wr. 1634 - Comedia de capa y espada
Belisa, a beautiful and rich coquette, toys with men's hearts but remains impervious to love until she meets Don Juan de Cardona. He, in turn, loves Lucinda, a woman who alternately kindles and extinguishes his hopes in the belief that this strategy will induce him to marry her. One day, while with an admirer, Count Enrique, Belisa encounters Juan. She dismisses Enrique, and as she and Juan talk, they sight Lucinda. When Juan asks Belisa to help him arouse Lucinda's jealousy, she complies, which provokes Lucinda to divulge her love for Juan. At once Juan loses his desire for Lucinda and falls in love with Belisa instead. Lucinda, scheming to win him back, tells Belisa that both Enrique and Juan have declared their love to her.
Belisa dismisses Juan without explanation and determines to learn the truth at first hand. Assuming male disguise, she stations herself outside Lucinda's house, where Juan, seeking Lucinda's help, soon arrives. His presence ignites the jealousy of Octavio, one of Lucinda's suitors, who assails Juan but is routed when Belisa rushes to his aid. On returning home, she finds Enrique, who, puzzled by recent events, has come to discuss matters with her. Before he departs, Juan arrives. Jealous over Enrique's visit, he criticises Belisa, who replies that she is guilty only of having saved his life. Chagrined, Juan agrees to submit to any of her wishes, whereupon she asks him to escort Lucinda to her house for a wedding. Assuming that she is to be the bride, Lucinda arrives jubilant, only to learn that she will witness Belisa's marriage to Juan. Lucinda then decides to accept a marriage proposal from Enrique.