Nicandro and Fileno, both advanced in years, propose to marry each other’s daughter: Filli to Fileno and Clori to Nicandro. But the young shepherdesses refuse to do their father’s bidding, for they both are in love with Lidio, a fickle and frivolous lover. Eurillo, on the other hand, is dying of love for Filli, who rejects him for Lidio: he cries out for revenge. Lidio, who initially loved Clori, in turn abandons her for Filli. In the end, Lidio, now more serious, marries Filli, while Clori and Eurillo, in revenge for Filli and Lidio’s infidelities, also marry one another. Nicandro and Fileno, finally realising that their idea was merely fantasy, must content themselves with the fate imposed on them by their advanced age.

This work, edited by Albert La France (University of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), was first performed before King Louis XIV in the Galerie des Cerfs at the Château de Fontainebleau in September 1681. It is intended for 6 soloists (2 dessus, haute-contre, taille and 2 basses), a 5-voice choir (2 dessus, hautes-contre, tailles and basses, possibly performed by the soloists), a 5-part orchestra (in the French style) with two flutes, to which two oboes can be added, and the basso continuo.