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from the King of Navarre to negotiate with Catherine, the Queen-Mother, for -the return of his
beautiful and lively wife, Marguerite, who is being compelled to remain in Paris, practically a
prisoner. Mergy finds his task a difficult one, owing to the many intrigues of the French Court,
and whilst he is carrying out his negotiations his own love romance brings him into fresh
difficulties. He is in love with a beautiful young lady of the Court, the Countess Isabella, who also
has another ardent admirer in Comminge, a particular friend of Charles IX, who quickly becomes
extremely jealous of the ambassador, and tries desperately to ingratiate himself with the lady.
Isabella, however, loves Mergy, and disdains the attentions of Comminge, whom she knows to be
a bully and noted duellist; but by accepting the suit of the former she brings him into great danger.
Comminge soon finds an opportunity to pick a quarrel with his rival; and the result is that a duel
takes place between the pair at a celebrated duelling meeting-place, known as the Pré aux Clercs.
Isabella is in terror on hearing that her lover has been challenged by the famous duellist, fearing
that he can have no chance of coming through the meeting alive; but Mergy happens to be
exceedingly skilful himself with his weapon, and in the encounter he kills his opponent. However,
Mergy is still in danger, because of the edict against duelling; and he is compelled to remain in
hiding. Isabella, however, meets him again, and they enter into a secret marriage. They have
friends in the innkeeper at the Pré aux Clercs, Girot and his sweetheart Nicette; and with the help
also of the Queen of Navarre, the newly-married pair at length are able to escape from Paris and
reach a place of safety.
71. ZAMPA
Opera Comique in Three Acts By Louis Joseph Ferdinand Hérold
Libretto By Mellesville
First Produced Paris, May, 1831
Chief Characters Camilla, The Statue of Albina, Zampa, Alfonso, Count Lugano
THE action takes place in Sicily, in the beginning of last century. Camilla, daughter of Count
Lugano, is betrothed to Alfonso di Monza, a Sicilian officer; but on the day the wedding is to be
celebrated neither the bridegroom nor his future father-in-law are to be found. Camilla is more
than usually alarmed, since there is a celebrated and desperate pirate-captain on shore in the
neighbourhood; but her maid allays this fear by announcing that the buccaneer, Zampa, has
already been captured and condemned to be shot. Nevertheless, the desolate bride soon hears that
both her beloved ones are indeed in the power of Zampa, who has escaped. from captivity; and the
pirate himself presently appears with his desperadoes at the château, and announces to Camilla
that unless she will consent to marry him, and hand over her father's wealth to him, he will slay the
two captives, whom he had secured for this same purpose. Camilla is helpless, and entreats for
mercy, but Zampa only laughs insolently; and seeing a statue of a beautiful woman in the salon,
and recognising it as representing Albina, a girl whose heart he had broken by his desertion of her,
he flippantly places a ring on its finger, caring nothing when the statue, at his touch, raises its hand
in a menacing attitude. In the next act the captive Alfonso is brought to the château, and soldiers
also arrive to secure the escaped pirate; but when Zampa produces a letter, containing the
Governor's free pardon on condition he joins in the fighting then taking place against the Turks,
and announces his intention to do so, they withdraw. Zampa, however, still intends to wed the
lovely Camilla, in spite of her entreaties to be sent to a convent; and finding the lives of her