The Rover: Act 5, Scene 1 Summary & Analysis

The still humiliated Blunt hides in his room, but to no avail; his friends literally besiege the door, attempting to force it open. Although Blunt claims first to be praying, and then to be with a woman, no one believes him. In fact, hearing there is a woman within, Willmore jokingly comments that he must share her with his friends; he also betrays that Frederick has told them all about the captured Florinda (although no one knows her identity). Having broken down the door at last, Belvile, Willmore, Don Pedro, and a page enter, laughing at Blunt as he draws his sword.

As Blunt reacts angrily, the others try to coax him into a good mood even as they continue mocking him. Willmore and Belvile express sympathy, while Pedro apologizes for the rudeness of his country, saying that if he can, he will help Blunt avenge himself. Blunt then reveals that he still has Florinda (who he doesn’t know is Florinda) in his possession, and means to ruin her. He falsely tells the men that she attacked him, and attempted to rape him, but that he defended himself with his sword.

Frederick urges Blunt to show their companions Florinda’s ring; when he does so, Belvile immediately recognizes it as the one he gave his beloved. He attempts to draw Blunt aside to avoid giving Florinda away to Don Pedro, but the indiscreet Willmore foils him, telling him that there can be no secrecy when a woman is involved. Belvile attempts trickery, telling him to hide the ring lest people think that prostitutes would rather bribe Englishmen than sleep with them.

Willmore proposes that they go see Florinda to determine whether she is a noblewoman or not. As they are about to go, Belvile panics and demands the key. The men begin to argue, with Willmore saying that he wishes to go in first, and Frederick maintaining that he and Blunt still have custody. Willmore proposes that they all draw their swords, and that the man with the longest shall go in first; Belvile tries once again to intervene, and Willmore ignores him.

Because Spaniards traditionally carry longer swords than Englishmen, Don Pedro wins, and the other men give up their claim to Florinda. As Pedro exits, unaware that he is about to threaten his own sister, Belvile curses Willmore for his “mischief.” Willmore reacts peevishly, disappointed that he has lost the contest; Belvile bemoans his friend’s apparent stupidity.

Florinda reenters, still masked, chased by Don Pedro. He demands to know who she is and why she is here, implying that he thinks she is a prostitute. Simultaneously, Belvile and Florinda both worry that her brother will discover her identity, while Willmore wonders whether Florinda is the same woman whom he recently followed.

Valeria enters, and is surprised by Don Pedro. Thinking on her feet, however, she runs to Pedro and claims that Florinda has run away in the guise of a page, but that Callis believes they can still catch her. Pedro announces that he must leave Belvile, but demands that, if Florinda flees to him, he return her to her family. Belvile promises to follow the commands of his love and honor, and Pedro, satisfied, exits.

A relieved Florinda embraces Valeria. Willmore and Blunt look on, confused, as Valeria urges Florinda and Belvile to marry each other quickly before Don Pedro returns. Realizing who Florinda is, Willmore begs her pardon and kisses her hand; she forgives him, and he notes her beauty. They send the page off to fetch a priest.

Frederick, too, apologizes, and Florinda says that she will forgive him as long as he follows Belvile’s example and marries the woman who loves him. Frederick reacts with confusion, and Belvile scoffs, saying that Frederick would never fall in love with a woman. Valeria, however, begs to disagree; she reveals that she and Frederick have decided that if Belvile and Florinda marry, the two of them will as well.

Lastly, Blunt begs Florinda’s forgiveness, and she grants it immediately. He gives Belvile back Florinda’s ring, too ashamed to hand it to her himself.

The page reenters with a priest, and the four lovers exit to be married. Willmore remains onstage to stand guard against Don Pedro’s return. The page enters once again, telling Willmore that a woman is here to see him, and adding that Blunt’s tailor is here to make him new clothes. Blunt leaves, while Willmore asks that the woman be shown in.

Angelica enters, veiled and masked. Willmore runs to her, believing it to be his gypsy girl and demanding that she confess her trickery. Angelica, however, threatens Willmore with a pistol and advances upon him. Bewildered as to who she is, Willmore asks to see her face. Angelica removes her mask, saying that he has already forgotten her and calling him a traitor.

Willmore attempts to talk Angelica out of her murderous intentions and Angelica laments that, even now, his words have the power to sway her; she asks if he wishes to repent, asks him how many hearts he has broken, and accuses him of stealing her self-confidence and agency. She continues to threaten him with a pistol and once again tells him that he has broken his vows.

The cavalier retorts that Angelica herself has broken hearts, but she maintains that she has always repaid her lovers’ vows. Willmore asserts that Angelica has grown spoiled and lazy because of her long liaison with the elderly general, and that she does not understand the ways of young lovers. Angelica says that Willmore has robbed her eyes of power, and that she now understands her true inner weakness. She says that all the offerings and adoration she has received are worthless, because she has lost her honor.

Willmore seems to react with genuine remorse, saying that for her sake, he wishes that he could be constant and faithful. In a rare moment of self-knowledge, however, he admits that this will never happen; it is not in his nature. He adds that he will pay her back for her time, and offers her a purse of gold. Angelica says that she still must kill him for the sake of all womankind as well as her own grief, and she prepares to shoot.

Don Antonio enters unexpectedly, having seen Angelica’s coach at the door of the house. Though injured, he immediately takes away her pistol, only to offer to shoot Willmore himself, believing him to be a rival for Angelica’s love. The courtesan, however, begs him not to shoot.

Don Pedro reenters, but hides when he sees Don Antonio with Angelica. Obeying Angelica’s command, Antonio says that he will not shoot Willmore, for her sake. Angelica says that she will give Willmore life in order to demonstrate her utmost contempt for him, and orders him to go where her eyes will never see him, and to one day love a woman who will revenge their entire sex. At last, she exits.

As Angelica leaves, Don Antonio goes to follow her, but Don Pedro stops him, asking why he did not attend their duel on the Molo that morning. Antonio reacts with surprise that Don Pedro was his unknown opponent, and says that he could not hold a sword. Pedro persists, appalled that Antonio would send his rival—Belvile—to fight for Florinda’s honor. Angrily, the two men agree to duel when Antonio is healed.

The still angry Don Pedro resolves to give Florinda to Belvile in revenge against Antonio. Willmore reveals that the marriage has already taken place; he adds that if Belvile is anything like him, then the marriage has been consummated as well. Don Pedro, incredulous, asks if Belvile is afraid of his power; Willmore says that they do not fear the Spaniard, and threatens to employ the crew of the ship that brought him to Naples to kidnap Don Pedro unless he blesses the marriage.

Belvile enters and is immediately suspicious of Willmore’s actions. Don Pedro asks if Belvile has married Florinda and, hearing that he has, wishes them joy, embracing his new brother-in-law. The two exit to tell Florinda of this happy turn of events, with Willmore following them.

As Willmore is about to exit, however, Hellena enters once again disguised in boy’s clothes, and pulls him back onstage. Willmore responds with a string of effusive compliments, saying that all his friends have a woman except for him. He adds that if she had not come along, he would have thought of her alone in his empty cabin.

Hellena asks whether he would have left her behind, and Willmore swears that they will never part again. She then questions whether an innocent virgin like herself can trust a friend like Willmore. He replies that she is far too beautiful for friendship. He maintains, however, that he is afraid of being in love, and that she has wronged him. She replies that she will not change her behavior until she has showed the whole world that Willmore is hers and hers alone—then, she says, he will love only her. She adds that she has no other virtues or nobility to recommend her, besides persistence. Willmore is delighted, saying that he would rather have a mad, good-natured mistress than a coy one.

Both Hellena and Willmore agree that they should lose no time, and the cavalier proposes that they go up to his chamber immediately. Hellena, however, insists that they be married first. Willmore resists, calling marriage the “Bane of Love,” but Hellena stands firm, saying that if they do not marry, he will leave her with nothing but an illegitimate child and regrets.

Willmore asks her for at least one kiss, but Hellena shows him only scorn, saying that if he can be satisfied by a single kiss, then he must not really love her. She attempts to go out, but Willmore stops her, saying that he adores her and wishes to marry her, because they are so alike. He kisses her hand and resolves to give his fate over to love and fortune. She reacts with shock.

Willmore proposes that they tell each other their names, so that they may curse each other later in life. Hellena retorts by saying that she wants to know his name so that she can bless it. He tells her he is called “Robert the Constant,” and she mocks it as a dog’s name. In turn, she tells him that she is called “Hellena the Inconstant.”

Pedro, Belvile, Florinda, Frederick, and Valeria reenter; Florinda is shocked to see her sister, and Pedro attempts to pull Hellena away, but Willmore protects her. Hellena announces that she is in love with Willmore, despite her brother’s anger.

Don Pedro turns to Belvile, furious that both his noble, wealthy sisters have fallen in love with impoverished Englishmen. Belvile responds that his friends have fallen on hard times, but are still gentlemen. Willmore asserts that he can give Hellena only his sword to protect her, but says that he loved her before he knew her nobility or her name, and is resolved to marry her.

Don Pedro asks if Hellena really intends to give up the holiness of nunhood in favor of the sins of men. Hellena says that she is an independent woman, with three hundred thousand crowns of her own, and that she would rather use that money for love rather than religion. She asks the gathered characters (and presumably the audience) whether she should be faithful to Heaven or the Captain, and all cry out “the Captain!”

Remembering Willmore’s threatening group of sailors, Don Pedro concedes. He adds that at least he will no longer have to guard Hellena’s honor. Now, that job will be Willmore’s. The cavalier responds that Englishmen do not guard women’s honor when the women wish to part with it. Lastly, Don Pedro forgives Valeria as well, and prays that they will all gain his father’s pardon as well (though he fears they will not).

Blunt enters, looking ridiculous in Spanish clothes. He is furious about the new clothes, and the others mock him; Belvile at last appeases him by saying that he looks like a cavalier. Blunt then greets Hellena and asks her to forgive his Spanish clothes.

From offstage, the assembled characters hear music; the page enters and tells them that revelers have come into the house to dance with them. The masqueraders enter, and Blunt wishes he could remove their masks to see if Lucetta is among them. As the other couples begin to dance, Willmore asks Hellena if she is frightened to marry him; she replies that she feels as he might before a battle or a storm. Calling her brave and declaring his love for her, Willmore says that those who brave “the Storms” of a “Marriage-Bed” should fear “no other Dangers.” All exit.

In a rhymed epilogue, the author once again pokes fun at modern audiences, stating that if The Rover does not please them, it is because they have bad taste. She mocks modern drama, calling theatergoers fops and fools. She ends by saying that even the most popular actors can never act as foolishly as audience members.