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)
Merc. | Mer. | M Er.
Words
366
Characters
2121
Typicality
0.36 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A00760
BritDrama no.
1890
Cluster
Cluster 24 — Gods, cupids & celestial agents
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 24 (casane, crites, anacreon, ortum, elementis, dextram…). Matches are highlighted.
earth, Are dungeons, whips, and flames, for wicked Ghosts; So fair Elysian fields; where spotless souls Do bath themselves in bliss. Among the rest, Two pleasant Groves by two sorts are possessed: One by true Lovers crowned with myrtle boughs, Who hand in hand sing Paeans of their joy: Brave Soldiers hold the second, clad in steel,
Full speech
Bandy no more these private Frowns; but hast, Fly to your parties, and enrage their minds: Till at the perjod of these Broils, I call, And back reduce you to grim Pluto's hall. Jove's will is finished: And (though Juno frown, That no more Trojan blood shall die the stage) The world's fourth Empire Britain does embrace. The Thunder-bearer with a Janus look At once views ruddy morn, and cloudy West: Her wings displayed over this Terrestrial egg, Will shortly hatch and Universal peace: For Jove intends a favour to the world. It now remains, That you two martial wights Cease from your braving one another's worth: You must be friends at last. The close is sweet, When after tumults, hearts and hands do meet. Leave these weak brawlings. Now swift time hath spent A Pylian age, and more, since you two breathed, Mirrors of Britain, and of Roman valour. Lo, now the black Imperial Bird does clasp Under her wings the Continent, and Mars Trampling down nations with his brazen wheels, Fights for his Nephews, and hath once more made Britain's and Romans meet. To view these deeds I Hermes bring you to this upper sky; Where you may wander, and with ghastly looks Incite your Countrymen, when night and sleep Conquer the eyes, when weary bodies rest, And senses cease: Be Furies in their breast. Never two Nations better matched. For Jove Loves both alike: whence then these armed Bands? Mavors for Room, Neptune for Albion stands. As in the vaults of this big-bellied earth, Are dungeons, whips, and flames, for wicked Ghosts; So fair Elysian fields; where spotless souls Do bath themselves in bliss. Among the rest, Two pleasant Groves by two sorts are possessed: One by true Lovers crowned with myrtle boughs, Who hand in hand sing Paeans of their joy: Brave Soldiers hold the second, clad in steel, Whose glittering Arms brighten those gloomy shades, In lieu of Starry lights. From hence I bring A pair of Martial Imps, By Jove's decree, As sticklers in their Nations enmity. Furious Camillus, and thou Britain bold Great Brennus, sheath your conquering blades: In vain You threaten death: For Ghosts may not be slain.
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…