The Jester falls in love with the Princess. The Princess cannot abide him and when he declares his love, she laughs derisively and points to the water of the fountain at which he is sitting, telling him to gaze into it and behold the reflection of his unattractive countenance. He recognizes the hopelessness of his suit, and when he discovers the Princess in tryst with the handsome young shepherd, the Jester is filled with jealous rage and at once notifies the King. The shepherd is arrested and brought to the King, who pronounces a sentence of death upon him. The Princess throws herself upon the neck of her lover and clings to him, while she implores her father to spare his life. The King's Jester is touched with remorse. He immediately sets about freeing the shepherd and helping the young couple to escape from the kingdom. He goes to the chamber of the Princess and tells her of his plans, then hastens with his dogs to the King's court, where he finds the young shepherd bound before being led to the scaffold. At once the Jester starts his pranks, putting his dog through many tricks and setting the whole court in roars of laughter, and entirely absorbing their attention. Passing behind the shepherd, he cuts his bonds and tells him to hasten forth into the garden, where he will find the Princess and two horses waiting for him and to make haste across the borders of the kingdom, while he holds the audience. Upon discovering the escape of the shepherd, all is excitement. Search is made for his whereabouts, but too late. The Princess and the shepherd are far beyond their reach.