Harlan: Moreto’s “El desden” 
9 
rebuffed, ‘goes to Diana’s father for intercession. Once more 
Diana confesses to herself (scene nine), “Esto es amor. Aquel 
hielo me ha encendido. El remedio es confesarlo.” She is 
torn between telling it and suffering in silence. Cintia tells 
Diana that Carlos has asked her hand in marriage and that 
Diana’s acquiescence is all that is lacking for her happiness. 
Diana tries to feel happy for Celia, seeing the “justicia de 
amor” in it all, but her “incendio” is too great. She tells 
Cintia that she loves Carlos and that she has been wrong all 
along. Cintia tells Carlos that Diana loves him and she re- 
signs in her favor. In the last scene, the Conde is about to 
bestow Cintia on Carlos, officially. Diana “esta muriendo”. 
Polilla warns Carlos that the master stroke is up to him now. 
Carlos tells the Conde de Barcelona that since he came to 
Barcelona originally to woo Diana, altho he loves Cintia, it 
must all be done in accordance with the wishes of Diana. Her 
father sees no possible objection of hers to this. She then has 
to step forth, first satisfying herself that her father does not 
mind who it is that she marries so long as she marries, then 
being satisfied by the princess that they will not be offended 
by her choice, she says (11. 2911-2915, scene 13, Act III) : 
Pues el prlncipe (Bearne) ha de ser 
quien de a mi prima la mano, 
y quien a ml la de 
el que veneer ha sabido 
el desden con el desden . 
Then, to Carlos’ question as to who this is, she replies, “Tu 
solo.” Polilla gives them his benediction. Celia is satisfied 
and Laura chooses Caniqui, who says he is only Polilla, and 
who ends the play with : 
Y con esto, y con un vltor, 
que pide, humilde y cortes, 
el ingenio, aqul se acaba 
el desden con el desden. 
