Siface re di Numidia (also: Siface or Viriate) is a libretto in three acts by Pietro Metastasio. It is a reworking of La forza della virtù by :de:Domenico David and was Metastasio's first work as a librettist. it was first performed with a setting to music by Francesco Feo on 13 May 1723 at the Teatro San Bartolomeo, Naples.
Action
The action is set in Rusconia near Cirta in Numidia, around 205 BCE. The characters are:
Siface (Syphax), King of Numidia
Viriate, Princess of Lusitania
Erminio, General in Siface's army, lover of Ismene
Ismene, daughter of Orcanos
Orcano, her father
Libanio, confidant of Siface
Siface (Syphax) is planning a marriage of convenience with Viriate but then falls in love with Ismene. He then tries various intrigues to get rid of Viriate.
The following plot summary is based on the German translation of the libretto by :de:Johann Philipp Praetorius, performed in 1727 in Hamburg with arias by Nicola Antonio Porpora and recitative by Georg Philipp Telemann.
Act 1
Outside the city wall of Rusconia: Siface, Erminio and Orcano await the arrival of Viriate. Trumpets sound and Viriate comes ashore, accompanied by Siface's confidant Libanio. They are welcomed by Siface, Orcano and Erminio. Viriate is slightly offended, however, when Siface immediately sends her with Libanio and Orcano to his castle in Cirta. Siface then admits to Erminio that he has now fallen in love with Ismene, who is waiting for him right now. Since Erminio is in love with Ismene himself, this sets up a conflict between his love and his duty.
Pleasant place near the royal palace: Siface meets Ismene. Because of his engagement, she wants to end the relationship. However, Siface declares that he only loves her and promises to marry and crown her the same day. After he leaves, Erminio arrives and complains that she has left him. Although she will not give up her new love, he decides to stay true to her.
Royal cabinet: Viriate tells Orcano that Siface now wants to marry Ismene. Orcano denies this and leaves. Libanio, arrives, sent by Asif we to look for weaknesses in her behavior. To lure her into behaving inappropriately he claims to be in love with her, but she ignores him. When Orcano finds Ismene, she tells him about her relationship with the king. He accuses her of acting dishonorably and decides to exile her to the Scythia. When she refuses, he pulls out his sword to kill her. At this moment, however, Viriate intervenes. Since Orcano already sees her as his queen, he hands over the sword and asks her to kill him as a punishment for his daughter's dishonor. Viriate tries to appease him. After he leaves, Viriate tries to talk to Ismene, telling her that Siface was only enjoying her love, but would never marry her. Siface appears and they both accuse him of infidelity.
Act 2
Magnificent colonnade: Libanio tells Siface that he has failed to compromise Viriate's virtue. Siface then orders her to be thrown into the dungeon. To justify this, he intends to falsify evidence of her infidelity and to sacrifice Ismene's admirer Erminio as well. Libanio goes to arrest Viriate. To appease Ismene, Siface shares his plan with her.
Orcano is still angry with his daughter and threatens her with the sword. Siface protects her, however, and Ismene leaves. Siface then affirms that he wants to marry Ismene and that Viriate had betrayed him. As proof, he shows him a fake letter from Viriate to Erminio. In it she writes about their love and their plan to murder Siface. Orcano secretly doubts the authenticity of the letter.
Libanio has Viriate captured. Erminio tries to free her, but is also captured. Ismene promises Viriate to use her influence with the King to free her, but Viriate doesn't believe her. After Viriate is kidnapped by Libanio, Ismene affirms to Erminio that she really loves him, but that the crown was more important to her.
Large courtroom: Libanio reports to Siface that he tried unsuccessfully to get Viriate's servant to testify against her and has therefore killed him. Siface decides to blame this murder on Erminio. The trial begins with Orcano as the judge. Viriate refuses to answer the lies about her and does not defend herself. Seeing through Siface's lies, Orcano pronounces judgment: he announces that the traitor must die but does not name them. Siface is ready to pardon Viriate if she acknowledges her guilt and leaves the country. When she rejects this, she is again led away. Siface now asks Erminio to confess, but he only admits to loving Ismene and assures Siface that Ismene only wants to marry him because of the crown. Siface angrily leaves the room.