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ACT I
Scene 1, Courtyard of Adina’s farm.
As the farm workers rest, Nemorino admires Adina, who is reading. When she laughs at her book, everyone asks her to read aloud, and she shares the story of Tristan and Isolde and their love potion. All sing of the “perfection and rarity” of such a potion.
A fanfare announces the arrival of Sgt. Belcore and his platoon. Surveying the women, Belcore offers Adina a bouquet of flowers and proposes marriage, comparing himself to the ancient warriors Paris and Mars. As the women laugh at his immodesty, Nemorino wishes he were as bold as Belcore. When Nemorino gets a moment alone with Adina, he confesses his love, but she tells him she is too fickle for him. Adina suggests he put his energy into caring for his ailing uncle, so that he not lose his bequest. Nemorino says that his lovesickness is worse than his uncle’s ailments.
 Scene 2, Village square.
Another fanfare announces the arrival of Dr. Dulcamara, who recites a long list of ills he can cure with his potions. Nemorino asks if he has Isolde’s love potion. Marveling at Nemorino’s gullibility, Dulcamara sells him a bottle of Bordeaux, assuring him that after 24 hours it will make all women love him. As Nemorino drinks and instantly gets tipsy, Adina reappears and he confidently feigns indifference. Belcore repeats his proposal, and Adina accepts. Belcore’s departure is moved earlier, and Adina, puzzled by Nemorino’s behavior, agrees to marry Belcore that evening. Adina and Belcore go to find the notary, and Nemorino goes to look for Dulcamara to buy more potion.
ACT II
Scene 1, Adina’s farmhouse.
As the wedding festivities proceed, Adina and Dulcamara sing a duet about a woman who chooses a poor gondolier over a rich senator. The notary arrives, and Adina delays, offended by Nemorino’s seeming indifference. Nemorino arrives and asks Dulcamara for more potion. He raises the money to buy it by enlisting in Belcore’s regiment, signing his military papers with an X.
Scene 2, Village square.
Giannetta and the village girls gossip about the death of Nemorino’s rich uncle, leaving Nemorino as his sole heir. When Nemorino arrives, unaware of the news, the girls surround him attentively. He and Dulcamara both attribute his attractiveness to the potion. Adina is jealous, but Dulcamara explains that Nemorino is so enamored of her that he has sold his freedom to pay for the elixir to win her. He offers her a potion too, but she replies that her glances, gestures, and smiles are stronger than any potion.
 Nemorino has noticed Adina’s jealousy. He is so overwhelmed at the sight of a tear in her eye that he says he could just die at the revelation that she truly loves him.
Adina returns and tells Nemorino that she has bought out his military contract because she loves him and wants him to stay. Belcore returns, resigned to losing Adina to Nemorino. Dulcamara proclaims that his potion has brought Nemorino both love and wealth. Dulcamara sells the rest of his stock to the villagers, touting it as a cure for ogni difetto—“every defect”—and departs in a festive finale.
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