Sanjay, I guess you are talking about "Chanson d'Estelle" by Benjamin Godard, as beautifully sung here on YouTube.

The lyrics are in French, by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian, from a "pastoral play" named "Estelle et Némorin". The author also published a version in Occitan, closer to Italian, but not Godard's choice. Estelle is a female character, inquiring about her shepherd lover (see the translation).

Kings like Louis XVI actually acted in such "pastoral plays", so they may have envied shepherds in some aspects. -

The first song in the TV episode is indeed in Italian, "La promessa" from the "Soirées musicales" by Rossini.