
ActI<br/> Scene1<br/> Havinggatheredtogethertocelebrateawedding,thepeasantscomplaintotheGovernorofRomeaboutthemisdeedsofacertainMarcoSpada.Thoughtheyhaveneverseteyesonhim,rumoursabouttherobberieshehascarriedoutinthedistrictareahottopicofconversationwiththem.Aregimentofdragoonsentersthevillage.CountPepinelli,captainofthedragoons,fallsforthecharmsoftheGovernor’sdaughter,MarchesaSampietri.But,alas,thelatterisbetrothedtoPrinceFrederici...Takingadvantageofthesituation,MarcoSpada,incognito,emptiesthepocketsoftheonlookers.Generalconsternation!Rainscattersthecrowd.TheonlypersonleftinthesquareisFriarBorromeo,whomMarcoSpadahasdeftlyrelievedofallthealmshehascollected.<br/> Scene2<br/> TheMarchesa,theGovernorofRomeandCountPepinelli,whohavegotlostonamountainwalk,havenoideatheyhavetakenrefugeinMarcoSpada’slair.Angela,thebandit’sdaughter,isalsototallyignorantofherfather’sclandestineactivities.InthebeliefthatnooneisathomeSpada’saccomplicesquicklyfilltheroombutthen,justasquickly,vanish.Pepinelli,whohaswitnessedallthis,warnsSpada,thathishousehasbeeninvadedbybandits.Thedragoonstakeuptheirposts.Thetrap-doorsintheflooropenupagainandthepictureshangingonthewallsshiftpositions—butthistimeonlytorevealtotheastonishedvisitorsaladentableandseductiveyoungwomen!<br/> ActII<br/> TheGovernorinvitesMarcoSpadaandAngelatoaball.AttheverymomentthatPrinceFredericiisabouttoaskSpadaforhisdaughter’shandinmarriage,FriarBorromeoturnsupandcomplainstoallandsundryhehasbeenrobbed.Borromeosayshewillrecognizethethief.Spadadecidesitistimetovanishbut,beforehemanagestodoso,Borromeopointshimout.Atlastthepennydrops:ashatteredAngelatellsPrinceFredericishecannotbehisbride.ThepiquedPrinceimmediatelyannounceshisbetrothaltotheMarchesa.NowitisPepinelli’sturntobeputout.<br/> ActIII<br/> Scene1<br/> PepinellidecidestodeclarehislovetotheMarchesaforthelasttimebut,thelatter,havingalreadymadeuphermind,comestomeethiminherweddingdress.SuddenlythebanditsshowupfromalldirectionsandkidnapboththeMarchesaandtheCount.<br/> Scene2<br/> SurroundedbyhiscroniesMarcoSpada,tohisastonishment,catchessightofAngelainbanditgarb.“Inlifeordeath!Iacceptmyfateandwanttoliveherewithyouall”.Againsthiswill,FriarBorromeoisforcedtomarrytheMarchesaandPepinelli.<br/> Theapproachingregimentcanbeheardinthedistance,thebanditsdecidetotakerefugeinacave,seizingFredericiandtheGovernorwhomtheycomeacrossontheirway.ButAngelaintervenesandsavesthelivesofbothofthelatter.Shotsareheardcloseathand.MarcoSpadaismortallywounded.Heappears,staggering.Beforehedies,hemakesaconfessionwhichdumbfoundsthesoldiers:Angela,hesays,isnothisdaughter.ThisliesavesherfromarrestandleavesthewayopenforhermarriagetoPrinceFrederici.
