"Fly before di Luna discovers that I have cheated him," but Manrico still held the dying Leonora to his breast, and at that moment the Count entered.
"I have cheated him," she murmured. "I am dying." Hearing this the Count made an outcry and his guards rushed in.
"Away with him!" he shouted, pointing to Manrico; and Manrico was torn from Leonora, as she sank back dead. He was bound and hustled out, while Azucena was awakened by the confused sounds. She sat up and called desperately:
"Manrico!" Finding him gone and seeing di Luna, "Where hast thou taken him?" she screamed, tearing her gray hair.
"See—" and di Luna dragged her to the barred window. "See! The knife falls—look upon the sight, old fiend." She saw Manrico's head struck from his shoulders as the day dawned. With a frightful shriek she cried:
"Mother, I am avenged! Fiend! he was thy brother!" Di Luna looked first at the dying gipsy, then at the horrid scene below, and staggered back, unable to speak his brother's name. His peace was destroyed forever.
AÏDA
CHARACTERS OF THE OPERA, WITH THE ORIGINAL CASTS AS PRESENTED
AT THE FIRST PERFORMANCES
| CAIRO | MILAN | |
| Aïda | Signora Pozzoni | Signora Stolz |
| Amneris | Grossi | Waldmann |
| Radames | Signor Mongini | Signor Fancelli |
| Amonasro | Steller | Pandolfini |
| Ramphis | Medini | Maini |
| The King | Costa | Pavoleri |
| Messenger | Bottardi | Vistarini |