Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

LECURE

in Thierry and Theodoret — Fletcher, John; Massinger, Philip; Anonymous

Metadata

PlayThierry and Theodoret
AuthorFletcher, John; Massinger, Philip; Anonymous
Year (catalogued)1621
First performance1617
Decade1620s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
TheaterBlackfriars;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Lecure.
Words692
Characters3596
Typicality0.33 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA00968
BritDrama no.1848
ClusterCluster 20 — Conjurers, witches & physicians

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

I fear not gelding As long as she holds this way. But what safety Madam Find you in staying here? This place you will. For me I am your own, nor since I first Knew what it was to serve you, have remembered I had a soul, but such a one whose essence Depended wholly on your Highness pleasure, And therefore Madam--- She means on her. Amazement leave me, it's he. The beadle will resolve you, for I cannot, There is something that more near concerns myself, That calls upon me. Which if You had prevented, or would teach us how They might again be seuerde, we could easily Remove all other hindrances, that stop The passage of your pleasures. If so, from whence Grows your affliction? Give me leave, If my art fail me not, I have thought on A speeding project. The Lady is fair. And young. And loves the King with equal ordor. Well then, what think you if I make a drink Which given unto him on the bridal night, Shall for five days so rob his faculties Of all ability to pay that duty, Which new made wives expect, that she shall swear She is not matchde to a man. And then If she have any partly of woman in her, She'll or fly out, or at least give occasion Of such a breach which can be made up, Since he that to all else did never fail Of as much as could be performide by man, Proves only ice to her. I have it ready. You honour me. Fear not. Unto your wish, I warrant you, For this night I durst trust him with my mother. My life upon it. The ground answers your purpose, the conveyance Being secure and easy, falling joust Behind the state set for Theodoret. Who constellated your fair birth. I left him careful of the project cast, To raise Protaldies credit. His hours upon the stroke. The gentleman is within your reach Sir. Dost think Lefortes sure enough? Thou hast cast a figure which shall raise thee, direct my hair a little; and in my likeness to him read a fortune suiting thy largest Hope's. I have profitabler use in hand, hast to the Queen, And tell her how you left me changed. Who would not serve this virtuous active Queen? She that loves mischief above the man that does it, And him above her pleasure, yet knows no heaven else: The same to you, you bring Sir. A resolution falling with most ease Of any doubt you could have nam, he is a Prince Whose fortune you inquire. He had a dukedom lately fallen unto him By one called brother, who has left a daughter. Heirs, yes he shall have heirs. Nor thou, I neither can nor will Give farther knowledge to thee. Your grace does wrong your stars; if this be yours, You may have children. You may have fruitful issue. It was the fatal means first struck my blood With the cold hand of wonder, when I read it, Printed upon your birth. We that behold the sad aspects of heaven, Leading sense blinded, men feel griese enough To know, though not to speak their Misery's. Then thus, The first of females which your eye shall meet Before the sun next rise, coming from out The Temple of Diana, being slain, you live Father of many sons. If in the supposition Of her death in whose life you die, you ask me, I think you are safe. I have used All means to make her so, I saw him waiting At the Temple door, and used such art within, That only she of all her sex, was first Given up unto his fury. If you are so resolved, I have provided A means to ship him hence: look upon this, But touch it sparingly, for this once used, Say but to dry a tear, will keep the eyelid From closing, until death perform that office. Nor will be anything without you. The King. Madam. He's passed all cure, that only touch is death. Above the help of physic.

Plot summary

Plot — Thierry and Theodoret
up her attempts lascivious to make his mother life and enter holy Brunhild orders. give Her · . 60 I 1848. Thierry, King of France, and his Brother Theodoret 1617 response is to abscond to her other son, Thierrv, whom she persuades to appoint her lover, Protaldi, tda senior military command. Theodoret follows her and Thierry faces a conflict of loyalty, which he resolves in his brother's favour. With Thierry's agreement, Martel demonstrates comprehensively that Protaldi is a coward, first by tricking him into giving up his sword without a fight, then showing to what lengths he will go to avoid having to fight a duel. Brunhild fears that Thierry's bride, Ordella, will eclipse her in preeminence, so at the wedding banquet she gives Thierry a potion that makes him impotent that night. Ordella is very understanding , but Thierry is concerned about the need to beget an heir, so Brunhild suggests he should consult a local hermit and astrologer. Her parasite, Lecure, impersonates the wise man, and tells Thierry that he will regain his potency ifhe kills the first female person he encounters the next day, whoever she may be. Lecure arranges for this to be Ordella herself. Not recognizing her in her veil, Thierry explains why she must die, and she agrees; but he cannot bring himself to go through with it when he realizes who she is. Martel dissuades Ordella from loyally committing suicide, and, suspecting a plot, has her pretend to be dead in order to smoke it out Meanwhile Brunhild spreads a rumour that Theodoret is illegitimate and has him secretly murdered by Protaldi at the continuing wedding revels. Believing that Theodoret was not his brother and that Ordella is dead, Thierry offers to make amends by marrying Memberge, Theodoret's daughter. Brunhild is forced to admit her lies in order to prevent an incestuous marriage. She gives Thierry a poisoned handkerchief, which kills him; Martel brings Ordella to his deathbed. Brunhild admits complicity in his murder, and is sentenced to remain awake for the rest of her life; disturbed by the sight of Protaldi being tortured to death, she commits suicide. Thierry and Ordella die together , and Martel becomes King of France.