Zemire

Fiendish creatures float overhead and roam about the desolate and fog-bound Tchai-Bashi. In this menacing and ghostly atmosphere, the all-powerful grand wizard Ebudia pays his annual visit to a cascading fountain in order to revitalize the properties of its waters as a love elixir. The wizard masterfully performs his sorcery and vanishes in a whirlwind, dissipating the spooky darkness of the night.

Now in the sparkling daylight, rich, luscious vegetation surrounds the fountain, where a group of young girls with water jugs sing the praises of spring and the vibrant life it creates. As they busy themselves at the fountain, young laborers enter, eulogizing the maidens' beauty.

In this idyllic setting, Prince Elsantur comes to drink from the fountain and is overcome with burning desire. Just then Zemire and her mother Rebia appear, disguised as beggars. The angelic young girl also drinks of the water and notices the handsome prince looking at her. The elixir is working its magic.

Zemire and her mother now continue their quest for the grand wizard's intervention in matters of the heart. Unbeknownst to them, Elsantur and his confidant and advisor, the hunchbacked Atalmuk, both smitten with love at first sight, are also in search of the sorcerer's counsel in discovering the identity of the two mysterious pilgrims with whom they are enamored.

At her father's luxurious house, Zemire's thoughts are only of Elsantur. She ponders if death is her only escape from a forced marriage to another suitor. Sheik Benezar adamantly refuses his daughter's pleas to postpone the inevitable and storms out, leaving Zemire in abject misery. To her happy surprise, Elsantur suddenly appears and assures her of his eternal love.

When Atalmuk sees the beautiful and vivacious Souheile, who obediently agrees to secretly stand in for her mistress Zemire at the impending wedding, he is so impressed that he falls in love with her. He tells his master, Elsantur, that he will help the hapless couple elope only if they agree to his union with Souheile. The lovers consent.

A festive atmosphere imbues the opulently decorated garden of Sheik Benezar, who unveils the bride only to discover that it is not his daughter, but Souheile, masquerading as her mistress. In the general confusion that follows, a sudden burst of thunder heralds the arrival of the grand wizard Ebudia, accompanied by the eloping lovers, Zemire and Elsantur.

Out of respect for fatherly authority, Ebudia bids them to stay and be married according to local custom and habit. The Sheik obeys wizard's bidding and finally gives the young couple his blessing. Atalmuk and Souheile are also united in wedlock as promised.

Ebudia invites everyone to visit the magic fountain and drink from its elixir of eternal love. Meanwhile, the overjoyed guests rush to partake of the magic potion he has brought with him, and the curtain comes down on the general merriment.