in Fuimus Troes (The True Trojans) — Fisher, Jasper
Metadata
Play
Fuimus Troes (The True Trojans)
Author
Fisher, Jasper
Year (catalogued)
1633
First performance
1625
Decade
1630s
Genre
History
Play type
University
Theater
at University;
Speech prefix(es)
Brenn.
Words
344
Characters
1973
Typicality
0.25 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A00760
BritDrama no.
1890
Cluster
Cluster 6 — Battlefield messengers & soldiers
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
From the unbounded Ocean, and cold climes, Where Charles his wain circles the Northern Pole: I first led out great swarms of shaggy Gauls, And bigboned Britain's. The white-pated Alps, Where snow and winter dwell, did bow their necks To our victorious feet: Room, proudest Room, We clothed in Scarlet of patrician blood, And about your Capitol prauns'd our vaunting steeds, Defended more by Geese, than by your gods. Then let war open his jaws, as wide as hell, And fright young babes, my Countryfolk more stern Can outlook Gorgon: Let the Fates transposed Hang beaten Flags up in the victor's land: Full dearly will each Pace of ground be sold, Which rated is at dearest Blood, not Gold. What, are their ruined Fanes, demolished Walls So soon forgotten? Does Allia yet run clear? Or can three hundred Summer's slake their fear? Follow me. Follow me Nennius. 'Tis Ancient Brennus calls, whose victories Europe and Asia felt, and still record. Dear Nennius, now's the time to steel thy courage. Canst thou behold thy Mother captive, then Look back upon thy Ancestors enrolled Among the Worthies, who spread wide her Fame? First let thy Eyeballs pour out poisoned beams, And kill them with Disdain, who dare but lift Their hand against her. No: no Consul must Boast of her Thraldom, and outbrave our Walls. I wonder that such impudent Owls should gaze Against the splendour of our Britain cliffs: Play thou a second Brennus, Let thy Lance, Like and Herculean club, Two monsters tame, Rome's Avarice and Pride; So come Life or Death, Let Honour have the Incense of thy Breath. Exit. How bravely was he back repulsed again? How did he lose his sword, and fly apace? I, when our Princes did conduct his host. But made her swell, and bankrupt with their blood. But we may justly brag of two for one. No, proud Dictator: Both do weary stand On equal terms: Both wish a peaceful League. But if they shall oppress; know, Generous spirits Will break this Compact, Like a Spiders web.
Plot summary
Plot — Fuimus Troes (The True Trojans)
The Romans have invaded Gaul. Caesar reaches the northern shore and thinks himself at the edge of the world, until he sees the white cliffs across the Channel: a new land to conquer. To justify a war, he sends Volusenus to make an offer of peace, expecting the Britons to refuse; Volusenus will also spy out the country in preparation for the Roman assault. News of the Roman invasion plans reaches King Cassibelan, who mobilizes his troops and allies. When Volusenus presents the terms, which require the Britons to pay tribute and send hostages, Cassibelan is advised to reject them, and does. Commius the Gaul makes a last effort to encourage him to come to terms, but is imprisoned for his pains. Caesar invades Britain, but sustains heavy casualties trying to get his troops ashore. Duke Nennius defeats Caesar in the battle, but is killed by Caesar’s poisoned sword. The celebration of the British victory is offset by Nennius’ state funeral. Cassibelan came to power by murdering a previous king and depriving his son Mandubrace of his throne. Seeking revenge, Mandubrace allies himself with Caesar, who agrees to launch a second attack on Britain. Against advice, Cassibelan decides to allow the Romans to land and face them in an inland battle. A storm wrecks forty of Caesar’s ships, and initially the Briton army has the upper hand. The tide turns after many of the British petty kingdoms switch their allegiance to Mandubrace, and Cassibelan realizes that the island will be conquered. The Romans capture a druid, who warns Caesar to concentrate on foreign wars, avoid the Senate House, and beware of Brutus, who will avenge his treatment of the British descendants of Trojan Brute. Using Commius as an intermediary, Cassibelan sues for peace. Caesar dictates terms: Mandubrace is to be restored to his birthright, Cassibelan to pay tribute to Rome, and a tower to be built in Troynovant as a monument to the conquest. With Britain part of the Roman empire, a time of universal peace comes to the world. In the sub-plot, Eulinus loves Landora, who in turn loves his kinsman Hirildas and invites him into her bed. Hirildas bribes her servant Rollano to admit Eulinus instead. At Nennius’ funeral, the two friends fall out during a bout of sword-play and Eulinus kills Hirildas. This leaves him with a problem: he will not now be able to go to bed with Landora posing as Hirildas. Stricken with grief at Hirildas’s death, Landora poisons herself, and when he hears of this Eulinus too…