Bernardo Puccini

Bernardo Puccini is a wealthy Florentine apothecary settled in Palermo and the father of Lisa, his only child. His place in her story is that of an attentive but initially unknowing father: when love for Pedro of Aragon makes Lisa gravely ill, Bernardo tries to preserve her life, then unwittingly helps her communicate the secret that changes her prospects.

Identity and Household

At the time the French were expelled from Sicily, Bernardo lived in Palermo and had become very rich through his work as an apothecary. He and his wife had one daughter, Lisa, described as beautiful and already of marriageable age. The story establishes the family’s Florentine origin alongside its life in Palermo, where the court festival that begins Lisa’s crisis takes place.

A Father Confronted with Illness

Lisa sees Pedro of Aragon at a festival held in Palermo after he has become lord of the island. Her passion for him remains hidden: she believes her lowly condition gives her little hope of a happy outcome and does not dare reveal her love. As her melancholy deepens, she falls sick and visibly wastes away. Bernardo and his wife are deeply concerned. They try assiduously to hearten her and seek help from physicians and medicines, but their efforts do not relieve an illness rooted in Lisa’s despair.

The Request for Minuccio

When Bernardo offers to do whatever might please his daughter, Lisa asks him to bring Minuccio d’Arezzo, a singer and player welcomed at court. Bernardo misunderstands the purpose of the request, supposing that Lisa wants to hear Minuccio sing and play. He nevertheless acts on it: Minuccio comes to the house, comforts Lisa, plays the viol, and sings. The music, intended as solace, intensifies her passion; once they are alone, Lisa entrusts Minuccio with her secret and asks him to tell Pedro of her love and her intention to die if the king does not learn of it.

The King’s Visit

Minuccio carries Lisa’s story to Pedro, who responds with compassion and says he will visit her. At vespers, the king comes to Bernardo’s house under the appearance of going out for recreation. In Bernardo’s goodly garden, he asks what has become of Lisa and whether she has married. Bernardo explains that she is unmarried and has been, and still is, sick, though she has recently improved markedly. He does not explain the reason for that improvement; the king understands it from Minuccio’s account.

Bernardo accompanies Pedro and two companions to Lisa’s chamber. The king takes Lisa by the hand and encourages her to recover, while Bernardo is present but does not know the private meaning of her illness or the exchange between them. His actions bring the king to her bedside without making him the confidant of her love. In this way, Bernardo’s care and his innocent misunderstanding help create the occasion for Lisa’s appeal, while the decisive disclosure passes through Minuccio.