Act One

SCENE I:

COLA (alone at home):

Performs a scene about his master's illness, which no doctor can diagnose. After pleading with him several times, his master finally revealed that the cause of his illness is the love he feels for Lucinda. However, to avoid harming his friend Valerio, he endures such torment. Cola says he wants to help him and leaves.

SCENE II:

LUCINDA (at home)

She speaks about Valerio's love and recounts how she left her parents in Venice, her homeland, to serve Valerio, who promised her marriage. She laments that it has been a while since he has visited her at home, unlike his usual behavior.

SCENE III:

LUCINDA and COLA

Cola sees Lucinda and says he wants to start serving his master. He plays a prank about Valerio's horseback riding incident, where his spirited horse named "Pesta Pepe" entered a field and caused some damage. As a result, Valerio got into a fight with the farmers, putting his life in great danger. Lucinda laughs at his pranks, and at the end, Cola says not to be surprised if Valerio doesn't visit her often, as he has befriended a courtesan. Jealous, Lucinda threatens that if Valerio doesn't experience firsthand what she has told him, she will end his life. Cola promises and leaves. Meanwhile, Valerio comes amid Lucinda's exaggerated claims.

SCENE IV:

VALERIO on the street and LUCINDA 

Valerio approaches her, they engage in a scene of mutual love with jokes and dialogue that ends each phrase with "Valerio, don't you love me?" and he responds, "Lucinda, don't you love me?"

SCENE V: 

COLA and the aforementioned characters

Cola approaches, takes Valerio aside, and tells him that Ottavio, his master, has had a very serious accident. He instructs Valerio to go to him and enter through the garden gate. Valerio hears this, without bidding farewell to Lucinda, and leaves to attend to his friend. Lucinda is left astonished and asks Cola what this means. He replies that it's time for him to visit his courtesan and exaggerates as he enters. Cola is determined to make Valerio angry in every way possible, that she will be with Ottavio, his master.

SCENE VI:

VALERIO on the street

Valerio sees that his friend Ottavio is not as sick as Cola had told him. He asks why Ottavio is unwell. Cola knows the reason and suggests that Valerio could help. Valerio is willing to listen, and Cola proceeds to explain: Ottavio is in love with a noblewoman. However, the woman's father disapproves of Ottavio's advances and forbids her from seeing him. Upon hearing this, Ottavio told the father that his intentions were not for his own sake but to carry messages for Valerio, who is truly in love with her. The father, upon hearing Ottavio's explanation, agreed to let her engage in a romantic relationship with Valerio. Ottavio's illness is said to have originated from the fear and love he had for this lady. Valerio asks what he can do to help his friend. Cola requests that Valerio go under the lady's window tonight and serenade her, speaking to her lovingly, without fear of her father. This act will free Ottavio from his illness. Valerio promises to do so, and Cola informs him to come at midnight. Valerio leaves, and Cola remains, knocking on Lucinda's door.

SCENE VII:

COLA and LUCINDA

Cola tells Lucinda that he is ready to show her what he promised this evening. Lucinda expresses her sorrow over Valerio betraying her. Cola assures her that at midnight, she should be by the door and she will hear Valerio serenading the lady. Lucinda, still upset, enters inside, exaggerating her emotions.

SCENE VIII:

VALERIO and later COLA

Valerio, holding a sword due to his friend's mistrust, pretends it is nighttime and exaggerates Ottavio's illness. In this scene, Cola makes jokes about the night and they recognize each other. Valerio asks Cola where they are supposed to serenade. Cola takes Valerio by the hand, makes him spin around the stage several times, and says they will go under the lady's windows. Finally, they stop under Ottavio's house, and while Valerio plays his instrument, Cola runs away towards the end.

SCENE IX:

COLA at the window, VALERIO in the street, LUCINDA by the door

Cola appears at the window wearing a cap on his head and a scarf around his neck. With a woman's voice, he performs a romantic scene with Valerio. Finally, Lucinda, unable to contain herself any longer, tries to kill Valerio, saying, "Ah, traitor!" Cola throws himself out of the window, embraces Lucinda, and brings her inside without speaking. Valerio, surprised, leaves. Cola concludes the act with some jokes.

On to Act Two