The officers Guglielmo and Ferrando are engaged to the beautiful sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella, respectively. Persuaded by the wise old philosopher Don Alfonso, the two officers decide to test the fidelity of their sweethearts. They pretend that they have been ordered away by their regiment and bid the sisters a false farewell. Later, disguised as Albanians, the two men court Fiordiligi and Dorabella passionately. The two girls weaken little by little to the Albanians' various advances. First, Dorabella yields to her sister's fiancé Guglielmo, and finally, Fiordiligi also succumbs to Ferrando after much resistance. When a double wedding for the two new couples is being arranged, a military march suddenly signals the return of the army.