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Indiana University Studies 
does on the subject, but goes a step farther, declaring that 
he not only does not want to love, but does not want to be 
loved because he would fail to appreciate the latter and that 
would be a crime, which is worse than simply the danger which 
she feels on the subject. This rouses Diana to say that she 
must conquer Carlos at any cost. Cintia warns her, but she 
says to Carlos: 
Proseguid la bizarrla, 
que yo ahora os la agradezco 
con mayor estimation, 
pues sin amor os la debo . 7 
Polilla sees things going well and admonishes Carlos not to 
give up his pretense for any reason. Diana repeats her deter- 
mination to rendir a este necio. 
In the second act we find Polilla, as the confessor of Diana, 
telling Carlos that she has asked him how to overcome the in- 
difference of Carlos, that he has told her to do so by means 
of her beauty, and that when he is about to fall in love with 
her, to bring all her scorn into play by way of making a fool 
out of him. The festivities of the day are to consist of a game 
played with different colored ribbons ; each gallant is to ask for 
a color, whereupon a lady is to step forth and the two are to 
be partners, “siendo deuda el enamorarla en el y el favorecerle 
en ella ”. 8 Diana has arranged with the other ladies that she 
will respond with the color that Carlos asks for, no matter 
what it is, each lady being provided with all the colors. Poli- 
lla has told Diana that he has succeeded in making friends with 
Carlos at her request, and she promises him a thousand 
escudos if he can succeed in overcoming the disdain of Carlos. 
Carlos is the first to appear, saying that he comes merely out 
of a sense of gallantry; a battle of wits ensues between him 
and Diana, the music sounds and the game is started. Bearne 
asks for verde and Cintia responds. El Conde de Fox chooses 
azul , to which Fenisa responds. Polilla and Laura become 
partners thru his choice of rosa seca, and Carlos is last, choos- 
ing ndcar, signifying enojo y pena. Diana directs them all 
to the plaza de fiestas , repeating in an aside 9 , “Yo he de rendir 
a este hombre, o he de condenarme a necia.” When Diana 
rebukes Carlos for his indifference, even tho he is only pre- 
7 El desden, Act I, lines 1015-1018. 
8 El desden. Act II, scene iii. 
9 El desden, Act II, scene iv. 
