Excerpt from Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry): Melodrama in One Act

Tubiddu, a young peasant son of lucia, on his return from military service finds that his sweetheart lola has married alfio a prosperous village carrier. In pique, he woos and seduces santuzza. Thereupon lola's love revives and she takes turiddu once more to her heart. Hen the action commences, the curtain is down and tubiddu sings from behind by way Of prelude to the story, a song to lola, avowing the love which guides him once more to her side, and hinting at some dark shadow which lies upon her path and his.

The curtain rises to the song Of peasants coming from their early toil to keep the Easter festival. Santuzza, burning with jealous fears enters and questions lucia as to tubiddu's movements, and tells her that though her mother heart behaves that her son has gone for wine to 'the neighbouring Francofonte, he has in fact never left the village. Upon Santuzza's misery, and the mother's newly-roused suspicions, alfio breaks in, returning with his team, 'and singing a song of his hard but jovial life, and of his happy faith in his pretty lola. His joy is but momentary for the mention by lucia Of turiddu's name reminds him that he had seen him only that morning lurking by his cottage. But santuzza will not betray her faithless lover, and bids lucia be silent. Then from the church comes the sound Of the mass, and the Villagers, assembling in the square, sing their Easter anthem, and all pass in together. Left alone with lucia, santuzza tells the miserable story, how turiddu had won her love and taken her honour, and then had gone back to his old love lola. At this moment turiddu enters, looking no doubt for lola, and certainly little pleased to find santuzza. She reproaches and implores him in turn. But he will not relent. Lola's love is all he wants. Santuzza is nothing to him. As if to emphasise the bitterness of the blow, lola is heard singing outside, and presently enters, only to banter turiddu and mock at santuzza. Tnsmnu infuriated at lola's mockery, which he attributes to santuzza's presence, bids her leave him, turns a deaf ear to her prayers and reproaches, and when she clings to him flings her tothe ground, and leaving her senseless on the steps of the church enters in pursuit Oi lola.

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