LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| ISOLDA SNATCHED THE CUP FROM HIS TREMBLING HAND AND DRANK | [Frontispiece] |
| AUBER | To face page [1] |
| BALFE | " [ 14] |
| BEETHOVEN | " [ 28] |
| BELLINI | " [ 38] |
| DONIZETTI | " [ 73] |
| GOUNOD | " [ 105] |
| HALÃVY | " [ 135] |
| MASCAGNI | " [ 165] |
| MEYERBEER | " [ 171] |
| MOZART | " [ 206] |
| OFFENBACH | " [ 238] |
| PUCCINI | " [ 247] |
| ROSSINI | " [ 282] |
| TSCHAIKOVSKY | " [ 318] |
| VERDI | " [ 328] |
| WAGNER | " [ 397] |
AUBER
STORIES FROM THE OPERAS
FRA DIAVOLO
One bright Easter Eve, early in the nineteenth century, a lively group of carbineers were gathered together in the inn of Terracina near Naples, drinking success to the enterprise they were engaged upon; for they were just about to attack a horde of brigands supposed to be in that neighbourhood, and were expecting to meet with many exciting adventures.
The captain of the outlaw band, Fra Diavolo, was the most celebrated bandit in Italy, and fully justified his sinister name, for his daring raids and impudent roguery had made him a terror to the country-side, and the mere mention of his name caused peaceful travellers to tremble in their shoes.
All previous attempts to capture the cunning outlaw had proved ineffectual; so when at last a troop of carbineers was sent out from Naples to lie in wait for the whole band, joy was felt in every village round about, and the peasants hoped to be freed from their dreaded enemy at last.