Summary The dog in the hay
Lope de Vega
Dog in the hay
Diana, the Countess of Belfort, late at night entering the hall of her Neapolitan palace, finds there two cloaked men who, when she appears, hurriedly hide. Intrigued and enraged, Diana orders the butler to call, but the latter justifies his ignorance by going to bed early. Then one of the servants returns, Fabio, whom Diane sent after the perpetrators of the commotion, and reports that he saw one of the uninvited guests, when he ran down the stairs and put a hat in the lamp. Diana suspects that she was one of her rejected admirers who bribed the servants, and fearing publicity, which, according to the mores of the 17th century, would bring her fame to her house, orders immediately to wake up and send all women to her house. After a strict interrogation, committed kameristkam, extremely dissatisfied with what is happening, but hiding their feelings, the Countess manages to find out that the mysterious visitor is her secretary Teodoro, in love
In the meantime, Teodoro and his faithful servant Tristan discuss the events of the previous night. The frightened secretary is afraid to be expelled from the house for his affair with the maid, and Tristan gives him a wise advice to forget his lover: sharing his life experience, he suggests that the owner often think about her shortcomings. However, Teodoro strongly does not see any flaws in Marseilles. At this point, Diana enters and turns to Teodoro with a request to compose a draft of the letter for one of her friends, offering as a sample a few lines sketched by the countess herself. The meaning of the message consists in thinking about whether it is possible to “ignite passion, seeing a stranger’s passion, and be jealous, yet not falling in love.” The countess tells Teodoro the story of her friend’s relationship with this person, who easily discerns her relationship with her secretary.
While Teodoro composes his own version of the letter, Diana tries to find out from Tristan how his master spends his free time, who and how much he is passionate about. This conversation is interrupted by the arrival of the Marquis of Ricardo, the long admirer of the countess, who is vainly seeking her hand. But this time the charming Countess deftly withdraws from the direct answer, referring to the difficulty of choosing between the Marquis of Ricardo and Count Federico, another faithful admirer. In the meantime, Teodoro composed a love message for the Countess’s fictional friend, who, in Diana’s view, is much more successful than her own version. Comparing them, the Countess shows an unusual fervor, and this leads Teodoro to think that Diana is in love with him. Remained alone, he is tormented for some time with doubts, but gradually becomes permeated with confidence that is the object of passion of his mistress, and is already ready to answer it, but then Marcela appears, joyfully telling her lover that the countess promised to marry them. Illusion Teodoro instantly crumble. Unexpectedly entered, Diana finds Marcel and Teodoro in each other’s arms, but in response to the young man’s gratitude for the generous decision to meet the feelings of the two loving countess, she angrily orders the maid to be locked up in order not to give bad examples to other servants. Left alone with Teodoro, Diana asks her secretary if he really intends to marry, and hearing that the main thing for him is to please the Countess’s desires and that he could quite do without Marcela, Teodoro makes it clear that she loves him and that only class prejudices hinder the union of their destinies. joyfully informing her lover that the Countess promised to marry them. Illusion Teodoro instantly crumble. Unexpectedly entered, Diana finds Marcel and Teodoro in each other’s arms, but in response to the young man’s gratitude for the generous decision to meet the feelings of the two loving countess, she angrily orders the maid to be locked up in order not to give bad examples to other servants. Left alone with Teodoro, Diana asks her secretary if he really intends to marry, and hearing that the main thing for him is to please the Countess’s desires and that he could quite do without Marcela, Teodoro makes it clear that she loves him and that only class prejudices hinder the union of their destinies. joyfully informing her lover that the Countess promised to marry them. Illusion Teodoro instantly crumble. Unexpectedly entered, Diana finds Marcel and Teodoro in each other’s arms, but in response to the young man’s gratitude for the generous decision to meet the feelings of the two loving countess, she angrily orders the maid to be locked up in order not to give bad examples to other servants. Left alone with Teodoro, Diana asks her secretary if he really intends to marry, and hearing that the main thing for him is to please the Countess’s desires and that he could quite do without Marcela, Teodoro makes it clear that she loves him and that only class prejudices hinder the union of their destinies. Unexpectedly entered, Diana finds Marcel and Teodoro in each other’s arms, but in response to the young man’s gratitude for the generous decision to meet the feelings of the two loving countess, she angrily orders the maid to be locked up in order not to give bad examples to other servants. Left alone with Teodoro, Diana asks her secretary if he really intends to marry, and hearing that the main thing for him is to please the Countess’s desires and that he could quite do without Marcela, Teodoro makes it clear that she loves him and that only class prejudices hinder the union of their destinies. Unexpectedly entered, Diana finds Marcel and Teodoro in each other’s arms, but in response to the young man’s gratitude for the generous decision to meet the feelings of the two loving countess, she angrily orders the maid to be locked up in order not to give bad examples to other servants. Left alone with Teodoro, Diana asks her secretary if he really intends to marry, and hearing that the main thing for him is to please the Countess’s desires and that he could quite do without Marcela, Teodoro makes it clear that she loves him and that only class prejudices hinder the union of their destinies.
The dreams bring Teodoro high: he already sees himself as the Countess’s husband, and Marcela’s love note not only leaves him indifferent, but causes irritation. Especially it hurts a young man that a recent lover calls him “his spouse.” This irritation falls on Marcel herself, who managed to leave her improvised dungeon. Between the recent lovers there is a stormy explanation, followed by a full break-it’s unnecessary to say that Teodoro is the initiator. In retaliation, the wounded Marcela begins to flirt with Fabio, in every way defaming Teodoro.
Meanwhile, Count Federico, a distant relative of Diana, is seeking her favor with perseverance no less than the Marquis of Ricardo. Having met at the entrance to the temple, where Diana entered, both admirers decide to ask the beautiful countess straight, which of the two of them she prefers to see as her husband. However, the countess cleverly withdraws from the answer, again leaving her fans in uncertainty. However, she turns to Teodoro for advice, which of the two should she prefer. In fact, this is, of course, nothing more than a ploy by which Diana, without linking herself with concrete words and promises, wants to once again let the young man understand how fervently he loves her. Irritated by the deference of her secretary, who does not dare to be completely frank with her and afraid to reveal her feelings to her, Diana orders to declare, that he marries the Marquis of Ricardo. Teodoro, hearing about this, immediately makes an attempt to reconcile with Marcela. But the offense of the girl is too great, and Marcela can not forgive the former lover, although she continues to love him. Intervention by Tristan, servant and attorney of Teodoro, helps to overcome this obstacle – young people are reconciled. This is facilitated by the vehemence with which Teodoro rejects all jealous accusations to Marcel and how he disrespectfully speaks of the Countess Diana, who, unbeknownst to anyone, silently participates in this scene. Outraged by the treachery of Teodoro, the Countess, coming out of her hiding place, dictates to the secretary a letter whose meaning is completely transparent: this is a sharp rebuke to a simple man who deserves the love of a noble lady and who could not appreciate her. This unequivocal message again gives Teodoro the excuse to give up Marcel’s love: he makes up on the run “the Countess decided to give her maid to Fabio.” Although Marcel’s insult does not have a limit, the clever girl understands that everything that happens is a consequence of the changes in the mood of the Countess, she does not dare to enjoy the love of Teodoro, because he is a simple man, and she is a noble lady, and does not want to give in to Marcel. Meanwhile, the Marquis of Ricardo appears, happy that he will soon be able to call Diana his wife, the servants simply misinterpreted her warm words about the Marquis, and again, again, between Diana and her secretary, there is a complete half-hearted explanation, during which the countess sharply points to her secretary at the divide that separates them. Then Teodoro says that he adores Marcel, for which he gets a slap in the face.
An occasional witness to this scene is Count Federico, who behind the fury of Diana guessed a very different feeling. The earl dedicates the Marquis of Ricardo to his discovery, and they plan to find a hired killer to get rid of Teodoro. Their choice falls on Tristan, the servant Teodoro, who, for a great reward, promises to save the Count and Marquis from a happy rival. Learning about such a plan, Teodoro decides to go to Spain, in order to save his life and be healed from the love of Diana. The Countess approves of this decision, cursing the class prejudices with tears, which prevent her from joining life with her beloved.
The way out of the situation is Tristan. Learning that one of the noble people of the city, Count Ludovico, twenty years ago lost a son named Theodoro – he was sent to Malta, but was captured by the Moors – a clever servant decides to extradite his master for the disappeared son of Count Ludovico. After dressing as a Greek, he penetrates under the guise of a merchant in the house of the earl – the happiness of the aged Ludovic has no limit. He immediately throws himself into the house of Countess Diana, in order to embrace Teodoro, where he immediately recognizes his son without hesitation; Diana is happy to announce her love to all. And although Teodoro honestly confesses to the countess that with his unexpected rise he owes Tristan’s dexterity, Diana refuses to take advantage of Teodoro’s nobility and is determined in her intention to become his wife. Fortunately, Count Ludovico has no limit: he not only found a son, but also found a daughter. Marcela gets a good dowry, she is given for Fabio. Do not remain forgotten and Tristan: Diana promises him his friendship and patronage, if he keeps the secret of the elevation of Teodoro, she herself will never again be a dog in the manger.
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