Oxtiern, or The Misfortunes of Libertinage Summary

Oxtiern is a short play based on the story "Ernestine, A Swedish Tale," also by Sade. The play opens with a conversation between Fabrice, an innkeeper, and Casimir, a valet of Count Oxtiern, a wealthy nobleman. Casimir has come in advance of Oxtiern, who plans to stay at the inn, to make arrangements. Fabrice is showing Casimir the rooms he has prepared for the young woman who is traveling with the Count. Casimir agrees that the rooms are suitable, and takes Fabrice aside to confide in him about the young woman who is traveling with the Count.

The young woman is Ernestine, the daughter of Colonel Falkenheim. Oxtiern has abducted her, Casimir tells Fabrice, and "dishonored" her by forcing sex upon her outside of marriage. Fabrice is outraged and begins to storm away...