After a successful campaign against the Ragusans, General Dolan brings back with him and secretes in his palace Alinda, the Ragusa's beautiful daughter, with whom he has fallen in love. Alinda's hiding place is exposed by General Condivi, who seeks to gain the love of Dolan's betrothed, Lucetta, daughter of the Doge of Venice. To protect his future son-in-law, the Doge declares that Alinda's beauty entitles her to be regarded as a work of art and that the Dolan is to be thanked for bringing her to Venice. At the instigation of Lucetta, Condivi then attempts to kill Alinda, but she is saved by Dolan, who declares his passion for her and induces her to elope with him. The lovers are brought back and sentenced to death but, at the entreaty of the women of Venice, who remember his victories, Dolan is given the chance of his liberty if he shall choose rightly between two doors, one of which conceals Alinda and the other hungry lions. He makes his choice successfully and, while Lucetta consents to marry Condivi, Alinda sets sail for another land with Dolan.