Chapter XLVIII: Act II: The village is assembled on Adina's farm to celebrate her

marriage with the _Sergeant_. But it is noticeable that she keeps putting off signing the marriage contract. _Nemorino_ awaits the effect of the elixir. To make sure of it, he buys from _Dulcamara_ a second bottle. Not having the money to pay for it, and _Belcore_ being on the lookout for recruits, _Nemorino_ enlists and, with the money he receives, pays _Dulcamara_. The fresh dose of the supposed elixir makes _Nemorino_ livelier than ever. He pictures to himself the glory of a soldier's career. He also finds himself greatly admired by the village girls, for enlisting. _Adina_ also realizes that he has joined the army out of devotion to her, and indicates that she favours him rather than _Belcore_. But he now has the exalted pleasure of treating her with indifference, so that she goes away very sad. He attributes his luck to the elixir.

Hempel (Adina) and Caruso (Nemorino) in "L'Elisir d'Amore"]

The villagers have learned that his rich uncle is dead and has left a will making him his heir. But because this news has not yet been communicated to him, he thinks their attentions due to the love-philtre, and believes the more firmly in its efficacy. In any event, _Adina_ has perceived, upon the _Sergeant's_ pressing her to sign the marriage contract, that she really prefers _Nemorino_. Like a shrewd little woman, she takes matters into her own hands, and buys back from _Sergeant Belcore_ her lover's enlistment paper. Having thus set him free, she behaves so coyly that _Nemorino_ threatens to seek death in battle, whereupon she faints right into his arms. The _Sergeant_ bears this unlucky turn of affairs with the bravery of a soldier, while _Dulcamara's_ fame becomes such that he can sell to the villagers his entire stock of Bordeaux for love elixir at a price that makes him rich.

The elixir of life of this "Elixir of Love" is the romance for tenor in the second act, "Una furtiva lagrima" (A furtive tear), which _Nemorino_ sings as _Adina_ sadly leaves him, when she thinks that he has become indifferent to her. It was because of Caruso's admirable rendition of this beautiful romance that the opera was revived at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, in 1904. Even the instrumental introduction to it, in which the bassoons carry the air, is captivating.

[Music:

Una furtiva lagrima
Negl'occhi suoi spuntò;]

Act I is laid on _Adina's_ farm. _Adina_ has a florid air, "Chiedi all'aura lusinghiera" (Go, demand of yon light zephyr), with which she turns aside from _Nemorino's_ attentions.

[Music: Chiedi all'aura lusinghiera,]

The scene then changes to a square in the village. Here _Dr. Dulcamara_ makes his entry, singing his buffo air, "Udite, udite, o rustici" (Give ear, now, ye rustic ones). There are two attractive duets in this scene. One is for _Nemorino_ and _Dr. Dulcamara_, "Obbligato! obbligato!" (Thank you kindly! thank you kindly!).

[Music]

The other, for _Adina_ and _Nemorino_, is "Esulti pur la barbara per poco alle mie pene" (Tho' now th' exulting cruel one can thus deride my bitter pain).