<P> Vitellia, daughter of the late emperor Vitellio (who had been deposed by Tito's father), wants revenge against Tito . She stirs up Tito's vacillating friend Sesto, who is in love with her, to act against him (duet Come ti piace, imponi). But when she hears word that Tito has sent Berenice of Cilicia, of whom she was jealous, back to Jerusalem, Vitellia tells Sesto to delay carrying out her wishes, hoping Tito will choose her (Vitellia) as his empress (aria Deh, se piacer mi vuoi). </P> <P> Tito, however, decides to choose Sesto's sister Servilia to be his empress, and orders Annio (Sesto's friend) to bear the message to Servilia (aria Del più sublime soglio). Since Annio and Servilia, unbeknownst to Tito, are in love, this news is very unwelcome to both (duet Ah, perdona al primo affetto). Servilia decides to tell Tito the truth but also says that if Tito still insists on marrying her, she will obey . Tito thanks the gods for Servilia's truthfulness, and immediately forswears the idea of coming between her and Annio (aria Ah, se fosse intorno al trono). </P> <P> In the meantime, however, Vitellia has heard the news about Tito's interest in Servilia and is again boiling with jealousy . She urges Sesto to assassinate Tito . He agrees, singing one of the opera's most famous arias (Parto, parto, ma tu, ben mio with basset clarinet obbligato). Almost as soon as he leaves, Annio and the guard Publio arrive to escort Vitellia to Tito, who has now chosen her as his empress . She is torn with feelings of guilt and worry over what she has sent Sesto to do . </P> <P> Sesto, meanwhile, is at the Capitol wrestling with his conscience (recitativo Oh Dei, che smania è questa), as he and his accomplices go about to burn it down . The other characters (except Tito) enter severally and react with horror to the burning Capitol . Sesto reenters and announces that he saw Tito slain, but Vitellia stops him from incriminating himself as the assassin . The others lament Tito in a slow, mournful conclusion to act 1 . </P>

La clemenza di tito libretto english and italian