Act 1, Scene 2 Summary

Frederick and Blunt tease Belvile about being melancholy because of his love for Florinda and because of Pedro's resistance to their relationship. They talk in superficial, patronizing terms about women in general and Florinda in particular, saying Belvile could get just as much enjoyment out of a cheap prostitute. As Belvile makes ironic comments about how his friends would know all about that kind of enjoyment, Blunt jokes about how he doesn't spend money on prostitutes because of the chance they'll rob him when he's finished with them.

Willmore comes in, and is greeted happily by the other men, particularly by Belvile, who refers to him as a rover and asks how he came to be in town. Conversation reveals that he's a sailor, and that he's come to enjoy the carnival. At that moment participants in the carnival appear, all...