Summary
The first scene of The Servant of Two Masters opens in the Venetian
home of Pantalone as his daughter, Clarice is about to become betrothed. Her
fiancé is Silvio, the son of Dr. Lombardi, an old friend of Pantalone. The
young couple’s wedding contract is witnessed by one of Pantalone’s servants and
Brighella, the local innkeeper. Before finalizing the plans for their
children’s union, Pantalone informs Dr. Lombardi that Clarice had previously
been engaged to Federigo Rasponi, one of Pantalone’s business correspondents.
Pantalone reveals that Federigo was killed in a duel, thus freeing Clarice to
wed Silvio. Brighella mentions that he knew Federigo as well as his sister, who
had a penchant for wearing men’s clothes. Just as the contract is about to be
finalized, a servant named Truffaldino arrives with the news that his master,
Federigo Rasponi, would like to be seen. Truffaldino flirts with Pantalone’s
maid, Smeraldina, but Pantalone dismisses him and assures the group that it
must be a mistake. An angry Truffaldino returns, assuming that Pantalone meant
to trick him by saying his master was dead. Pantalone throws him out, but
moments later Beatrice Rasponi enters disguised as her brother. Brighella
recognizes Beatrice, but promises not to reveal her secret. As Federigo, she
reclaims Clarice as her bride-to-be, and Clarice, Silvio and Dr. Lombardi leave
in a huff. When a likewise bewildered Pantalone is called away, Beatrice
explains to Brighella that her lover, Florindo Aretusi, killed her brother in a
duel and fled. She followed him to Venice in men’s clothes hoping to reunite
with him.
In the second scene of Act One, the action shifts to the street outside
Brighella’s inn. Truffaldino complains of his master’s absence and his
insatiable hunger. When Florindo Aretusi arrives, Truffaldino agrees to be his
servant and helps him get settled at the inn. When Beatrice (still dressed as
Federigo) arrives a few minutes later, Truffaldino vows to continue serving her
and laments that he now has two masters (but twice the salary). Truffaldino
then mixes up his masters’ mail and Florindo discovers that Beatrice is in town
looking for him. In an extended bit of comic business, Truffaldino attempts to
reseal the letter with chewed-up bread. When Silvio arrives asking to duel
Truffaldino’s master, Truffaldino mistakenly sends Florindo out to see him.
Florindo now believes Federigo is still alive, and fears for both himself and
Beatrice.
In Act One, Scene Three, back at Pantalone’s house, Clarice attempts to
convince her father that he should allow her to marry Silvio, her true love.
Pantalone refuses, much to his daughter’s disdain, and Smeraldina announces the
arrival of Beatrice-as-Federigo. Beatrice asks for time alone with Clarice to
win her over, and the old man reluctantly obliges. Despite Clarice’s insults
and rebuttals, Beatrice eventually reveals that she is a woman and swears
Clarice to absolute secrecy (even from Silvio). Pantalone returns, sees the two
getting along, and vows to accelerate the wedding plans.
The second act opens in the courtyard outside Pantalone’s home as Dr. Lombardi tries to convince his hotheaded son to let him talk to Pantalone. Silvio agrees and retreats just as Pantalone enters. Dr. Lombardi lectures Pantalone on his obligation to Silvio and attempts to steamroll him into reuniting Silvio and Clarice. When Pantalone refuses, Dr. Lombardi insults him and his daughter and leaves. Silvio enters, and challenges Pantalone to a duel. When Pantalone cries for help, Beatrice enters and duels with Silvio. On the verge of killing Silvio, Beatrice is interrupted by the pleas of Clarice, who runs on and places herself in between them. Beatrice relents and leaves,...
(This entire section contains 1079 words.)
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but Silvio still rejects Clarice for colluding with Beatrice. Clarice threatens to kill herself in despair only to be stopped by Smeraldina, who rushes on in time to stop her. Smeraldina lectures them both for their foolish behavior, but Silvio vows to kill Beatrice/Federigo.
Act Two, Scene Two takes place in a room inside Brighella’s inn. When both
Beatrice and Florindo return at the same time, a harried Truffaldino is forced
to wait on them both. Though both are seated in dining rooms right across the
hall from each other, Truffaldino manages to maintain his double identity. He
involves the harried waiters in his scheme and ends the scene by eating a
stolen pudding.
In the third scene of Act Two, a nervous Smeraldina attempts to deliver a
secret message from Clarice to Beatrice. When Truffaldino comes out of the inn,
the two court each other and fall in love. They open Clarice’s letter and
attempt to read it despite their illiteracy. Beatrice and Pantalone catch them
and Beatrice beats Truffaldino for insubordination. When Florindo finds him
moments later, he beats him again for the insult of allowing himself to have
been beaten by someone else.
The third act opens in the hall outside Beatrice and Florindo’s rooms in
Brighella’s inn. Truffaldino attempts to air out both of his master’s trunks of
clothing, but mixes up their contents in the process. When both Beatrice and
Florindo discover items belonging to the other, Truffaldino says that the other
is dead to cover his tracks. Separately, both Beatrice and Florindo vow to
commit suicide. In her vow, Beatrice reveals herself to be a woman, much to
Pantalone and Truffaldino’s surprise.
In Act Three, Scene Two, Pantalone runs into Dr. Lombardi outside the inn and
attempts to explain the Beatrice/Federigo mix-up. When Dr. Lombardi storms off
without listening, Pantalone instead informs Silvio, who rejoices at the chance
to reunite with Clarice.
In the third scene of Act Three, Beatrice and Florindo run out of their rooms
with daggers in their hands while Brighella and one of his waiters attempt to
stop them from killing themselves. The two are reunited and decide to help
untangle the misunderstanding between Silvio and Clarice.
In the last scene of the play, Silvio comes to Pantalone’s house to beg Clarice
to take him back. After a suitable amount of groveling, she forgives him to the
delight of Pantalone and Dr. Lombardi. Beatrice and Florindo beg Pantalone’s
forgiveness, and the old man witnesses their marriage contract. Truffaldino
declares his love to Smeraldina, but is forced to reveal his double service
amidst the confusion about which servant should marry Smeraldina. In his final
monologue, Truffaldino brags of his accomplishments and asks for everyone’s
forgiveness.