Act I

A country scene with Filippo’s and other houses in the distance.

Filippo, a farmer, along with Nencio, Vespina, and her brother Nanni, all comment on the beautiful evening. Filippo and Nencio agree on a plan. Vespina, who is in love with Nencio, notices that he leaves without saying goodbye, while Nanni anxiously awaits his beloved Sandrina. Sandrina enters, wishing to speak to her father and the siblings depart to give them their privacy. Filippo tells Sandrina that he has arranged for a husband for her. She hopes it will be Nanni, but her father dismisses this idea since Nanni is poor. He is determined that she will marry Nencio and leaves. Sandrina feels that she must obey her father but doesn’t know how to tell Nanni. When he enters she tells him that her father insists that she marry someone else and leaves in despair. Left alone, Nanni expresses his anger.

A room in Nanni’s house

Vespina is anxious because Nencio hasn’t come yet. Nanni enters and tells her that Sandrina is now engaged to Nencio. Both express their intention of taking their vengeance on Nencio.

Outside Filippo’s house

Nencio sings to a hidden Sandrina, which Vespina and Nanni overhear. Filippo recognizes Nencio who wants to see his intended. Filippo encourages Sandrina to come out even though she is upset with the situation. Nencio tries to gently woo her, but when she tells him that she isn’t in love with him, he tells her that he will take her by force. This is too much for the hidden Vespina, who leaps out and slaps him. She and Nanni confront him, while Filippo and Sandrina try to calm the situation.

Act II

Outside Filippo’s house

Vespina has created a plan to remedy the situation and is dressed as an old woman. She approaches Filippo and Sandrina and pretends that she is the mother of a woman who married Nencio, who has left his wife and their children. After she leaves, Filippo declares to his daughter that he will have revenge on and leaves. Nencio comes in and calls for Filippo who greets him with anger and tells him that he will never marry his daughter.

Confused, Nencio tries to follow the departing Filippo, when he is met by Vespina who is now disguised as a German servant. She tells him that her master is to marry Sandrina. When she leaves, he thinks he has discovered the reason for Filippo’s attitude: that Filippo has a better match for his daughter. Vespina enters again, this time in the guise of the Marquis of Ripafratta. As the Marquis, she tells Nencio that a match was planned with Sandrina, but since a Marquis should not marry below his station, he planned to send a servant to marry her instead. Nencio thinks this is a hilarious plan and offers to help by serving as witness. Left alone, he rejoices in getting even with Filippo. Vespina (now as herself) reenters and tells Nanni that all is arranged.

Filippo prepares for his daughter’s impending wedding. She is still distraught and when he tells her to prepare to be a noble lady, she tells him she would prefer to be poor and in love. Nencio enters with Vespina, who is dressed as a notary, and Nanni, who is disguised as a servant. Nanni tells Filippo that the Marquis will follow later to sign the contract, and that Nencio will be the witness. As the notary, Vespina prepares the contract, which Filippo signs. Vespina and Nanni then reveal themselves and confess the truth. Once it has been explained, Filippo and Nencio admit that they have been beaten and the assembled lovers celebrate a double wedding.