In the comedy of Mudarse por Mejorarse (To Change for the Better; or, more literally, to Change in order to Better One's Self), a certain Don Garcia, who was to marry Doña Clara, falls in love with her niece Leonor; whence this dialogue:
Leonor. Is it, perchance, Don Garcia,
The custom in Madrid to fall in love
With niece and aunt at one and the same time?
Garcia. At least, if so divine a niece comes there
As you, the custom is to leave the aunt.
Leonor. A bad one, then.
Garcia.It is not to be called
Bad, if such matter be the occasion.
Leonor. How can a reason be for changefulness?
Garcia. One's self to better is the best of reasons.
Leonor. Well, there's a law of constancy: to what
Doth it oblige, whereunto doth it reach,
If it be right one beauty to forswear
For a greater? Constancy's not to love
Unchangeably the love more beautiful;
To love the best what firmness do we need?
He constant is who doth despise the more
Happy occasion.
Garcia.I confess, sweet lady
That's to be constant, but it's to be foolish.
Leonor. Then cannot you in one who'd be discreet
Have confidence, as change is to be excused
By gain of fairer subject?