The Faithful Shepherd

Faithful Shepherd, The (Il pastor fido)

    Author: Giovanni Battista Guarini

    First Performance: 1595, Crema

    Published: 1589

    First English Translation: 1602

    Genre: Pastoral in 5 acts; Italian verse

    Setting: A timeless pastoral landscape in Arcadia

    Cast: 15m, 3f, chorus (m and f)

Silvio so loves hunting that he has little interest in Amarilli, to whom he is engaged, nor in Dorinda, who loves him passionately. Amarilli loves and is loved by Mirtillo, but he is pursued by the rapacious Corisca. Learning of Amarilli's love for Mirtillo, Corisca betrays the pair, and Amarilli is condemned to death for her faithlessness. Mirtillo, ‘the faithful shepherd’, offers to take her place in death, but tragedy is averted for both, when it is revealed that Amarilli is engaged to the shepherd Silvio (in...

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