Marco Spada

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.