Zanetto
Setting: the Tuscan countryside during the Italian Renaissance
Silvia is a rich and beautiful woman who has been besieged by lovers of almost every description; none of them, however, has awakened her heart. She feels lonely, disgraced and yearning for true love.
Surprisingly, she hears the voice of a wandering minstrel who is approaching. She conceals herself. He comes near. Not venturing into her house, the minstrel Zanetto lies down to sleep on a bench. As he is asleep, Silvia comes near to see him and recognizes in him the young man from her dream-vision. She wakes him up, and he sees in her the lady of his imagination.
He is fond of his freedom, and of his own way of living, but thinks it would be nice to have a home. This is a difficult moment for Silvia, who then conceals her identity, saying that she is a poor widow and cannot possibly entertain a wandering poet. After several refusals, he tells her that he has heard of Silvia, who is also beautiful, and that he will find her. She advises him not to go to Silvia (herself!) in her emotional aria “No, non andar da Silvia…” and that she would do anything to save him from this danger. Although both love each other, Silvia is unwilling to let Zanetto stay with her as that would ruin his reputation and his life. He believes in her sincerity and offers to go in any direction she may point out. She points toward the dawn and he dashes toward it. Silvia watches him till out of sight, as lamentingly she exclaims: “Blessed are you, O Love! Now can I weep again!”