Fedalma

Zarca's daughter, betrothed to Duke Silva; a beautiful, gifted, high-minded Gypsy, who finds herself called upon to make a great renunciation for the sake of her people. St.olen from her people when a mere infant, she had been taken into the family of the Duchess Diana and brought up there with all love and tenderness. She and the young Duke Silva are betrothed, and when their mamage is near, Fedalma, deeply in love and looking forward to a happy future, learns from the prisoner Zarca that he is her father. When Zarca, a patriot and a visionary, points out to her the needs of her people and all that she can do for them if she will cast in her lot with them, she at first tries to reconcile love and duty, but later makes the sacrifice of her personal happiness, gives up Silva, and joins her father in his escape. When Silva, desperate at her loss, follows her and joins the Gypsy band to win her, she cannot rejoice entirely, as she feels that he is defying inherited obligations which will later become insistent. After Zarca captures
Silva's town of Bedmar, and Silva, desperate with shame, kills Zarca, Fedalma finds herself separated for ever from her lover. She has one farewell interview with Silva, and then, renouncing all thought of self, leads her people to Africa.

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