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The Liar

Cv GoMoni
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THE LIAR
A COMEDY I THREE ACT!
"Y
CARLO GOLDOI
ITROD#CTIO
"Y E$ GORDO CRAIG
CARLO GOLDOI %a& born in 'enice on the ()th o* +ebr,ary- ./0/- in a
ho,&e at the corner o* the Ca' Cent'Anni$
+or *orty year& he %a& doin1 everythin1- 1oin1 every%here$ He %a&
Advocate- Candidate *or Ho2y Order&- Coad3,tor o* the Cri4ina2 Chance22or-
C2er5 o* the 6roc,rator- Con&,2 o* the Re7,b2ic o* Genoa at 'enice- %riter-
co47i2er o* a24anac5&- once near2y a 4on5 no 5ind o* 8 advent,rer-8 and
a2%ay& havin1 advent,re& 9 and *or *orty year& 4eetin1 every 5ind o*
7er&on *ro4 di72o4at& and 2adie& o* 72ea&,re to &%ind2er& and 7oet& : ,tter2y
yo,n1 in a :,iet o2d %ay o2d in that he &e2do4 1ave %ay to de&7air$ ot
&enti4enta2- not tra1ic- &4i2in1 a2%ay& a 1ood 2itt2e di&7o&ition 9 ab&ent;
4inded- yet 2ivin1 entire2y in the 7re&ent9 *ran5- b,t neither vain nor 7ro,d 9
*,22 o* 1ood :,a2itie&- %hat %e &ho,2d ca22 a dear 2itt2e 4an$ o 4ore
2i5e the other 'enetian& o* tho&e &ce7tica2 ti4e& than 'o2taire %a& 2i5e the
di&be2iever& o* hi& 2and a chi2d 2i5e 'o2taire- b,t 2e&& ro1,i&h 9 and very
*ond o* the theatre$
The rea&on I do not &ay he %a& 7a&&ionate2y *ond o* it i& that thi& i&
3,&t %hat he %a& not$
In tho&e day& every Ita2ian %ent to the theatre and %ent into ra7t,re&
or *,rie& %ith %hat he &a%$ ",t every Ita2ian %a& not 7a&&ionate2y *ond
o* the theatre$ On2y the actor& %ere that- and the theatre o* Ita2y in the
ei1hteenth cent,ry %a& &ti22 the theatre o* the actor&$
#n2e&& yo, 5no% &o4ethin1 abo,t the E,ro7ean theatre o* the &i<teenth-
&eventeenth- and ei1hteenth cent,rie& yo, %i22 not 5no% that the Ita2ian
actor& 7ractica22y 4ade it$ !o4e 7oet& and architect& 2ent it a 1enero,&
hand- do%ered it %ith a &,7erb &ettin1 : b,t the heart- the *ire- and the
voice o* the E,ro7ean theatre *ro4 .))0 to ./=0 %ere 1iven to it by the
actor&$
"y .)>? they had &%e7t a22 over E,ro7e- the&e 4a1ician& 9 and &o tre;
4endo,& %a& their *orce- &o co,nt2e&& %ere their n,4ber&- they %ere ab2e
to %ander *ar a*ie2d and yet 2eave at ho4e 4any tho,&and& o* their 5ind
to enchant the 7rince& and the 7eo72e in !iena and in Ro4e- in +2orence-
in 6er,1ia- in a72e&- 6i&a- and 'erona$
They trave22ed *ar and %ide no train&- no 4otor car& then- and yet
)
> ITROD#CTIO
the&e 4en o* ener1y and 1eni,& carried their co47anie& to Lyon&- to 6ari&-
to Madrid- to London- to Ger4any- to 'ienna- and to R,&&ia$ +or the4
the !eine and the Ta1,& and the Tha4e& %ere %i22in1 to be &et on *ire$ They
in&7ired Mo2iere- !ha5e&7eare- and Lo7e de 'er1a 9 and havin1 done a22
thi&- they had the a4a@in1 a,dacity to 7er4it the4&e2ve& to *ee2 tired$
Then aro&e a 1ood 4an and did an a%*,2 a4o,nt o* har4$ To be brie*-
he 5i22ed the 1reat actor&$
Ahen actor& 1ro% 2a@y and 2oo&e they 4ay e<7ect de*eat *ro4 a 4an
%ho %i22 ta5e 7ain&$
Car2o Go2doni %a& the 1ood 4an %ho too5 7ain&$
#n2e&& Mo2iere had been actor *ir&t and *ore4o&t- he co,2d never have
evo2ved the co4edie& %hich 2ater on *2o%ed *ro4 hi4 2i5e e<te47oraire$
o% co47are Go2doni *or a 4o4ent %ith Mo2iere$
Mo2iere never too5 7ain& %a& no 1ood 4an$ Mo2iere %a& a 5ind o*
1a4in- &o 7a&&ionate2y *ond o* the theatre that he 4ade 72ay& rather than
%rote the4 : actin1 a22 the ti4e a2%ay& actin1 and *ina22y %ritin1 dra4a$
Go2doni did not act in hi& o%n 72ay&$
Go2doni %a& o* a 2iterary t,rn o* 4ind and o* a theatrica2 inc2ination$
He %i&hed very nat,ra22y to invent ne% character& *or the Ita2ian& to &ee
and hear$ !o the 2itt2e advocate 7er&,aded the chie* actor& to ta5e it
ea&y- and he %rote ,7 the 7art& o* the 4inor actor& ,nti2 it %a& the&e
that the *o25 ca4e to 5no%- %hi2e they ca4e to *or1et the 7rinci7a2 *i1,re&
o* the Ita2ian co4edy$
The&e 7rinci7a2 *i1,re& %ere: Ar2ecchino- 6anta2one- i2 Dottore- "ri1he22a-
i2 Ca7itano- 6,2cine22a- !cara4,ccia- Tarta12ia- Covie22o$
T%o or 4ore o* the&e a77eared in a22 co4edie& 9 they r,2ed the &ta1e 9
they had been the 12ory o* the Dra4a 9 they %ere not in any %ay 2i5e any;
thin1 %e have ever &een$ They %ere at once actor& and dra4ati&t&$ They
had b,t to decide the evenin1 be*orehand %hat ta2e they %o,2d act to;
4orro%- and a22 %a& done$ A chair- a bott2e- three rin1&- and a 2etter %a&
a22 the 7ara7herna2ia they needed to co472ete their &cene- %hich %a& a
bac5;c2oth and *o,r to &i< &ide %in1&$
And the 7er*or4ance %o,2d be a re4ar5ab2e one- re4e4ber$ ot
&o4ethin1 one %o,2d &,77o&e 4i1ht ea&i2y re&,2t *ro4 &,ch ha&te$ +or
i* there %a& ra7idity in e<ec,tin1 the %or5- be1innin1 at / o'c2oc5 on Monday
evenin1 and bein1 ready by ( o'c2oc5 the *o22o%in1 a*ternoon- %e have it
on record that the&e Ita2ian& had 2on1 been 7er*ectin1 the %ho2e art o*
&7ontaneo,& actin1$ They had 1iven &o4e cent,rie& to it$
!o conceive the a&toni&h4ent and indi1nation o* the&e 4a&ter& o* the
ITROD#CTIO /
&ta1e on *indin1 a 2itt2e advocate on their board&- %ritin1 *or the4 %hat
they con&idered 4i25;and;%ater 72ay& %ith 7retty eno,1h dia2o1,e- b,t
2ac5in1 a22 the ancient viri2ity o* the 4a&ter& o* dra4atic art the o2d actor;
dra4ati&t& o* the &i<teenth and &eventeenth cent,rie&$
",t a&toni&h4ent and *,ry 1ave %ay to &adne&& a& the&e 7oor 2a@y
de&cendant& o* the 1iant& 7erceived that thi& &a4e 4i25;and;%ater dra4ati&t
o**ered on2y the 7,re&t 4i25 and the c2eane&t %ater$ Then they reco1ni@ed
that the %ine they had been &ervin1 o,t %a& b,t the dre1&- the 2ee&- o* the
o2d vat and not too c2ean at that$
Go2doni %a& in the be&t &en&e o* the %ord a re&7ectab2e 2itt2e 'enetian
1ent2e4an$ Mo2iere- hi1h2y ,nre&7ectab2e- %a& 3,&t an in*2a44ab2e torch
&et a2i1ht by the actor& %ith %ho4 2ater on he i& %i22in1 to &hare hi& *ire
a& their& d%ind2e&$
ot &o Go2doni$ M,ch a& he i& devoted to the theatre- he i& never o* it$
There i& there*ore no 4ore 4eanin12e&& 7hra&e to ,&e to Go2doni than to ca22
hi4 the 8 Mo2iere o* Ita2y$8
He i& 3,&t %hat he i& the Go2doni o* Ita2y and there i& one on2y$
Ahi2e Mo2iere i& 7,rer 8 Co44edia de22'arte-8 4ore 1en,ine theatre
o* the 1rand and traditiona2 4anner- Go2doni i& 7,re Ita2ian co4edy and
o* a 2itt2e 5ind %hich ha& never been e:,a22ed : it i& the be&t o* it& 5ind$
Do I e<a11erate %hen I &ay that I con&ider Go2doni the *ather o* a22
1ood 4odern co4edy- not on2y in that he i& re&7ectab2e beyond re7roach
b,t beca,&e he i& 4i2d and bea,ti*,2 B
The day& o* *ierce 7a&&ion& %ere 7a&t- it %o,2d &ee4$ o 2on1er %a&
*,n to be &o terrib2e and &o e<cr,ciatin1$ The tear& %ere no 2on1er to be
%r,n1 *ro4 ,& a& %e roc5ed in o,r &eat&$ The &2a7&tic5 and the &ac5 %ere
a22 ri1ht in tho&e a1e& %hen &in12e co4bat& bet%een 4en co,nted : b,t %hen
7ro7a1anda and the 2ie ca4e into *a&hion a& %ea7on& the co4edy had to
chan1e it& tone$ The o2d 3o5e %a& o* no 4ore ,&e$
Occa&iona22y the o2d 3o5e %i22 even no%aday& evo5e the o2d roar 9 b,t
that it i& not 7o7,2ar %ith dra4ati&t& i&- a*ter a22- &o4e &ort o* a &i1n$
Go2doni ha& the tr,e 1aiety o* a 2ove2y 4ind$
And hi& character& are a22 &o ne% to ,&- and hi& &ettin1& &o ori1ina2 &o
varied$
The very 2a&t thin1 anyone can ca22 the a,thor o* The Liar i& the
8 Mo2iere o* Ita2y 8 the very 2a&t thin1$
That i& 7erha7& %hy everyone doe& it *ir&t o* a22$ It i& innocent and
char4in1 a*ter a22 :
+or %ho 5no%& %hether to 5no% i& a& ha77y a& to not 5no% B
The %i&e rea22y 5no% nothin1 and the *oo2& too and can anyone di&cern
= ITROD#CTIO
one *ro4 t'other B A c2ever 4an i& he %ho can yet not a %i&e one$ Go2doni
i& not 5no%n by ,& and Mo2iere not 5no%n any better$
8 Aho i& that B 8 a&5& a T,r5- 7ointin1 to a 7ortrait o* the a,thor o*
Tart,**e$
8 Ahy- Mo2iere C the 1reat Mo2iere don't yo, reco1ni@e hi4 B 8
8 Ah- Mo2iere B O* co,r&e- Mo2iere one o* the be&t o* "ona7arte'&
1enera2&$8 2
And *ro4 the other end o* the earth co4e& a yo,n1 and char4in1
2ady to vi&it the Co4edie +rancai&e to %itne&& Le& 6recie,&e& Ridic,2e&-
and at the end o* Act II t,rn& %ith every &i1n o* vivid e4otion to her ho&t
and a&5&- 8 Thi& Mo2iere ho% 4,ch %i22 he acce7t to co4e and 2ect,re at
!trat*ord;,7on;Avon B 8
I *ear that I 4ay be 7,t do%n a& a c2ever 4an- *or I &ee4 to 5no% :,ite
a 2ot abo,t Go2doni %herea& rea22y I 5no% nothin1 abo,t hi4 &o in
%hich cate1ory a4 I B
Ae22- bein1 in the co47any o* the char4in1 tran&2ator&- I'22 a&&,4e the
tit2e o* %i&e 4an to 72ea&e the4$
. Ado27hi Tha2a&&o$ Mo2iire en T,r:,ie
THE LIAR
A COMEDY
+ir&t 72ayed in Mant,a in the !7rin1 o* ./)0
!CEE: 'EICE D#RIG THE +E!TA- MAY- ./)0$
The action o* the 62ay i& contin,o,&- and ta5e& 72ace %ithin
(? ho,r&$
ACT I$
!CEE I : A !treet$ DEvenin1$E
!CEE ( : The &a4e$ De<t 4ornin1$E
ACT II$
!CEE I : A Roo4 in the Doctor'& Ho,&e$F
!CEE ( : A Roo4 in 6anta2one'& Ho,&e$ DEar2y a*ternoon$E
!CEE G : A !treet$
ACT III$
!CEE I : A !treet$ DLate a*ternoon$E
!CEE ( : A Roo4 in the Doctor'& Ho,&e$ DThat evenin1$E
TRA!LATOR'! OTE
In the ori1ina2- Go2doni 4a5e& Da& a2%ay&E the traditiona2
7er&ona1e& o* the Co44edia de2TArte- &,ch a& 6anta2one and
Ar2ecchino- &7ea5 in the 'enetian dia2ect$ The tran&2ator ha&
atte47ted to re7rod,ce thi& di&tinction by renderin1 their
dia2o1,e in an En12i&h co,ntry dia2ect$
6ER!O! I THE 6LAY$
DOCTOR "ALAHOI A "o2o1ne&e Doctor re&ident in 'enice$
RO!A#RA .
"EATRICE Hi& Da,1hter&$
COLOM"IA Their Maid$
$
OTTA'IO A *ine 1ent2e4an o* 6ad,a- 2over to "eatrice$
+LORIDO A "o2o1ne&e 4edica2 &t,dent- 2ivin1 in
the Doctor'& ho,&e- and ti4id 2over o* Ro&a,ra$
"RIGHELLA $ Hi& Con*idant$
6ATALOE A 'enetian 4erchant- +ather to
The Liar$
$
LELIO Hi& !ervant$
ARLECCHIO
A EA6OLITA DRI'ER$
A DRA6ER'! A!!I!TAT$
A LETTER CARRIER$
A !IGIG AOMA$
I!TR#METALI!T!$
6EOTA* "OATME and
GODOLIER!$
The action ta5e& 72ace in 'enice d,rin1 a +e&ta$
* A 7eota i& a rather roo4y boat- b,i2t to ho2d a 1reat 4any 7eo72e- covered by
a red cano7y- %ith a tab2e and chair&$ #&ed *or &hort 72ea&,re e<c,r&ion& and
diver&ion& %ithin the city$
LELIO$
THE LIAR
ACT I$
!CEE : A &treet endin1 in a brid1e '- thro,1h the arch o* %hich a
cana2 i& &een$ L$ y the Doctor'& Ho,&e- %ith a &4a22 7ro3ectin1
ba2cony$ R$- and direct2y o77o&ite- an Inn %ith an Ea12e &i1n;
board$
A Moon2i1ht i1ht$
DAt ri&e a 7eota i& &een 4oored ,nder the arch%ay$ It i& 2it
by co2o,red 2antern&- and in it are &eated I!TR#METALI!T!
and the !IGIG AOMA$ The I!TR#METALI!T! 72ay an
o7enin1 &y47hony$ +LORIDO and "RIGHELLA &tand do%n
&ta1e in the &hado%&BE
DD,rin1 the 4,&ic "EATRICE and RO!A#RA co4e o,t on to
the ba2conyBE
+LOR$ : Loo5- "ri1he22a- there'& 4y dear Ro&a,ra co4in1 o,t
*or the &erenade %ith her &i&ter "eatrice$ o%'& the 4o4ent *or
that &on1 I %rote e<72ainin1 4y 7a&&ion *or her$
"RIG$ : I never @eed a 4ore &tran1e 2,ve than yo,r&$ Yo,r
Aor&hi7'& *air in 2,ve %ith Mi&& Ro&a,ra 9 yo, 2ive a;&t,dyin1 in
the &a4e ho,&e %ith her *ather- and yo,'ve a 4ort o* chance&
to &7ea5 to her- and yo, 4,&t need& have it @,n1 to her in a @,rri;
nade and e<72ained in a @on1$
+LOR$ : My dear "ri1he22a- I've a2ready to2d yo, that I haven't
the co,ra1e$ Yo, 5no% I 2ove Ro&a,ra- b,t I can't 72,c5 ,7 heart
eno,1h to te22 her &o$ I* I %ere to &7ea5 o,tri1ht to her I 5no%
I &ho,2d &i472y die o* b2,&hin1$
"RIG$ : Do 'ee 4ean carryin1 on 2i5e thi& %i o,t a @412e &7o5en
%ord B
+LOR$ : Oh- 1o to the boat and te22 the4 to &in1 4y ne% &on1$
"RIG$ : o%- 2oo5 'ee : I &arved yo,r *ather in "o2o1na- I @eed
yo,r Aor&hi7 born and %i&h 'ee %e22 eno,1h- God 5no%&$ Ahy-
%hen I 2oo5 at 'ee- I thin5 I @ee o2d Ma&ter 'i&&e2* &tandin' a*ore 4y
very eye&$ Ay- and tho,1h no% I'4 in &arvice o,t o' the *a4i2y-
ye 5no% yo,r Aor&hi7 i& 4ain %e2co4e to 4y &7are ti4e$
+LOR$ : My dear *e22o%- i* yo, rea22y 4ean it- do a& I a&5 yo,$
"RIG$ : Have it yo,r o%n %ay$
+LOR$ : And I'22 &tay here o,t o* &i1ht$
"RIG$ : Aa,n& C %here'& the &en&e in that B
+LOR$ : !o that no one %i22 &ee 4e- o* co,r&e$
"RIG- Da&ideE: It *air beat& 4eC 'Taint nat,ra2-
beant 4,ch o' that abo,t no%aday&$
DGoe& to the 7eota$E
+LOR$ : Dear Ro&a,ra- 4y &o,2- 4y on2y ho7e- co,2d&t tho, b,t
1,e&& thi& devo,rin1 *2a4e C
DAithdra%& &ti22 4ore into the &hado%$E
DThe I!TR#METALI!T! I>IJry the introd,ction to &on1- %hich
i& then &,n1 *ro4 the boat by the !IGIG AOMA$E
!OG$
Dear ido2 o* 4y heart- K
I ta5e thi& ti4id *a&hion
L,ite &a*e2y to i47art
My &o,2;devo,rin1 7a&&ion$
Dear C,7id- ,nder&tand
My &hyne&& 4a5e& 4e 7ro**er
A 2ove at &econd;hand-
And in a &on1 4y o**er$
THE LIAR ./
",t %hen yo, are a%ay-
My co,ra1e then i& &to,t 9
Ahen yo,'re not by to hear-
My 2ove I &i472y &ho,t$
O C,7id- be at hand
And c,re 4y c,r&ed evi2-
And 4a5e her ,nder&tand
My &hyne&& i& the devi2$
DAhi2e the &on1 i& bein1 &,n1- LELIO and ARLECCHIO
co4e o,t *ro4 Inn and &tand 2i&tenin1 to the 4,&ic$ At the
conc2,&ion o* the &on1- the boat 4ove& &2o%2y o**- the M#!ICIA!
&ti22 72ayin1$E
"RIG- D&o*t2y to +LORIDOE : And doe& that 72a@e 'ee B
+LOR$ : 'ery 4,ch$
"RIG$ : Aent %ith a &%in1 2i5e B
+LOR$ : Co,2dn't have been better$
"RIG$ : ",t &he don't 5no% %ho&e it %a&$
+LOR$ : ever 4ind 9 it i& eno,1h that &he &ho,2d have heard it$
"RIG$ : Go 'ee in no%- and 2et her @ee thi& *inery i& yo,r Aor;
&hi7'&$
+LOR$ : Heaven *orbid C And it'& 3,&t to 7revent thi& that I
&ha22 no% ta5e a t,rn or t%o- and then 1o in by the bac5 door$
Co4e a2on1$
"RIG$ : Have it yo,r o%n %ay C
DE<e,nt$E
LELIO : Ae22- %hat do yo, thin5 o* it- Ar2ecchino B Char4in1
72ace- thi& 'enice$ A2%ay& &o4ethin1 de2i1ht*,2 to do$ o%
that it'& rea22y too hot to &2ee7- one can co4e o,t and en3oy the&e
de2icio,& &erenade&$
ARLE$ : Ahy- a& to that- I don't va2,e 'e4 a 1roat$
LELIO : Ho%'& that B
ARLE$ : The @ort o* @,rrinade& I va2,e 'a& eatin' thro%n in$
LELIO D%ith &,dden intere&tE : I &ay- Ar2ecchino- 2oo5 at that
. = THE LIAR
co,72e o* 1ir2& ,7 there$ I &a% the4 *ro4 4y %indo%- and tho,1h
't%a& 7retty dar5 I tho,1ht they 2oo5ed hand&o4e eno,1h$
ARLE$ : Ay- they're a22 *ine %o4en to yo,$ Ahy- Mr&$ C2eonice
in Ro4e *air da@@2ed yo,- and no% yo,'ve 2e*t her$
LELIO : And don't even re4e4ber her C On that ba2cony are
t%o %o4en %ho4 I have every rea&on to &,77o&e are o* a not too
retirin1 di&7o&ition$ I'22 try 4y 2,c5$
ARLE$ : Meanin' thereby yo,'22 te22 ',n ten 2ie& to every *o,r
%ord&$
LELIO : Yo, 7re&,4e$
ARLE$ : "e&t 1et 'ee ho4e to Ma&ter 6anta2one'&$
LELIO : He'& o,t o* to%n$ Ahen he 1et& bac5 I'22 1o &tay
%ith hi4 ri1ht eno,1h$
ARLE$ D7ointin1 to InnE : And 4ean%hi2e yo,'22 &to7 at the
Ea12e B
LELIO : Ye&- and en3oy &o4e 2iberty$ Ahy- thi& i& the &ea&on$
A22 3,n5etin1& and en3oy4ent$ I've been a%ay *or t%enty year&$
Ho% e<:,i&ite tho&e 1ir2& 2oo5 by the 2i1ht o* the 4oon$ A22 the
&a4e- I &ho,2d 2i5e to 5no% %ho they are be*ore I &7ea5 to the4$
Go into the Inn and *ind o,t %ho they are- i* they're 7re&entab2e-
and %hat their na4e& are$
ARLE$ : I %ant a 4onth *or a22 thi& &t,** C
LELIO : H,rry ,7 9 I'22 %ait *or yo, here$
ARLE$ : Yo, %ant 4e to 1o a;7ryin'- yo, do$
LELIO : I beat yo, %hen I'4 an1ry$
ARLE$ : Ae22- I hate& to @ee yo, 7,t abo,t- &o here 1oe&$
DE<it into Inn$E
LELIO : I thin5 to;ni1ht I'4 in the vein *or a ne% advent,re$
D"e1in& to %a25 ,7 and do%n$E
RO!A#RA : Yo,'re ri1ht- &i&ter- the &erenade co,2d not have
been 4ore 4a1ni*icent$
"EAT$ : I can't thin5 o* anyone e2&e in the nei1hbo,rhood that'&
%orth it- &o I *2atter 4y&e2* 't%a& 4eant *or ,&$
RO!A#RA : I %i&h %e 5ne% *or %hich one o* ,&- and %ho it
%a& ordered it$
THE LIAR .M
"EAT$ : !o4e ,n5no%n ad4irer o* yo,r bea,ty$ DYa%n&$E
RO!A#RA D&%eet2yE : Or rather- dear- &o4e &ecret ad4irer o* yo,r
%orth$
"EAT$ : I can't thin5 %ho it can be$ There'& !i1ner Ottavio$
%ho &ee4ed rather &4itten %ith 4e- b,t i* he'd ordered it he'd
hard2y be the one to hide hi4&e2*$
RO!A#RA : I can't thin5 either$ It %o,2dn't be +2orindo$
!evera2 ti4e& 2ate2y I've 1one o,t o* 4y %ay to &7ea5 :,ite nice2y
to hi4- and he'& never re&7onded in the 2ea&t$
"EAT$ : Do yo, &ee a 4an &tro22in1 over there B
RO!A#RA : Ye&- and- a& *ar a& yo, can te22 by thi& %retched
4oon2i1ht- he &ee4& rather %e22 dre&&ed$
LELIO Dto hi4&e2* a& he &tro22&E : Ar2ecchino'& a da4ned 2on1
ti4e$ I don't 5no% %ho they are or ho% to ta25 to the4$ ever
4ind- I'22 5ee7 on &a*e 1ro,nd$
RO!A#RA : Let'& 1o in$
"EAT$ : Oh- non&en&e 9 %hat are yo, a*raid o* B
LELIO D&7ea5in1 to%ard& the ba2conyE : G2orio,& &erenity o* the
heaven2y va,2t C Ahat a :,iet and yet re&72endent ni1ht$ And
yet- %hat 4arve2 i& it that the heaven& &hine 4ore than their
%ont- %hen to;ni1ht they are i22,4ined by t%o &,ch 1racio,&
&tar& B
RO!A#RA D2o% to "EATRICEE : He 4ean& ,&$
"EAT- D2o%E : He'& either 4ad or in 2ove %ith ,&$
RO!A#RA D2o%E : He &ee4& a 1ood *i1,re o* a 4an- and &7ea5&
%ith va&t ta&te$
LELIO : Did I not *ear the &ti14a o* bo2dne&&- I &ho,2d vent,re
to %i&h yo, 2adie& a very 1ood evenin1$
RO!A#RA : Yo, hono,r ,&$
LELIO : Yo, are en3oyin1 the air B
"EAT$ : Ae are en3oyin1 a 2itt2e 2iberty in o,r *ather'& ab&ence$
LELIO : Ah- yo,r *ather'& o,t o* to%n B
"EAT$ : Ye&- &ir$
RO!A#RA : Do yo, 5no% o,r *ather B
LELIO : He'& a 1reat *riend o* 4ine$ May I be 7er4itted to
in:,ire %here he'& 1one B
RO!A#RA : To 6ad,a- on a vi&it to a &ic5 4an$
(0 THE LIAR
LELIO Da&ideE : Doctor'& da,1hter&$ DA2o,d$E I've a2%ay&
con&idered the doctor a 1reat 4an- an orna4ent to o,r cent,ry$
RO!A#RA : Yo,'re very 5ind$ Yo, &ee4 to 5no% a22 abo,t ,&-
b,t %ho are yo, B
LELIO : I a4 an adorer o* yo,r char4&$
RO!A#RA Dco,1h&E : O* 4ine B
LELIO : O* tho&e o* one o* yo,- 4y 2adie&$
"EAT$ : Aon't yo, be 4ore 7artic,2ar B
LELIO : 6er4it 4e &ti22 to 5ee7 4y &ecret$ In 1ood ti4e I
ho7e to e<72ain 4y&e2*$
RO!A#RA Da&ide to "EATRICEE : He %ant& to 4arry one o* ,&$
"EAT- Da&ide to RO!A#RAE : Heaven 5no%& %ho'22 be the 2,c5y
one$
DEnter ARLECCHIO *ro4 Inn$E
ARLE$ : "oo5in1 *or LELIOE : Ahere'& he 1ot to no% B
LELIO Da&ide to ARLECCHIOE : Ae22- *o,nd o,t their na4e& B
ARLE$ : The %aiter to2d 4e a22 abo,t ',n$
LELIO : L,ic5 C
ARLE$ : They're the darter& o*
LELIO Dinterr,7tin1 hi4E : I don't %ant to 5no% that$ Ahat
are their na4e& B
ARLE$ : !teady no%$ Their *ather'& a doctor$
LELIO : Oh- I 5no% that$ Te22 4e their na4e& and be da4ned
to yo, C
ARLE$ : One'& ca22ed Ro&a,ra and t'other "eatrice$
LELIO : That'& eno,1h$ DRet,rn& to ,nder the ba2cony$E E<;
c,&e 4e I had 1iven 4y &ervant a co44i&&ion to e<ec,te$
RO!A#RA : Are yo, a 'enetian or a &tran1er here B
LELIO : I a4 a ea7o2itan nob2e4an$
ARLE$ Da&ideE : ob2e4an and ea7o2itan C T%o 2ie& at a 1o$
RO!A#RA : Ho% d'yo, 5no% ,& B
LELIO : It i& no% a year &ince thi& city ha& &he2tered 4y in;
co1nito$
ARLE$ Da&ideE : Ae coo4ed 2a&t ni1ht$
LELIO : I'd hard2y arrived be*ore 4y eye& %ere enchanted by
the bea,tie& o* Me&da4e& Ro&a,ra and "eatrice$ I %a& *or a 2on1
THE LIAR (.
%hi2e in do,bt ,7on %hich to be&to% 4y heart- a& both &ee4ed
e:,a22y %orthy o* it- b,t *ina22y 4y choice re&o2ved it&e2* ,7on
RO!A#RA Dinterr,7tin1E : Ahich one o* ,& B
LELIO : Ah- I 4,&tn't &ay that yet$
ARLE$ Da&ideE : He'22 te22 ',n both in t,rn$
LELIO : "e&ide&- I *ear the bea,ty I de&ire i& a2ready be&7o5e$
RO!A#RA : I a&&,re yo, I have no 2over&$
"EAT$ : either a4 I in any %ay en1a1ed$
ARLE$ D2o% to LELIOE : T%o e47ty 72ace&- 3,&t yo,r 2,c5 C
LELIO : !ti22- &erenade& are &,n1 beneath yo,r %indo%&$
RO!A#RA : I &%ear I don't 5no% %ho&e it %a&$
"EAT$ : I can't 1,e&& either$
LELIO : o%- %o,2d yo, rea22y 2i5e to 5no% B
RO!A#RA : I'4 dyin1 o* c,rio&ity$
"EAT$ : Ae are %o4en- and that i& eno,1h$
LELIO : Ae22- %e22- I'22 re2ieve yo, o* yo,r tor4ent&$ The
&erenade that yo, en3oyed i& a 2itt2e te&ti4onia2 o* the a**ection
I cheri&h *or 4y *air one$
ARLE$ Da&ideE : Aa,n& C That'& a 4o,th*,2 C
RO!A#RA : And yo, %on't &ay *or %ho4 yo, 4eant it B
LELIO : o- certain2y not$ Did not yo, 4ar5 that can@onetta
that I ca,&ed to be &,n1 B Did it not &7ea5 o* a ti4id and &ecret
2over B That i& 7reci&e2y %hat I a4$
RO!A#RA : Yo,'ve on2y yo,r&e2* to b2a4e- then- i* neither o*
,& than5& yo,$
LELIO : !o &2i1ht a 4ar5 o* e&tee4 de&erve& no than5&$ Have
I the hono,r o* &ecret2y &ervin1 her %ho4 I 2ove- I %i22 a&to,nd a22
'enice %ith the 4a1ni*icence o* 4y entertain4ent$
ARLE$ Da&ideE : He'22 be 7a%nin1 hi& c2othe&- i* hi& *ather don't
co4e bac5 &oon$
RO!A#RA D2o% to "EATRICEE : My dear- he 4,&t be a very rich
4an$
"EAT- D2o% to RO!A#RAE : He'22 not be *or 4e : I'4 too ,n;
2,c5y$
RO!A#RA : !ir- at 2ea&t te22 ,& yo,r na4e$
LELIO : Aith 72ea&,re : Don A&dr,ba2e- Mar:,e&& o* Ca&te2
d'Oro$
(( THE LIAR
ARLE$ Da&ideE : o 2ac5 o* tit2e& %i' hi4$
"EAT- D2o% to RO!A#RAE : Let'& 1o in 9 he 4,&tn't thin5 ,& 2o%$
RO!A#RA D2o% to "EATRICEE : Yo,'re ri1ht$ 6r,dence by a22
4ean&$ DA2o,d to LELIO$E My 2ord Mar:,e&&- %ith yo,r 7er4i&&ion
the air 1ro%& chi22y$
LELIO : Yo,'re 1oin1 in a2ready B
"EAT$ : O,r o2d d,enna i& ca22in1 ,& 9 %e 4,&t 1o to bed$
LELIO : 6atience- A&dr,ba2e C Yo,r co4*ort 2eave& yo,$
RO!A#RA : Ae &ha22 4eet a1ain$
LELIO : I* yo,'22 a22o% 4e- I'22 %ait on yo, to;4orro%$
ARLE$ Da&ideE : Ye&- in&ide ne<t ti4e$
RO!A#RA : That'& a22 very %e22- &ir ti4id 2over- b,t it i& not &o
ea&y to co4e in here$
LELIO : At 2ea&t I'22 &ee yo, at the %indo% B
RO!A#RA : Ae'22 a22o% yo, that 4,ch$
"EAT$ : And %hen yo,'ve dec2ared yo,r&e2*- yo,'22 be ad4itted
a 2itt2e *,rther$
LELIO : Ahen yo,r *ather ret,rn& %e %i22 ta25 o* it$ Mean;
%hi2e
RO!A#RA : I %i&h yo,r 2ord&hi7 a very 1ood ni1ht$
DGoe& into ho,&e thro,1h %indo%$E
"EAT$ : Don A&tr,ba2e- yo,r &ervant C
D+o22o%& RO!A#RA$E
ARLE$ Dto LELIO- 2a,1hin1E : I 5i&& yo,r Grace&hi7'& hand& C
LELIO : Ahat do yo, thin5 o* that : That %a& not &o bad B
ARLE$ : The %ay yo, 4ana1e to te22 the 7ec5 o' 2ie& yo, do
%i'o,t *air tan12in' yo,r&e2* 3,&t 1et& 4e C
LELIO : Idiot C The&e are not 2ie&- b,t %itty invention&
7rod,ced by the *erti2ity o* 4y ever;ready and 7ro2i*ic brain$ I*
yo, %o,2d en3oy the %or2d- ,&e yo,r %it&- or yo,'22 2o&e a22 yo,r
o77ort,nitie&$
DGoe& into the Inn$E
THE LIAR (G
ARLE$ : Aon't the *at be in the *ire %hen hi& *ather co4e&
bac5 : it don't need no Dania2 to te22 that C
DCOLOM"IA co4e& o,t on to ba2cony$E
COLOM$ : o% that 4y 2adie& are 1one to bed- I can ta5e a
breath o* air$
ARLE$ : H,22o C here'& a 1ir2 on the ba2cony it'& not one o*
the other&$
COLOM$ : A 4an i& &tro22in1 do%n there and 2oo5in1 at 4e$
It'& ti4e I 2oo5ed a*ter 4y&e2* a bit- too$
ARLE$ : Let'& try her %ith a bit o' the Ma&ter'& *2,44ery$
COLOM$ : He'& 1oin1 to &7ea5 to 4e$
ARLE$ Ddro77in1 dia2ectE : I ah %or&hi7 that bea,ty %hich
12ea4& e:,a22y by ni1ht and tho,1h ,n&een &tri5e& 2ove into one'&
heart$
COLOM$ : !ir- %ho are yo, B
ARLE$ : Don 6iccaro o* Cata2ania- at yo,r &ervice$
COLOM$ Da&ideE : 8 Don 8 i& a nob2e4an'& tit2e C
ARLE$ : I a4 one that die&- a1oni&e& and beco4e& 4ad *or 2ove
o* yo,$
COLOM$ : ",t I don't 5no% yo,$
ARLE$ : That'& beca,&e I'4 a ti4id and a &ha4e*aced 2over$
COLOM$ : Yo, can &7ea5 *ree2y %ith 4e 9 I'4 on2y a 7oor &er;
vant 1ir2$
ARLE$ Da&ideE : A &ervant : that'& 4y 4ar5 C DA2o,d$E Te22
4e- 4y dear- did yo, hear that ah can@onetta &,n1 B
COLOM$ : Ye&- &ir- I heard it$
ARLE$ : Do yo, 5no% %ho &an1 it B
COLOM$ : o- I don't$
ARLE$ : I &an1 it$
COLOM$ : It &o,nded 2i5e a %o4an'& voice$
ARLE$ : I'4 one o* tho&e that can &in1 in a22 voice&$ My hi1h
note& r,n a 1ood t%o octave& above the hi1he&t in the har7&ichord$
COLOM$ : It %a& rea22y a bea,ti*,2 &on1$
ARLE$ : I %rote it$
COLOM$ : !o yo,'re a 7oet a& %e22 B
(? THE LIAR
ARLE$ : I- too- have dr,n5 6arn A&&e&' 4i25$*
COLOM$ : ",t %hat 4ade yo, ta5e &o 4,ch tro,b2e B
ARLE$ : Ahy- yo, o* co,r&e- 4y dear$
COLOM$ : I &ho,2d 1ro% vain i* I tho,1ht yo, %ere &7ea5in1
the tr,th$
ARLE$ : Yo, 4ay be2ieve 4e I &%ear it by a22 the 7atent& o*
4y nobi2ity$
COLOM$ : I than5 yo, %ith a22 4y heart$
ARLE$ : Ahat %o,2d I not do *or the &a5e o* yo,r eye& C
COLOM$ Dto%ard& ho,&eE : Co4in1 C co4in1 C DTo ARLECCHIO$E
My 2ord- 4y 2adie& are ca22in1 4e$
ARLE$ : Ah- do not de7rive 4e o* the r,bic,nd &hade& o* yo,r
bea,ty$
COLOM$ : 64 a*raid I can't &to7 any 2on1er$
ARLE$ : I &ha22 &ee yo, a1ain B
COLOM$ : O* co,r&e$ Don 6iccaro- I &a2,te yo,$
DGoe& into ho,&e$E
ARLE$ D2a7&in1 into dia2ect once 4oreE : one @o bad$ There'&
&o4ethin1 in it : 2ive %i' the %o2* and 2earn to ho%2$
DE<it into Inn$E
ED O+ !CEE i$
!CEE II$ The !a4e$ e<t 4ornin1$
"RIG$ : There 'ee 1o- @,rrenadin' a22 ni1ht- ,7 %i' the 2ar5
in the 4ornin1$ Yo,'4 2over& ha& &i4'2y no &2ee7in' ti4e$
+LOR$ : I co,2d not &2ee7 %hen I tho,1ht o* the &,cce&& o* 4y
&erenade$
"RIG$ : !,cce&& d'ye ca22 it B !7end yo,r 4oney- 2o&e yo,r
&2ee7- and the 1a2 5no% no%t C
* In the ori1ina2 Go2doni 7,n& on the %ord& 4,&a- a 4,&e- and 4,&&a- a
&he;a&& in the 'enetian dia2ect$
THE LIAR ()
+LOR$ : I a&5 no 4ore than that &he &ho,2d have en3oyed it$
"RIG$ : Ye're content %ith 4ain 2itt2e$
+LOR$ : Li&ten- "ri1he22a- I heard 4y dear Ro&a,ra &ay the other
K that &he de&ired &o4e 2en1th& o* 2ace&$ o% that the *air'&
be1innin1- I &ho,2d 2i5e to 4a5e her a 7re&ent o* &o4e$
"RIG$ : Thi&'22 &7ea5 &o44at to ',n$
+LOR$ : Oh- they'22 not co4e *ro4 4e$ Dear "ri1he22a- i*
yo, 2ove 4e- do %hat I'4 1oin1 to a&5 yo,$ Here'& a 7,r&e' o*
ten @ecchin&- 1o to the 4ercer'& and b,y %ith it *orty yard& o*
the 4o&t bea,ti*,2 2ace& yo, can$ Te22 the 4erchant to have the4
&ent to Ro&a,ra %ith the 7artic,2ar in&tr,ction on no acco,nt to
&ay *ro4 %ho4 they co4e$
"RIG$ : Ten @ecchin& in the 1,tter C
+LOR$ : Ho%'& that B
"RIG$ Ahoi- ho% be &he to 5no% %heer they be *ro4 B
Ye can't <7ect than5& 2i5e$
It doe&n't 4atter- &he'22 5no% in ti4e$ N,&t no% I
+LOR$
%i&h to b
"RIG$
+LOR$
c2ient'& *e &$
"RIG$
+LOR$
a &ecret 1iver
Aheer be the 4oney *ro4 B
!o4e *ro4 4y *ather'& a22o%ance and &o4e *ro4 4y
Ye 1ather ',n and ye &catter ',n$
Do 1o at once and do 4e thi& *avo,r$ To;day i& the
ir&t day o* the *air$ I &ho,2d 2i5e her to have the 2ace& be*ore
dinner;ti4e$
"RIG$ : Have it yo,r o%n %ay$
+LOR$ : !ee that the 2ace& are bea,ti*,2$
"RIG$ : Ay- ay C
+LOR$ : I &ha22 be eterna22y 1rate*,2$
"RIG- Da&ideE : Ten @ecchin& %hy- a 4an 4i1ht have the
%or2d$
DE<it$E
+LOR$ : And there i& the dear 2itt2e ba2cony %here 4y 2ove
&ho%& her&e2*$ D'yo, 5no%- i* &he &ho,2d no% a77ear- I be2ieve
I co,2d &7ea5 to her$ I 4i1ht &ay- *or in&tance
(> THE LIAR
DOTTA'IO enter& *ro4 R$- and &tand& %atchin1 +LORIDO$E
Ye&- I'd &ay to her : 8 Mada4- I 2ove yo, tender2y 9 I cannot 2ive
%itho,t yo,$ Yo, are 4y &o,2$ Dear- ta5e 7ity on 4e$8 DT,rn&
and &ee& OTTA'IO$E L,d C I %i&h he had not &een 4e$ DA2o,d to
OTTA'IO$E My *riend- %hat do yo, thin5 o* the architect,re
o* thi& 2itt2e ba2cony B
OTTA'IO : "ea,ti*,2 C Te22 4e no%- are yo, an architect or
a 7ortrait 7ainter B
+LOR$ : Ahat do yo, 4ean B
OTTA'IO : Are yo, conte472atin1 the ba2cony or the *air
o%ner B
+LOR$ : I don't ,nder&tand yo,$
OTTA'IO : Yo,'ve better o77ort,nitie& indoor&$
+LOR$ : I a4 a doctor- not a 7ainter$
OTTA'IO : My dear *e22o%- did yo, hear the &erenade here 2a&t
ni1ht B
+LOR$ : I 1o to bed ear2y 9 I 5no% nothin1 o* any &erenade$
OTTA'IO : ",t &o4eone &a% yo, 1o by a& it %a& bein1
&,n1$
+LOR$ : I 4ay have 7a&&ed by$ I 5no% nothin1$ I have no
4i&tre&&e&$
OTTA'IO Da&ideE : He'& 1ro%in1 con*,&ed$ I be2ieve that
&erenade %a& hi&$
+LOR$ : !ir- yo,r &ervant$ DAtte47t& to 2eave$E
OTTA'IO D&to77in1 hi4E : One 4o4ent- 72ea&e$ Ae're *riend&-
yo, 5no% don't hide the tr,th *ro4 4e$ I 2ove "eatrice- and
*ind no di**ic,2ty in te22in1 yo, &o$ I* yo, 2ove Ro&a,ra- 7erha7&
I can he27 yo, 9 i* yo, 2ove "eatrice- I'4 :,ite ready to 1ive her
,7 to yo, i* &he 7re*er& yo,$
+LOR$ : I te22 yo, once 4ore I've nothin1 to do %ith 2ove$
I devote 4y&e2* to &,r1ery and 4edicine- and 7ay no attention to
%o4en$
OTTA'IO : Ae22- I don't be2ieve yo,$ I o*ten hear yo, &i1hin1-
and no one &i1h& *or 4edicine$
+LOR$ : Ae22- don't be2ieve 4e i* yo, don't %ant to$ I te22
yo, once 4ore I 2ove no one- and i* I %a& 1a@in1 at that
THE LIAR (/
%indo% it %a& beca,&e I %a& attracted by the 1race*,2ne&& o*
it& de&i1n$
DLoo5& at the %indo% and e<it&$E
OTTA'IO : There'& no do,bt abo,t it- he'& in 2ove 9 and- a&
he %on't te22 4e anythin1- I'4 a*raid it'& "eatrice$ I* I had not
&7ent the ni1ht at the Inn and 2o&t it 4i&erab2y in 72ay- I &ho,2d
have &een +2orindo- and do,bt2e&& thin1& %o,2d have been a bit
c2earer$ ",t I'22 5ee7 4y eye& o7en any%ay$
DEnter OLELio*ro4 Inn$E
LELIO : Ahy- %ho4 have %e here B My dear *riend Ottavio C
OTTA'IO : My deare&t Le2io C
LELIO : !o yo,'re here B
OTTA'IO : !o yo,'ve ret,rned to yo,r ance&tra2 ho4e B
LELIO : Ye&- I arrived ye&terday$
OTTA'IO : Ho% did yo, tear yo,r&e2* *ro4 the a4oro,& bea4&
o* a72e& B
LELIO : Ah- tr,2y it %a& &ad %or5 2eavin1 &o 4any bea,tie&
behind$ ",t bare2y arrived in 'enice- the 1a22ant advent,re&
that here be*e22 4e have 4ade 4e *or1et a22 the ea7o2itan bea,tie&$
OTTA'IO : G2ad to hear it a2%ay& 2,c5y in 2ove$
LELIO : +ort,ne i& &o4eti4e& 3,&t- and Love not a2%ay& b2ind$
OTTA'IO : I 5no% 9 and 'ti& yo,r 4erit that enriche& yo, %ith
the&e 2oca2 2ove&$
LELIO : Te22 4e- do yo, 5no% thi& city B
OTTA'IO : !2i1ht2y$ I've 2ived here a year$
LELIO : Do yo, 5no% t%o &i&ter& that 2ive in that ho,&e B
OTTA'IO Da&ideE : H'4 C I 4,&t &ee ho% the 2and 2ie&$ DA2o,d$E
o- I don't 5no% the4$
LELIO : My *riend- they are t%o 2ove2y 1ir2&$ One i& ca22ed
Ro&a,ra and the other "eatrice 9 they are da,1hter& o* a 4edico-
and are both o* the4 in 2ove %ith 4e$
OTTA'IO : Ahat- both o* the4 B
LELIO : "oth o* the4$ Ahat'& &tran1e in that B
OTTA'IO : Ho% d'ye 4ana1e it &o :,ic52y B
(= THE LIAR
LELIO : They'd hard2y &een 4e %hen they *ir&t nodded to 4e
and then invited 4e to &7ea5 to the4$
OTTA'IO Da&ideE : Can thi& 7o&&ib2y be tr,e B
LELIO : 'ery *e% %ord& *ro4 4e &,**iced to enchant the4- and
they both dec2ared the4&e2ve& 4y ad4irer&$
OTTA'IO : ot both o* the4 B
LELIO : "oth o* the4 C
OTTA'IO Da&ideE : I tre4b2e %ith 3ea2o,&y C
LELIO : They invited 4e to enter
OTTA'IO Da&ideE : !ti22 4ore C
LELIO : ",t a& the evenin1 a77roached- I too5 it into 4y head
to 7rovide the4 %ith a 4a1ni*icent entertain4ent- and &o too5
4y 2eave$
OTTA'IO : 6erha7& yo, had a &erenade 72ayed *or the4 B
LELIO : E<act2y C Ho% did yo, 5no% B
OTTA'IO : I heard o* it$ DA&ide$E o% I've di&covered %ho
i& re&7on&ib2e *or the &erenade$ +2orindo %a& ri1ht- a*ter a22$
LELIO : ",t the &erenade did not conc2,de 2a&t ni1ht'& enter;
tain4ent$
OTTA'IO Dironica22yE : "ravo- !ir Le2io$ Ahat *ine thin1 did
yo, do then B
LELIO : I de&cended *ro4 the boat- and ca,&ed a 4a1ni*icent
&,77er to be ,n2oaded by 4y &ervant&- and- bein1 ad4itted
by the t%o co,rteo,& &i&ter&- the ni1ht %a& *ini&hed a4id 72ate&
and bott2e&$
OTTA'IO : My *riend- I do not %i&h to do,bt yo,r hone&ty-
and I can on2y &,77o&e yo, are tryin1 to a4,&e yo,r&e2* at 4y
e<7en&e- b,t yo, can't e<7ect 4e to be2ieve a22 thi&$
LELIO : Doe& it &ee4 e<traordinary to yo, B Ahere'& yo,r
di**ic,2ty in be2ievin1 thi& B
OTTA'IO : It i& &,re2y not &o co44on a thin1 that t%o hone&t
and civi2 1ir2& &ho,2d ta5e advanta1e o* their *ather'& ab&ence to
o7en their door& to a &tran1er and t,rn their ho,&e into a brothe2 C
DEnter ARLECCHIO$E
LELIO : Here i& 4y &ervant$ A&5 hi4 i* I &7ea5 the tr,th$
THE LIAR (M
OTTA'IO Da&ideE : It i& incredib2e that they &ho,2d have co4;
4itted &,ch a %ea5ne&& C
LELIO : Te22 4e- Ar2ecchino- %here %ere %e 2a&t ni1ht B
ARLE$ : N,&t a;1ettin' a 4o,th*,2 o* air 2i5e$
LELIO : Did I not ta25 *ro4 ,nder thi& ba2cony to t%o 2adie& B
ARLE$ : Ay- that'& &o$
LELIO : Did I not order a &erenade B
ARLE$ : In co,r&e- and I &an1 the can@onetta$
LELIO : And %e &,77ed a*ter%ard& B
ARLE$ : !oo7ed B
LELIO : Ye&- a 1reat &,77er in the ho,&e o* the 2adie& "eatrice
and Ro&a,ra$ D!i1n& to hi4 to &ay ye&$E
ARLE$ : Ye&- &ir- %ith the 2adie&$
LELIO : Aa&n't it a 4a1ni*icent &,77er B
ARLE$ : Ay- a rare b2o%;o,t- &o it %ere$
LELIO Dto OTTA'IOE : Yo, &ee- he con*ir4& every detai2$
OTTA'IO : I don't 5no% %hat to &ay 9 yo,'re a very 2,c5y
4an C
LELIO : I don't 2i5e to boa&t- b,t 2,c5 i& hard2y the chie* *actor
in 4y &,cce&&e&$
OTTA'IO : To %hat do yo, attrib,te the4- then B
LELIO : "e it &aid %ith a22 d,e 4ode&ty- to &o4e &2i1ht 4erit
o* 4y o%n$
OTTA'IO : Ye&- I 1rant yo, yo,'re a 2ad o* &7irit and o* 7art&$
I had occa&ion in a72e& to ad4ire yo,r %it$ ",t to brin1 t%o
&i&ter& to yo,r *eet at once rea22y thi& &ee4& too 4,ch$
LELIO : Ah- 4y *riend- yo, &ha22 &ee 4ore than that$
OTTA'IO : !o4e other ti4e %e %i22 a4,&e o,r&e2ve&$ At
7re&ent- i* yo, %i22 7er4it 4e- I 4,&t 1o to 4y 2od1in1 to *etch
4oney to 7ay 4y 2o&&e& o* 2a&t ni1ht$ DGoin1 to%ard& Inn$E
LELIO : Ahere do yo, 2od1e B
OTTA'IO : In thi& Inn$
LELIO Da&ideE : The devi2 C DA2o,dE I'4 &tayin1 there- too 9
b,t I neither &a% yo, ye&terday nor d,rin1 the ni1ht$
OTTA'IO : I %ent o,t to dine and 72ayed the ni1ht thro,1h$
LELIO : Yo,'ve 2ived here &o4e ti4e and don't 5no% the&e
2adie& B
G0 THE LIAR
OTTA'IO : I 5no% the4 by &i1ht- b,t have not the hono,r o*
their ac:,aintance$ DA&ide$E I 4,&t not di&c2o&e 4y&e2*$
LELIO : Li&ten C I* ever yo, &ho,2d 4eet the&e 2adie&- do
not- I %arn yo,- betray to the4 the con*idence I have 4ade yo,$
The&e are thin1& one doe& in &ecret$ I &ho,2d never have con*ided
in any b,t a bo&o4 *riend$
OTTA'IO : Ti22 o,r ne<t 4eetin1$
LELIO : Yo,r &ervant$
OTTA'IO Da&ideE : . cannot be2ieve the4 ca7ab2e o* &,ch 2i1ht;
ne&& C
DE<itE
ARLE$ : Mar5 4e- 4a&ter- yo,'22 1et bit C
LELIO : Yo, *oo2- bac5 4e ,7 and don't thin5 o* other thin1& C
ARLE$ : !ee here- 4a&ter- 2et'& *i< on a &i1n 9 %hen yo, be 1oin1
to te22 a 2ie 2i5e
LELIO Dinterr,7tin1E : Doited a&& C Ahen I %ant to ,tter &o4e
%itty invention
ARLE$ : Ae22- %hen yo, be a;1oin' to &ay &o4e %itty invention-
ti7 ,& the %in5 &o I can bac5 'ee ,7 2i5e$
LELIO : Yo,r &t,7idity inco44ode& 4e va&t2y$
ARLE$ : Ae22- thi& %ay&- %hen yo, be a;%antin' 4e to bac5 yo,
,7- c2ear 'ee throat 2i5e$
LELIO : I& it &o di**ic,2t to *o22o% 4e B
ARLE$ : I do 1et that 4a@ed- &o I do 9 %hen to &7ea5 and %hen
to 5ee7 4,4$
DEnter RO!A#RA and CoLOM"iAIro4 the ho,&e- both 4a&5ed$E
LELIO : I &ay- 2oo5 at tho&e t%o 4a&5&- Ar2ecchino$
ARLE$ : Carniva2 &ee4in12y$
LELIO : Here on the *ir&t day o* the *air they a2%ay& %ear
4a&5& in the 4ornin1$
ARLE$ : Aho can they be B
LELIO : Oh- tho&e t%o 1ir2& I &7o5e to 2a&t ni1ht$
ARLE$ : I don't 2i5e the&e covered 4,1&$
LELIO : Ladie&- 'ti& ,&e2e&& to vei2 yo,r *ace& to concea2 yo,r
THE LIAR G.
bea,ty %hi2e the tran&cendent bea4& *ro4 yo,r eye& &,**ice to
betray yo,$
RO!A#RA Dindicatin1 COLOM"IAE : Do yo, 4ean her- too B
LELIO : I a4 72ed1ed *or the 4o4ent not to di&tin1,i&h be;
t%een one &i&ter and another$
RO!A#RA : ",t thi& i& 4y 4aid$
ARLE$ : My bit o' 1ood&- 4a&ter$
LELIO : I& it a 1reat 4atter that I &ho,2d 4i&ta5e a 4a&5 B
RO!A#RA Ddry2yE : ",t I noticed that the bea4& *ro4 Co2o4;
bina'& eye& created the &a4e i47re&&ion a& tho&e *ro4 4ine$
LELIO : Mada4- no% that I can &7ea5 *ree2y to yo,- I %i22 te22
yo, that yo, on2y are the one %ho in&7ire& a22 4y ad4iration- that
yo, entire2y occ,7y 4y heart- and that i* I &7o5e in e:,a2 ter4& o*
her %ho4 I be2ieved to be yo,r &i&ter- I did &o %itho,t ad4irin1
her$
RO!A#RA : And &o yo, can di&tin1,i&h 4e *ro4 4y &i&ter tho,1h
I a4 4a&5ed B
LELIO : O* co,r&e$ I &ho,2d 2ove yo, 2itt2e indeed i* I co,2d
not te22 yo, a7art$
RO!A#RA : And ho% do yo, 5no% 4e B
LELIO : "y yo,r voice- yo,r *i1,re- yo,r nob2e and 4a3e&tic
air- the &7irit in yo,r eye&- and by 4y heart %hich i& i1norant o*
the art o* 2yin1$
RO!A#RA : +or 7ity'& &a5e- te22 4e %ho a4 I B
LELIO : Yo, are 4y ido2$
RO!A#RA : Ye&- I 5no%$ ",t %hat i& 4y na4e B
LELIO Da&ideE : Here'& *or it$ DA2o,d$E Ro&a,ra$
RO!A#RA D,n4a&5in1E : "ravo C o% I &ee yo, rea22y 5no% 4e$
LELIO Da&ide to ARLECCHIOE : L,c5 %a& %ith 4e that ti4e$
Loo5- Ar2ecchino- %hat an a4iab2e co,ntenance C
ARLE$ Dto hi4&e2*E : Aa,n& C I'd 1ie &,44at *or a 7ee7 at
t'other C
RO!A#RA : Then yo, rea22y 2ove 4e B
LELIO : I- A&dr,ba2e- cannot 2ie$ I 2ove yo,- I adore yo,$
Ahen yo, are *ro4 4e I can do nothin1 b,t re7eat yo,r na4e$
DTo ARLECCHIO$E I&n't that tr,e B
ARLE$ Dto hi4&e2*E : One 7ee7 ahind that 4a&5 C
G( THE LIAR
LELIO Dco,1hin1E : An&%er 4e 9 i&n't it tr,e B
ARLE$ Dcare2e&&2yE : Ay- ri1ht- 4a&ter$
RO!A#RA : Then %hy haven't yo, dec2ared yo,r&e2* be*ore thi& B
LELIO : I %i22 te22 yo,- 4y dear$ My *ather %i&hed to 4arry
4e in a72e& to a 6a2er4an 2ady- and I- %ho abhorred in&tead o*
2ovin1 her- 2e*t the city rather than be *orced into &o hate*,2 a
4atch$ !,b&e:,ent2y- I in*or4ed 4y *ather o* the *2a4e %ith
%hich yo,r bea,ty had in&7ired 4e- and on2y ye&terday received
hi& 2etter o* con&ent$
RO!A#RA : I *ind it di**ic,2t to be2ieve that yo,r *ather &ho,2d
con&ent to yo,r 4arria1e %ith a doctor'& da,1hter$
LELIO Dco,1hin1E : It i& neverthe2e&& tr,e$
ARLE$ : Ay- 4a4- ye 4ay ta5e it a& 1o&7e2 9 I read the 2etter$
RO!A#RA : ",t I'4 a*raid the do%ry 4y *ather can 1ive 4e
i& hard2y &,ited to one o* yo,r 7o&ition$
LELIO : The Ho,&e o* Ca&te2 d'Oro need& no do%ry$ +or
t%enty year& 4y *ather ha& been co22ectin1 3e%e2&- 1o2d and &i2ver
a1ain&t 4y %eddin1;day$ Yo, %i22 be a %ea2thy bride$
RO!A#RA : Yo, a&toni&h 4e- and the 1rande,r %hich yo, *2a,nt
be*ore 4y eye& 4a5e& 4e *ear that yo, are 4a5in1 1a4e o* 4e$
LELIO : Heaven *orbid that I &ho,2d &7ea5 *a2&e2y$ I a4 in;
ca7ab2e o* a2terin1 the tr,th in the &2i1hte&t de1ree$ +ro4 4y
yo,th ,7%ard& there i& not a 7er&on %ho can re7roach 4e %ith
even the 4o&t trivia2 taradidd2e$ DARLECCHIO 2a,1h&$E A&5
4y &ervant$ DCo,1h&$E
ARLE$ : Ma&ter'& tr,th*,2ne&& it&e2*$
RO!A#RA : Ahen 4ay I ho7e *or &o4e 7roo* o* the tr,th o*
%hat yo, te22 4e B
LELIO : A& &oon a& ever yo,r *ather ret,rn& to 'enice$
RO!A#RA : I &ha22 then &ee i* yo, rea22y 2ove 4e %ith a 2oya2
heart$
LELIO : Ah C yo,'22 *ind no &incerer 4an than I$
DEnter a DRA6ER'! A!!I!TAT %ith a bo< o* 2ace&$E
A!!I!T$ : Thi& &ho,2d be the doctor'& ho,&e$ D6re7are& to
5noc5$E
THE LIAR GG
RO!A#RA Dto A&&i&tantE : Aho do yo, %ant B
A!!I!T$ : I* yo, 72ea&e- Mada4e Ma&5- i& thi& the ho,&e o*
Doctor "a2an@oni B
RO!A#RA : Ye&$ Aho are yo, 2oo5in1 *or B
A!!I!T$ : I have 1ood& to de2iver to Mada4e Ro&a,ra- hi&
da,1hter$
RO!A#RA : I a4 &he$ Ahat 1ood& B Aho *ro4 B
A!!I!T$ : There are *orty yard& o* "2onde 2ace$ My 4a&ter
bade 4e brin1 the4 to yo,- b,t neither he nor I 5no% the 7er&on
%ho bo,1ht the4$
RO!A#RA : I* that'& the ca&e- yo, 4ay ta5e the4 bac5 a1ain$
I don't receive thin1& %itho,t 5no%in1 *ro4 %ho4 they co4e$
A!!I!T$ : I have &trict order& to 2eave the4 here in any ca&e$
I* yo, do not choo&e to receive the4 in the &treet- I'22 5noc5 and
ta5e the4 in&ide$
RO!A#RA : And I te22 yo, I ab&o2,te2y %i22 not have the4 C
A!!I!T$ : They're 7aid *or 9 they co&t ten @ecchin&$
RO!A#RA : Aho &end& the4 B
A!!I!T$ : I don't 5no% &o4e 1ood 1ent2e4an$
RO!A#RA : Then I %on't have the4$
LELIO : Mi&tre&& Ro&a,ra- I ad4ire yo,r de2icacy$ Ta5e the
2ace& %itho,t an a*tertho,1ht 9 and- a& yo, re*,&e to ta5e the4
%itho,t 5no%in1 %hence they co4e- yo, *orce 4e to te22 yo, that
they are a &2i1ht to5en o* 4y e&tee4$
A!!I!T$ : Yo, &ee B Thi& 1ent2e4an bo,1ht the4$
DARLECCHIO i& 2o&t in ad4iration$E
RO!A#RA Dto LELIOE : A 7re&ent *ro4 yo, B
LELIO : Ye&- 4ada4- and I %i&hed to 1ive it yo, anony4o,&2y
&o a& to have no ca,&e to b2,&h in o**erin1 yo, &o trivia2 a thin1$
A!!I!T$ : !ir- yo,'22 not *ind better 1ood& any%here$
LELIO : Ae22- I'4 a 4an o* ta&te and &7end 4y 4oney to
advanta1e$
ARLE$ Da&ideE : Anania& C
RO!A#RA : I acce7t yo,r 1racio,& 1i*t$ "e2ieve 4e- the&e
2ace& are e<ce&&ive2y dear to 4e$ A& it ha77ened- I 4eant to b,y
G? THE LIAR
&o4e- b,t o* co,r&e not &,ch *ine one& a& the&e$ Ta5e the4-
Co2o4bina 9 to;4orro% yo, &ha22 be1in to arran1e the4 on a
dre&&$
DCOLOM"IA ta5e& the bo< *ro4 the A&&i&tant$E
A!!I!T$ : Anythin1 e2&e- !ir B
LELIO : o$ Go$
A!!I!T$ : !ir- to drin5 yo,r hono,r'& hea2th$
LELIO : Go$ I'22 &ee yo, 2ater$
A!!I!T- Dto RO!A#RAE : Mada4- I &erved yo, 7,nct,a22y$
RO!A#RA : Aait- I'22 1ive yo,
LELIO Dinterr,7tin1 ha,1hti2yE : Mada4- yo, a&toni&h 4e$ Thi&
i& 4y a**air C
A!!I!T- Dto LELIOE : Many- 4any than5&$
LELIO : Go$ I'22 &ee yo, 2ater$
A!!I!T- Da&ide- a& he 1oe& o,tE : I ,nder&tand$ ever &ee hi4
a1ain$
DE<it$E
RO!A#RA : Aith yo,r 7er4i&&ion- I'22 1o in no%$
LELIO : !o I'4 not to have the hono,r o* &:,irin1 yo, to;day B
RO!A#RA : ot 3,&t yet$ I on2y ca4e o,t 4a&5ed 2i5e thi& to
&ee yo, and to &7ea5 to yo,- to hear *ro4 yo,r o%n 2i7& that it
%a& rea22y I %ho %a& *avo,red by yo,r choice$ o% that I a4
:,ite &ati&*ied- I 4,&t 1o in a1ain$
LELIO : Yo, ta5e 4y heart %ith yo,$
RO!A#RA : And %hat a4 I to &ay to 4y &i&ter B
LELIO : +or the 4o4ent nothin1 at a22$
RO!A#RA : I'22 be &i2ent beca,&e yo, bid 4e$
LELIO : Litt2e %i*e- 2ove 4e %ith a22 yo,r heart$
RO!A#RA : Ai*e B I &ti22 rather do,bt that$
LELIO : My %ord i& a contract$
RO!A#RA : Ti4e %i22 3,d1e$
DE<it ,nto ho,&e$E
COLOM$ Da&ideE : That 2itt2e b2ac5a4oor 2oo5& 2i5e the 4an
THE LIAR G)
%ho &7o5e to 4e 2a&t ni1ht- b,t tho&e c2othe& don't be2on1 to a
1ent2e4an$ Thi& %ant& 2oo5in1 into$
DE<it into ho,&e$E
ARLE$ : Da4nation C !he'& o** and I haven't &een her *ace C
LELIO : Ahat do yo, thin5 o* Ro&a,ra'& bea,ty B I&n't it a
4a&ter7iece B
ARLE$ : Ay C and yo,r hono,r'& a 4a&ter7iece o* %itty inven;
tion&$
LELIO : I &,&7ect &he ha& an ,n5no%n 2over %ho i& too ba&h*,2
to bid o7en2y *or her *avo,r&$
ARLE$ : I'22 1et a chance to co4e ,7 %i' ',n$
LELIO : It %o,2d be 4adne&& not to 7ro*it by &o e<ce22ent an
o77ort,nity$
DEnter CoLOM"iAIr04 bo,&e %itho,t her 4a&5 or do4ino$E
ARLE$ : Hey- b,t here &he coo4& a1ain C
LELIO : Ma5e %hat ,&e yo, can o* her$ Get her to he27 4e
%ith her 4i&tre&&$
ARLE$ : 'Ee 4a,n teach 4e &o4e 2ie&$
LELIO : at,re teache& the4 to everyone$
ARLE$ : Ma4- i* I don't 4i&ta5e 'ee- 'ee be the yo,n1 7er&on
o* 2a&t ni1ht C
COLOM$ : I a4 the yo,n1 7er&on o* 2a&t ni1ht- o* ye&terday- and
o* t%enty year& a1o$
ARLE$ : That'& 1ood C DCh,c52e&$E I'4 the 2ad that 4ade
tho&e *ine &7eeche& to 'ee 2a&t ni1ht$
COLOM$ : Don 6iccaro B
ARLE$ : Yo,r &arvent$
COLOM$ : Yo, %i22 e<c,&e 4e- b,t I cannot be2ieve it$ Yo,
don't 2oo5 it$
ARLE$ : ",t I be$ I'4 a 1ent2e4an- *ine and 1reat and
rich$ I* ye don't be2ieve 4e a&5 hi4- 4y *riend here$ DCo,1h&$E
COLOM$ : God b2e&& yo, C
ARLE$ : Than5 'ee$ DRe7roach*,22y to LELIO$E Ma&ter- I
co,1hed$
G > THE LIAR
LELIO Da&ide to ARLECCHIOE : H,rry ,7 and co4e a2on1$
ARLE$ Da&ide to LELIOE : "ean't yo, a;1oin' to bac5 ,7 4y %itty
invention&- too B
COLOM$ Dto ARLECCHIOE : Ahere d'yo, co4e *ro4 B
ARLE$ : +ro4 the 1reat to%n o* Ro4e$ I'4 *ir&t co,&in to a22
th' nobi2ity and I've &arvent& in a22 end& o' the 12obe$ DCo,1hin1
2o,d2y$E
COLOM$ : God b2e&& yo,$
ARLE$ : It'& the bacca- 2a&&$ DA&ide to LELIO$E "ean't yo,
a;1oin' to he27 4e B
LELIO Da&ide to ARLECCHIOE : Yo, 2ay it on too thic5 - yo, do$
ARLE$ Da&ide to LELIOE : Yo,r'n bean't too ea&y to &%a22o% C
COLOM$ : My 2ord Mar:,i&- %ho 2ove& 4y 2ady- ha& 4ade her
a *ine 7re&ent$ I* yo, va2,e 4e yo,'22 do the &a4e$
ARLE$ : At yo,r &arvice$ Go 'ee to the *air an' choo&e %hat ye
2i&t I'22 7ay$ Anythin1 ,7 to ha2* a 4i22ion$
COLOM$ : Rea22y- thi& i& too 4,ch C
DE<it an1ri2y into bo,&e$E
LELIO : Didn't I te22 yo, B Yo,'re a *oo2 C
ARLE$ : I* ye 4a,n te22 2ie&- te22 ',n bi1$
LELIO : H,rry ,7- I %ant to 1o into the inn$ I'4 a22 i47atience
to te22 Ottavio 4y ne% advent,re$
ARLE$ : !ho,2dn't te22 ',n too 4,ch i* I %a& yo,$
LELIO : The 1reate&t 72ea&,re o* a 2over 2ie& in bein1 ab2e to
reco,nt the *avo,r& o* hi& *air one %ith 7ride$
ARLE$ : Ai' &ha4e- too$
LELIO : The te22in1 o* a4oro,& advent,re& 2ac5& *2avo,r %itho,t
a &7ice o* ro4ance$
DGoe& into Inn$E
ARLE$ : Here 1oe& *or 4ore %itty invention& C
D+o22o%& LELIO into the Inn$E
DA 1ondo2a dra%& ,7 at the *oot o* the &treet- *ro4 %hich
di&e4bar5 6ATALOE and the DOCTOR$E
THE LIAR G/
DOCTOR : I* yo, &a% hi4- yo, %o,2dn't reco1ni&e hi4 B
6ATA$ : at,ra22y- he %ent a%ay a boy 9 b,t they do &ay
he be a *ine 1ent2e4an no%- tr,2y$
DOCTOR : I'4 12ad to hear it$ And 4y 1ir2 %i22 be even 4ore
72ea&ed$
6ATA$ : Aonder to 4e i& ye haven't 4arried ',n o** a*ore no%$
DOCTOR : Ae22- the *act o* the 4atter i&- I have a 7,7i2 &tayin1
%ith 4e- a certain +2orindo 1ood *a4i2y- e<ce22ent 4anner&$ I
a2%ay& 4eant her *or hi4- b,t I'4 re&o2ved to di&7o&e o* her e2&e;
%here a& I *ind hi4 &o o77o&ed to 4atri4ony and a con*ir4ed
%o4an;hater$ +ort,nate2y- I ca4e to yo,- and in *o,r %ord&
%e conc2,ded the be&t bar1ain in the %or2d$
6ATA$ : And don't 'ee 4ean to 4arry t'other ',n- too B
DOCTOR : o% that I'4 &ett2in1 Ro&a,ra- I &ho,2d 2i5e to 1et
the other o** 4y hand&$
6ATA$ : Ay- ri1ht C Ga2& in a ho,&e an' no 4other- be no
1ood$
DOCTOR : Ae22- there'& Don Ottavio o* 6ad,a %o,2d ta5e her-
b,t I've a2%ay& re*,&ed hi4 a& I did not %ant the e2der 2e*t behind$
o% 7erha7& I'22 1ive her to hi4$
6ATA$ : Ay- I 5no% ',n- and hi& *ather and a22 the *a4'2y$
Ye'22 1et a 1ood bar1ain$
DOCTOR : Yo, con*ir4 4y re&o2,tion to 1ive her to hi4$
Many than5& *or havin1 bro,1ht 4e &o *ar in yo,r 1ondo2a$ I'22
1o in no% and be1in to 7,t the 4atter to 4y da,1hter&- e&7ecia22y
to Ro&a,ra- in %ho4- i* I a4 not 4i&ta5en- I di&cern a 1reat 2eanin1
to%ard& 4atri4ony$
DO7en& the ho,&e door and 1oe& in$E
6ATA$ : Ay- *e% o* ',n %i'o,t that$ !o4e *,r a better ho,&e-
&o4e *,r 4ore 2iberty- and &o4e *,r t%o;a;bed$
DEnter LELIO *ro4 Inn- *o22o%ed by a Coach4an$E
COACH$ : Loo5 here- &ir$ I %onder yo,'re not a&ha4ed to 1ive
4e &,ch a be11ar2y ti7 *or drivin1 yo, *ro4 a72e& to 'enice$
G = THE LIAR
LELIO : A ti7 i& a co,rte&y and not ob2i1atory 9 I'4 &,re I
4eant yo, %e22 %ith %hat I 1ave yo,$
COACH$ : Ti7& are o,r %a1e&$ I e<7ected at 2ea&t three 7o,nd&
*or the di&tance$
6ATA$ Da&ideE : Thi& 1e4'4an be *ro4 a72e& %ay 4aybe he
5no%& 4y boy$
LELIO : Ae22- i* yo, don't 2i5e yo,r ti7- 1ive it 4e bac5 and
I'22 1ive yo, a do@en &tro5e& o* 4y cane in e<chan1e$
COACH$ : I* %e %eren't in 'enice- I'd &oon &ho% yo, %hat
ea7o2itan coach4en are$
LELIO : Oh- 1o a%ay 9 don't 4a5e a noi&e C
COACH$ : That'& %hat yo, 1et *or drivin1 the&e %o,2d;be
1ent2e4en C
DE<it$E
LELIO : In&o2ent C Ti2 brea5 yo,r head C DA&ide$E I'd better
2et hi4 1o tho,1h$
6ATA$ Da&ideE : !,77o&e it'& 4y boy C
LELIO : Coach4en C They're never &ati&*ied$ They'd 2i5e
to *2eece ,& 7oor &tran1er&$
6ATA$ Da&ideE : I'22 1o &2oAv and 2arn %hat I can$ DA2o,dK
A<in' yo,r 7ardon- &ir- yo, be co4e *ro4 a72e& B
LELIO : Ye&- &ir$
6ATA$ : I've a &i1ht o* c,&to4er& an* *riend& there$ I %rite
there to &evera2 o' the :,a2ity$ I* &o be yo,r hono,r'& one o* 'e4-
I &ho,2d be ha77y to be o* &arvice to 'ee$
LELIO : I'4 the Co,nt o* Ancona- at yo,r &ervice$
6ATA$ Da &ideE : Ni4iny C ot 4y boy$ DA2o,d$E Ha& yo,r
hono,r 4et a certain Le2io "i&a1no&i in a72e& B
LELIO : I 5ne% hi4 very %e22- a 1reat *riend o* 4ine- a 4o&t
e<ce22ent *e22o%- *,22 o* %it- 2oved- adored by a22$ A22 the %o4en
r,n a*ter hi4- and he i& the ido2 o* a72e&$ And- %hat i& &ti22
4ore re4ar5ab2e- he ha& an hone&t and a &incere heart and i& in;
ca7ab2e o* ,tterin1 anythin1 b,t the tr,th$
6ATA$ Da&ideE : Heaven be 7rai&ed C DA2o,d$E It'& a *air
co4*ort to hear it$ I be2ieve I co,2d cry %ith ha77ine&& C
THE LIAR GM
DEnter OrrA'ioIr0% the Inn$E
OTTA'IO Dto 6ATALOEE : !ir- con1rat,2ation& to yo, on yo,r
1ood ne%&$ $
6ATA$ : Ahat 1ood ne%&- Ma&ter Ottavio N
OTTA'IO : Yo,r &on'& arriva2$
6ATA$ : "e he co4e B Ahere i& he B
OTTA'IO : ",t %hy- doe&n't he &tand be*ore yo, P
LELIO Da&ideE : My *ather B o%- I've done it C
6ATA * Ho% no%- !ir Co,nt B - $
LELQ 'D 2a,1hin1E : Ha- ha- ha C Dear *ather- 7ray *or1ive thi&
2itt2e 3e&t o* 4ine$ I 5ne% yo, at once- and %a& 3,&t %atchin1 yo,$
6ray *or1ive 4e 9 I a4 at yo,r *eet$
6ATA Coo4- 4y dear 2ad- coo4$ I've a%aited 'ee the&e
2on1 year&$ Gie ,& a 5i&&- 2ad$ ",t don't 'ee te22 2ie& even 4 3o5e
: "e2ieve 4e- thi& i& the *ir&t ,ntr,th I've ever ,ttered
* the 2a&- Ah- it i& a 1rand &i1ht
&ee 'ee &o *ine a 1e4'4an$ Had 'ee a 1ood 3o,rney B Ahy idn t
*ne%To, B %ere in the co,ntry$ I %o,2d have 1one
o,t to *ind yo, at Mira i* %e had not 4et to;day$
6KTA$ : Coo4 'ee and ta25$ I've 1reat ne%& *or 'ee$ Ma&ter
Ottavio- ye'22 *or1ive ,& B
OTTA'IO : Yo,r &ervant$
2ad
E#O : en-
*air$ They ca4e 4a&5ed to &ee5 4e- and I e&corted the4 to the
4ar5et$ I con*ide in yo, 9 be &i2ent$
D+o22o% 6ATALOE into the 1ondo2a- %hich ro%& o**$E
OTTA'IO : I a4 4ore than ever a4a@ed at the *rai2ty o* the&e
t%o 1ir2&$ Here'& a ne% 2i1ht on the4 %ith a ven1eance$ 2h
5 Cdvanta1e o* their *ather'& ab&ence 9 b,t I &ho,2d never have
tho,1ht the4 ca7ab2e o* thi&$
?0 THE LIAR
DOCTOR Dre;enterin1 *ro4 ho,&eE : Yo,r &ervant- dear Don
Ottavio$
OTTA'IO Da&ideE : 6oor o2d *e22o% C M,ch hono,r hi& da,1hter&
do hi4 C
DOCTOR Da&ideE : He'& &tandin1 on hi& di1nity$ He'& o**ended
beca,&e I've re*,&ed hi4 "eatrice ,7 ti22 no%$
OTTA'IO Da&ideE : At 2ea&t- by re*,&in1 4e "eatrice- he'& &aved
4e *ro4 a bad %i*e$
DOCTOR Da&ideE : o%- I'22 &4ooth thin1& over$ DA2o,d$E Don
Ottavio- I have ne%& *or yo, 9 I a4 4arryin1 o** Ro&a,ra$
OTTA'IO : I a4 de2i1hted to hear it$ DA&ide$E Acco44odatin1
bride1roo4 C
DOCTOR : That 2eave& "eatrice$
OTTA'IO : Yo, &ho,2d have no tro,b2e in *indin1 a h,&band
*or her$
DOCTOR : I 5no% o* 4ore than one that a&7ire& to be 4y &on;
in;2a%- beca,&e I've no other chi2dren than the&e t%o 1ir2& %ho'22
be 4y &o2e heir& at 4y death$ ",t a& Don Ottavio ha& 4ore than
once &ho%n a 7artia2ity*or "eatrice- and a& %e're ta25in1 o* 4arria1e&-
I &ho,2d 7re*er to 1ive her to hi4 rather than to any other$
OTTA'IO : My be&t than5&- b,t I a4 no 2on1er in a 7o&ition
to acce7t yo,r co,rte&y$
DOCTOR : Hah- %hat d'ye 4ean B D'ye %ant to reven1e
yo,r&e2* *or 4y 7revio,& re*,&a2 B It %a& not 7o&&ib2e to 4arry
her then 9 no% it'& di**erent$
OTTA'IO Ddi&dain*,22yE : Give her to %ho4 yo, %i22$ I a4
not in a 7o&ition to receive her$
DOCTOR Dan1ri2yE : Ahy do yo, &7ea5 &o di&dain*,22y B 6er;
ha7& &he'& o,t o* the 1,tter B
OTTA'IO : !he'& the da,1hter o* an hone&t 1ent2e4an$ ",t-
de1enerate *ro4 her *ather- &he i& no orna4ent to her &,rro,ndin1&$
DOCTOR : Ahat do yo, 4ean- &ir B
OTTA'IO : I'4 not &7ea5in1 %itho,t 1ood rea&on$ I &ho,2d be
&i2ent- b,t the 7a&&ion I entertained *or "eatrice- and %hich at
7re&ent I a4 ,nab2e to tear *ro4 4y bo&o4- co,72ed %ith the
*riend&hi7 I bear yo,- ob2i1e& 4e to act a& I do and en2i1hten yo,
i* yo, are b2ind$
THE LIAR ?.
DOCTOR : Yo, de7rive 4e o* 4y &en&e& 9 %hat on earth ha&
ha77ened B
OTTA'IO : Ahatever ha77en&- I'22 not be &i2ent$ Yo,r t%o
da,1hter&- 2a&t ni1ht- a*ter en3oyin1 a &erenade- ad4itted a &tran1er
into yo,r ho,&e and *ini&hed the ni1ht in hi& co47any %ith &,77er
and other de2i1ht&$
DOCTOR : I47o&&ib2e C
OTTA'IO : I a4 ready to 4aintain %hat I te22 yo,$
DOCTOR : A& yo,'re a 1ent2e4an- yo, &ha22 7rove thi& 9 i* it
t,rn& o,t to be &o4e *ab2e o* yo,r&- I &ha22 *ind 4ean& to 4a5e yo,
7ay$
OTTA'IO : The very 4an %ho arrived on2y ye&terday *ro4
a72e& and %a& ad4itted to their *avo,r&- &ha22 be ob2i1ed to 7rove
it to yo,$
DOCTOR : My da,1hter& are inca7ab2e o* &,ch behavio,r$
OTTA'IO : Ae &ha22 &ee$ I* yo, ta5e thi& ri1ht2y- I a4 a *riend
%ho %arn& yo, 9 i* yo, ta5e it bad2y- I a4 one %ho in any ca&e
can 7rove hi& %ord&$
DOCTOR : Oh- ,n2,c5y 4an that I a4 C My 7oor ho,&e C My
7oor re7,tation C Thi& i& an evi2 that neither Hi77ocrate& nor
Ga2en teache& ,& ho% to hea2$ ",t I &ha22 *ind a 4ora2 4edicine
that %i22 root it o,t$ A22 de7end& on actin1 :,ic52y- in 7reventin1
the evi2 &7readin1$ 6rinci7ii& ob&ta &ero 4edecina *arat,r$
DE<it into ho,&e$E
C#RTAI$
ED O+ ACT I$
ACT II$
!CEE I$ A roo4 in the Doctor'& ho,&e$ Ear2y a*ternoon
o* the &a4e day$
+LOR$ : Yo, 4ay be2ieve 4e- Doctor- on 4y hono,r- no one
ca4e into the ho,&e 2a&t ni1ht$
DOCTOR : I 5no% *or certain that a &erenade %a& 7er*or4ed *or
4y da,1hter&$
+LOR$ : Tr,e eno,1h 9 b,t they 2i&tened 4ode&t2y to it *ro4
the ba2cony$ A &erenade doe&n't har4 an hone&t 1ir2$
DOCTOR : ",t to ad4it 7eo72e d,rin1 the ni1ht B To &,7 %ith
a &tran1er B
+LOR$ : That'& not tr,e$
DOCTOR : Ahat do yo, 5no% abo,t it B Yo, %ere in bed$
+LOR$ : I 2ay a%a5e a22 ni1ht$
DOCTOR : Ahat did yo, do that *or B
+LOR$ : It %a& too hot to &2ee7$
DOCTOR : Do yo, 5no% !i1nor Ottavio B
+LOR$ : Ye&- I 5no% hi4$
DOCTOR : Ae22- he to2d 4e a22 thi& and &ay& he can 7rove it$
+LOR$ : Then he 2ie& C A&5 hi4 *or hi& 7roo*& and yo,'22 &oon
*ind there'& nothin1 in the4$
DOCTOR : Ae22- i* that %ere &o- I &ho,2d be &orry to have ,7&et
4y da,1hter& 2i5e thi&$
+LOR$ : 6oor 1ir2& C Yo,'re treatin1 the4 very har&h2y$
DOCTOR "ALAHOI$
THE LIAR ?)
DOCTOR : E&7ecia22y Ro&a,ra- %ho'& :,ite bro5enhearted and
%on't be co4*orted$
+LOR$ D%i7in1 hi& eye&E : 6oor thin1 C My heart b2eed& *or her$
DOCTOR : Ahat'& the 4atter- 4y boy B Are yo, cryin1 B
+LOR$ : O* co,r&e not 9 1ot &o4e &n,** in 4y eye&$ D!ho%& hi&
&n,**;bo<$E
DEnter COLOM"IA &,77ortin1 RO!A#RA- %ho i& in a *aintin1 condition$E
COLOM$ : L,ic5- :,ic5- &ir C 6oor Mi&& Ro&a,ra ha& *ainted
and I can't brin1 her to$ +or 7ity'& &a5e he27 her C
D+LORI DO i& in de&7air$E
DOCTOR : L,ic5- &7irit& o* 4e2i&&a C
COLOM$ : +ee2 ho% her heart 7a27itate& 9 &,re2y &he need& to
be b2ed B
DOCTOR : +2orindo- e<a4ine her- *ee2 her 7,2&e- and i* yo, thin5
&he %ant& b2eedin1- 7,nct,re a vein$ I 5no% yo,'re *ir&t;rate at
the&e thin1&- and I'22 1o and 1et the 4e2i&&a$
DE<it$E
COLOM$ Dto +LORIDOE : +or Heaven'& &a5e do &o4ethin1 *or
herC
+LOR$ : The&e are the *r,it& o* her *ather'& in3,&tice$ I'22 do
%hat I can$
COLOM$ : 6oor dear- &he'& not co4e to yet- and her &i&ter doe&n't
co4e near her or 1ive her a tho,1ht$ I be2ieve &he %o,2dn't
4ind i* &he died$ They can't abide each other$
+LOR$ : Ahere are %e B I can &ee nothin1$
COLOM$ : Ahat'& the 4atter %ith yo, B The roo4'& bri1ht
eno,1h$ Loo5 at 7oor Mi&& Ro&a,ra$
+LOR$ : A2a& C 4y &tren1th *ai2& 4e$ Co2o4bina- 1o and *etch
%hat I need to b2eed her$
COLOM$ : At once$ +or heaven'& &a5e- don't *ai2 her$
DR$E
?> THE LIAR
+LOR$ : A2one at 2a&t no one &ee& 4e I 4ay to,ch that
bea,ti*,2 hand$ Ye&- deare&t- I'22 *ee2 yo,r 7,2&e$ Ho% bea,ti*,2
&he i&- tho,1h ,ncon&cio,& C D+ee2& her 7,2&e$E A2a& C I'4 dyin1 C
D+a22& *aintin1 to the 1ro,ndE
DEnter COLOM"IA carryin1 a ta7er and other b2ood;2ettin1 a77arat,&$E
COLOM$ : Heaven& C Here'& the 7hy&ician 5ee7in1 the 7atient
co47any C
DEnter the DOCTOR$E
DOCTOR : Here I a4- here I a4$ Ha& &he co4e to yet B
COLOM$ : Loo5- !i1nor +2orindo'& *ainted- too$
DOCTOR : The devi2 C Ahat'& he done that *or B Here- :,ic5 C
ta5e thi& 4e2i&&a and 72y her %ith it 2eave the 2ad to 4e$
COLOM$ Ddabbin1 RO!A#RA'!IKE : !he'& co4in1 ro,nd$
DOCTOR : !o'& +2orindo$ They &ee4 to do thin1& in concert$
RO!A#RA : Oh- %here a4 I B
DOCTOR : There- 4y da,1hter- ta5e heart- it'& nothin1$
+LOR$ Da&ideE : Good 2ord- %hat have I done B DGet& ,7- &ee&
the DOCTOR- and i& a&ha4ed$E
DOCTOR : Ahat %a& %ron1 %ith yo,- +2orindo B
+LOR$ D&ta44erin1E : !ir I I don't 5no%$ E<c,&e 4e$
DE<it in con*,&ion$E
DOCTOR : I be2ieve that boy'& 4ad$
COLOM$ : Cheer ,7- 4ada4- do 9 it'& a22 ri1ht$
RO!A#RA : Oh- *ather- *or charity
DOCTOR : My da,1hter- do ca24 yo,r&e2*$ I have been a&&,red
that %hat %a& &aid o* yo, i& 7,re invention$ Ae &ha22 e4er1e
into the 2i1ht o* tr,th$
RO!A#RA : ",t- *ather- %hoever 4ade yo, be2ieve &,ch 4on;
&tro,& 2ie& B
DOCTOR : Ahy- Ottavio- to be &,re$
RO!A#RA : Ahat 1ro,nd& can he have *or &ayin1 &,ch dread*,2
thin1& B
DOCTOR : Heaven a2one 5no%& 9 b,t he &aid he'd 7rove the4$
RO!A#RA : Let hi4 7rove the4- i* he can$ +ather- it i& a
THE LIAR ?/
:,e&tion o* yo,r hono,r and o* 4y hono,r 9 don't 2et thi& 4atter
dro7$
DOCTOR : I'22 &ee hi4 at once abo,t it$
COLOM$ : Aait a bit- I'22 1o and *etch hi4 here to the ho,&e-
and by Ni4iny- %e'22 4a5e hi4 ta5e it bac5$
DOCTOR : Do- and i* yo, *ind hi4- &ay I %ant to &7ea5 to hi4$
COLOM$ : I'22 brin1 hi4 here in &7ite o* hi4&e2*$
DE<it$E
RO!A#RA : Yo,'ve ca,&ed 4e 1reat 7ain$
DOCTOR : Co4e- co4e- %e'22 c,re it %ith a ne% ha77ine&&$
Qno%- 4y chi2d- that I have 7ro4i&ed yo,r hand in 4arria1e$
RO!A#RA : To %ho4 B
DOCTOR : To the &on o* !i1ner 6anta2one$
RO!A#RA : +or Heaven'& &a5e- &ir- i* yo, 2ove 4e- don't in&i&t
on thi& 4arria1e C
DOCTOR : Te22 4e %hy- and- 7erha7&- %e'22 &ee abo,t it$
RO!A#RA : A re&7ect*,2 and obedient da,1hter ha& no &ecret&
*ro4 her *ather$ Qno%- &ir- that a *orei1n 1ent2e4an o* 1reat
b2ood and e<a2ted 7o&ition %i&he& to 4arry 4e$
DOCTOR Dan1ri2yE : !o- then there i& a *orei1ner in the ca&e B
and- i* that'& tr,e- the ta2e o* the &erenade i& tr,e- and the &,77er
7arty'& tr,e- too$
RO!A#RA : It i& tr,e that a 1reat *orei1ner 2ove& 4e and ca,&ed
a &erenade to be 7er*or4ed in 4y hono,r- b,t I have on2y &7o5en
once %ith hi4- and that *ro4 the ba2cony- and 4ay Heaven &tri5e
4e dead i* he ha& ever &et *oot in&ide the ho,&e C
DOCTOR : Ahat C a 1reat 1ent2e4an %ant to 4arry yo, B
RO!A#RA : At 2ea&t he 4a5e& 4e ho7e &o$
DOCTOR : Ta5e care that he i& not &o4e i47o&tor C
RO!A#RA : He i& to 7re&ent hi4&e2* to yo, to;day$ Yo, &ha22
5ee7 yo,r eye& o7en *or 4e$
DOCTOR : Li&ten to 4e : i* thi& 1ood *ort,ne i& rea22y de&tined
*or yo,- I &han't be 4ad eno,1h to &tand in yo,r %ay$ I a4
&o4e%hat en1a1ed to 6anta2one- b,t on2y verba22y 9 and I &han't
have any tro,b2e in *indin1 &o4e 7rete<t to *ree 4y&e2*$
? 1 THE LIAR
RO!A#RA : It %i22 be eno,1h to &ay that I %on't 4arry hi4$
DOCTOR : It %o,2d certain2y not be eno,1h- *or I a4 4a&ter
here C Ahat i& thi& 1ent2e4an'& na4e B
RO!A#RA : The Mar:,e&& A&dr,ba2e o* Ca&te2 d'Oro$
DOCTOR : Gracio,&- 4y 1oodne&& C A Mar:,e&& B
DEnter "EATRICE ,nnoticed behind the49 &he 2i&ten&$E
RO!A#RA : He ha& 2oved 4e *or a year- b,t on2y dec2ared hi4&e2*
ye&terday$
DOCTOR : He'& :,ite &erio,& B
RO!A#RA : "e2ieve 4e- he adore& 4e$
DOCTOR : Yo,'re &,re he %ant& to 4arry yo, B
RO!A#RA : He ha& 1iven 4e hi& %ord$
DOCTOR : I* that'& the %ay thin1& &tand- I'22 do 4y be&t to he27
yo,$
"EAT- Dco4in1 *or%ardE : +ather- don't be &o ea&i2y ta5en in by
%hat 4y &i&ter &ay&$ It'& not tr,e that Don A&dr,ba2e ha& dec2ared
hi4&e2* in her *avo,r$ He 2ove& one o* ,&- and %itho,t too 4,ch
*2atterin1 4y&e2*- I have every rea&on to be2ieve 'ti& 4e he 7re*er&$
DOCTOR Dto RO!A#RAE : And no% %hat'& at the botto4 o* a22
thi&B
RO!A#RA Dto "EAT$E : Ahere do yo,r ho7e& &7rin1 *ro4 B
"EAT$ : +ro4 the &a4e 72ace that yo,r& do$
RO!A#RA : +ather- I a4 not &7ea5in1 %itho,t 1ood 1ro,nd&$
"EAT$ : "e2ieve 4e- I 5no% %hat I'4 ta25in1 abo,t$
DOCTOR : Here'& a *ine tan12e C Li&ten to %hat I'4 1oin1 to
&ay to yo,- and 2et'& have a& *e% %ord& a& 7o&&ib2e$ Yo,'22
at ho4e- both o* yo,- and not 1o o,t %itho,t 4y 7er4i&&ion$
I* 4y Lord Mar:,e&& co4e& to ta25 to 4e- I &ha22 &oon &ee %hat
the tr,th i& and %hich o* yo, i& the *avo,red one$ ",t i* it'& a22
a *airy ta2e- a& I be2ieve- I &ha22 have ca,&e to &ay %itho,t %ron1in1
one or t'other o* yo,- that yo,'re both da*t C
DE<it an1ri2y$E
"EAT$ : Ae22- 4ada4 &i&ter- and %hat 1ro,nd& have yo, *or
thin5in1 the Mar:,e&& yo,r dec2ared &,itor B
THE LIAR ?M
RO!A#RA : In*a22ib2e 1ro,nd&- 4y dear$ ",t I'4 not ob2i1ed
to te22 yo, everythin1$
"EAT$ : Oh- I 5no% 9 yo,'ve been o,t 4a&5ed and ta5en &o4e
7ain& to dra% the %ater to yo,r 4i22$ ",t I &%ear I'22 ta5e the
%ind o,t o* yo,r &ai2&$
RO!A#RA : Ahat 7o&&ib2e 7reten&ion& can yo, have B Doe& he
&ee4 to 7re*er yo, B Doe& he &ee4 to %ant yo, B
"EAT$ : He ha& &aid to 4e %hat he ha& &aid to yo,- and I cannot
i4a1ine by %hat ri1ht yo, 7retend hi4 yo,r&$
RO!A#RA : Ae22- %e &ha22 &ee$
"EAT$ : I* I tho,1ht yo,'d 72ayed 4e &o4e ,nderhand tric5-
yo,'d 7ay *or it C
RO!A#RA : It &ee4& to 4e yo, &ho,2d &ho% &o4e decency$
A*ter a22- I'4 the e2der$
"EAT$ : Oh- 7ray- 2et 4e 5i&& the &,7erior 2ady'& hand$
RO!A#RA : Oh- %e22- I've a2%ay& &aid &o : %e never do 1et on
to1ether$
"EAT$ : I* it %ere not *or yo,- I &ho,2d have been 4arried three
year& a1o$ +i*ty &,itor& %anted 4e- b,t o,r *ather never %i&hed
to %ron1 hi& e2de&t born$
RO!A#RA : Oh- ye&- %e 5no% yo,r %onder*,2 &,itor& C A4on1&t
other&- the in1enio,& !i1ner Ottavio- %ho- 7erha7& to reven1e
hi4&e2* on yo,r di&dain- ha& invented a22 the&e *ine ta2e& he ha& been
te22in1 o,r *ather$
"EAT$ : Ottavio invented the4 B
RO!A#RA : +ather ha& 3,&t to2d 4e &o$
"EAT$ : The %retch C I* on2y I co,2d 2ay 4y hand& on hi4 C
RO!A#RA : He de&erve& to be *2o11ed C
DEnter COLOM"IA- ,&herin1 in OTTA'IO$E
COLOM$ : My 2adie&- here i& !i1ner Ottavio- %ho %i&he& to &ee
yo,$
OTTA'IO : "eho2d 4e- covered %ith b2,&he& and con*,&ion
RO!A#RA Dinterr,7tin1 hi4E : Deceiver C
"EAT$ : Liar C
OTTA'IO : Ladie&- I'4 neither one nor t'other$
?
) o THE LIAR
RO!A#RA : Aho to2d 4y *ather that %e had been &erenaded B
OTTA'IO : I did- b,t ;
"EAT- Dinterr,7tin1 hi4E : Aho to2d hi4 %e'd received a &tran1er
here in the ho,&e d,rin1 the ni1ht B
OTTA'IO : I- b,t ;
RO!A#RA Dinterr,7tin1E : Deceiver C
"EAT$ : Liar C
OTTA'IO : ",t- Le2io "i&o1no&i ;
RO!A#RA Dinterr,7tin1E : Did yo, &ay %e %ere on the ba2cony B
OTTA'IO : Ye&- Mada4- b,t 2i&ten ;
"EAT- Dinterr,7tin1E : Did yo, &ay %e'd been entertained by
the &tran1er B
OTTA'IO : I &aid &o- beca,&e he hi4&e2* ;
"EAT- Dinterr,7tin1E : Deceiver C
DE<it$E
RO!A#RA : Liar C
OTTA'IO : ",t- i* they %on't 2et 4e &7ea5 B Co2o4bina- I
72ace 4y hono,r in yo,r 5ee7in1$ Go to yo,r 4i&tre&&e&- 7revai2
,7on the4 to 2i&ten to 4e- and I %i22 &ati&*y the4- I 7ro4i&e yo,$
COLOM$ : ",t %hat can yo, &ay to c2ear yo,r&e2* B
OTTA'IO : I can &ay 4,ch- and that it i& the tr,th yo, &ha22
3,d1e *or yo,r&e2*$
COLOM$ : Ae22- 2et'& hear the ca&e$ Yo, to2d the 4a&ter that
the *orei1n 1ent2e4an entered the ho,&e d,rin1 the ni1ht$
OTTA'IO : ",t i*
COLOM$ Dinterr,7tin1E : Yo, &aid they &,77ed to1ether$
OTTA'IO : Ye&- b,t o* a22 thi& ;
COLOM$ Dinterr,7tin1E : Did yo, &ay it- or did yo, not B
OTTA'IO : I &aid it$
COLOM$ : Then yo,'re a deceiver and a 2iar C
DE<it$E
OTTA'IO : Even the cha4ber4aid *2o,t& 4e C Ho% &ha22 I
THE LIAR ).
ad3,&t 4atter& %ith "eatrice B And %hat i& even 4ore i47ortant-
ho%ever &ha22 I &ett2e thin1& %ith her *ather B Lord- here he co4e& C
DEnter DOCTOR$E
DOCTOR : Ahat'& the 4atter- !i1ner Ottavio B Ahat are
yo, doin1 in 4y ho,&e B
OTTA'IO : !ir- I a4 at yo,r *eet$
DOCTOR : !o %hat yo, to2d 4e %a& *a2&e B
OTTA'IO : I did not invent %hat I to2d yo,- b,t I a22o%ed 4y&e2*
to be too ea&i2y 1,22ed- and too :,ic52y re7orted to yo, %hat a
2iar a&&erted to be the tr,th$
DOCTOR : Aho'& that B
OTTA'IO : Le2io "i&o1no&i$
DOCTOR : !i1nor 6anta2one'& &on B
OTTA'IO : E<act2y$
DOCTOR : He'& arrived in 'enice B
OTTA'IO : He arrived ye&terday to 4y 4i&*ort,ne$
DOCTOR : Ahere B At hi& *ather'& ho,&e B
OTTA'IO : I thin5 not$ He'& a 1ay &7ar5 and 2ove& hi& 2iberty$
DOCTOR : ",t %hat 4ade the %retch &ay a22 thi& B
OTTA'IO : He &aid it %ith &,ch *ervo,r that I %a& *orced
to be2ieve hi4 9 and i* +2orindo- %ho4 I 5no% to be &incere and
hono,rab2e- had not en2i1htened 4e- 7erha7& I- even yet- 4i1ht
not be co472ete2y di&i22,&ioned$
DOCTOR : I %onder ho%- havin1 bare2y arrived- he *o,nd ti4e
to invent &,ch tarradidd2e& B Doe& he 5no% that Ro&a,ra and
"eatrice are 4y da,1hter& B
OTTA'IO : I thin5 &o$ He 5no%& the4 to be the da,1hter& o* a
doctor$
DOCTOR : Oh- the vi22ain C He treat& the4 th,&- doe& he B
He &han't have Ro&a,ra$
OTTA'IO : Doctor- I be1 yo,r 7ardon$
DOCTOR : Granted$
OTTA'IO : Don't de7rive 4e o* yo,r *avo,r$
DOCTOR : I'22 be yo,r *riend$
OTTA'IO : Re4e4ber yo, o**ered 4e "eatrice$
! e THE LIAR
DOCTOR : I re4e4ber yo, re*,&ed her$
OTTA'IO : Don't de7rive 4e o* her- I be1 yo,$
DOCTOR : Ae'22 ta25 o* it$
OTTA'IO : !ay ye&- I i472ore yo, C
DOCTOR : I'22 bear it in 4ind$
OTTA'IO : I a&5 *or the da,1hter- never 4ind the do%ry$
DOCTOR : Ae22- %e22- %e'22 &ee$
DE<it$E
OTTA'IO : I don't 4ind 2o&in1 the do%ry i* I %in "eat:
",t it'& not 1oin1 to be ea&y 9 %o4en are 4ore con&tant in hate
than in 2ove$
C#RTAI$
ED O+ !CEE I$
!CEE II$ A roo4 in 6ATALOE'! ho,&e$
Ear2y a*ternoon o* the &a4e day$
LELIO : Ar2ecchino- I'4 rea22y in 2ove$
ARLE$ : "y yo,r 2eave- @,r- I don't be2ieve a %ord o't$
LELIO : Yo, can be2ieve it$ It i& &o$
ARLE$ : Don't be2ieve it- *aith o* a 1ent2e4an$
LELIO : Ae22- it'& the tr,th thi& ti4e$
ARLE$ : Mebbe 'ti& tre%th- b,t I doant be2ieve it$
LELIO : Ahy not- i* it'& the tr,th B
ARLE$ : 'Co& I doant be2ieve the tre%th *ro4 a 2iar$
LELIO : Yo, 4i1ht reco1ni@e the *act that +4 in 2ove *ro4
4y contin,a2 &i1h&$
ARLE$ : Ay- a& i* ye co,2dn't &i1h and %ee7 too %hen ye're &o
72ea&ed C Mr&$ C2eonice 5no%& that %e22 eno,1h- to her co&t-
7oor thin1$
ARLECCHIO$
THE LIAR ))
LELIO : !he %a& a 2itt2e too ea&y 1a4e$
ARLE$ : Ay- b,t ye 7ro4i&ed her 4arria1e- and the 7oor
%,44an be2ieved ye$
LELIO : I have been deceived by 4ore than ten %o4en 9 a4
I not to be a22o%ed to *oo2 one B
ARLE$ : "e&t 7ray to Heaven &he doant *ind o,t yo,'re in 'enice
and *o22o% yo,$
LELIO : !he'd never dare C
ARLE$ : Doant 'e be too &artin 9 %i44in in 2ove have done 4ore
nor that$
LELIO : Oh- co4e- &to7 thi& odio,& ta25$ I've *or1otten C2eo4ce
no% and 2ove Ro&a,ra$ I 2ove her ab&orbin12y- %ith a 4o&t over;
%he24in1 7a&&ion$
ARLE$ : Ay- 'ti& 72ain eno,1h by ye're *ine 7re&ent& to her$
Ni4iny- ten @ecchin& *,r 2ace C
LELIO D2a,1hin1E : Ah- ye&- ho% did that bit o* b,&ine&& &tri5e
yo, B
ARLE$ : Ay- ye be %itty invention it&e2*$ ",t- @,r- here %e be
it ye're *ather'& ho,&e and no vitte2& @o *ar$
LELIO : Oh- don't be &,ch a 12,tton$
ARLE$ : Ahat'& he 2i5e- yer *ather B Haven't &een ',n yet$
LELIO : Oh- *ine o2d *e22o%$ Here he co4e&$
DEnter 6ATALOE$E
ARLE$ : Aa,n&- %hat a *ine beard C DA&ide$E
6ATA$ : Ae22- boy- I %a& a;2oo5in' *or yo,$
LELIO : Here I a4 at yo,r &ervice$
ARLE$ Dtryin1 to dro7 hi& dia2ectE : !ir Don 6anta2one- bein1
ah a& one 4i1ht 7,t it the &arvant o* yo,r 4a&c,2ine &eed-
I 1ive& 4y&e2* the va&t hono,r o* bein1 that i& to &ay to 7rote&t
4y&e2* a2&o yo,r hono,r'& &arvant C Yo, ,nder&tand 4e- no need o*
4entionin1 it C
6ATA$ Dto LELIOE : De2i1ht*,2 *e22o% C Aho i& he B
LELIO : Oh- a &ervant o* 4ine- a *oo2- b,t *aith*,2$
6ATA$ : +ine C He'22 be rare &7ort$
ARLE$ : Ay- I'22 72ay the c2o%n *or 'ee$
)> THE LIAR
6ATA$ : Ay- do$
ARLE$ : ",t ta5e %arnin1- 4a&ter- 72enty to eat 9 c2o%n& eat
a 4ort o' *ood$
6ATA$ : Ri1ht C ye &han't 1o e47ty$
ARLE$ : Let'& @ee i* ye're the 1ent2e4an$
6ATA$ : I &tand& by %hat I &e@$
ARLE$ : Let'& @ee : I co,2d do %i' &,44at no%$
6ATA$ : Go to the 5itchen and 1et &o4e *ood$
ARLE$ : Ye&- ye're the 1ent2e4an ri1ht eno,1h$ I'22 1o *ind
the coo5$ DTo LELIO$E A %ord in yer ear- 4a&ter$
LELIO : Ahat i& it B
ARLE$ Da&ide to LELIOE : I doant be2ieve he'& yo,r *ather$
LELIO Da&ide to ARLE$E : Ahy B
ARLE$ Da&ide to LELIOE : 'Co& he &7ea5& tre%th and ye're a 2iar C
DE<it$E
LELIO Da&ideE : He'& rea22y 1ettin1 above hi4&e2*$
6ATA$ : L,eer *e22o% that &arvent o' yo,rn$ And no% *or a
%ord %i' ye- 4y 2ad$
LELIO : I'4 a22 attention$
6ATA$ : Ye 5no% that I &ha22 2eave ye 4y @oic heir- and no%
4y 7oor brother'& 1one I &ha22 2eave 'ee 4ore than 'ec bar1ained
*or$ !o ye're ri7e *er a *a4'2ey- and to c,t thin1& &hort- I %ant
to @ee 'ee 4arried$
LELIO : I'd a2ready tho,1ht o* thi&$ I've &o4ethin1 in vie%
and in 1ood ti4e %e'22 ta25 o* it$
6ATA$ : A yo,n5er on2y thin5& o' &ati&*yin' hi&&e2* %i' *2,44ery
o' 2oo5& an' %hat n>t- and arter *o,r day& he'& *air &ic5 o* it$ Thi&
be a *ather'& 3ob 9 they 4ean %e22 by the yo,n1 *o25- an' doan't
2et their *ee2in'& ride 'e4- @o a22 1oe& *air and @o*t2y in the end$
LELIO : O* co,r&e- I &ho,2d not thin5 o* actin1 %itho,t yo,$
I &ha22 a2%ay& be de7endent on yo,r advice and a,thority$
6ATA$ : I* ye *ee2 2i5e that- ye 4i1ht a& %e22 5no% ye're a& 1ood
a& 4arried a2ready$ I &ett2ed it a22 thi& 4ornin1$
LELIO : Ahat C %itho,t 4e B
6ATA$ : Ye co,2dn't do better 9 a 1ood ho,&e%i*e- 1ood do%ry-
THE LIAR )/
her *ather a 7ro*e&&iona2 4an o' "o2o1na- b,t 2ivin' here- a *ine
%ench and a %itty$ Ahat 4ore d'ye %ant B I 1ived 4y %ord
and the b,&ine&& i& done$
LELIO : Yo,'22 *or1ive 4e- &ir- b,t tho,1h it'& tr,e that the
*ather& thin5 o* their &on&' %e2*are- the &on& have 1ot to 2ive %ith
the %ive& they've cho&en- and it'& on2y ri1ht they &ho,2d be &ati&;
*ied$
6ATA$ : Ye %eren't &ayin1 that 3,&t no%- 4y boy$ Arter a22-
I'4 yo,r *ather- and i* ye're *orei1n breedin1 ha'n't ta,1ht ye to
re&7ect 4e- 'tain't too 2ate to 2earn yet$
LELIO : ",t a4 I not even to &ee her *ir&t B
6ATA$ : Ye'22 @ee her %hen ye @i1n the contract an' not be*ore 9
'ti& the o2d %ay o' doin1 thin1&$ I've done %e22 by ye- I'4 ye're
*ather and there'& an end on't$
LELIO Da&ideE : It'& abo,t ti4e *or a %itty invention$
6ATA$ : Ahat'& that ye &ay B
LELIO : Ah- *ather- yo,r a,thority ha& 72aced 4e in a 1reat
di2e44a- and I can no 2on1er 5ee7 4y &ecret hidden *ro4 yo,$
6ATA$ : Ae22- %hat'& it no% B
LELIO D5nee2in1E : I thro% 4y&e2* at yo,r *eet C I 5no% that I
have erred b,t I %a& *orced to it$
6ATA$ : Ae22- 4y boy- %hat have ye done B
LELIO : I te22 yo, %ith tear& in 4y eye&$
6ATA$ : O,t %i' it$
LELIO : I have a %i*e in a72e&$
6ATA$ : And ye te22 4e thi& no% B Ye never %rote a %ord B
Did 4y 7oor brother 5no% B
LELIO : He did not 5no%$
6ATA$ : Get 'ee ,7- boy$ Ye doant de&erve a *ather- and
I'4 *air 4inded to t,rn 'ee o,t$ ",t da44it- ye're 4y o%n @on-
an' there'& no c,re *or %hat'& done$ I* &he be a decent 1a2 and
',22 %rite to 4e- 4ayha7 4ayha7 I'22 7,t ,7 %i' it$ ",t i* 'ee've
4arried b,t a &tr,47et C
LELIO : +ather- %hat do yo, 4ean B I've 4arried a 4o&t
hone&t 2ady$
6ATA$ : Ahat'& her &tation B
LELIO : A 5ni1ht'& da,1hter$
THE LIAR
6ATA$ : Aheer be &he *ro4 B
LELIO : a72e&$
6ATA$ : Do%ry B
LELIO : Mo&t rich$
6ATA$ : An' ye 5ee7 thi& @ort o' 4arria1e *ro4 4e B Aere
'ee a*raid +d &ay 8 o 8 to it B I've @o4e @en&e$ 'Ec did ri1ht
to 4arry her- b,t %hy 5ee7 it hid B 6Ya7& 'ee did it %i'o,t her
*ather'& 5no%2ed1e B
LELIO : He had *,22 5no%2ed1e o* it$
6ATA$ : Then %hy- in the na4e o' 1oodne&&- 5ee7 it hid *ro4
4e and 4y brother B
LELIO : "eca,&e I 4arried her on both *eet- a& it %ere$
Ahat d'ye 4ean- 8 on both *eet 8 B
I %a& &,r7ri&ed by her *ather in the 2ady'& cha4ber$
Ahat did 'ee 1o theer *or B
A4oro,& *o22y- *r,it& o* 4y yo,th$
Aretch C o% ye're &72iced that'& a22 over$ Ahit'*
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
her na4e$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
5i22edB
LELIO :
6ATA$
"ri&eide$
: An' her *ather'& B
Don 6o2icar7e$
: H,rna4e B
D'A2bacava$
: Yo,n1 B
O* 4y a1e$
: Ho% did 'ee 1et to 5no% her B
Their vi22a 3oined o,r&$
: Ho% did 'ee 1et in B
"y the he27 o* a *riend2y cha4ber4aid
: An' ye *o,nd the 2eddy in her roo4 B
Ye&- a22 a2one$
: i1ht or day B
"et%i<t 2i1ht and dar5$
An' ye %ere *,2e eno,1h to be *o,nd an' ri&5 bein1
I hid in a c,7board$
Ay B An' ho% did they *ind 'ee then B
THE LIAR
)M
LELIO :
&,&7icio,&$
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
My re7eater &tr,c5 the ho,r and her *ather beca4e
The devi2 C Ahat did he @ay B
He a&5ed hi& da,1hter %ho&e re7eater it %a&$
An' the 2a&& B
!aid i44ediate2y that her co,&in had 1iven it to her$
An' %ho 4i1ht that be B
The D,che&& Mati2da- da,1hter o* 6rince A&to2*o-
&i&ter o* Co,nt Ar1ante- 4a&ter o* Hi& Ma3e&ty'& h,nt$
6ATA$ : Thi& %ench o* yo,rn ha& a *2a&hy @et o' re2ation&$
LELIO : !he co4e& o* the *2o%er o* nobi2ity$
6ATA$ : Ay- and abo,t the %atch B Did the *ather 1ive over B
LELIO : He %anted to &ee it$
6ATA$ : Aa,n& C %hat ha77ened then B
LELIO : "ri&eide o7ened the c,7board door a crac5 and a&5ed
4e ,nder her breath *or the %atch$
6ATA$ : +ine C %hat e2&e co,2d &he do B
LELIO : In ta5in1 it o,t o* 4y 7oc5et the chain ca,1ht In the
tri11er o* a 7i&to2 I he2d ready coc5ed- and it e<72oded$
6ATA$ : 6oor 2ad- did it har4 'ee B
LELIO : Oh- a 4ere nothin1$
Ahat did 'ee &ay T Ahat ha77ened ne<t B
The de,ce o* a ro%$ My *ather;in;2a% ca22ed the
6ATA$
LELIO :
&ervant&$
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO
They *o,nd 'ee
O* co,r&e$
I *air tre4b2e&$ Ahat did 'ee do then B
I 7,t 4y hand on 4y &%ord and they a22 *2ed$
6ATA$ : They 4i1ht ha' &ett2ed 'ee$
LELIO : I have a &%ord that *ear& not a h,ndred$
6ATA$ : In it& &heath- 2ad- in it& &heath$ An' &o 'ee 1ot a%ay
LELIO : I did not %ant to de&ert 4y char4er$
6ATA$ : Ahat @aid the 2a&& B
LELIO Dtender2yE : !he di&&o2ved in tear& at 4y *eet$
6ATA$ : 'Ti& a *air ro4ance$
LELIO : It'& tr,e- neverthe2e&&$
6ATA$ : Ahat %a& the end on't B
>0 THE LIAR
LELIO : My *ather;in;2a% ran *or a 3,&tice o* the 7eace- %ho
&ent a ca7tain %ith a co47any o* &o2dier&$ They *orced 4e to
4arry her- and *or a 7,ni&h4ent 1ave 4e a do%ry o* t%enty
tho,&and cro%n&$
6ATA$ Da&ideE : 'Ti& the *ir&t ti4e I heard the 2i5e C
LELIO Da&ideE : I de*y the *ir&t 1a@etteer o* E,ro7e to invent a
*act 4ore circ,4&tantia22y$
6ATA$ : "oy- ye &ta5ed a @ad ri&5- than5 yer &tar& ye %eathei
it an' ca4e %e22 o,t on't- b,t 'ti& a %arnin1 an' ta5e heed to 2arn
by it$ 6i&to2&- *or&ooth here %e doant ho2d %i' e4$
LELIO : I have never carried *irear4& a1ain *ro4 that day to thi&$
6ATA$ : Ahoy didn't ye te22 ye're ,nc2e o' yer 4a4aee B
LELIO : He %a& dan1ero,&2y i22 %hen a22 thi& ha77ened
6ATA$ : Ahoy didn't ye %rite 4e a 2etter B
LELIO : I %anted to te22 yo, 4y&e2*$
6ATA$ : Ahoy didn't ye brin1 the 1a2 %i' 'ec B
LELIO : !he'& &i< 4onth& 1one %ith chi2d$
6ATA$ : !i< 4onth& B A *air nothin1$ +ine 3ob yo,'ve 4ade
o* it- not te22in1 4e$ Yo,r *ather;in;2a% %i22 thin5 4e a *ine
*ather not to have %ritten hi4 a %ord abo,t a22 thi&$ +aith-
b,t I'22 c,re it no%$ The 7o&t *,r a72e& 1oe& to;ni1ht$ I'2
%rite ',n an' te22 ',n to 5ee7 hi& eye on the brat$ I 4i&re4e4ber
Don 6o2icar7e'& @,rna4e$ Te22 4e a1ain- dear boy$
LELIO Da&ideE : I've *or1otten it too C DA2o,d$E Don 6o2icar7c
de22' Articho5e$
6ATA$ : Articho5e B H,re2y not C o% I re4e4ber- 'ee
@aid d'A2bacava$
LELIO : De22' Articho5e i& hi& &,rna4e 9 d'A2bacava hi& e&tate$
He i& ca22ed indi**erent2y by one or t'other$
6ATA$ : I @ee$ I'22 1o %rite$ I'22 te22 ',n to @end her a2on1
a& @oon a& &he'& *it *or't$ I can't abide the tho,1ht o' %aitin1
to @ee her an' 5i&& the baby$ He- he . 6anta2one a 1ran'*ither C
DE<it$E
LELIO : It'& ta5en &o4e tro,b2e to 1et rid o* that "o2o1ne&e$
I* I a4 to be bo,nd in 4atri4onia2 chain& Ro&a,ra &ha22 do it$
THE LIAR
>.
A*ter a22- at 2ea&t &he'& a doctor'& da,1hter- and 4y *ather cannot
de&7i&e her$ A*ter I've 4arried her- the ea7o2itan &ha22 t,rn
'enetian$ My *ather %ant& 1randchi2dren B I'22 ob2i1e hi4 C
C#RTAI$
ED O+ !CEE II$
+LOR$
"RIG$
+LOR$
Ro&a,ra to
"RIG$
+LOR$
"RIG$
+LOR$
"RIG$
+LOR$
revea2ed$
"RIG$
+LOR$
"RIG$
hear ',n$
+LOR$
"RIG$
+LOR$
"RIG$
+LOR$
co,r&e$
"RIG$
!CEE III$ The !treet$
Ear2y a*ternoon$
"ri1he22a- I'4 de&7erate$
+or %hoy B
I'4 to2d that Doctor "a2on@oni intend& 4arryin1
a ea7o2itan Mar:,i&$
Aho to2d 'ee that B
Her &i&ter- "eatrice$
Then ye've 2itt2e ti4e to 2o&e O,t %i' it- 4an$
Ye&- "ri1he22a- I a4 at 2a&t re&o2ved to dec2are 4y&e2*$
!tar& and 1arter& C Maybe I'22 @ee ye ha77y *or once$
I have co47o&ed a 7oe4 and by it& aid I &ha22 &tand
!he doan't %ant 7oe4& be&t &7ea5 in 72ain 7ro&e$
The 7oe4 %i22 te22 a22$
I* it'& 72ain &7ea5in1 eno,1h- ha77en 't%i22 &erve 2et'&
Here it i& I&n't the %ritin1 bea,ti*,2 B
'Ti& none o' yo,rn$
o- I had it co7ied$
+or %hoy B
!o that 4y hand%ritin1 &ho,2d not be reco1ni@ed- o*
"ean't &he to 5no% 'ti& yo,rn B
>( THE LIAR
+LOR$ : Li&ten C Doe&n't it &7ea5 72ainer than I B DRead&$E
8 Heart'& ido2- O 4y 4o&t adored *ate-
+or thee I &,**er &i2ent2y and 2on1-
+earin1 the 1od& have 7ic5ed another 4ate
To 7air %ith thee and ca,&e th' eterna2 %ron1$
+or thee 4y eye& are river&- and 4y heart
I& &in5in1 in a 2a5e o* brini&h tear&
Ah- 4e C the tho,1ht that ever %e &ho,2d 7art
A1e& 4y yo,th and &tri5e& 4e do%n in year&
I a4 no 5ni1ht- no tit2e can I c2ai4-
Go2d have I none and riche& 2itt2e &tore-
A 4idd2e &tation and a 4ode&t na4e-
And hone&t toi2 and there i& nothin1 4ore$
Lo4bard a4 I and bred to other &5ie&-
O*t in thy &i1ht I 2,r5 and at thy hand
!i2ence I've no,ri&ht- no% I rai&e 4y eye&-
+or thee an e<i2e in a *orei1n 2and$
Ro&a,ra- 1odde&&- 5no% at 2en1th 4y @ea2
!oon- &oon- &ha22 I 4y na4e and heart revea2$8
There C %hat do yo, thin5 o* that B
"RIG$ : 'Ti& *ine- &,re2y- b,t it don't e<72ain nothin*$
+LOR$ : Ahat do yo, 4ean- it e<72ain& nothin1 B Doe& it not
&7ea5 72ain2y B Ahy- it 7aint& 4y 7ortrait e<act2y and %here it
&ay& 8 Lo4bard a4 I-8 doe&n't that c2ear2y 7rove I'4 "o2o1ne&e B
"RIG$ : Lo4bardy 4i1ht 4ean a 4ort o' to%n& : Mi2an-
"er1a4o- "re&&a- 'erona- Mant,a- Modena ho% be &he to 1,e&&
ye 4ean "o2o1na B
+LOR$ : Ae22- ta5e thi& 2ine : 8 O*t in thy &i1ht I 2,r5 and at
thy hand-8 doe&n't that c2ear2y indicate 4e B
"RIG$ : On'y 4i1ht be other&$
+LOR$ : Oh- rea22y- yo,'re too &o7hi&ticated 9 the 7oe4'& 72ain
eno,1h and &he'22 ,nder&tand$
"RIG$ : I* ye 1iv' it her yo,r&e2* &he 4i1ht 1,e&&$
+LOR$ : I don't %ant to 1ive it to her$
"RIG$ : Then %hat be ye a1oin' to do B
THE LIAR >G
+LOR$ : I tho,1ht o* thro%in1 it on to the ba2cony$ !he'22
*ind it- read it- and 5no% a22$
"RIG$ : Ha77en 'ti& *o,nd by another B
+LOR$ : Ahoever *ind& it %i22 1ive it to Ro&a,ra to read$
"RIG$ : 'T%o,2d be better
+LOR$ : Oh C be :,iet C I &ha22 do it thi& %ay$ DThro%& 7oe4
on to ba2cony$E
"RIG$ : "ravo C Ye've better hand& nor ton1,e$
+LOR$ : I thin5 &o4eone'& co4in1 o,t on to the ba2cony$
"RIG$ : "ide a%hi2e and %atch$
+LOR$ : Co4e a%ay C Co4e a%ay C DE<it$E
"RIG$ : Have it yer o%n %ay$ DE<it *o22o%in1 +LOR$E
DEnter COLOM"IA on to ba2cony$E
COLOM$ : !o4ethin1 *e22 on to the ba2cony$ Ahat %a& it-
I %onder B Here'& a bit o* 7a7er$ Can it be a 2etter B DO* en&
the 7a7er$E Ahat a n,i&ance I read &o bad2y C 6 O E M 7oe4$
DCa22& thro,1h %indo%$E Mada4e- a 7oe4 ha& been thro%n on to
the ba2cony$
DEnter RO!A#RA thro,1h %indo%$E
RO!A#RA : A 7oe4 B Aho thre% it B
COLOM$ : I don't 5no%- I *o,nd it by accident$
RO!A#RA : Give it to 4e- I 4,&t read it$
COLOM$ : Read it- and then yo, can te22 4e a22 abo,t it- and
I'22 1o on %ith 4y ironin1 %hi2&t 4y iron'& hot$
DE<it into ho,&e$E
RO!A#RA : o%- %hat i& it a22 abo,t B DRead& to her&e2*$E
DEnter LELIO in &treet be2o%$E
LELIO : Ah- there'& Ro&a,ra 9 &he'& readin1 &o4ethin1 rather
attentive2y$ I %onder %hat it can be B
RO!A#RA Dto her&e2*E : I 4,&t &ay thi& 7oe4 rather &,r7ri&e& 4e$
>? THE LIAR
LELIO : 6er4it 4e the 7rivi2e1e- O *aire&t- o* &a2,tin1 yo,$
RO!A#RA : Oh- I be1 yo,r 7ardon- 4y 2ord- I did not &ee yo,$
LELIO : And %hat are yo, readin1 B May I 7artici7ate B
RO!A#RA : It'& a 7oe4 that Co2o4bina ha& 3,&t di&covered on
the ba2cony- and I *ind that it'& addre&&ed to 4e$
LELIO : And do yo, 5no% %ho %rote it B
RO!A#RA : There'& no na4e to it$
LELIO : Don't yo, reco1ni@e the hand%ritin1 B
RO!A#RA : o$
LELIO : Can't yo, 1,e&& %ho %rote it B
RO!A#RA : I've been tryin1 to- and I can't$
LELIO : !o it'& very bea,ti*,2 B
RO!A#RA : Ae22- it &ee4& &o to 4e$
LELIO : Love 7oe4 B
RO!A#RA : It'& certain2y abo,t 2ove and I can't i4a1ine 1reater
tenderne&&$
LELIO : And yo, &ti22 &earch the a,thor B
RO!A#RA : Ye&- I can't 4a5e hi4 o,t$
LELIO : 'Ti& an o**&7rin1 o* 4y 4,&e$
RO!A#RA : Yo, %rote thi& 7oe4 C
LELIO : Ye&- 4y dear- none other$
RO!A#RA : Yo, a4a@e 4e C
LELIO : 6erha7& yo, do not con&ider 4e ca7ab2e o* %ritin1 a
7oe4 B
RO!A#RA : Oh- ye&- b,t I %a&n't :,ite e<7ectin1 thi& C
LELIO : Do not the ver&e& &7ea5 o* a heart that adore& yo, B
RO!A#RA : Ae22- 2i&ten to the *ir&t 2ine& and te22 4e i* they are
yo,r&$ DRead&$E
8 Heart'& ido2- O 4y 4o&t adored *ate
+or thee I &,**er &i2ent2y and 2on1$8
LELIO : O* co,r&e- it'& 4ine
8 Heart'& ido2- O 4y 4o&t adored *ate-
+or thee I &,**er &i2ent2y and 2on1$8
Yo, &ee- I 5no% it by heart$
THE LIAR >)
RO!A#RA : ",t %hy 8 &i2ent2y 8 %hen yo, &7o5e to 4e ye&terday B
LELIO : I didn't e<72ain 4y&e2* to the tho,&andth 7art$ "e;
&ide& I've been &i2ent *or a %ho2e year$
RO!A#RA : Ae22- then- thi& Dread&E :
8 +earin1 the 1od& have 7ic5ed another 4ate
To 7air %ith thee and ca,&e th' eterna2 %ron1-
+or thee 4y eye& are river& and 4y heart
I& &in5in1 in a 2a5e o* brini&h tear&$
Ah 4e C the tho,1ht that %e &ho,2d ever 7art
A1e& 4y yo,th and &tri5e& 4e do%n in year&$8
",t %ho i& co,rtin1 4e B Aho %ant& 4e B
LELIO : Oh- that'& on2y the ,&,a2 2over'& 3ea2o,&y$ I've not
&7o5en to yo,r *ather$ Yo, are not yet 4ine- &o I a4 a2%ay& in
do,bt- and do,btin1- %ee7$
RO!A#RA : My 2ord- be &o 1ood a& to e<72ain the&e *o,r e<:,i&ite
2ine&$ DRead&$E :
8 I a4 no 5ni1ht- no tit2e can I c2ai4
Go2d have I none and riche& 2itt2e &tore$
A 4idd2e &tation and a 4ode&t na4e
And hone&t toi2 and there i& nothin1 4ore$8
LELIO Da&ideE : L,d C Here'& a 7retty *i< C
RO!A#RA : I& thi& the o**&7rin1 o* yo,r 4,&e- or i& it not B
LELIO : Ye&- 4ada4- a2a& C Ye&$ The &incere and 2oya2
a**ection %ith %hich yo, have in&7ired 4e no 2on1er 7er4it& 4e
to contin,e a *ab2e %hich one day- 7erha7&- %o,2d ca,&e yo,
annoyance and 7,t 4e to the b2,&h$ Tr,e- I a4 neither a 5ni1ht
nor do I carry a tit2e$ In a *anta&tic 4ood I *ei1ned both on 7re;
&entin1 4y&e2* to t%o &i&ter& by %ho4 I did not %i&h to be 5no%n$
I %o,2d not advent,re b2ind*o2d 9 I %i&hed *ir&t to a&certain i*
I 4i1ht *2atter 4y&e2* that in &o4e de1ree yo, inc2ined to 4e$
Then- &eein1 yo, 72iant to 4y hone&t de&ire&- and I ho7e to &o4e
de1ree 7artia2- I re&o2ved to te22 yo, the tr,th$ ",t- 2ac5in1 co,ra1e
to te22 yo, 4y&e2*- I hit ,7on the e<7edient o* te22in1 yo, in a
>> THE LIAR
7oe4$ I a4 not rich- b,t o* 4edi,4 *ort,ne 9 in a72e& I *o22o%
the nob2e ca22in1 o* 4erchant- &o it'& :,ite tr,e that 8 hone&t toi2
there i& and nothin1 4ore$8
RO!A#RA : I 4,&t &ay yo,r con*e&&ion rather &,r7ri&e& 4e$
I o,1ht rea22y to order yo, *ro4 4y 7re&ence a& a deceiver- b,t
I *ind 4y&e2* ,nab2e to do thi&$ A &o2id 4erchant i& a not ,n%orthy
4atch$ Ho%ever- the re&t o* the 7oe4 ca,&e& 4e &ti22 2ive2ier
c,rio&ity$
LELIO Da&ideE : The devi2 C Ahat %or&e can *o22o% B
RO!A#RA Dread&E : 8 Lo4bard a4 I and bred to other &5ie& 8
Ho% doe& that a772y to yo,- a ea7o2itan B
LELIO : a72e& i& a 7art o* Lo4bardy$
RO!A#RA : Ae22- I never heard that be*ore$
LELIO : E<c,&e 4e- read yo,r hi&tory$ Yo, %i22 *ind that the
Lon1obard& occ,7ied a22 Ita2y- and %herever they %ere in occ,7a;
tion i& no% ca22ed in the 2an1,a1e o* 7oetry 8 Lo4bardy$8 DA&ide$E
Aith a %o4an I can 4a5e &hi*t to 7a&& *or an hi&torian$
RO!A#RA : Ae22- it 4ay be a& yo, &ay 9 b,t to 7roceed$ DRead&$E
8 O*t in thy &i1ht I 2,r5 and at yo,r hand$8 I never &a% yo, ti22
2a&t ni1ht C Ho% can yo, &ay 8 O*t in thy &i1ht 8 B
LELIO : Did I ,&e the 7re&ent ten&e B
RO!A#RA : Ye&$
LELIO : A &2i7 o* the 7en I 4eant the *,t,re$ 8 O*t in thy
&i1ht I'II 2,r5$8
RO!A#RA Dreadin1E : 8 !i2ence I've no,ri&ht- no% I rai&e 4y
eye&$8
LELIO : I've 5e7t &i2ent a year and can do &o no 2on1er$
RO!A#RA : There re4ain the 2a&t three 2ine&$
LELIO Da&ideE : I* I 1et o,t o* thi& I a4 a 7rodi1y$
RO!A#RA Dread&E : 8 +or thee an e<i2e in a *orei1n 2and$8
LELIO : I* it %ere not *or yo, I &ho,2d be at thi& 4o4ent either
in London or in 6ort,1a2 9 4y b,&ine&& re:,ire& it- b,t 4y 7a&&ion
*or yo, 5ee7& 4e in 'enice$
RO!A#RA Dread&E : 8 Ro&a,ra- 1odde&&- 5no% at 2en1th 4y @ea2$8
LELIO : Ae22- that 2ine doe&n't need an e<72anation$
RO!A#RA Ddry2yE : The 2a&t one %i22$ DRead&$E 8 !oon- &oon
&ha22 I 4y na4e and heart revea2$8
THE LIAR >/
LELIO : Thi& i& the day- and thi& the e<72anation$ Qno% then-
I a4 not A&dr,ba2e di Ca&te2 d'Oro- b,t R,11iero 6ando2*ii$
RO!A#RA : Ae22- I co,2d never have 4a&tered the 7oe4 %itho,t
the co44entary$
LELIO : 6oet& invariab2y &7ea5 in &y4bo2&$
RO!A#RA : !o yo, invented yo,r na4e- too B
LELIO : La&t ni1ht I %a& in the vein o* invention$
RO!A#RA : Ahat'& yo,r vein to;day B
LELIO : That o* the &incere&t tr,th$
RO!A#RA : Then I 4ay be2ieve yo,r 2ove i& not a2to1ether
*ei1ned B
LELIO : I a4 con&,4ed %ith 7a&&ion *or yo,- and %i22 never
*ind 7eace ,nti2 I have achieved yo,r hand$
RO!A#RA : I do not %i&h to be &,b3ected to ne% dece7tion&$
!7ea5 to 4y *ather- e<72ain yo,r&e2* to hi4- and i* he con&ent& I'22
not re*,&e yo,$ Tho,1h yo,'ve *oo2ed 4e- I cannot di&dain yo,$
LELIO : Ahere &ha22 I *ind yo,r *ather B
RO!A#RA : Here he co4e&$
DOCTOR D&7ea5in1 o** in the ho,&eE : I& that he B
RO!A#RA : Ye&- b,t
DOCTOR Da77earin1 at the %indo%- 2o% to RO!A#RAE : Go in$
RO!A#RA : ",t- 2i&ten
DOCTOR : Do a& yo,'re to2d- don't 7,t 4e o,t$
RO!A#RA : I &,77o&e I 4,&t obey$
DThe DOCTOR dra%& her in thro,1h %indo% both di&a77ear$'E
LELIO Da&ideE : Rea22y- I did that e<tre4e2y %e22$ Gi2 "ia&
hi4&e2* ha& not 4ore co472ete advent,re&$
DRe;enter DOCTOR thro,1h the &treet door$E
DOCTOR Da&ideE : Yo, can &ee *ro4 hi& 4anner that he'& a
1reat nob2e4an- b,t he &ee4& to 4e a bit to,ched$
LELIO Da&ideE : o% *or the *ather$ DA2o,d$E Doctor- yo,r
h,4b2e devoted &ervant$
DOCTOR : !ir- yo,r 4o&t devoted$
>= THE LIAR
LELIO : Have yo, not- &ir- the hono,r o* bein1 the *ather o*
Mada4e Ro&a,ra B
DOCTOR : At yo,r &ervice$
LELIO : I a4 re3oiced to hear it- and I a4 entire2y at yo,r
co44and$
DOCTOR : !ir- yo, are too 1ood$
LELIO : !ir- I a4 a 4an that in a22 thin1& e472oy& the 4o&t
direct ro,te 9 there*ore- %itho,t any *,rther beatin1 abo,t the
b,&h- 7er4it 4e to &ay that I have *a22en a victi4 to yo,r da,1hter'&
char4&- and %i&h to 4arry her$
DOCTOR : !ir- I 2i5e yo,r 2aconic %ay o* doin1 thin1&$ My
an&%er i& that yo, do 4e and 4y ho,&e a va&t hono,r %hich i&
*ar above o,r 4erit&$ I %i22 %i22in12y be&to% her ,7on yo, %hen
yo, have had the conde&cen&ion and 1oodne&& to e&tab2i&h yo,r
identity$
LELIO : Ahen yo, have 1iven 4e Ro&a,ra I %i22 i44ediate2y
revea2 4y&e2*$
DOCTOR : Are yo, not the Mar:,e&& A&dr,ba2c B
DEnter OTTA'IO$E
OTTA'IO Dto LELIOE : Yo,'re the 4an I'4 2oo5in1 *or$ Yo,'22
have to acco,nt to 4e *or the %ic5ed 2ie& yo, have been &7readin1
abo,t the doctor'& da,1hter&$ I* yo,'re a 1ent2e4an dra% yo,r
&%ord$
DOCTOR : Ahat B My Lord Mar:,e&& B
OTTA'IO : Mar:,e&& be da4ned C Thi& i& Le2io- !i1nor 6anta;
2one'& &on$
DOCTOR : The devi2 C Ahat'& a22 thi& B
LELIO Dto OTTA'IOE : Ahoever I a4- I have &7irit eno,1h to
c,t yo,r co4b$ DDra%& hi& &%ord$E
OTTA'IO Ddra%in1E : Co4e on then- i* yo,'re 4an eno,1h$
DOCTOR Dr,&hin1 bet%een the4E : 6,t ,7- Ottavio- I'22 not have
it$ Ahy *i1ht %ith thi& 4on&tro,& 2iar B Co4e a%ay %ith 4e$
OTTA'IO : : Let 4e 1o- I be1 o* yo,$
DOCTOR : I re*,&e- I %on't have it C I* yo, 2ove 4y da,1hter
co4e %ith 4e$
THE LIAR >M
OTTA'IO : I 4,&t obey yo,$ DTo LELIO$E Ae'22 4eet a1ain$
LELIO : I'4 ready *or yo, at any ti4e$
DOCTOR : "ravo- 4y Lord Mar:,e&& C !ir ea7o2itan C
Qni1ht C ob2e4an C "2ac51,ard C I47o&tor C Liar C
DGoe& into bi& bo,&e %ith OTTA'IO$E
LELIO : Da4n Ottavio C Ahy doe& he 7er&ec,te 4e 2i5e thi& B
I &%ear to Heaven I'22 4a5e hi4 7ay *or it$ Thi& &%ord &ha22 do
it$ D+2o,ri&he& hi& &%ordE
DEnter ARLECCHIO$E
ARLE : Ahat be ye a;doin' %i' that &%ord- 4a&ter B
LELIO : Ottavio cha22en1ed 4e$
ARLE : An' ye *o,1ht ',n B
LELIO : +or three;:,arter& o* an ho,r$
ARLE$ : Ay B An' ho% *ared ye B
LELIO : Aith a &in12e 2,n1e I tran&*i<ed 4y 'ene4y$
ARLE$ : He 4,n be dead B
LELIO : at,ra22y$
ARLE$ : Aheer'& the body B
LELIO : They've ta5en it a%ay$
ARLE$ : "ravo- 4a&ter- ye be a c2ever 4an- ye be$ 'Ti& the
1reate&t thin1 ye've ever done$
DRe;enter OTTA'IO$E
OTTA'IO : I've not done %ith yo, yet$ To;4orro% I'22 a%ait
yo, on the G,idecca$ I* yo,'re a 4an So* hono,r yo,'22 *i1ht 4e
there$
DARLECCHIO 1oe&thro,1h ;7anto4i4e o* ad4iration on&eein1 OTTA'IO$E
LELIO : I'22 be there$
OTTA'IO : I'22 teach yo, to be 2e&& o* a 2iar$
DE<it$E
/0 THE LIAR
ARLE$ D2a,1hin1E : Ma&ter- the dead %a25$
LELIO : Ra1e 4,&t have b2inded 4e$ I've 5i22ed another in
hi& 72ace$
ARLE$ : May be yo, 5i22ed ',n %i 3 a %itty invention 2i5e C
DCo,1h& e<it$E
LELIO : That 7oe4 7,t 4e in a 7retty *i<$ Ahat co,2d have
been %or&e B 8 I a4 no 5ni1ht- no tit2e can I c2ai4-8 and then-
8 Lo4bard a4 I and bred to other &5ie&$8 That o* riva2 4ine-
%hoever he i&- ca,1ht 4e very 7retti2y- b,t- than5 Heaven- I have
4y %it& abo,t 4e$ Ahen I 4a5e 4y %i22 I &ha22 have the&e %ord&
en1raved on 4y 4on,4ent :
8 Here Le2io 2ie& o* 2i*e bere*t-
Hi& 2ie& a2one are a22 that'& 2e*t-
Invention'& chi2d- Ro4ance'& heir-
The 2a%yer'& 1,ide- and the de&7air
O* nove2i&t and 7a47h2eteer-
6ray 1ive the trib,te o* a tear 9
And tho,1h in to4b yo, &ee hi4 2ie
"e2ieve it not- oh 7a&&er by-
Tho,1h yo, &ho,2d &ee hi4 ca&ed in 2ead
Yo,'d ri&5 a 2ot to bet he'& dead$
C#RTAI$
ED O+ ACT II$
RO!A#RA$
ACT III$
!CEE I$ The !treet$
Late a*ternoon o* &a4e day$
DEnter +LORiooIro4 the Doctor'& ho,&e 9 to hi4 "RIGHELLA$E
"RIG$ : I %a& a;2oo5in' *or yo,- &ir$
+LOR$ : Aere yo, B Ahat i& it B
"RIG$ : Ye've &7o5en to Mr&$ Ro&a,ra B
+LOR$ : ot yet$ I have not &een her &ince the 7oe4$
"RIG$ : I'4 a*eared ye're too 2ate then$
+LOR$ : Oh- L,d C Ahy B
"RIG$ : 'Co& there'& a ro1,e that'& a;1oin' to rob the ne&t$
+LOR$ : Aho i& it B The Mar:,e&& o* Ca&te2 d'Oro B
"RIG$ : That'& hi4$ I've 4et hi& &arvant- %ho coo4& *ro4
4y 7art& 9 he'& &i472e;2i5e and b2o%n the %ho2e thin1$ He'&
to2d the 2ady that the @,rrinade %a& hi&'n- and ye're 7oe4 too-
and he'& to2d a 7ec5 o' 2ie& each one %or&en' t'other9 ye @o%
he rea7& 9 ye @i1h he 2a,1h& 9 ye 5ee7 4,4 and he &7ea5& 9
he'22 1et %hat he %ant& and ye'22 be 2e*t 2ic5in' dry cho7&$
+LOR$ : Oh- "ri1he22a- thi& i& terrib2e C
Ye 4,n &ett2e ye're 4ind 9 either &7ea5 at once or 2o&e
"RIG$
the 2a&&$
+LOR$
I %i&h I co,2d &7ea5- b,t I 2ac5 the co,ra1e$
/G
/? THE LIAR
"RIG$ : !7ea5 to her *ather then$
+LOR$ He *ri1hten& 4e$
Get &o4e ',n to do it *or 'ee- then$
Aho4 can I tr,&t B
6d do it *or 'ee- b,t it be'ant the %or5 *or a &arvant
Advi&e 4e 9 %hat a4 I to do B
Let'& 1o in and 7,t o,r head& to1ether$
Ye&- don't 2et'& %a&te any ti4e$ My dear *e22o%- I'4 &o
"RIG$
+LOR$
"RIG$
in 2ivery$
+LOR$
"RIG$
+LOR$
1rate*,2 to yo,$ I* ever I &,cceed in 4arryin1 Ro&a,ra I &ha22
o%e a22 4y b2i&& to yo,r a**ection$
D"oth 1o into ho,&e$E
DEnter 6ATALOE- carryin1 a 2etterBE
6ATA$ : I be a;1oin' to 7o&t thi& 4y&e2* 9 I don't %ant no
&arvant to *or1et it$ I &ho,2d 'a %ritten a*ore no%$ He'& a da*t
*e22o%- that @on o' 4ine : hi4 a 4arried 4an 1oin' abo,t a;*oo2in'
%i' the doctor'& 1a2& C A22 coo4& o' a *,rrin' eddication 9 no%-
i* I'd had the brin1in* o* hi4 ,7 it %o,2dn't have been$ ever
4ind- *or a22 he'& a 4arried 4an- I'II coo4 ,7 %i' ,n C Aor&t o*
it a22 i& the doctor be ri1ht- an' I'22 have the &:,arin' ,7 o* ',n$
!2y ro1,e Mar:,e&& o* Ca&te2 d'Oro- @,rrinade& and @,77er& C
Ay- b,t he ha& 4e to rec5on %ith$ I'22 1o ta25 to hi& 2ord&hi7 %hen
thi& 2etter'& 7o&ted$
DEnter a Letter Carrier$E
L$C$ : A 2etter *or yo,r Aor&hi7 9 thirty &o2di to 7ay$
6ATA : Aheer be it *ro4 B
L$C$ Dhandin1 2etterE : +ro4 the 7o&t at Ro4e$
6ATA$ : It 4,n be *ro4 a72e&$ Here be ye'r &o2di$ It'&
4ain heavy$
L$C$ : A<in' yer 7ardon 9 %ho be !i1nor Le2io "i&o1no&i B
6ATA$ : My @on$
L$C$ : !ince %hen B
THE LIAR /)
6ATA : He be 3,&t coo4 *ro4 a72e&$
L$C$ : Here'& one *,r hi4- too$
6ATA$ : Gie it here 9 I'4 hi& *ather$
L$C$ Dhandin1 2etterE : Here it be 9 &even &o2di$
6ATA$ : Ta5e it C
L$C$ : Ye'r &arvant$
DE<it$E
6ATA$ : Aho can it be *ro4 B Ahat'& it abo,t B I doan't
5na% the hand- nay- nor the &ea2 neither *,r that 4atter$ Lordy-
I be a *air o2d *,2e I 4,n o7en ,n *,r&t$ DO7en& 2etter and read&$E
8 Mo&t hono,red !ir $ $ $8
Aho be it *ro4 B DRead&$E
8Ma&anie22o Ca77e@a2i- a72e&- A7ri2 (?th- ./)0$ $ $ $8
Doan't 5no% ,n- doan't 5no% ,n %hat'& he %ant B DRead&$E
8 Havin1 %ritten t%ice to yo,r &on and had no an&%er *ro4
hi4 $ $ $8
The 2ad &to77ed in Ro4e- the 2etter& 4,n be there$ DRead&$E
9J $ $ $ I decided to %rite to yo,r Aor&hi7- *earin1 either that
he i& not arrived or that he i& i22$ !i1ner Le2io be11ed 4e- hi&
1ood *riend- t%o day& be*ore hi& de7art,re *ro4 a72e&- to
7roc,re *or hi4 hi& certi*icate a& an ,n4arried 4an- &o that
he 4i1ht be enab2ed to 4arry %hi2e in *orei1n 7art& i* he &o
%i&hed$8
",t the 2ad'& 4arried C DRead&$E
8 o one co,2d do thi& better than I- beca,&e ,7 to the ho,r
o* hi& de7art,re no one e2&e ha& been &o con&tant2y in hi& co4;
7any$8
He 4,n 5na% abo,t it- then C DRead&$E
8 There*ore hi& *riend ico2,ccio and I 7roc,red the &aid
certi*icate *or hi4- %hich- in order that it &ho,2d not 4i&carry-
I enc2o&e in thi& 2etter- d,2y %itne&&ed and 2e1a2i@ed$8
/> THE LIAR
Ahat'& it a22 abo,t B Hi& certi*icate a& a bache2or B Then the
2ad'& not 4arried$ Either 'ti& *or1ed or e2&e the %eddin' %a& 7,re
invention$ I ra,n 1et to the botto4 o' thi&$ DRead&$E
8 It i& a %onder that Le2io i& ret,rnin1 to hi& ho4e a *ree 4an
a*ter the in*inite 7eri2& hi& 1oodne&& o* heart ha& 4ade hi4 inc,r 9
b,t I 4ay boa&t o* havin1 %ith 4y *riend&hi7 he27ed hi4 o,t
o* a h,ndred entan12e4ent&$ !o he 2eave& a72e& *ree and ,n;
tra44e22ed- %hich %i22 be no 2itt2e 1rati*ication to yo,$
enab2in1 yo, a& it %i22 to 7roc,re *or hi4 a &,itab2e and 72ea&in1
&ett2e4ent in 2i*e$ And I a4- &ir- yo,r 4o&t h,4b2e and
devoted $$$8
Ay- b,t %hat'& a22 thi& B Le2io not 4arried B Here be the
bache2or'& certi*icate$ DO7en& the enc2o&ed doc,4ent$E Ay- a22 in
order it can't be *or1ed$ '!ide&- %hy &ho,2d the 1e4'4an '
a 2ie it doan't &tand to rea&on$ ",t %hy &ho,2d Le2io te22 a
@ac5*,2 o' 2ie& B Ahat ai2& hi4 B Let'& &ee i* t'other 2etter ',22
c2ear thin1& ,7 a bit$ D"e1in& to o7en &econd 2etter$E
DEnter LELIO$E
LELIO : Ah- *ather- I %a& 2oo5in1 *or yo,$
6ATA$ : N,&t in ti4e- 4y boy$ Aho be Ma&anie22o Ca77e@a2i B
LELIO : A 1reat *riend o* 4ine$ DA&ide$E He 5no%& a22 4y
1a4e&$ I'd not have 4y *ather %rite to hi4 *or %or2d&$
6ATA$ : "e he a c2ever 4an B A 1ood 4an and an hone&t B
LELIO : He %a&- b,t a2a& C he no 2on1er i& &o$
6ATA$ : o B Ahy B
LELIO : "eca,&e the 7oor *e22o%'& dead$
6ATA$ : Ahen did ',n die B
LELIO : "e*ore I 2e*t a72e&$
6ATA$ : A 4atter o' three 4onth& a1o B
LELIO : Abo,t that$
6ATA : Then I have a bit o' 1ood ne%& *or 'ce : ye're dear
*riend'& no 2on1er dead$
LELIO : Eh B Good God C
6ATA$ : "e that hi& hand B
THE LIAR //
LELIO : A2a&- no C DA&ide$E It certain2y i& 9 %hat the devi2
i& he %ritin1 abo,t B
6ATA$ : Harten &,re B
LELIO : L,ite &,re be&ide&- he'& dead$
6ATA$ DA&ideE : Either the 7a7er'& *a2&e or 4y &on'& the Great
Mo1,2 it&e2* o' 2ie&$ I 4,n *ind o,t %hich$
LELIO Da&ideE : I'd 1ive a 1ood dea2 to 5no% %hat'& in that
2etter$ DA2o,d$E +ather- 4ay I 2oo5 at that %ritin1 a bit c2o&er B
6ATA$ : "ean't the 7oor 1e4'4an dead B
LELIO : O* co,r&e he'& dead$
6ATA$ : He be dead that'& done %i'$ Ae'22 2eave that- and
no% *or another 4atter$ Ahat have ye been a;doin' o* to Dr$
"a2an@oni B
LELIO : othin1 that I 5no% o*$
6ATA$ : Mebbe n,thin' to hi4- %hat abo,t hi& darter B
LELIO : !he ha& done &o4ethin1 to 4e$
6ATA$ : Ahat the devi2 can &he have done to 'ee B
LELIO : !he ha& be%itched 4e- b2inded 4e 9 I do,bt b,t %hat
&he ha& r,ined 4e$
6ATA$ : E<72ain yo,r&e2*$
LELIO : I %a& 1oin1 abo,t 4y b,&ine&& 2a&t evenin1 %hen &he
&a% 4e *ro4 her %indo%$ I 4,&t &ay I &ee4 to have &o4ethin1
in 4y *ace %hich con:,er& a22 %o4en- and %hich con:,ered her too$
!he 1reeted 4e %ith a &i1h 9 I- %ho %hen I hear a %o4an &i1h-
invariab2y *a22 dead- &to77ed to 2oo5 at her$ Conceive o* it C
My eye& 4et her&$ I be2ieve there are t%o devi2& in tho&e eye& o*
her& 9 I %a& done *or on the &7ot- and there i& no re4edy$
6ATA$ : Ye have an ea&y %ay o' doin' thin1&$ Did ye @,rrinade
herB
LELIO: I4a1ine itC !o4eone 72ay& a &erenade9 I 2i&ten to
it 9 the 1ir2 i4a1ine& it to be 4ine- and I 2et it 1o at that$
6ATA$ : And ye 4ade ,7 the &tory o' &oo7in' %i' her arter;
%ard& B
LELIO : I don't te22 2ie& 9 I %a& in the ho,&e$
6ATA$ : An' ye &oo7ed to1ether$
LELIO : Ae22- to te22 the tr,th- %e did$
6ATA$ : An' ye didn't thin5 ye'd be har4in' her 1ood na4e B
/=
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
o**ence$
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
THE LIAR
!he invited 4e 9 I %ent$
An' ye a 4arried 4an C
Yo,'re ri1ht$ I %a& in the %ron1$ I'22 not re7eat the
An' ye're &arten ye're 4arried B
I* 4y %i*e'& not dead$
Ahoi &ho,2d &he be dead B
!he 4i1ht have died in chi2dbed$
",t &he be on2y &i< 4onth& 1one C
!he 4i1ht have 4i&carried$
D'ye 5no% %ho the %ench i& that ye &oo7ed %ith B
The da,1hter o* Dr$ "a2an@oni$
Ne&t &o$ The 1a2 I 4eant ye to 4arry$
!heB
Ye&$
Yo, to2d 4e &he %a& the da,1hter o* a "o2o1ne&e$
Ae22- %hat e2&e i& the doctor B
LELIO Da&ideE : Lord C %hat have I done no% C
6ATA$ : Ahat did 'ee &ay B I* ye'd been a *ree 4an %o,2d 'ee
have *ancied her B
LELIO : Aith a22 4y heart$ +or Heaven'& &a5e- &ir- don't brea5
o** the ne1otiation&- don't abandon the contract$ 6aci*y the
Doctor &o4eho% 2et ,& 5ee7 o,r ho2d on the da,1hter 9 I cannot
2ive %itho,t her C
6ATA$ : Ahat B Ye be a 4arried 4an C
LELIO : My %i*e 4ay be dead$
6ATA$ : A *,2e'& ho7e$ Have 4ore &en&e an' 2et the vvi44in
be$ Ae've done %i' Mi&& Ro&a,ra- an' ye 4,n 3e&t 1o bac5 to
a72e&$
LELIO : ot that- *or the 2ove o* Heaven$
6ATA$ : Doan't 'ee %ant to @ee ye're %i*e B
LELIO : Do yo, %ant to &ee 4e dead *
6ATA$ : O' %hat B
LELIO : I &ha22 die i* yo, de7rive 4e o* Ro&a,ra$
6ATA$ : Ho% 4any %ive& doe& the 4an %ant B Heven- 2i5e
the Grand T,r5 B
LELIO : One i& a22 I a&5$
THE LIAR /M
6ATA$ : Ae22- ye've "ri&eide$
LELIO : A2a& C "ri&eide
6ATA$ : Ahat'& the 4atter %i' her B
LELIO D5nee2in1E : "eho2d 4e- &ir- at yo,r *eet$
6ATA$ : o%- %hat d'ye 4ean B
LELIO : I crave yo,r 7ardon a tho,&and ti4e&$
6ATA$ : Get ,7- doan't 4a5e 4e *ee2 bad$
LELIO : "ri&eide doe& not e<i&t- and I a4 not 4arried$
6ATA$ : Good- @,r- very 1ood C Ho that'& the 5ind o' *ib
ye te22 ye're *ather B Get ,7- @,r 5ni1ht- @,r 2iar$ Ho that'&
ye're a72e& breedin1 B A*ore ye're in 'enice ha2* an ho,r an'
a*ore ye've &een yo,r *ather- ye 1et& tan12ed %i' *o25 ye doan't
5na%- an' %ho doan't 5no% yo, 9 ye 1ive yo,r&e2* o,t a& a ea7o2i;
tan- Don A&dr,ba2e o* Ca&te2 d'Oro- a 4i22ionaire- nevvy o' 7rince&
an' 2itt2e &hort o' brother o' the Qin1 9 ye 72ay a tho,&and na&ty
7ran5& to the co&t o' t%o hone&t decent 1a2&$ An' ye 1o a& *ar a&
to ta5e in ye're 7oor o2d *ather 9 ye te22 ,n ye've 1ot a a72e&
2eddy *,r %i*e 9 ye &7in a yarn *,22 o' Don "ri&eide&- coc5ed %atche&
an' re7eatin' 7i&to2& C Ye 4a5e 4e *air cry %i' 7ity *,r a darter;
in;2a% %ho doan't even e<i&t- ye 2et 4e %rite a 2etter to ye're *ather;
in;2a% %hat doan't e<i&t neither- an' %hich I have here in 4y
hand to 7o&t C Aho the divi2 2arned ye a22 thi& B An' ho% in the
na4e o' "ee2@eb,b did ye invent a22 the&e da4ned *ab2e& B
LELIO : Ah- *ather- yo, brin1 the b2,&he& to 4y chee5&$ The
2ove %ith %hich Ro&a,ra in&7ired 4e- not 5no%in1 yo, de&tined
her *or 4e- *orced 4e into a22 the&e 2ie&- &o re7,1nant to 4y de2i;
cacy and &o ,n2i5e 4y ,&,a2 c,&to4$
6ATA$ : I* ye rea22y 4eant to 4end- 4ebbe 't%o,2d be no
1reat har4$ ",t I *ear 4e ye're a nat'ra2 born 2iar an' %i22 do %or&e
in the *,t,re$
LELIO : ever$ I dete&t and abhor a22 2ie&- and a4 and a2%ay&
&ha22 be an ,n*2inchin1 2over o* the tr,th$ ever a1ain- I &%ear-
%i22 I 2et an e:,ivoca2- 4,ch 2e&& a *a2&e &y22ab2e- *a22 *ro4 the&e
2i7&$ ",t- *or 7ity'& &a5e- do not abandon 4e$ 6roc,re *or 4e
the *or1ivene&& o* 4y dear Ro&a,ra- or yo, %i22 &ee 4e die$ Indeed-
a 2itt2e %hi2e a1o- 7a&&ion &o o'erca4e 4e that I &7at :,ite a :,antity
o* b2ood$
=o
THE LIAR
6ATA$ Da&ideE : 6oor 2ad C 6oor 2ad C DA2o,d$E Ye'd have
4y 7ity i* ye co,2d be tr,&ted- b,t ye've 7roven yer&e2* a @ore
2iar$
LELIO : I* I ever te22 another 2ie- 4ay the devi2 *2y a%ay %ith
4e$
o*
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
Ind$
6ATA$
LELIO :
6ATA$
LELIO :
: Then ye bean't 4arried B
o- certain2y not$
or en1a1ed neither B
I have never been en1a1ed to any %o4an$
either in a72e& nor o,t o* it B
o%here C
!teady- 2ad- &teady C
I %o,2d not te22 another 2ie *or a22 the %ea2th
Have ye 1ot ye* re bache2or'& certi*icate B
ot at the 4o4ent- b,t I a4 e<7ectin1 it$
An' i* ye had it- %hat %o,2d ye do B
Heaven %i22in1- I &ho,2d ho7e to 4arry 4y dear
Ro&a,ra a& &oon a& 7o&&ib2e$
6ATA$ : Let'& @ee 9 %hat be thi& B DGive& certi*icate to LELIO$E
LELIO : Heaven be 7rai&ed 4y certi*icate C
6ATA$ : Deary 4e- b,t it'& *a2&e$
LELIO : Ahy *a2&e B Don't yo, &ee the &ea2 B
6ATA$ : 'Ti& *a2&e- 'co& 'ti& &ent by a dead ',n$
LELIO : Ahat do yo, 4ean by a dead 4an B
6ATA$ : 'Ti& &ent by !i1nor Ma&anie22o Ca77e@a2i- hi4 that
died three 4onth& a1o$
LELIO Dta5in1 the 2etterE : Let 4e 2oo5 at it a1ain 9 no% I reco1ni@e
the hand%ritin1$ It'& not the o2d Ma&anie22o %ho %rite&- b,t hi&
&on- 4y dear *riend$
6ATA$ : An' the @on ha& 1ot the &a4e na4e a& hi& *ather B
LELIO : Ye&$ It'& &o4e 4atter o* an inheritance 9 they both
had to have the &a4e na4e$
6ATA$ : ",t ye didn't 5na% ye're dear *riend'& hand%ritin1 B
LELIO : Ae've been &o to1ether that %e've had no need to
%rite to each other$
6ATA$ : ",t ye 5na% the *ather'& hand$
THE LIAR =.
LELIO : Oh- I ha77ened to 5no% that beca,&e he %a& a ban5er
and 4ade 4e 2etter& o* credit$
6ATA$ : ",t- tho,1h hi& *ather'& dead- the @on doan't &ea2
%i' b2ac5 B
LELIO : Yo, 5no% that'& :,ite o,t o* *a&hion$
6ATA$ : Le2io- doan't 'ee te22 4e no 4ore 2ie&$
LELIO : May I die i* ever I 2ie a1ain
6ATA$ : Eno,1h o* that- ye ro1,e$ !o the certi*icate be
1en,ine B
LELIO : Ab&o2,te2y$ I co,2d 4arry to;4orro%$
6ATA$ : Ahat abo,t they t%o 4onth& in Ro4e B
LELIO : Oh- yo, 4,&tn't 4ention that 9 yo, 4,&t &ay that
I ca4e &trai1ht *ro4 a72e&$ Ae can ea&i2y *ind t%o %itne&&e&
to con*ir4 it$
6ATA$ : I tho,1ht there %ere to be no 4ore 2ie&$
LELIO : Ahy- that'& not 2yin1- that'& he27in1 4atter& a2on1 C
6ATA$ : Eno,1h o' that$ The doctor and I %i22 ta25 it o,t$
Oh- here be a 2etter coo4 *or 'ee $
LELIO : +or 4e B
6ATA$ : Ay- *,r 'ee$ I 7aid &even &o2di *or it$ It 4,n be
*ro4 Ro4e$
LELIO : Maybe- 2et 4e &ee$
6ATA$ Do7enin1 2etter very &2o%2yE : "y ye're 2eave- I 4ean& to
read it 4y&e2*$
LELIO : +or1ive 4e b,t the 2etter i& 4ine$
6ATA$ : I'4 yo,r *ather- an' can read it$
LELIO : Oh- a& yo, 2i5e$ DA&ide$E I ho7e thi& i& not a ne%
co472ication C
6ATA$ Dreadin1E : 8 Deare&t h,&band$8 DLoo5in1 at LELIO$E
8Deare&t h,&band8 B
LELIO : Ae22 it can't be *or 4e$
6ATA$ : Here be the addre&& : ' To the Mo&t E<ce22ent and
I22,&trio,& !i1nor Le2io "i&o1no&i- 'enice$8
LELIO : Ae22- yo, can &ee it'& not *or 4e$
6ATA$ : +,r %hoy B
LELIO : "eca,&e I've no ri1ht to the 8 i22,&trio,&$8
6ATA$ : Oh- %e22- tit2e& be chea7 eno,1h yo,r %ay$ Let'&
>
=( THE LIAR
1et on %i' it$ DReadin1$E 8 Yo,r 4o&t *aith*,2 %i*e- C2eonice
An&e24i$8
LELIO : Ae22- yo, &ee it'& not *or 4e$
6ATA$ : Ahoi B
LELIO : "eca,&e I don't 5no% the 2ady$
6ATA$ : o 4ore 2ie& no% C
LELIO : Heaven de*end 4e *ro4 the4$
6ATA$ : Then %ho be it 4eant *or B
LELIO : !o4ebody e2&e %ith the &a4e na4e- I &,77o&e-
6ATA$ : I've 2ived here a 4ort o' year& and never heard te22
o' other "i&o1no&i& in 'enice$
LELIO : There are &o4e in a72e& and in Ro4e$
6ATA$ : Ay- b,t the 2etter'& @ent here$
LELIO : And co,2d not &o4e Le2io "i&o1no&i o* Ro4e or a72e&
be here in 'enice B
6ATA$ : Mebbe 2et'& 1et on %i' it$
LELIO : E<c,&e 4e- &ir- b,t it'& hard2y correct to read another
4an'& 2etter&$ I* yo,'ve o7ened one by 4i&ta5e- yo, &ea2 it ,7
a1ain %itho,t readin1 it$
6ATA$ : I can read a @on'& 2etter&- I @,77o&e B
LELIO : ",t it i& not 4ine$
6ATA$ : Ae &ha22 @ee$
LELIO Da&ideE : Re7roache& *ro4 C2eonice- do,bt2e&&$ L,d-
4ore invention C
6ATA$ Dreadin1E : 8 Yo,r de7art,re *ro4 Ro4e ha& 72,n1ed
4e into an atrocio,& 4e2ancho2y- *or yo, 7ro4i&ed to ta5e 4e to
'enice %ith yo,- and then &,dden2y 2e*t 4e$8
LELIO : I te22 yo, it i& not 4ine$
6ATA$ : It @ay& 8 2e*t *or 'enice$8
LELIO : A22 ri1ht- he'& in 'enice$
6ATA$ Dreadin1E : 8 Re4e4ber- yo, 7ro4i&ed to 4arry 4e$
I* yo, intend to deceive 4e- be &,re that %herever yo, are I &ha22
5no% ho% to obtain 3,&tice$8
LELIO : 6oor *or&a5en %retch C
6ATA$ : Doan't thin5 4,ch o' thi& Le2io "i&o1no&i$ Let'&
hear the end on't$ DRead&$E
8 I* yo, do not &end *or 4e and do not re&o2ve to 4arry 4e-
THE LIAR =G
I &ha22 ca,&e a 7er&on in a,thority to %rite to yo,r *ather-
!i1ner 6anta2one$8
Eh B 6anta2one B
LELIO : Aonder*,2 C The *ather'& na4e i& the &a4e- too C
6ATA Dread&E : 8 I 5no% that !i1nor 6anta2one i& an hono,rab2e
'enetian 4erchant $ $ $8
Ae22 B DRead&$E
8 And tho,1h yo, %ere bro,1ht ,7 in a72e& by hi& brother $$$8
Ho% &he do 1o on C DRead&$E
8 he %i22 have &o4e 2ove and care *or yo,- and %i22 not %i&h
to &ee yo, in 7ri&on$ ",t I &ha22 be driven to &end yo, there
to recover the 4oney yo, too5 *ro4 4e on acco,nt o* 4y
do%ry$8
Ahat in the na4e o* evi2 co,2d be %or&e C
LELIO : I'22 2ay yo, thi& i& &o4e 3o5e o* a *riend o* 4ine$
6ATA$ : A *riend'& 3o5e B Hear5'ee- 4y 2ad- ye doan't &et
*oot in&ide 4y ho,&e a1ain C I'2 1ie ye an a22o%ance an' o** ye
7ac5 to Ro4e to 4arry the %ench C
LELIO : ",t- *ather
6ATA$ Dinterr,7tin1E : O** %i' yo,- 2iar- 5in1 o' 2iar&- &tony
*ace- b2ac51,ard- @on o* a %hore C
DE<it$E
LELIO : Ah- %e22- 2et'& ta5e it 7hi2o&o7hica22y C
C#RTAI$
ED O+ !CEE I$
=? THE LIAR
!CEE ($ A Roo4 in the Doctor'& Ho,&e$ That evenin1$
DDOCTOR and RO!A#RA di&covered$E
DOCTOR : Ae22- 4ada4- ho% 2on1 &ince yo, 2a&t &a% 4y Lord
Mar:,e&& A&dr,ba2e o* Ca&te2 d'Oro B
RO!A#RA : I a4 7er*ect2y %e22 a%are that he i& not a Mar:,e&&$
DOCTOR : Then do yo, 5no% %ho he i& B
RO!A#RA : Ye&- &ir$ He i& R,11iero 6ando2*i- a ea7o2itan
4erchant$
DOCTOR : R,11iero 6ando2*i B
RO!A#RA : That'& %hat he to2d 4e$
DOCTOR : A ea7o2itan 4erchant B
RO!A#RA : Ye&$
DOCTOR : Mad%o4an doited idiot don't yo, 5no% %ho he
i& B
RO!A#RA : Ae22- %ho i& he then B
DOCTOR : Le2io- 6anta2one'& &on$
RO!A#RA : The 4an yo, 7ro7o&ed 4arryin1 4e to B
DOCTOR : The &a4e *e22o%$
RO!A#RA : Ahy- i* that'& the ca&e- it %i22 be ea&ier to arran1e
4atter&$
DOCTOR : Li&ten- &ha4e2e&& one 2i&ten to %here the ea&e %ith
%hich yo, 2i&tened to a *orei1ner and yo,r 1iddine&& 4i1ht have
2ed yo,$ Le2io "i&o1no&i- %ho atte47ted to &ed,ce yo, ,nder
a *a2&e na4e- ha& a %i*e in a72e&$
RO!A#RA : Are yo, :,ite certain B I cannot be2ieve it$
DOCTOR : Ye&- I'4 :,ite certain$ Hi& *ather to2d 4e$
RO!A#RA : Oh- ,nha77y 4e C Oh- inh,4an traitor C DAee7&$E
DOCTOR : Yo, %ee7- 1iddy 7ate- do yo, B Learn to 2ive 4ore
ca,tio,&2y$ Yo, can't e<7ect 4e to %atch everythin1$ I've
4y 7ractice to attend to 9 b,t a& yo,'re &o ,tter2y %itho,t 7r,dence-
I'22 have yo, 7,t in a &a*e 72ace- %here there'22 be no dan1er o*
yo,r *a22in1 into thi& 5ind o* %ea5ne&& a1ain$
RO!A#RA : Yo, are ri1ht$ Cha&ti&e 4e I %e22 de&erve it$
DA&ide$E !co,ndre2- i47o&tor- Heaven &ha22 7,ni&h yo, C
D*ir*$E
THE LIAR =)
DOCTOR : A 7art o* 4e &y47athi&e& %ith her- I'4 &orry to &ay-
b,t *or the &a5e o* her re7,tation I 4ean to 7,t her o,t o* har4'&
%ay$
DEnter OTTA'IO$E
OTTA'IO : !ir- yo,r 4aid bro,1ht 4e %ord that yo,r da,1hter
"eatrice %i&hed to &7ea5 to 4e$ I'4 a 4an o* hono,r- and do not
treat %ith a da,1hter %itho,t her *ather'& 5no%2ed1e$
DOCTOR : I'4 12ad to hear it$ Yo, *,2*i2 the idea I had *or4ed
o* yo,r 7r,dence$ I* yo, &ti22 %i&h it- %e can conc2,de yo,r con;
tract o* 4arria1e %ith 4y da,1hter be*ore ni1ht*a22$ DA&ide$E
I can't %ait to rid the ho,&e o* her$
OTTA'IO : +or 4y 7art I'4 :,ite ready$
DOCTOR : Ae'22 ca22 "eatrice and hear %hat &he ha& to &ay$
DEnter COLOM"IA$E
COLOM$ : !i1nor Le2io "i&o1no&i- :,onda4 Mar:,i&- %o,2d
2i5e to &7ea5 %ith yo,- &ir$
OTTA'IO : I &ha22 ho2d hi4 to acco,nt then$
DOCTOR : Don't do,bt b,t that he'22 7,ni&h hi4&e2*$ Let'&
hear %hat he ha& to &ay- anyho%$ !ho% hi4 in$
DE<it COLOM"IA$E
OTTA'IO : I e<7ect he ha& 1ot &o4e ne% tric5 ,7 hi& &2eeve$
DOCTOR : Ae22- i* he'& 4arried- he'22 72ay no 4ore tric5& on
Ro&a,ra$
DEnter LELIO$E
LELIO Dto DOCTORE : !ir- I a4 co4e covered %ith b2,&he& and
con*,&ion to crave yo,r *or1ivene&&$
DOCTOR : Yo, da4ned i47o&tor C
OTTA'IO Dto LELIOE : To;4orro% I've 1ot &o4ethin1 to &ay
to yo,$
LELIO Dto OTTA'IOE : Yo, %i&h to *i1ht 4e- to be 4y ene4y-
and I a4 here to i472ore yo,r *riend2y a&&i&tance$
=> THE LIAR
OTTA'IO : Aith %ho4 B
LELIO : Aith 4y deare&t- 4o&t e&tee4ed Doctor "a2an@oni$
DOCTOR : Ahat do yo, %ant o* 4e B
LELIO : Yo,r da,1hter'& hand$
DOCTOR : Ahat C My da,1hter'& hand- and yo, a 4arried
4an
LELIO : I B Married B !,re2y not C
DOCTOR : Ahat ne% i47o&ition i& thi& B
OTTA'IO : Yo,r 2ie& have 7a&&ed a22 credence$
LELIO : Aho to2d yo, I %a& 4arried B
DOCTOR : Yo,r *ather to2d 4e$
LELIO : Ah- Doctor- it i& indeed 7ain*,2 to contradict 4y o%n
*ather 9 b,t care *or 4y re7,tation and the 2ove that I bear
Ro&a,ra *orce 4e to do &o$ o- 4y *ather i& not te22in1 the
tr,th$
DOCTOR : Aren't yo, a&ha4ed to &ay &,ch thin1& B Yo,r
*ather i& the &o,2 o* hono,r$
OTTA'IO : Ahen do yo, 4ean to cea&e yo,r i47o&t,re& B
LELIO : Yo, &ha22 &ee i* I &7ea5 *a2&e2y$ Here i& 4y certi*icate
a& an ,n4arried 4an- i&&,ed at a72e&$ !i1nor Ottavio- yo, 5no%
that 5in1do4- e<a4ine it and te22 4e i* it i& not in order$ DHand&
certi*icate to OTTA'IO$E
OTTA'IO : Ye&- it'& tr,e 9 the *or4 i& correct and the &ea2& too$
DOCTOR : 6o%er& above C yo,'re not 4arried B
LELIO : O* co,r&e not$
DOCTOR : ",t %hy &ho,2d 6anta2one &ay yo, %ere B
LELIO : I'22 te22 yo, v
DOCTOR : ot another *ab2e C
LELIO : My *ather re1retted havin1 1iven yo, hi& %ord that
I &ho,2d 4arry yo,r da,1hter$
DOCTOR : Ahy B
LELIO : "eca,&e thi& 4ornin1 a 4arria1e bro5er %ho 5ne% o*
4y arriva2 o**ered hi4 a do%ry o* )0-000 d,cat&$
DOCTOR : Thi& a**ront *ro4 !i1nor 6anta2one C
LELIO : Greed &o ea&i2y b2ind& a 4an$
DOCTOR : !o yo,'re in 2ove %ith 4y da,1hter B
LELIO : Ye&- &ir- too 4,ch &o$
THE LIAR =/
DOCTOR : Ho% did yo, 4ana1e to *a22 in 2ove &o :,ic52y B
KLELIO : !o :,ic52y B In t%o 4onth& the baby 2ove beco4e&
a 1iant$
DOCTOR : Ahat do yo, 4ean by 8 t%o 4onth& 8 B Yo, arrived
ye&terday$
LELIO : !ir- I %i22 no% revea2 to yo, the %ho2e tr,th$ Do
yo, 5no% ho% 2on1 it i& &ince I 2e*t a72e& B
DOCTOR : Yo,r *ather to2d 4e abo,t three 4onth&$
LELIO : Ae22- %here %a& I tho&e three 4onth& B
DOCTOR : He &aid yo, %ere in Ro4e$
LELIO : That i& not tr,e$ I &to77ed three or *o,r day& in
Ro4e and then ca4e &trai1ht to 'enice$
DOCTOR : And yo,r *ather did not 5no% thi& B
LELIO : o- beca,&e %hen I arrived he %a& a& ,&,a2 at hi&
Ca&ino at Mira$
DOCTOR : Ae22- %hy didn't yo, 3oin hi4 there B
LELIO : "eca,&e- havin1 &een Ro&a,ra- I co,2d not tear 4y&e2*
a%ay$
OTTA'IO : !i1ner Le2io- yo,r 2ie& 1ro% 1reater$ I've 2od1ed
*or t%o 4onth& at 8 The Ea12e-8 and yo, on2y arrived there 2a&t
ni1ht$
LELIO : I &tayed ti22 then at 8 The Ar4& o* +rance-'* b,t in
order to have Ro&a,ra 4ore con&tant2y be*ore 4y eye&- I re4oved
ye&terday to 8 The Ea12e$8
DOCTOR : I* yo,'re in 2ove %ith her- %hy invent the &erenade
and &,77er B
LELIO : The &erenade %a& no invention$
DOCTOR : And the &,77er B
LELIO : I 4ere2y &aid that I had done %hat I &ho,2d have 2i5ed
to have done$
OTTA'IO : Ahat abo,t &:,irin1 the 2adie& to the +air thi&
4ornin1 B
LELIO : Oh- that'& eno,1h C I &aid a 2ot o* *oo2i&h thin1& I'4
&orry *or no%- and there'& an end o* it$ DTo the DOCTOR$E !ir-
yo, 4,&t be2ieve that I a4 the &on o* 6anta2one "i&o1no&i$
DOCTOR : Ae22- even that 4ay not be tr,e$
LELIO : I a4 a *ree 4an and here i& 4y certi*icate$
== THE LIAR
DOCTOR : I* it'& 1en,ine$
LELIO : Ottavio reco1ni@e& it a& a,thentic$
OTTA'IO : Ae22- it certain2y 2oo5& a22 ri1ht$
LELIO : My 4arria1e %ith Ro&a,ra ha& a2ready been con&idered
by 4y *ather and yo,r&e2*$
DOCTOR : I don't 2i5e to thin5 it'& tr,e that !i1ner 6anta2one
brea5& hi& %ord *or the &a5e o* )0-000 d,cat&$
LELIO : Let 4e te22 yo,- that do%ry %ent ,7 in &4o5e- and
4y *ather re1ret& havin1 invented the ta2e o* 4y 4arria1e$
DOCTOR : Ae22- %hy doe&n't he co4e hi4&e2* then B
LELIO : He doe&n't dare to 9 he ha& &ent 4e in&tead$
DOCTOR : It &ee4& rather a 4,dd2e$
LELIO : It'& a *act- neverthe2e&&$
DOCTOR : Ae22- %e22- then yo, &ha22 have her$ I* !i1nor
6anta2one i& content- %e22 and 1ood- and +4 72ea&ed 9 and i* he
i&n't- I'4 even %ith hi4 *or that in&,2t$ Ahat do yo, &ay- Ot;
tavio B
OTTA'IO : L,ite ri1ht$ !he'22 be o** yo,r hand& %hen &he'&
4arried$
DOCTOR : Give 4e that certi*icate$
LELIO : Here yo, are$
DOCTOR : ",t- 2oo5 here- yo, 4i1ht have beco4e en1a1ed to
&o4eone e2&e in the&e three 4onth&$
LELIO : I've been the %ho2e ti4e in 'enice$
DOCTOR : Can I be2ieve yo, B
LELIO : I %o,2d not te22 another 2ie *or a 4onarch'& throne$
DOCTOR : I'22 1o and *etch 4y da,1hter$ I* &he i& &ati&*ied-
%e can conc2,de 4atter&$
DE<it$E
LELIO Da&ideE : The b2o% i& &tr,c5$ Once I'4 4arried- there'&
an end to the Ro4an %o4an$
OTTA'IO : !i1nor Le2io- the 2,c5 ha& been %ith yo,3 2on1
eno,1h$
LELIO : +riend- I &ha22 not *i1ht yo, to;4orro%$
OTTA'IO : Ahy not B
LELIO : "eca,&e I ho7e to be en1a1ed in another d,e2$
THE LIAR
DEnter DOCTOR and RO!A#RA$E
DOCTOR Dto RO!A#RAE : Here i& !i1nor Le2io- %ho %i&he& to
4arry yo,$ Ahat do yo, &ay B Are yo, &ati&*ied B
RO!A#RA : ",t I tho,1ht yo, &aid he %a& 4arried a2ready B
DOCTOR : I tho,1ht &o- b,t he &ee4& to be di&en1a1ed$
RO!A#RA : I didn't thin5 hi4 ca7ab2e o* &,ch deceit$
LELIO : o- deare&t$ I co,2d not 2ie to a bein1 to %ho4 I
a4 &o devoted$
RO!A#RA : Yo, have to2d 4e 2ie&$
DOCTOR : Oh- 2et'& end 4atter& C Do yo, %ant to 4arry hi4 B
RO!A#RA : I* yo, 1ive hi4 to 4e- I'22 ta5e hi4$
DEnter 6ATALOE$E
6ATA$ : "y yo,r 2eave- Doctor C Ahat be 4y boy a;doin1 o* B
DOCTOR : Do yo, 5no% %hat yo,r &on i& doin1 B He i&
1ivin1 4e &ati&*action *or the a**ront yo, have 7,t ,7on 4y ho,&e$
6ATA$ : Me B Ahoi- %hat have I done B
DOCTOR : Yo, 1ave 4e to ,nder&tand that yo,r &on %a& 4arried-
&o a& to rid yo,r&e2* o* yo,r ob2i1ation to 4e$
LELIO : Co4e- that'& a22 over$ Here i& 4y bride;to;be$ "e
:,iet- and &ay no 4ore$
6ATA$ : I B L,iet B !co,ndre2 C L,iet B I B DTo DOC;
TOR$E Have ye the 1oodne&& to read thi& 2etter and te22 I i* yo,r
1a2 can 4arry hi4 a*ter that$ DGive& DOCTOR C2eonice' & 2etterCE
LELIO : The 2etter doe&n't ha77en to be addre&&ed to 4e$
DOCTOR : E<ce22ent C !i1nor Le2io- yo, have been t%o 4onth&
and 4ore in 'enice B Yo, are ,nder no en1a1e4ent to any
%o4an B Yo, are *ree B 'ery *ree indeed C Ro&a,ra- &tand
a%ay *ro4 that in*a4o,& 4on&ter C He'& been three 4onth& in
Ro4e 9 he i& 7ro4i&ed to C2eonice An&e24i- and can 4arry no
one e2&e$ DTo LELIO$E I47o&tor C Liar C !ha4e2e&& one C "ra;
@en;*ace C
LELIO : !ince 4y *ather i& deter4ined to 7,t 4e to the b2,&h-
I a4 *orced to te22 yo, that thi& C2eonice yo, &7ea5 o* i& a 2i1ht
M0 THE LIAR
%o4an %ith %ho4 I *o,nd 4y&e2* by chance in a Ro4an inn
*or the three day& I %a& there$ Havin1 cornered 4e one ni1ht
%hen I %a& overco4e by %ine- &he e<tracted thi& 7ro4i&e *ro4 4e
%itho,t 4y 5no%in1 anythin1 abo,t it$ I can ca22 %itne&&e& to 7rove
that$
DOCTOR : Thi& %i22 ta5e ti4e to c2ear ,7$ Mean%hi2e- 5ind2y
2eave the ho,&e$
LELIO : Do yo, %i&h to 5i22 4e B Ho% can I e<i&t a%ay *ro4
4y dear Ro&a,ra B
DOCTOR : I be1in to ,nder&tand yo, a bit$ A& *or dyin1 *or
4y da,1hter- I don't be2ieve yo, care a ra7 *or her C
LELIO : I not care B A&5 her i* I va2,e her 2ove- her *avo,r&$
Te22 the4- Ro&a,ra- a22 that I have done to 72ea&e yo, in the&e 2a&t
*e% ho,r&$ Te22 the4 o* the 4a1ni*icent &erenade I 7re7ared
*or yo,- and o* the cando,r %ith %hich I revea2ed 4y&e2* to yo,
in a 7oe4$
DEnter +LORIDO and "RICHELLA$E
+LOR$ : Doctor- !i1nora Ro&a,ra- %ith yo,r 7er4i&&ion I
&ho,2d 2i5e to revea2 a &ecret %hich I have ti22 no% 4o&t 3ea2o,&2y
1,arded$ !ince an i47o&tor i& atte47tin1 to 7ro*it by 4y atten;
tion&- I a4 *orced to no% rai&e the 4a&5 and &ho% yo, the tr,th$
Qno%- then- that the &erenade %a& 4ine- and that I a4 the a,thor
o* the 7oe4$
LELIO : Liar- 'ti& *a2&e C
+LOR$ : Here i& the can@onetta I co47o&ed- and the ro,1h
dra*t o* the 7oe4$ !i1nora Ro&a,ra- e<a4ine the4- I be1$ DGive&
7a7er& to RO!A#RA$E
"RIG$ : Ay- Doctor- &avin1 yo,r 7re&ence- 't%a& I a& %a& co4;
4i&&ioned by !i1nor +2orindo to order the @,rrinade- and I &a%
,n thro% the 7oe4 on the ba2cony$
DOCTOR : And %hat ha& !i1nor Le2io to &ay to a22 thi& B
LELIO : I B Oh- I a4 conv,2&ed$ Ahat 4ore a4,&in1 co4edy
co,2d I have 7re7ared *or !i1nora Ro&a,ra B A &t,7id and 2ac5;
2,&tre 2o,t order& a &erenade- and dare& not revea2 hi4&e2* a&
a,thor$ He %rite& a 7oe4- thro%& it on the ba2cony- then hide&
and 5ee7& &i2ent abo,t it$ o%- i&n't that eno,1h to 4a5e one
THE LIAR M.
&72it one'& &ide& %ith 2a,1hin1 B Then I a77ear- and %ith 4y %itty
invention& hei1hten the h,4o,r o* thi& *anta&tic &cene- and *orce
7,r &to2id !tre7hon to di&c2o&e hi4&e2* a tri*2e 2ate$ The 7ri@e
i& 4ine- and %ith the 7aterna2 con&ent- in the 7re&ence o* thi&
a,1,&t a&&e4b2y- I be&to% on her 4y hand a& bride1roo4$
6ATA$ : Ay- %hat a c2ac5 C
DOCTOR : +air and &o*t2y- 4y Ma&ter o* I22,&ion$ !o- +2orindo-
yo, 2ove Ro&a,ra B
+LOR$ : !ir- ti22 no% I have not dared revea2 4y 7a&&ion$
DOCTOR : Ahat do yo, &ay- Ro&a,ra B Ai22 yo, have +2orindo
*or a h,&band B
RO!A#RA : I* Heaven %i22& it$ Le2io i& a 2iar- and I %o,2d not
have hi4 *or a22 the 1o2d in the ,niver&e$
6ATA$ : Ay- 'ti& b,t ri1ht he 4,n &,**er$ I &ho,2d dear2y
2ove to thra&h hi4 %ith the&e o2d hand& o* 4ine C
DOCTOR : "e o** to yo,r Ro4an %o4an C
LELIO : A %o4an o* the to%n cannot ob2i1e 4e to 4arry her$
DEnter ARLECCHIO$E
ARLE$ Dto LELIOE : Ma&ter- @ave yer&e2* C
LELIO : Ahat'& the 4atter no% B
6ATA$ Dto ARLECCHIOE : Yo, te22 I$
ARLE$ : There bean't ti4e *or 2ie&$ DTo LELIO$E The Ro4an'&
in 'enice$
DOCTOR : And %ho- 7ray- 4ay thi& be B
ARLE$ : Mr&$ C2eonice An&e24i$
DOCTOR : A 7ro&tit,te B
ARLE$ : Doan't 'ee @ay &,ch thin1& C The darter o' the riche&t
4erchant in Ro4e$
LELIO : I re1ret to &ay it i& not tr,e$ Ar2ecchino 2ie&$ #7on
4y %ord o* hono,r- &he i& anythin1 b,t that$
OTTA'IO : To,r hono,r C Yo, 2o&t that &o4e ti4e a1o$
DOCTOR : O,t o* 4y ho,&e C
6ATA$ Dto DOCTORE : !o ye t,rn o,t 4y @on 2i5e that- do 'ee B
DOCTOR : A &on that re*2ect& no credit on the hono,red char;
acter o* the *ather$
M( THE LIAR
6ATA$ : Ay- 4e- yo, &7ea5 tr,th$ A &ca47 o* a @on- a ro1,e
o* a @on- %ho t,rn& the ho,&e hind;a*ore- and 4a5e& hi& o2d *ather
&ee4 a baboon C O 2,c52e&& @on C O &ha4e*,2 @on C O,t o'
4y &i1ht ne'er 2et 4e @ee 'ee a1ain$ Here- I &%ear- I tear 'ee
*ro4 4y o2d heart C
DE<it$E
LELIO : Oh- c,r&e 4y da4ned 2ie& C I dete&t yo, C
RO!A#RA Dca22in1E : Co2o4bina B
DEnter COLOM"IA$E
COLOM$ : Mada4e B
RO!A#RA D%hi&7er& to COLOM"IA$E
COLOM$ : I44ediate2y$
DE<it$E
DOCTOR Dto LELIOE : !ha4e on yo, C
LELIO : May I be &tr,c5 dead i* I ever ,tter another 2ie C
OTTA'IO : Mend yo,r %ay& i* yo, %ant to 2ive %ith hone&t
*o25$
DEnter COLOM"IA %ith bo< o* 2ace&$E
RO!A#RA : Here- &ir i47o&tor- are the 2ace& yo, 1ave 4e$ I'22
have nothin1 o* yo,r& C DGive& bo< to LELIO$E
+LOR$ : Ahy- / &ent tho&e 2ace& C
"RIG$ : Ay- I bo,1ht 'e4 *or the yo,n1 4a&ter$ 6aid ten
@ecchin& *or 'e4 at the Hi1n o' the Cat 9 and bade the4 be &ent
to Mr&$ Ro&a,ra %ith nary a na4e to 'e4$
RO!A#RA : Oh- no% I ,nder&tand C DTa5e& 2ace& bac5$E
LELIO : !i1nor +2orindo'& &i2ence &ti4,2ated 4e to ac:,ire
*avo,r in the eye& o* t%o bea,tie&- and- to 5ee7 ,7 the *ab2e- I
be1an to te22 a *e% 2ie& 9 and 2ie&- bein1 7ro2i*ic- bred a tho,&and$
Ae22- I &,77o&e I 4,&t 4arry the Ro4an$ Doctor !i1nora
Ro&a,ra I crave yo,r 7ardon$ Hence*or%ard I dec2are 4y&e2*
a votary to tr,th$
DE<it$E
THE LIAR MG
ARLE$ : And here be the @on1 I 2a4ed thi& day :
e'er te22 a 2ie- %hate'er y'r intention 9
",t i* ye're 7,t to it hard ye 4ay
Me5 &hi*t to &cra7e thro,1h %i' a %itty invention$
DTrot& o,t a*ter LELIO$E
DThe Re&t 2e*t 2oo5in1 at c2o&ed door$E
C#RTAI$
ED O+ 6LAY$

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