More Dissemblers Besides Women is a Jacobean stage play, a tragicomedy written by Thomas Middleton, and first published in 1657.
In a marginal note in his records, Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels, called it "the worst play that e'er I saw."
More Dissemblers Besides Women is set in Milan; its plot involves romantic intrigues among the ruling aristocrats of the city, including the widowed Duchess, the General Lactantio, and the Cardinal.
Having given her dying husband a vow to remain chaste after his death, the Duchess fools the Cardinal into thinking that she has fallen in love with his nephew Lactantio—which quickly inspires the ambitious Cardinal to switch from an ardent champion of chastity to an advocate of an advantageous marriage for his relative.
Lactantio tells Aurelia that, although he plans to marry her, they must keep their relationship a secret for the time being for the sake of his uncle, the Lord Cardinal, an extremely pious man who eschews the company of women.
Lactantio is the Lord Cardinal's only heir, but to inherit his estate, he must keep the old man happy by seeming to shun the company of women.
Lactantio takes Aurelia into his arms and urges her to renounce her former lover, General Andrugio.
Lactantio barely has time to reply before Aurelia's father enters, accompanied by the Old Governor of the Fort.
Aurelia babbles a bit of gobbledygook in a supposedly foreign tongue, but her father is not fooled for a second.
Lactantio curses Aurelia's father and worries about how he will excuse the "Gentleman's" absence to his uncle.
The Lord Cardinal enters and tells the Duchess that, to prove her perfection, her constancy must be tested—she must be exposed to a desirable man.
The Cardinal tells her to look down at the street, where a procession celebrating the recent victories of General Andrugio will soon pass by.
As part of the procession, a winged Cupid descends and sings a song in General Andrugio's honour.
Meanwhile, above on the balcony, the Duchess confesses that she has failed the Lord Admiral's test—she has fallen in love with General Andrugio at first sight!
Scene 4: The Lord Constable's house: servants' quarters The "Page" asks Lactantio's man-servant, Dondolo, to dry a shirt for her.
The Duchess tells the Lord Cardinal that, after many years of mourning, desire has finally overcome the strength of her constancy: she has fallen in love with another man.
The Duchess tells him she has fallen in love with his nephew, Lactantio (by this ruse, she hopes to warm the Lord Cardinal up to the idea of her remarrying, thereby opening the door for a match with Andrugio).
Rather than reacting with delight (as the Duchess had hoped), the Lord Cardinal vows to banish Lactantio from the city.
Scene 1: The Lord Cardinal's residence Increasingly anxious about her pregnancy, the "Page" begs Lactantio to make good on his promise to marry her.
Arguing that Lactantio has been too severe in his rejection of women, the Lord Cardinal declares that it is time for his nephew to marry.
Lactantio is secretly overjoyed by this news, but maintains his "serious nephew" guise for his uncle's sake.
The Lord Cardinal delivers a speech arguing that the Duchess has kept her vow for too long and should be encouraged to remarry.
Before Aurelia has a chance to press Dondolo further, a company of Gypsies enters singing and dancing.
The Gypsy Captain marks Dondolo's face with bacon (to "Gypsify" him) and instructs him to go out and steal as much as he can for the company.
She makes plans to provide "him" with a good education, which will include singing and dancing lessons.
Scene 2; The palace Celia tells the Duchess that Andrugio has paid one of his prison guards to find a "Gypsy Girl" (Aurelia) for him.
The "Gypsy Girl" was brought to Andrugio's prison cell, where he greeted her with kisses and a passionate embrace.
Worried that his chances for marrying the Duchess will be ruined, Lactantio calls Aurelia a fool and says that he no longer has any interest in her whatsoever.
Realizing she has just let two prospective husbands slip through her fingers, Aurelia begs Andrugio to forgive her.
She offers to provide ten thousand ducats for the "Page's" dowry so she can marry Lactantio.