Colombina
Columbine, Italian Colombina, is a stock theatrical character that originated in about 1530 as a saucy and adroit servant girl; her Italian name means “Little Dove.” Her costume included a cap and apron but seldom a commedia mask, and she usually spoke in the Tuscan dialect. In French theatre the character became a lady’s maid and intrigant and assumed a variety of roles opposite Cassandre, Pantalone (Pantaloon), Harlequin, and Pierrot. In English comedies she was usually the daughter or ward of Pantaloon and in love with Harlequin. She is usually accompanied by a male servant companion.
She is dressed in a ragged and patched dress appropriate to a hired servant. Occasionally, under the name Arlecchina she would wear a motley similar to her counterpart Arlecchino. She was also known to wear heavy makeup around her eyes and carry a tambourine which she could use to fend off the amorous advances of Pantalone. This idea for no mask is said to have originated because of the character Colombina's vanity and not wanting to obscure too much of her beauty with a mask.
She was often the only functional intellect on the stage. Columbina aided her mistress, the inamorata (lovers) to gain the affections of her one true love by manipulating Arlecchino and counter-plotting against Pantalone while simultaneously managing the whereabouts of the inamorato.
Her walk includes a little flick of the foot at end of grand zanni walk and her stance is made with one knee bent, the other leg extended with a slight forward tilt from the hips to show her best features,her actions are nimble and fast.
She may be variously prim and dainty, or she may be bold and uncouth; but she's never as crude or vulgar as Francesquina or Ruffiana due to her intelligence and legitimate affection for others. Modern commedie often use her to provide a voice of reason in the show and utilize her more as a straight-man for the other characters.