Antonio and Martino continue their pursuit of Ismenia; Antonio sends Bustopha to make excuses for his absence to his uncle Julio — and Bustopha ridiculously makes up a tale of Antonio dying in a duel with Lisauro, giving Julio a good fright. This motivates Julio to seek a resolution of his quarrel with Bellides — who comes to meet him on the same errand; both of the old men have grown fearful for their young relatives' lives if the feud continues. They have heard rumors of the attraction between Antonio and Ismenia, and they decide that such a marriage would be the perfect thing to cement the new amity between them. The young people are less successful at managing their affairs; Antonio and Martino end up fighting in the street and being arrested by the night watchmen.