‘THE Scene is in Edenburgh, and the Neighbouring Parts.’ In A Royal Cabinet Ginevra, only child of the King of Scotland, sits at the Glass dressing herself preparatory to meeting her betrothed Ariodante (a Vassal Prince) attended by Dalinda (a Lady of the Court), Pages and Damsels. Presently she rises from the Glass, and the Pages and Damsels go out. She tells Dalinda that her father approves of her love. Dalinda is going, but returns with Polinesso, Duke of Albany, who pleads his ardent love for Ginevra, though he intends to use her as a step to gain the throne. She scornfully rejects him – the furies could not be more odious in her sight – and sweeps out. Dalinda tells Polinesso that his suit is hopeless, looks languishing on him, and reveals her own secret love. Polinesso decides to use this to frustrate Ariodante's suit: cunning is fraud if it fails, prudence if it succeeds. In A Royal Garden Ariodante sees his love reflected in the beauties of nature, but feels too humble to aspire to a Princess's hand. Ginevra reassures him, and they pledge their faith. Whilst they repeat the Duetto, the King enters, and placing himself between them, takes Ariodante and his Daughter by the Hand. He blesses them, tells the kneeling Ariodante that he could not imagine a worthier son-in-law and successor, sends Ginevra to make ready for the wedding, and orders Odoardo (a ‘Favourite’ courtier) to ‘prepare the Pomp’. He formally offers Ariodante ‘the greatest Gift I can bestow, my Daughter and a Kingdom’. When they have gone Polinesso and Dalinda enter, talking together. He delights her by promising to renounce Ginevra's ‘Power, her Nuptials, and the Crown’. He tells Dalinda, after Ginevra has gone to sleep, to dress in her clothes and do her hair in her style, striving ‘to be exact in each Particular’, and then to admit him to Ginevra's apartments by a secret door in the garden. He silences her scruples by promising her his love. Lurcanio, Ariodante's brother, pleads his love to Dalinda. She rejects him impatiently and, when he has gone, proclaims her love for Polinesso. The set changes to A beautiful Vale, Ariodante admiring the Pleasantness of the Place.