Euphemia, whom Marcel in a passion of revenge would
kill, is soon discovered not to be Hippolita, and the angry brother
duly retires from the scene. Alonzo, however, leaving the house is
accosted for Marcel by Dormida, Clarinda’s maid, who gives him the key
to their house. Alonzo enters followed by Marcel who is close on his
heels. They jostle and fight in the darkness of the hall within, and
Alonzo departs leaving Marcel wounded. Dormida fearing trouble drags
Clarinda forth and meeting Alonzo in the street they throw themselves
on his honourable protection. A complete stranger, in his dilemma he
escorts them to the mansion of Ambrosio, and they chance on Cleonte’s
chamber. She has just had a visit from Silvio (under which name
Roderigo passes), who is burning with passion for her but shrinks from
his supposed sister. Cleonte offers the two ladies a refuge and Alonzo
retires. With the aid of his friend Lovis he assumes the habit of
Haunce van Ezel, a Dutch boor who is contracted to Euphemia, and, as
Haunce, courts Lovis’ sister with the full approbation of their father
Don Carlo. When Haunce himself appears he is greeted with some
familiarity as having been at the house before. The Dutch Lover, who
has newly arrived, chances on a strife between Antonio and Hippolita
and interfering disarms Antonio, wounding him in the face. Cleonte
meantime has introduced her guest Clarinda to Silvio, and Marcel seeing
them together concludes that his own brother is the man who fought him
on the previous night and indeed his favoured rival. At once he
challenges him and they arrange to have a duel in a grove near the
town. Here, however, comes Hippolita disguised in man’s attire, 218
awaiting Antonio to whom she has sent a billet signed ‘Alonzo’. She
retires, whilst Silvio appears, and when he is engaged with Marcel,
Alonzo rushes in and parts them. Alonzo avows that it was he who caused
the confusion with Clarinda, and arranges to meet Marcel later in
another spot. Antonio next arrives and Hippolita, calling herself
Alonzo, draws, but Alonzo himself insists on taking up the quarrel. At
the clash of steel Marcel returns and all four fight, Marcel with
Hippolita, whom he wounds, Alonzo with Antonio, whom he
disarms—Hippolita reveals herself, Alonzo claims her, but Antonio
declaring that he is bound to her by sacred vows rescues her from
Marcel’s vengeance and obtains his forgiveness. All return to
Ambrosio’s house where they find Cleonte and Clarinda. Explanations
ensue, and Marcel is at Clarinda’s feet. Pedro, however, who attends
Alonzo, recognizes his old fellow-servant, Dormida, duenna to Clarinda,
and learning Don Manuel is dead, reveals that Alonzo is Clarinda’s
brother, also handing over papers left by Don Alonzo the foster-father,
which bestow 12,000 crowns a year on his adopted son, Alonzo portions
Clarinda and gives her to Marcel. Francisca, woman to Cleonte, informs
Silvio that Cleonte will yield to him—Silvio, suddenly revolted,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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