Synopsis

Rosaura, Venetian widow of Stefanello dei Bisognosii
Marionette, Rosaura's French chambermaid
Milord Runebif, an Englishman
Monsieur Le Bleau, a Frenchman
Don Alvaro di Castiglia, Spanish Grandee
Il Conte di Bosco Nero, an Italian count
Arlecchino, inn servant who expresses himself in Venetian dialect
Birif, Milord's valet
Folletto, the Count's lackey
Rosaura's servants - Two waiters
Spanish servants - Venetian common people
Guests

Act 1

In a café, four gentlemen of different nationalities - the Englishman Milord Runebif, the Frenchman Monsieur Le Bleau, the Spaniard Don Alvaro di Castiglia and the Italian Conte di Bosco Nero - are seated round a table, a glass of wine in hand. They sing a French-style tune, celebrating the virtues of a rich young widow, encountered at a ball in Venice. Each of them elaborates his plan for seducing her.

Milord charges Arlecchino, who was passing by, to take a ring to the widow and tell her that he will stop by to have chocolate with her. In Rosaura's apartments: the recently widowed lady finishes dressing, assisted by her French chambermaid, Marionette, who lavishes beauty tips on her. She encourages her to remarry, extolling the merits of a French husband who would never he jealous and would leave her free to do as she pleases. Arlecchino interrupts them to deliver Milord's message to Rosaura.

Rosaura refuses the ring. Arlecchino returns to give the answer to Milord, who rushes over to Rosaura's to convince her to accept his gift.

Marionette is serving them chocolate when the Conte di Bosco Nero suddenly appears and finds himself face-to-face with Milord. Marionette creates a diversion by inviting Milord to admire some engravings. The Count takes advantage of this to declare his love to Rosaura and explodes in a fit of jealousy, which immediately annoys her. Milord ends up taking his, leave, making a date with her later in the square. The Count leaves, furious, followed by Rosaura.

At that moment. Monsieur le Bleau arrives, Marionette joins him, and together, they sing the praises of Paris. Monsieur promises her the moon if she tells him where to find Rosaura: the widow is in her garden, There, on the edge of the lagoon. Monsieur is playing the flute in the midst of shrubbery. Rosaura is surprised to see him. He compliments her profusely on her coiffure and even takes the liberty of putting an unruly curl back in place. He cannot resist making her a great declaration of love. Rosaura ends up dismissing him gently but firmly. Suddenly, sounds of guitars and mandolins draw her attention: its Don Alvaro in a gondola. Rosaura is exhausted. She asks Marionette to make him wait.

Act II

The scene takes place in the same setting as the first act. We witness a criss-crossing between masters and valets:

Arlecchino runs in - Monsieur hails him and asks him to take a portrait as a gift to Rosaura and recite to her a poem of his own composition. To ensure that: Arlecchino remembers it, he jots it down on a scrap of paper.

The Count arrives with a letter for Rosaura, which he gives to Folletto. Milord and his valet, Birif enter.

Milord entrusts Birif with diamonds for the widow.

Arlecchino reappears with diamonds for the widow.

Arlecchino reappears, note in hand. He studies it carefully but is unable to decipher it. Don Alvaro introduces himself and begs him to give Rosaura his family tree. At Rosaura's house, Rosaura is singing a 17th century air.

In turn and in order, Arlecchino, disguised as a French valet, Folletto and Birif deliver the portrait of Monsieur, the Count's impassioned letter and Milord's diamonds. A bit later, Arlecchino, this time dressed as a Spanish valet, presents her with Don Alvaro's family tree. Rosaura is spoilt for choice: none of them displeases her.

In the square

When Arlecchino returns, Monsieur questions him about the widow's real feelings for him. Arlecchino quickly realises that he has exchanged the letter meant for Monsieur with the one for Don Alvaro. Thus follows a misunderstanding from which the valet will extricate: himself with his customary skill. Marionette discovers him and pursues him with insults.

Act III

To test the love of each of her suitors, Rosaura decides to host a ball and invite them. The invitations are sent out.

Monsieur and Don Alvaro have noticed Arlecchino's disdain. Milord and the Count find themselves on the cafe terrace. Having surprised each other at the widow's, they challenge each other to a duel. The Count is wounded, bur not severely, and withdraws. Milord sits back down at the table. Rosaura is going to enter and introduce herself to each of' the four gentlemen disguised as a lady from their country. She lets them believe in her love and invites them to the ball that very evening. Milord, Monsieur and Don Alvaro allow themselves to be tricked. They prefer a compatriot to the Venetian widow. Only the Count resists the masked Rosaura's advances.

That evening, all the guests are present at the ball. Rosaura finally grants her hand to the Count and returns the tokens of affection to the three others.

The heart has its reasons... and no one can give it orders.

And the love of Goldoni, almost whispered, is something great...

But is love in Venice really something serious...?