The play takes place in Madrid. Don Juan Alvarado flew to the capital from his native Burgos on a date with his bride. Even the family misfortune did not stop the young nobleman: upon returning from Flanders, don Juan found out that his elder brother had been treacherously murdered, and that the dishonored sister of Lucrezia had gone into hiding. All thoughts of revenge were abandoned, as soon as don Juan saw a portrait of his named - lovely Isabella de Rojas. Passion flashed instantly: the young man ordered the servant of Jodle to send his own image to Madrid, and he went after him. An unpleasant circumstance emerges on the spot: Zhodle, taking the opportunity, also decided to capture his physiognomy, then he began to compare both works, and as a result, the beautiful Isabella received a portrait of not a master, but a servant. Don Juan is shocked: what will the girl say when she sees a pork snout like this? But the cheerful Jodle consoles his master: when the beauty sees him, she will like him twice as much in contrast, and the story of the stupidity of a stupid servant, of course, will make her smile. At the house of Fernand de Rojas, don Juan notices a shadow and draws his sword. Don Luis, descending the rope ladder from the balcony, quickly dissolves in the dark, so as not to engage in a duel under the windows of Isabella. Don Juan stumbles upon a faithful Jaudela: he falls backward with fear and begins to kick, defending himself with his feet from an angry caballero. Everything ends happily, but in don Juan’s soul a suspicion arises: the young man who escaped did not look like a thief - rather, we are talking about a lover. An example of a sister brought up in terms of honor and not resisting a seducer calls for caution, therefore, don Juan offers Jodla to switch roles - a servant may pass himself off as a master thanks to the confusion with the portrait. Jaodle, having broken for a look, agrees and with pleasure anticipates how he will feast on the lordly dishes and edify the horns of the court dandies.

In the morning, Isabella interrogates the maid with preference about who climbed onto the balcony at night. At first Beatrice swears her complete innocence, but then admits that don Luis, the beautiful nephew of don Fernand, circumvented her cunning. The young helideck with tears in his eyes begged for a second to let him in to the seigneur, tried to bribe and pity the vigilant Beatrice, but nothing came of it, and he had to jump down, where they were waiting for him - not without reason people say that don Juan Alvarado rode up to Madrid. Isabella is filled with disgust for the groom - she never met a more disgusting face. The girl is trying to convince her father of this, but don Fernand does not want to backtrack: according to the portrait, the future son-in-law is extremely unpretentious, but he is highly regarded in the opinion of the court.

Don Fernand sends his daughter at the sight of a lady under a veil. Lucretia, the disgraced sister of don Juan, appeared to ask for protection from her father's old friend. She does not hide her guilt - the fire of love passion burned her life. Two years ago, at a tournament in Burgos, all the knights were eclipsed by a visiting youth who pierced the heart of Lucretia. The impulse was mutual: an insidious seducer, if he didn’t like it, then skillfully pretended. Then a terrible thing happened: the elder brother died, the father died away from grief, and the lover disappeared without a trace. But Lucretia saw him from the window - now she had a hope to find the villain.

Don Fernan promises the guest full support. Then the nephew turns to him for advice. Two years ago, at the invitation of his best friend, don Luis came to the tournament in Burgos and fell madly in love with a beautiful girl who also gave him his heart. Once an armed man burst into the bedroom, a fight broke out in the dark, both opponents struck at random, and don Luis hit the enemy to death. Great was his despair when he recognized his friend as a murdered one - his beloved turned out to be his sister. Don Luis managed to safely escape, but now the circumstances have changed: according to rumors, the younger brother of the nobleman who he killed is going to Madrid - this brave young man burns with a thirst for revenge. A duty of honor tells don Louis to accept the challenge, but conscience does not allow him to kill.

There is a loud knock on the door, and Beatrice reports that the bridegroom breaks into the house - all in letters and curls, discharged and perfumed, in stones and gold, like a Chinese goddess. Don Louis is unpleasantly amazed: how could an uncle grab a daughter without notifying his relatives? Don Fernand is preoccupied with something completely different: a massacre will begin in the house if don Juan finds out who his abuser is. Jodle appears in the costume of don Juan and don Juan in the guise of Jodle. The young man is struck by the beauty of Isabella, and she looks at the betrothed with hatred. The imaginary caballero roughly pushes the future father-in-law, gives the bride a vulgar compliment and immediately demands that he quickly round out the dowry. Don Louis, madly in love with Isabella, secretly rejoices - now he is sure that his cousin will not resist his pressure. Beatrice colorfully paints him how don Juan eagerly pounced on food. Having dipped the whole camisole with the sauce, the son-in-law lay in the pantry right on the floor and began to snore so that the dishes on the shelves rattled. Don Fernan had already slapped his daughter in the face, although he only dreamed of one thing - how to turn the shafts back.

Isabella again pokes on her father with persuasion, but Don Fernand insists that he can not break the word. In addition, the family has a great sin before don Juan - don Luis dishonored his sister and killed his brother. Left alone, Isabella indulges in woeful thoughts: her future husband is disgusting, her cousin's passion is disgusting, and she herself was suddenly captivated by those whom she has no right to love - honor does not allow her even to pronounce this name! Don Luis appears with fervent outpourings. Isabella quickly suppresses them: let him make empty promises and commit heinous atrocities in Burgos. Beatrice warns the lady that the father and the groom are making a noise and the exit is closed: don Juan's servant hangs around the door - and the look of this handsome man is not at all harmless. Don Luis hastily hides in the bedroom, Isabella begins to honor Beatrice, who allegedly called don Juan an ugly and stupid beast. Enraged, Jodle showers Beatrice with arenas of abuse, and Don Fernand hastily retreats upstairs. The groom and his "servant" are left alone with the bride. Jaodle frankly declares that he always liked such rich beauties. Isabella replies that with the advent of don Juan, her life was transformed: before the men almost disgusted her, but now she passionately loves what is constantly with her groom. Jaudlet understands only one thing from this - the girl fell in love! Having decided to try his luck, he sends out the “servant” and invites the bride to go get some air on the balcony. This venture ends with a thrash: don Juan ruthlessly bashes Jaudela, but when Isabella enters, the roles change - Jaudelet begins to reprimand his master for allegedly unflattering feedback about Isabella. Don Juan has to endure, as a keen servant put him in a hopeless situation. It is necessary to continue the masquerade in order to clarify the truth: Isabella is inexpressibly beautiful, but, apparently, is incorrect.

Finally Beatrice releases don Luis from the bedroom, and at that moment Lucretius enters, extremely amazed at the behavior of don Fernand, who promised to protect her, but does not show up. Don Luis, mistaking Lucretia for Isabella, is trying to explain: in Burgos, he simply dragged himself after one damsel, but she is not suitable for a lovely cousin to be noted. Lucretia, having thrown back her veil, showers reproaches of don Luis and loudly calls for help. Don Juan Lucretius appears, instantly recognizing his brother, involuntarily rushing to the defense of don Luis. Don Juan exposes his sword with the intention of defending the honor of his "master." Don Luis is forced to fight the lackey, but don Fernand bursts into the room. In a whisper, Don Juan orders Lucretia to keep a secret, and out loud announces that he was doing his duty: don Luis was in Isabella’s bedroom - therefore, don Juan was clearly insulted. Don Fernand acknowledges the correctness of the "Jodle", and don Luis gives the word that he will fight either with don Juan or his servant.

Touched by the kindness of Isabella, Lucretia hints that don Juan is not at all what he seems. Jaudlet goes on stage, deliberately picking his teeth and burping loudly after a hearty breakfast with meat and garlic. At the sight of Beatrice, he was ready to give up, but it spoils the appearance of the indignant Isabella. With a sigh, Jodle remembers Aristotle's wise testament: women should be admonished with a stick. Don Fernand tells the son-in-law good news: don Juan can finally cross his sword with don Luis, the offender of his sister. Jaudlet categorically refuses a duel: firstly, he does not care about any insult, because his own skin is more expensive, secondly, he is ready to forgive everything for his future father-in-law’s nephew, and thirdly, he has the vow to never get into a fight for the wench. Outraged to the core, don Fernand declares that he does not intend to pass off his daughter as a coward, and Jaudlet immediately informs his master that Lucretia dishonored don Louis. Don Juan asks the servant for a little more patience. He wants to believe that Isabella is innocent, because her cousin could simply bribe a maid. A fight is coming, and Jaudlet begs don Juan not to be recognized.

Beatrice, offended by another lover, mourns the bitter girlish share. Isabella longs for the wedding, and Lucretia assures her friend that in all of Castile there is no more worthy knight than her brother. Jaudlet leads don Luis to the room where don Juan has already hidden. The servant is obviously cowardly, and don Luis showers him with ridicule. Then Jaudlet extinguishes a candle: don Juan replaces it and inflicts a light wound in the arm of the enemy. The situation is explained only with the appearance of don Fernand: don Juan admits that he entered the house under the guise of a servant because he was jealous of Isabella to don Luis, who was also the seducer of his sister. Don Louis swears that Beatrice led her onto the balcony and into his room without the knowledge of her mistress. He deeply regrets that he accidentally killed his best friend, and is ready to marry Lucretia. Don Fernan calls for prudence: a nephew and a son-in-law must reconcile, and then the house will become a place of a merry wedding feast. Don Juan and don Luis hug, Lucretia and Isabella follow suit. But the last word remains for Jodle: the servant asks the former "bride" to give a portrait: this will be his gift to Beatrice - let three couples enjoy their well-deserved happiness.