what can I do?” I asked my father.
He replied, “You must try to find out from Radames which way his army will go.”
“But how can I ask him to betray his own country?” I asked, feeling very confused.
“You must,” ordered my father. “If you don’t, then you will be betraying your own country. I will hide in the reeds and listen to everything.”
My father left me and hid among the reeds to wait for Radames.6
Key Words & Sentences
arrange to do something: sắp xếp, thu xếp để làm gì
bank (n): bờ
twinkle (v): lấp lánh
mean to do something:
có ý định làm gì
(mean - meant - meant)
put an end to: đặt dấu chấm hết,
chấm dứt
reed (n): đám sậy
attack (v): tấn công
surprise (v): làm ngạc nhiên,
gây bất ngờ
lovingly (adv): âu yếm, yêu thương
long to + V: nóng lòng, mong mỏi
confused (adj): bối rối, lúng túng
order (v): ra lệnh
1 I arranged to meet Radames on the bank of the River Nile.
2 I meant to put an end to my miserable life, and the reason I wanted to meet Radames was to say goodbye to him.
3 I wanted our final meeting to be perfect, just between the two of us.
4 We must find out where they are going and wait for them so that we can surprise them with an attack.
5 He knew how sad I was and how I longed to return to my country.
6 My father left me and hid among the reeds to wait for Radames.
Radames finally came.
“My love, I have missed you so much. Please don’t marry Amneris. Let’s leave this place so that we can be together,” I said to him. But I knew in my heart that I couldn’t ask him to run away with me.1
Surprisingly he said, “Yes, let’s go away together. We can take the same road that the army will take on its way to Ethiopia.2 We will go along the Napata Gorge.”
Just as he said that, my father came out of the reeds and said, “Radames, I am the King of Ethiopia.” Then there was some noise in the reeds.
Apparently someone else had been listening to our conversation, too.3 Amneris! She called the priests from the temple and ordered them to arrest Radames. She looked extremely angry.
“You have betrayed me and your country, Radames! I am so disappointed in you,” she said.
Radames now said, “I must accept my punishment and go with the priests. Aida, run away! Go with Amonasro. Go now before it is too late!”
My father took me away and we ran into the darkness of the night.4
Check up
If Radames ran away with Aida, he would be ____________________Egypt.
a. betraying
b. punishing
c. escaping from
Key Words
miss (v): nhớ
run away: bỏ trốn
surprisingly (adv): ngạc nhiên, kinh ngạc
go along: đi dọc theo
gorge (n): đèo, hẻm núi
come out of: đi ra khỏi
apparently (adv): hình như, có vẻ như
extremely (adv): vô cùng, rất
be disappointed in someone: thất vọng về ai
punishment (n): sự trừng phạt, sự trả giá
Key Sentences
1 But I knew in my heart that I couldn’t ask him to run away with me.
2 We can take the same road that the army will take on its way to Ethiopia
3 Apparently someone else had been listening to our conversation, too.
4 My father took me away and we ran into the darkness of the night.
What is the use of being the Princess when I cannot sleep for the sorrow?1 Radames came to see me in my room tonight.
I said to him, “Try to love me and I will go to my father and beg for mercy. He will spare your life for me.”
All he said was, “That is very kind of you Princess Amneris, but I have no reason to live.2 Aida is gone and I don’t want to live without her. I heard she and her father were captured and killed.”
I quickly replied, “No. Her father was captured, but she managed to escape. If you give up your love for her, I will save you. I love you just as much as she does.”3
His next words broke my heart. “I could never love you, Amneris. I will go and wait for my death,” he said.
He walked out of the room and out of my life.4I never saw him again. He was placed in a prison under the temple.5 He will die a very sad death in that cold, lonely place.
Check up
Why did Radames choose death?
_________________________
Key Words
what is the use of…?: … có ý nghĩa gì nữa?
sorrow (n): sự buồn phiền, sự đau khổ
mercy (n): lòng nhân từ,
sự khoan dung
spare (v): tha, tha thứ
capture (v): bắt giữ
manage to do something: xoay xở để làm gì
give up: từ bỏ
save (v): cứu
place (v): đưa vào
temple (n): ngôi đền
Key Sentences
1 What is the use of being the Princess when I cannot sleep for the sorrow?
2 That is very kind of you Princess Amneris, but I have no reason to live.
3 I love you just as much as she does.
4 He walked out of the room and out of my life.
5 He was placed in a prison under the temple.
I have finally found a place where I can be happy. I returned to the temple by the River Nile. I knew that the priests would lock Radames in the prison under the temple, so I went there to wait for him.1
“Radames, my love! I came to be with you and to die with you. Let us die together and escape this world of pain.2 Let’s go to a better place together,” I said to him. We lay in each other’s arms, finally happy together.
It has been a long time since the priests imprisoned Radames.3 He must be dead by now. I never found out what happened to Aida. Perhaps my jealousy killed them both. I found out later that she too was a princess. We could have been such good friends. Instead, I was unkind to her. I cry every night for Radames. If Aida is dead, then I cry for her too. I hope they can both find happiness in their next lives.4
Check up
1. Aida was finally happy ___________________.
a. with her father in Ethiopia.
b. because she became friends with Amneris.
c. because she was together with Radames.
Key Words & Sentences
by (prep): gần
lock (v): nhốt, giam giữ
pain (n): khổ đau
lie (v): nằm
(lie - lay - lain)
imprison (v): nhốt trong ngục,
tống giam
by now: ngay lúc này
1 I knew that the priests would lock Radames in the prison under the temple, so I went there to wait for him.
2 Let us die together and escape this world of pain.
3 It has been a long time since the priests imprisoned Radames.
4 I hope they can both find happiness in their next lives.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Choose the expression that could be replaced with the underlined parts.
1. The King now looked at Radames and embraced him like a son.
(a) hit
(b) advised
(c) looked
(d) hugged
2. He knew how I longed to return to my country.
(a) wanted
(b) hated
(c) succeeded
(d) was able
3. You are the victor in this war, so you should receive the greatest prize of all.
(a) money
(b) reward
(c) salary
(d) punishment
B. Fill in the blanks with the name of the characters.
1. __________ played a terrible trick on Aida.
2. The King announced that __________ would marry Amneris.
3. __________ met Radames on the bank of the River Nile.
4. __________ saw Radames talking to __________ and ordered the priests to arrest them.