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Act I
In a garden with a summer house (required by the libretto), Xerxes praises the shade provided by a plane tree, observed by Arsemenes and his buffo servant
Elviro. Romilda, in the summer house, mocks the king’s love of a tree; Arsemenes
(Romilda’s secret lover) denies knowledge of the singer to his brother (Xerxes) who is becoming increasingly entranced by her voice. Xerxes announces, to a horrified
Arsemenes, that he intends to marry Romilda and wishes Arsemenes to convey his wishes to her. Arsemenes declines and warns Romilda that the king is to woo her himself. Romilda’s sister,
Atalanta, finds hope in this: if Romilda will leave Arsemenes for Xerxes, she may have a chance with
Arsemenes. Xerxes’s advances are unfruitful and he banishes Arsemenes from the court.
Amastris, betrothed to the king but abandoned by him, appears disguised as a man, seeking revenge. Romilda’s father,
Ariodates, also enters, proclaiming a Persian victory; the king promises him a royal husband for his daughter as a reward. Arsemenes gives Elviro a letter for
Romilda, telling of his grief. Atalanta tells Romilda that Arsemenes has found a new lover but Romilda is not fooled by her lies.
Act II
Amastris meets Elviro, disguised as a flower seller. Upon questioning him, she is troubled to learn that Xerxes is to marry
Romilda. Atalanta enters and offers to deliver Arsemenes’s letter to her sister. Xerxes approaches to find Atalanta reading the letter; she tells him this declaration of love from Arsemenes is hers to the delight of the king, who takes the letter. Confronting Romilda with this, she still maintains her constancy to
Arsemenes, yet Xerxes refuses to give her up. Elviro prevents Amastris from suicide. He also informs Arsemenes of Atalanta’s report of Romilda marrying the king.
By Xerxes’s new bridge, joining the shores of the
Hellespont, Ariodates and Xerxes congratulate themselves on their achievement, and look forward to conquering Europe. Filled with euphoria, Xerxes meets a gloomy Arsemenes and offers him friendship, giving him permission to marry
Atalanta. Arsemenes declares his love for Romilda; Xerxes fails to persuade Atalanta to forget
Arsemenes. Elviro comments on the approaching storm which destroys the bridge. Xerxes meets the disguised Amastris who claims to have been wounded in his service. Romilda enters and the king again asks for marriage. Amastris calls Xerxes a traitor : she is arrested but Romilda orders her release, praising those faithful in love.
Act III
A quarrel between Arsemenes and Romilda is pacified by Atalanta’s confession of deception and resignation of her attempts on
Arsemenes. After further pleas for marriage from Xerxes, Romilda tells him she will agree only on her father’s orders. She tells a somewhat irate Arsemenes that death, not marriage awaits her. Xerxes asks Ariodates if he is happy for Romilda to marry a nobleman who is ‘formed in his own imgae’: Ariodates assumes it is Arsemenes and gladly gives his consent. In a desperate attempt to prevent marriage to the king, Romilda tells Xerxes that she and Arsemenes have consummated their love; Xerxes doesn’t believe her but still orders Arsemenes’s death. Amastris offers to help Romilda by giving her a letter for Xerxes; she reflects on the grief she is forced to endure. Arsemenes blames Romilda for his sentence.
As the final scene opens, Romilda and Arsemenes are once more arguing: this time they are reconciled by Ariodates who tells them they are to be married with Xerxes’s consent. Xerxes enters and is furious at the situation; this is only exacerbated when he receives the letter from Romilda (but written by
Amastris), reproaching him for his betrayal. In anger, the king gives his sword to
Arsemenes, ordering him to kill Romilda. Amastris intervenes and asks Xerxes if he wishes treachery to be avenged; he agrees. Amastris finally reveals her identity and turns the weapon on her betrothed. He begs for forgiveness, assuring Amastris that his love for her will be revived. He blesses the marriage of Romilda and Arsemenes and all celebrate the union of love and
honour.
Matthew Shilvock
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