Sosarme

Melo, son and heir of King Haliate of Lydia, has rebelled against his father and raised an army to try to overthrow him, believing the king wishes to disinherit him in favour of his illegitimate son Argone. Sosarme King of the neighbouring empire of the Medes had been engaged to marry Princess Elmira, Melo's sister, and is invading with an army of his own to try to stop this dynastic war. King Haliate is besieging Sardis, where his rebellious son Melo, his daughter Elmira and wife Erenice are living in the palace. The citizens are starving and Melo decides to launch an attack on Haliate's forces. His mother and sister beg him not to risk injury or death to his father, but Melo will not be moved. Argone, illegitimate son of Haliate, is also the grandson of Sosarme's counsellor Altomaro, who urges Argone to fight to be proclaimed Haliate's heir, but Argone thinks this would be ignoble. Sosarme tries to act as a mediator between Melo and Haliate, but Haliate is determined to punish his rebellious son. After the battle, Melo brings into the palace a garment stained with Sosarme's blood and Elmira swoons away at the sight. Altomaro decides that if Argone will not fight to become king, he himself will attempt to overthrow Haliate. Sosarme was only wounded, not killed, in the battle, and is brought into the palace where he and Elmira lovingly greet each other. Haliate decides to spare the people an extended war, and to settle the quarrel with his son Melo by challenging him to fight…

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