Regina Diaz

Setting: Naples c. 1700 Act 1 Mario Sanseverino, a Neapolitan nobleman and leader of a rebellion against Spanish rule, approaches the friar Benedetto in the courtyard of a monastery. He tells Benedetto of the impending rebellion and hands him a sheaf of papers for safekeeping, asking him to destroy them if he is killed. The papers are letters from Sanseverino's lover, Regina, the wife of the Spanish governor Ferrante Diaz. Sanseverino and Regina meet in a church where she has gone to pray. They once again declare their love for each other. Later, the plot is discovered and its leaders, including Sanseverino, are brought to the governor's palace. Ferrante recognizes Sanseverino as the son of an old friend. He tells Sanseverino that he remembers him as a boy and will arrange for him to escape into exile instead of being executed. Regina is distraught at the idea that she will never see her lover again. Act 2 Left alone together in the governors' palace, Sanseverino and Regina make plans to flee together at midnight. Meanwhile, Gonzalo, one of Ferrante's soldiers, arrives to inform Ferrante that in investigating the plot, he has discovered that it also involves Fra Benedetto who appears to be in possession of secret papers. Ferrante summons Benedetto and demands to see the papers whereupon he discovers that Regina has betrayed him with Sanseverino. In a fury, he attempts to kill Regina, but is stopped by Benedetto. Sanseverino arrives. Ferrante immediately challenges him to a du…

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