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Indiana University Studies 
CHAPTER XVIII 
GALAN, VALIENTE Y DISCRETO, Mira de Amescua 
Galan, valiente y discrete, by Antonio Mira de Amescua 
(1577 ?-1644) 161 was produced in 1632 1C2 and is found in 
Parte veinte y nueve de Comedias de diferentes autores, Val- 
encia, 1636. 163 
In discussing this work of Mira de Amescua’s, Schaeffer 164 
writes : 
Das Stuck errinert unwillkiirlich an Morcto’s El desden con el 
desden; besonders ist dies der Fall mit der Episode des Dieners, welcher 
sich bei der Umworbenen als Spassmacher einschleicht und der Eifer- 
sucht der Heldin auf die zweite Liebhaberin, welche die schlummerende 
Liebesleidenschaft zum j alien Erwachen bringt. 
The play 165 finds Serafina, the Duchess of Mantua, wooed by 
numerous suitors whom she suspects of being rather in love 
with her kingdom than herself, since none of them has ever 
seen her. She herself has never experienced love, and regards 
marriage rather as a duty to her position, only desirous, since 
she must marry, of having the future duke in love with her for 
herself and not for her property. She confides all this to 
Porcia, with whom she arranges, in the presence of Flores — 
who appears as a buffoon whom she keeps to distract her, but 
who is really the servant of the Spaniard Fadrique — to ex- 
change roles for tjie festival which is to be given that night 
and to which the suitors are invited. She also insists that her 
husband must be “galan”, “valiente”, and “discreto” and prove 
these three qualities in competition. Among the suitors are the 
Duke of Urbino, who comes because of the reputed beauty of 
the duchess ; the Duke of Ferrara because of her reputation for 
being honorable and virtuous ; the Duke of Parma, who comes 
because her state borders on his and he would like to join 
them. These three agree to be friendly rivals and outdo 
Fadrique, who without estate, saying he is the relative of 
161 Fitzmaurice-Kelly, op. cit., p. 263. 
162 Rennert, op. cit., p. 341. 
163 Barrera, op. cit., p. 259. 
164 op. cit., Vol. I, p. 319. 
165 Based on the text of the Biblioteca de autores espanoles, Vol. XLV, tomo 2, 
Madrid, 1858, Dramaticos contemporaneos de Lope de Vega, selected and arranged by 
D. Ramdn de Mesonero Romanos, pp. 23-34. 
