Berenice

The scene is Egypt, around 80 BC. The Queen, Berenice, has for some time been in love with a prince of Macedonia, Demetrio, but has been advised that for the good of her country she must form an alliance with Rome through marriage, and she has reluctantly consented to set aside personal feeling for duty. Demetrio is an ally of the enemy of Egypt, Mithridates of Pontus. Fabio, the Roman ambassador, presents the Queen with the man chosen by them to be her husband, Prince Alessandro of Rome. Alessandro falls madly in love with Berenice at first sight, but she is not as impressed with him and resents having a husband forced on her in this way. Fabio tells Alessandro that if Berenice refuses to marry him, he must wed her sister Princess Selene, instead. Unbeknownst to the Queen, however, the man she loves, Demetrio, and her sister Selene are secretly in love with each other. Moreover, they are plotting to call Mithridates to their aid to overthrow Berenice and put Selene on the throne in her place. Berenice tells her sister that she must marry Prince Arsace (who in fact is in love with Selene, but not she with him). Alessandro saves Demetrio from an assassination attempt in the royal palace, whereupon Berenice resolves more than ever that Demetrio is the man for her. Rome continues to press for Alessandro to marry Selene now that Berenice has refused him, but the Queen insists this is impossible, since Selene is now betrothed to Arsace. Berenice is warned this will mean war with R…

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