Mezzetino

His name means 'Half-Measure (of liquor)' in Medieval Italian, and he is sometimes called in French and English plays "Mezzetin".

Mezzetino is an adept schemer and trouble-maker, willing to commit acts of violence if necessary, but on the whole a little calmer than his brother Brighella, and much more gentle and cultivated, especially in his later life.

His character can vary greatly: he can be a loyal servant or simply scheming for his master's downfall; he can be a deceitful husband or be deceived by his wife.

Marjorie Bowen, writing as George R Preedy, cast Mezzetin as a character in Homage to the Unknown (Omaggio a la Incognita).

[2] In the play Mezzetin remarks, "...We give to the old memories, to the young hopes, to all another illusion either in the past or the future, and if our benefits are not very substantial we never destroy anything, not even the tenderest, sweetest falsehood.