Main characters:

Edgar
Fidelia
Tigrana, gipsy
Frank
Walter, Fidelia and Frank father

The action develops in the Flanders, in 1302

1st Act

A village in the Flanders. It is dawn. The young Edgar, despite his affection for sweet Fidelia, he doesn't succeed in withstanding the charm of the provocative Tigrana, a gipsy from the mysterious past, grown orphan, raised by the people of the village. Her disrespectful attitudes, who sings a blasphemous song during the holy mass, arouse the disdain of the other inhabitants.
In her defense comes Edgar, who in uncontrollable exaltation-struck, grabs a torch and sets his own house on fire; then chased away the sweet Fidelia, he runs away with Tigrana with the purpose to give himself up with her to a life of dissoluteness.

2nd Act

Edgar and Tigrana live together in a rich castle, surrounded by happy guests and enjoying their lives.
Very soon, however, the memory of his home starts to penetrate in his mind and also the image of Fidelia suddenly reappers in his memory. When he hears distant roll of drums and sounds of military fanfares that accompany soldiers heading to the battleground, he feels the desire to make up for and, despite Tigrana tries to call him back, he decides to follow those men devoted to death or glory. Moreover Fidelia's brother Frank, who was also once seduced by the beautiful gipsy, leads the soldier.

3rd Act

The Flemish army wins the battle, but plenty of soldiers remained on the field, killed by the violence of the fights; Edgar is also among the lost ones and in a wide field near the village the funeral rites in his honor take place.
Only a mysterious monk doesn't participate with the others to the celebration of the deeds of the dead, of whom he rather remembers the numerous guilts he had in his life, arousing Fidelia's disdained reaction. She defends the memory of his beloved with sincere emotion.
At the end of the ceremony arrives Tigrana displaying her own pain of inconsolable widow. The monk, as agreed with Frank, draws near her to offer gold and precious necklaces, provided that she plays a machination against the dead man.
Dazzled by so much wealth, Tigrana admits gladly not only to have been Edgar's lover, but she states even that he had in mind to betray the country. Some soldiers hurl then toward the bier to desecrate the dead body, but they are astounded when the only armor remains in their hands. The monk takes off his frock, appearing as Edgar.
Fidelia runs to embrace him but Tigrana is ready to complete her revenge: she grabs a dagger and strikes the young girl mortally, on whose body Edgar bends prey to the desperation.