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The contexture of this drama is so very easy, that it wou’d be troubling to the reader to give him a long argument to explain it. Some imbicilities, and the temerity of Xerxes (such as his being deeply enamour’d with a plane tree, and the building of a bridge over the Hellespont to unite Asia to Europe) are the basis of the story, the rest is fiction.The action takes place at the court of Xerxes.

ACT I

Xerxes, after contemplating the beauties of a tree in his garden, is struck by the singing of Romilda, the daughter of Ariodates, commander of his army. He tells his brother, Arsamenes, to inform Romilda of his admiration for her, but Arsamenes and Romilda are in love with each other and so he refuses to help. Xerxes resolves to do his own wooing.

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Arsemenes warns Romilda of Xerxes’ passion. Romilda’s sister, Atalanta, also secretly loves Arsamenes, and decides to encourage the King; when Xerxes finds his overtures rejected by Romilda, he banishes Arsamenes. Meanwhile Amastris, a foreign princess betrothed to Xerxes and unable to bear her separation from him, arrives. Because she has come alone without her father’s knowledge, she has travelled disguised as a solider in Xerxes’ army. She watches him receive Ariodates and his army back from a successful campaign. The King announces that he will reward Ariodates by arranging a match for Romilda with one of his own family. Amastris then overhears him talk about his new passion, and she does not reveal who she is; later, she swears revenge.

Arsamenes sends his servant, Elviro, to Romilda with a letter. Although Atalanta fails to persuade Romilda that Arsamenes is unfaithful, she decides to persevere in her attempt to win his love.

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ACT II

Elviro, disguised as a flower-seller, tells Amastris about Xerxes’ passion for Romilda; he then delivers Arsamenes’ letter to Atalanta, who promises to pass it on to Romilda; Atalanta tells him that her sister has succumbed to Xerxes’ proposals. She then gives the letter to Xerxes, persuading him that Arsamenes wrote it to her, and that Arsamenes is only pretending to be in love with Romilda because he is really in love with her. Xerxes shows the letter to Romilda, who seems convinced that it is indeed meant for Atalanta; yet she continues to reject his advances. Amastris attempts suicide, but is restrained by Elviro. Elviro tells Arsamenes what Atalanta told him – that Romilda has yielded to the King.

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Xerxes unveils the Bridge to Europe, which has been built to facilitate an ÌýÌýarmed invasion. Turning to more pressing concerns, he finds Arsamenes and tells him that he knows now of his real love for Atalanta. Arsamenes reasserts his love for Romilda. Elviro witnesses the collapse of the Bridge, destroyed by a storm.

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Amastris watches Xerxes make another attempt to seduce Romilda. She intervenes, and is only saved from arrest when Romilda persuades Xerxes’ guard to release her. Romilda swears to remain faithful to Arsamenes.

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ACT III

Romilda and Arsamenes discover that Atalanta has been scheming to separate them. Atalanta admits defeat. Arsamenes hides as Xerxes makes his most threatening advances so far: in terror, Romilda agrees to marry him if her father consents. Xerxes leaves to find Ariodates, and Arsamenes turns furiously on Romilda. Xerxes gains Ariodates’ consent for Romilda’s marriage to a man of his own kin: he still does not reveal he has himself in mind, preferring to marry her before any discussion about her lack of royal blood can occur. Ariodates assumes Romilda’s intended is Arsamenes.

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When Xerxes returns to claim Romilda, she casts doubt on her own virtue. Xerxes furiously orders his brother’s death; Romilda tries to warn Arsamenes of the danger he faces, but he prefers to believe she is trying to get rid of him. Ariodates waits for the bride and bridegroom, and, when Romilda and Arsemes arrive, still arguing fiercely, he hurries them off to be married. Xerxes appears just in time to be told that they are man and wife. When he commands Arsamenes to kill Romilda, Amastris steps forward and reveals who she is. She forgives him for his infidelity, and he has no alternative but to agree to marry her.