La regina di Sparta

After the kidnapping of Elena, Queen of Sparta, Priamo, the King of Troy, is informed that she must return to her kingdom or war between the Spartans and the Trojans will ensue. While Paride, Prince of Troy, begs his father not to return his beloved, Elena insists on averting warfare by returning to her home. When Priamo hears that the Spartans have begun to revolt, he insists on fighting, but Elena begs Paride to stay with her rather than risk his life on the battlefield. Priamo's consort, the queen, asks Elena to beg Ettore, Paride's brother, not to fight. However, Ettore insists on going to battle and takes leave of his wife Andromacke and his son despite the former's pleading and her accusations against Elena that Ettore is in love with her. Priamo enlists Paride to lead the troops against Menelave, Elena's husband. Meanwhile, at the Spartan camp, a messenger announces the Trojans' approach. When Achilles' request to have the honor of killing Paride and Ettore is refused by Menelave, who desires to do the job himself, Achilles refuses to fight. Paride loses the duel with Menelave, and Elena, fearing for Paride, orders a chariot and begs Menelave to throw down his arms, which he does. But Acamendole, another Spartan, convinces Menelave to continue the fight and to avenge the kidnapping of Elena. On the Trojan side, Ettore gives the command to fight and many Spartans are killed. A messenger announces the Trojans' rapid progress toward the Spartan camp, and in his fury, Achilles strangles the messenger and then tries to distract himself from the urge to do battle by watching acrobats and dancers perform. Back in Troy, Spartan prisoners arrive and Elena begs Priamo to spare them, reminding him that she too is a Spartan. Priamo menaces Elena, and Paride in turn menaces Priamo, who then orders his son taken away. Protoclo, a Spartan, begs to take Achilles' place as high commander in order to save Sparta. Achilles agrees, calls the men to arms, and then sends Protoclo out, the latter eventually being killed when he engages in combat with Ettore. When Protoclo's body is brought back to the camp, Achilles vows to avenge his fallen friend and takes up arms, although the Trojans have already declared victory. Achilles fights with Ettore in front of the walls of Troy, but Andromacke takes her son to the scene and begs her husband not to fight. As Ettore tries to run to his family, Achilles pierces his throat with a sword. Achilles takes the body and announces that Protoclo is avenged. The Trojan women denounce Elena, and a prophet from Athens foretells the death of Paride and Ettore and the fall of Troy. Priamo has the prophet burned to death. Next, Priamo, the queen, and Andromacke go to Achilles and beg that Ettore's body be returned for a proper burial. Achilles says he will only give the body up if Elena relinquishes her crown and has it placed on Protoclo's tomb. Priamo agrees but secretly plans to avenge Ettore's death by asking Paride to thrust a poisoned arrow into Achilles' heel. He refuses until Priamo threatens to send Elena to do the job. Elena tries to stop Paride, but is too late. He kills Achilles and, ashamed at his father's treachery, tries to attack Priamo with the poisoned arrow. Priamo has him seized and orders that he be put to death. Acamendole decides on a plan to destroy Troy: he will declare peace, then send a huge horse filled with Spartan soldiers as a friendship offering. Paride, in prison, is visited by Elena and his mother, the queen. He says he will kill himself if Elena leaves him. As the Trojans rejoice in their victory, the horse is brought in. Elena and Paride are sentenced to death and the queen tries to help them to escape, although the brave Elena wishes to stay and die by Paride's side. They see Menelave emerge from the horse, and then the Spartan king kills Elena's lover. Priamo tries to poison Elena, but when he sees the Spartans, he drinks the poison himself. Menelave enters and Elena tells him to kill her. He tells her to commit suicide, but then changes his mind and invites her to return with him to Sparta.