The Changeling

Alsemero, a young nobleman, is visiting Alicante and has just fallen in love with a women he’s seen at church. Rather than leave for Malta as he originally intended, Alsemero tells his friend Jasperino that he will stay for this woman--a decision that shocks Jasperino, as Alsemero has never been interested in women before and was in fact dedicated to travel. Beatrice enters, and Alsemero approaches her, charming and modest to win her favor. But Beatrice is reticent to reciprocate his feelings, as she tells him that “there’s one above me, sir” (she must follow her father’s wishes to marry Alonzo de Piracquo, a nobleman of Alicante). Her father’s servant De Flores enters to tell her that he is approaching, but rather than thank him, Beatrice scorns De Flores and his message, claiming that he is poisonous to her eyes. Alsemero, watching this exchange, tries to temper Beatrice’s anger, stating that all men have their faults. She softens a bit. Off to the side, Jasperino and Beatrice’s