Act 3
Flavio, Pedrolino: How long it seems to them to see Oratio again to hear how the business has turned out.
Oratio from Pasquella's house tells them briefly about his happy encounter with Isabella and his plan to play a prank on Gratiano, who is in love with Flaminia. He mentions that the Captain is madly in love with Flaminia, and that's why he pretended to go hunting.
Captain, Pantalone, Isabella, Flaminia arrive, see Oratio, and rejoice at his quick return. They show affection to each other. Isabella asks Oratio to play her chitarrone or theorbo and sing some of his Roman musical pieces for the entertainment of the company. Oratio happily agrees and sends Pedrolino for the instrument. Oratio turns to the Captain and asks him if he would take a wife. The Captain, looking at Flaminia, says yes. Oratio, who is entrusted with negotiating his marriage, is pleased. The Captain is content. While Oratio makes talk with Pantalone about this matter, Burattino arrives.
Burattino pulls Oratio aside and asks him to pay for the bed that he broke when he was in the room with Isabella. Oratio promises to pay him and sends him away. Then he asks Pantalone for Flaminia's hand in marriage for the Captain. Pantalone agrees, and Flaminia consents by shaking hands.
Pedrolino presents Oratio with the chitarrone, and then everyone takes their seats.
Gratiano approaches Pedrolino who tells him to go into Flaminia's room and lie down on her bed, closing the shutters. She will come and find him. Gratiano goes in. Oratio starts singing, singing so softly that Pantalone falls into a deep sleep. While Oratio continues singing, Isabella, Captain, Flaminia, and Flavio follow him. Pedrolino remains behind.
Pasquella outside, Pedrolino tells her that Isabella is waiting for her in the house, in Flaminia's room, to give her a gratuity, and that she should go quietly because she is resting on the bed. Pasquella happily goes away, and Pedrolino stays behind.
Pantalone wakes up, sees Pedrolino, and asks him where Isabella is. Pedrolino, pretending to have slept as well, says he doesn't know. Pantalone is surprised, at which time —
Oratio, Capitano, Flavio, Isabella, Flaminia, singing and followed by the whole company, see Pantalone. They mock him because he fell asleep, saying things like, "Oh, what a great guardian of his wife! A guardian who doesn't have the courage to watch over her while awake. Or perhaps he thinks of what he will do while sleeping." Pantalone gets angry, at which time —
Pasquella and Gratiano, with Gratiano trying to embrace her, Burattino steps in between them. Pasquella tells the story of how Gratiano dishonored her. Gratiano apologizes, saying he was deceived and can't explain everything at the moment, but he will seek revenge. Burattino asks Pantalone if, Gratiano having had relations with his wife, he can be called a cuckold. Pantalone confirms it. Burattino, hearing this, says, "Mr. Pantalone, may your Lordship know that I am not alone, but there are other cuckolds nearby, and not very far away. And I am willing to tell you the story of what happened to one of your acquaintances." He narrates the story of a jealous old man who guarded his wife very closely, but a young man who was in love with her found a way to be called by a friend who lived a couple of miles away from his house. With permission, he hid in the house of a female friend, waiting for the opportunity and the signal given by the woman. At that moment, the desire arose among the young ladies of the villa to dance. So, a splendid gathering of men and women dancers was formed, and they began dancing to the sound of excellent instruments. The wife of the jealous old man pretended to want a favor from her servant, and in his presence, she invited her lover to follow her to her house. She embraced him, and the jealous old man, driven by jealousy, stationed himself at the entrance, telling everyone who wanted to enter not to disturb his wife because her servant was finishing his service. When the astute wife had completed her amorous labor, she came out of the house, sweating from the effort she had made, and her merciful husband told her that if she ever had such desires again, she should relieve herself and not suffer. He wiped the sweat from her face and caressed her. Pantalone, hearing the end of the story, realizes it is at his expense and immediately exclaims that he has been deceived and betrayed by his wife. Oratio then tells him that it is not he but his wife who has been betrayed because he, enjoying her, found her to be a virgin, just as he imagined her to be, as he had never been intimate with her due to his impotence. Pantalone, realizing he has been discovered, confesses the truth and accepts that Isabella will be Oratio's wife. Thus, the wedding of Oratio and Isabella, Capitano and Flaminia, and Pedrolino and Olivetta is celebrated, while Burattino's dishonor is silenced. They prepare for the wedding feast at Pantalone's house, and the comedy of the jealous old man ends.
