Adele, the confidant of the tyrant Christierne, who owns Sweden and Denmark, cannot understand the gloomy mood of Kedar, the commander, in honor of whose victory the people rejoice around the palace, glorifying the winner.
Kedar admits that the victory that saved Stockholm from destruction did not belong to him, but to the “captive Rosslav”. And now the feelings of friendship and admiration for Rosslav gave way to hatred. Kedar decides to reveal to Adela a secret known only to him and to the ruler Christien. Having captured the wounded and dying Rosslav, the tyrant wanted to find out where Gustav, the legitimate ruler of the Swedes, hiding "in countries prisoners in Russia." Then the tyrant would be able to cunningly get rid of Gustav. He cannot engage in open battle with an opponent, knowing that, “if he brings a sword to Russia,” he will be defeated by the legitimate sovereign.
Christien tried to tear out the secret from Rosslav by torture and, when he was convinced that he couldn’t do it, he agreed to Kedar’s offer and released Rosslav from prison, hoping that the fearless and torture-resistant Ross would succumb to “the pleasure of friendship and affection”.
Kedar and Rosslav went together to defend the country from the invasion of Sarmatian hordes. On the battlefield, Kedar was expected to lose, but Rosslav’s courage not only saved the life of the Swedish commander, but also brought victory over the enemies. But Rosslav hid his feat from everyone and glorified Kedar as the true and only winner. The former affection for captive Ross gave way to fierce hatred, and above all because Rosslav could reveal the truth to Zafira, princess, the last representative of the country's lawful rulers.
Adele is amazed. After all, everyone, and Kedar all the more, know that Zafira is intended to be a spouse of Christianna. Kedar asks Adele to follow Rosslav and keep a secret. Adele leaves, and Rosslav appears.
He is sad. He knows that Russian lands are surrounded by enemies, his fellow citizens are fighting, and he languishes in captivity. Rosslav asks Kedar to help him. He tells Kedar that he is asking him as a hero who recently won such a brilliant victory. Kedar objects, recalling what really happened. But Rosslav assures that he fought only for a friend, and not for a foreign country. Kedar promises to help, but asks if Rosslav has any other affection in Sweden. Kedar means Zafira, suspecting Rosslav of love for her. Rosslav assures his friend that, admiring Zafira, her beauty and virtues, she sees in her only "the princess of Russian enemies." Calmed Kedar leaves.
Zafira appears Between her and Rosslav an explanation occurs. Both are not able to hide passionate feelings. Zafira is ready to run with Rosslav anywhere. Rosslav also seeks to suppress his passionate love for the sake of serving the motherland. He convinces Zafira to remember that she must fulfill her duty to the people and take the throne. Zafira vainly tries to convince Rosslav that separation from him would prove fatal for her. The saddened Rosslav leaves, exclaiming: “I'm sorry, I’m not you, but I’m running myself.”
Rosslav meets Lubomir, the Russian envoy. Lubomir reports that he has an order to release Rosslav from captivity, offering Christian in return all the lands previously conquered from him. Rosslav is outraged. He is ready to die for his homeland and does not believe that the prince has the right to pay his life for such a sacrifice. Kedar appears, followed by Christiern. Lubomir announces the purpose of his arrival. Christien rejects the offer, proudly declaring: "What is taken away by the sword, sword and will return." But he admits that he is ready to release Rosslav to his native land if the captured Ross reveals his secret. Rosslav indignantly rejects Christien's offer, recalling that he is a prisoner, not a slave. An angry tyrant sends Rosslav to prison. Left alone with Kedar, Christien confesses that he is struggling with the temptation to destroy Rosslav only because he will lose hope with Ross's death to find out his secret.
Zafira appears and calls on Christien to tame the anger and not dishonor the throne, fighting not on the battlefield, but with a defenseless captive. The tyrant, swearing to kill Rosslav, leaves.
Kedar, taking advantage of the fact that he was left alone with Zafira, decides to find out what drives Zafira. The poor princess confesses her love to Rosslav, whose death means death for her too. Kedar's fierce look scares her, but the warlord, offended in his feelings, assures Zafira of the desire to help the subject of her love. The reassured princess leaves, and Kedar swears to destroy Rosslav and Khristiern for the sole purpose of uniting with Zafira on the throne.
Rosslav is chained and put in prison. Lubomyr suffers from his powerlessness, from the fact that the order given to him by the Prince of Russia turned into misfortune. He is trying to convince Rosslav that his life is important for his fellow citizens and, having saved it, he can serve as a defender of the interests of the Russians. Rosslav is forced to devote Lubomir to all the details of what happened to him. Russia, he says, has recently come together and is still weak. Any invasion could be detrimental to her, which is why, barely learning about Gustav’s intention to regain his throne, Rosslav hastened to help him take refuge in a safe place until the rightful ruler of Sweden gathered his strength. Indeed, experiencing fear of the people led by Gustav, Christien would not attack Russia, fearing to lose the throne he had seized. The tyrant would like to know at all costs about the whereabouts of Gustav, and Rosslav, ready to lose his life for the sake of secrecy, will save his country and Sweden. Lubomyr suggests that there is a worthy means for saving and the life of Rosslav, and his secrets - Zafira’s love and Kedar’s friendship. Rosslav does not want to save his life, stooping to requests.
Zafira appears, sent by Christier in order to persuade Rosslav to reveal the secret. The captive tells Zafira that she herself would have ordered him to die if she knew that the salvation of his homeland lies in this secret. Zafira is amazed, because her love is so great that the death of Rosslav will be its end. At this time, Christiern enters with the soldiers in the hope that Zafira was able to find out the secret of Rosslav. He threatens the captive. The dignity with which Rosslav meets the threats of a tyrant, incurs Christien from himself, and he orders the soldiers to seize the captive. Zafira is terrified, and Christien understands that she loves Rosslav. Threatening both deaths, the tyrant leaves. Rosslav encourages Zafira in the name of their love to maintain courage. Zafira assures Ross that with his love, her death is "more pleasant as porphyry." Kedar appears and assures the desperate Zafira that she will do everything to save Rosslav. Lubomir enters and reports that he managed to force the tyrant to abandon secret execution and comply with the law.
Again in the dungeon Rosslav and Zafira. She offers Ross to run. Rosslav hesitates - happiness in love is not for him, life itself will remind him that he was weak. Zafira is ready for anything to save Rosslav, even to take her own life before his eyes. Rosslav is struck by her determination to part with life and is ready to give in. At this time, Lubomir appears and reports that Kedar conceived the betrayal, bringing the soldiers to the appointed place. Kedar, not knowing that his betrayal is revealed, appears with a sad look and offers Rosslav to commit suicide allegedly in order to avoid a dishonorable death on the scaffold. Lubomir and Zafira scornfully accuse Kedar, and Rosslav throws him in the face that the death of the captive is the death of the most dishonest Kedar, who betrayed friendship and honor. Fiercely, Kedar orders the soldiers to withdraw Rosslav. Lubomyr does not lose hope. He informs Zafira that the townspeople are excited about the news of the approach of Gustav with the army, and advises her to appear before the people.
Christien thanks Kedar for using him to deal with the hated Rosslav and Zafira, who preferred the captive Ross. Kedar, not wanting the death of Zafira, blames Rosslav for everything and tells the tyrant the terrible news - Gustav is approaching the walls of the city - and advises to hurry with the execution of Rosslav. Christien is frightened and asks Kedar to find by bribe or flattery people who are ready to destroy Gustav by sneaking into his camp. He understands that there are no friends among his subjects - their zeal rested on self-interest, and "self-interest will take them away." But first, he would like to enjoy the torment of Rosslav and Zafira. Warriors bring them. The dignity with which Rosslav is kept infuriates the tyrant. Zafira is ready to sacrifice herself for her lover and, rushing to the tyrant’s knees, agrees to marry him to save Rosslav’s life. The tyrant is relentless. Zafira’s love for Rosslav is unbearable for him, and he gives the soldiers the order to take Rosslav to execution. Zafira understands how right Rosslav was, asking her to show firmness of mind so as not to belittle him, Rosslav, honor. Zafira tells Khristiern that if she could not save Rosslav’s life at the cost of her own humiliation, she wouldn’t let the villain hold the throne of her family by right. She vows to reveal to the people the truth about Christien's atrocities. The tyrant orders the soldiers to silence Zafira. Adele runs in with the message that Gustav is near the city walls, and the indignant people freed Rosslava when he learned from the Russian envoy Lubomir the truth about who was the true liberator of Stockholm. Kedar took the glory of Rosslav and prepared the death of a true winner. Zafira calls on Christierna to abandon the throne and repent of her sins. The tyrant wants to stab Zafira - the idea that he will no longer be dealt with Rosslav blinds him. Rosslav runs in and pulls out a sword from Christien with the words: “Gustav, fatherland savior, on the throne”. The tyrant is ready to die at the hands of Rosslav, but the recent captive did not humble himself to revenge. Then, approaching Rosslav, Khristiern takes out a hidden dagger and tries to kill Ross, but the people do not allow him to commit the last villainy. Christien is slain in front of everyone.
Lubomyr advises Rosslav to enjoy the deserved love of the people who recognized the true liberator of their country. Rosslav says that for him the consolation is only to serve his own country, and "I dedicate my heart to Zafira."
