Aureliano in Palmira
Queen Zenobia and her lover, Prince Arsace, prepare to defend Palmyra from the Roman army led by Aureliano. After the Persians are defeated, Arsace is captured. Aureliano offers to free him if he abandons Zenobia, but Arsace refuses. When the Romans conquer Palmyra, Aureliano offers Zenobia rule beside him, and she refuses as well. Arsace escapes with help from Oraspe and sets out to free her, but both are captured again. Moved by their devotion, Aureliano releases the couple on condition that they swear allegiance to Rome; they accept and are restored to rule Palmyra.