 One is to frustrate the fortunes of his rival Cosmo by impeding his marriage to the wealthy Oriana; the second is to bring down the Duke by embroiling him in a quarrel with the violent nobleman Sciarrha.At first, Lorenzo's schemes bear fruit.He defends himself successfully against accusations of conspiracy; and he encourages the Duke to take Sciarrha's sister Amidea as his lover, and incites Sciarrha's ire in response.