Prologue

The Sicilian people worship in the temple of Venus. They are interrupted by the Propoetides, young women from Amanthus, who enter the temple and deny Venus' divinity. The annoyed goddess punishes them by turning them to stone, after which the congregation celebrates in "Que digne fils du plus grand des vainqueurs," actually a thinly veiled tribute to King Louis XV of France.

Act One

In a forest, Scylla, a nymph, is alone and ponders her fear of love ("Non, je ne cessarai jamais de fuir tes dangereuses chaînes"). A sylvan and a shepherd try to court her ("Loin de nos retraites"), but she is unmoved by their words of love. Glaucus, a marine god, enters and, he, too, tries to woo Scylla. But this only makes her angry, which surprises Glaucus. Determined to win Scylla, Glaucus decides to ask for help from the sorceress Circe.

Act Two

In Circe's palace, which is filled with strange animals altered by Circe's spells, Circe's magic has warned her that a rejected lover is on his way to the palace. She feels apprehensive and vulnerable. As she feared, she becomes attracted to Glaucus when he arrives. She feigns interest in Glaucus' cause and promises to help him with her magic, gathering her minions around her. But over the next few minutes, she and her magicians cast a spell on Glaucus, making him fall in love with Circe ("Amours dont le prix"). However, when Glaucus' friend, Licas, comes to Circe's palace to inform Glaucus that Scylla now longs for him, the spell is broken by the mention of Scylla's name. Glaucus rushes quickly from the palace to meet Scylla, leaving behind the seething Circe, who swears that she will have revenge.

Act Three

The action takes place at a seashore. Scylla is completely in love with Glaucus and believes he is not with her at the moment simply because he is fickle ("Serments trompeurs, tendre langage"). When Glaucus arrives, Scylla suggests that he has fallen for Circe, but Glaucus assures her that this is not so and that his love is true. Scylla is embarrassed at her behavior and confesses her love for Glaucus ("Que le tendre amour nous engage"). Sea gods appear to celebrate Glaucus and Scylla's love ("Dieu charmant, réspondez à notre impatience"). The crowd sees a cloud descending upon them and believe Cupid is hidden within it. Unfortunately, it contains Circe, the sight of whom sends the sea gods running in fear. Circe, still in love with Glaucus, tries once again to win him for herself, threatening terrible consequences if he does not submit to her.

Act Four

The setting is the ash-covered countryside surrounding Mount Etna. Thus far, Glaucus has been able to deflect Circe's amorous advances, and she relates her disappointment in the aria "Reviens, ingrat mais cher amant." Finally, in desperation, she tells Glaucus that she will kill Scylla if he does not accept her love. The threat hits its mark, and Glaucus swears he will cease loving Scylla if Circe promises not to hurt her. Just as Glaucus is about to leave with Circe, Scylla enters. Glaucus and Scylla begin a tearful duet in which Glaucus tries to explain the situation. Circe, angered and sickened by the scene, pretends to be merciful and selfless, and in her aria "Allez, couple fidèle," she gives her blessing to the loving couple, claiming to have been moved by their devotion to one another. Once Glaucus and Scylla have gone, Circe reveals her plan for revenge.

The scene changes as Mount Etna begins erupting. Under a full moon, Circe calls on the gods of the underworld. During a raucous, demonic display of power and hate, the gods and Circe call out for Hecate, the goddess of spells and incantations. At this, the moon, the symbol of Hecate, becomes dim and eventually falls from the sky. A large crack appears in the earth, from which emerges Hecate. Dramatically, she gives to Circe an herb she has picked from the banks of the river Phlegeton, which runs through Hades. Circe is to use it to poison Scylla.

Act Five

Near a fountain, preparations have been made for a celebration. Scylla tells Glaucus that she is pleased to know she has his love, but she is still uneasy about the threat posed by Circe. Glaucus tries to calm her by explaining that Circe poses no danger to them, but Scylla is not convinced. A crowd gathers to participate in a celebration of the anniversary of Sicily's liberation from the terror of the Cyclops. As the festivities take place around him, Glaucus thanks Cupid for bringing him and Scylla together ("Chantez l'Amour, chantez ses douces flammes"). Glaucus then shows Scylla a fountain, explaining that in its waters he first saw her reflection. Unknown to either of them, the waters of the fountain have been poisoned by Circe's herb, and staring into them makes Scylla go mad and faint. Glaucus and the others nearby believe Scylla has died, but she awakens at the sound of her name and, confused, runs off. Glaucus tries to follow Scylla, but his way is blocked by the sudden appearance of Circe, astride a dragon and declaring that Scylla has drowned. Circe then creates a re-enactment of Scylla's death.

The scene changes to the Straits of Sicily, with the whirlpool of Charybdis on the Italian side and a siren-shaped rock surrounded by monsters on the Sicilian side. The monsters around the rock howl. Glaucus is despondent over the loss of Scylla. Circe notes that Scylla has been turned to stone to memorialize her anger, in part as a warning to others.

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