THE action takes place in Larissa, the capital city of Thessaly, in classical times. In the royal apartments of the palace Admeto, the King, lies indisposed in his Bed, where he sleeps. A ballet of spectres carrying blood-stained daggers enacts his dreams. He rises up from his Bed in a Fit of Rage, calling on the spectres to cease tormenting him. They vanish. He goes again to repose himself, longing to die in peace. Orindo, a courtier, brings him two messages: his guest Ercole (Hercules) desires to take his leave, and Trasimede, the King's brother, ‘raves over the portrait of some painted beauty’ and is as distraught as Admeto himself. In a brief visit to the sickroom Ercole declares that the motive of his mighty deeds is glory, not love for Iole. Alceste, the Queen, prays to Apollo to soften her husband's pain and her own. The god's statue replies that only the death of a near relative can cure him. As Admeto composes himself to sleep, Alceste resolves to die for him and looks forward to their next meeting in Elysium. The set changes to A Wood, where the Trojan princess Antigona and her tutor Meraspe are living both in Shepherd's Habit. They are refugees from Troy, which has been sacked by Ercole. Antigona, who was betrothed to Admeto before his marriage to Alceste, denounces him as a traitor, and blames his illness on Jove's anger at his broken vows. She laments the death of her father Laomedon at Troy and, seeking a means of introduction to the palace, asks Meraspe to pose as her father. In the Inside Walks of a Garden Alceste with a Ponyard in her Hand, and a Train of Damsels that are veil’d, and weeping, tells them not to bewail her willing sacrifice. All depart, and Admeto enters with Ercole and guards, rejoicing in his recovered health. He is interrupted by cries of woe within. Here all the back Part of the Theatre opens, and near a Fountain's Side is presented to View Alceste slain, with the Sword in her Bosom. Orindo gives Admeto a note from Alceste saying she chose death to save his life. Here the Theatre shuts in again.