Leonora takes the initial news of Lorenzo's death calmly, but breaks down when Learchus presents her with the cup supposedly containing his heart.
The play closes with news that the rioting citizens laid down their arms after hearing that Lorenzo was in fact alive, but that the villainous Antenor was killed in the fighting.
[2] The cast included John Mills as the King of Lombardy, John Bowman as the Duke of Milan, Anne Oldfield as Leonora, Mary Porter as Antimora, Barton Booth as Lorenzo, James Quin as Antenor, Lacy Ryan as Learchus, Thomas Walker as Cardono and Robert Wilks as Agonistus.
[2] Eleni Siatra writes that in The Cruel Gift 'the concept of love is not utterly idealized, but instead invested in reality.
In this regard, Centlivre has a modernist, almost contemporary understanding of the complex interactions and problems faced by married couples.