Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

VERSEY

in Sir Giles Goosecap — Chapman, George

Metadata

PlaySir Giles Goosecap
AuthorChapman, George
Year (catalogued)1606
First performance1602
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeBoys Professional
CompanyChildren of the Chapel (second)
Speech prefix(es)Do.
Words297
Characters1584
Typicality0.40 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA01911
BritDrama no.1340
ClusterCluster 7 — Pedants, satyrs & Latin wit

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

I think your disease Sir, be rather of the mind then the body. No question Sir, even as there be of the body. And cures for them too, but not by Physic. Yes, oftentimes. Evermore. Not the passion of the mind, for the mind ma nigh times is sick, when the body is healthful. In time, certain. No question. Yet it will not you see. Heimihi quod nullus a or est medicabilis herbis. Why what is love? is not that a disease of the mind? But you know we use to say, my mind gives me this or that, even in those addictions that concern the body. Divinely spoken Sir, but very Paradoxically. Exceeding well Sir, she's a good learned scholar. Me thinks you two shood use much conference. Pardon me Sir, this humbleness cannot flow Out of your udgment but from passion. A most excellent Dictick. Well master Clarence I perc iue your mind Hath so incorparate it self with h flesh And therein ratified that flesh to spirit, That you have needs of no Physicians help. But good Sir even for holy virtues health And grace of perfect knowledge, do not make Those groundworks of eternity, you lay Means to your ruin, and short being here: For the too strict and rational Course you hold Will eat your body up; and then the world, Or that small point of it, where virtue lives Will suffer Diminution: It is now Brought almost to a simple unity, Which is, (as you well know) Simplicior puncto. And if that point fail once, why, then alas The unity must only be supposed, Let it not fail then, most men else have sold it; Though you neglect your self, vphould it, So with my reverend love I leave you Sir.

Plot summary

Plot — Sir Giles Goosecap
The widow Eugenia lives in chastity with two virgins, Hippolyta and Penelope. They entertain three foolish would-be suitors to supper: Sir Giles Goosecap, Sir Cuthbert Rudesby, and Captain Foulweather. A page tells the guests that the ladies plan an early morning visit to Barnet the next day, and encourages them to rendezvous there; in fact, it is to be a wild-goose chase. The pages later meet the suitors on their way back, and tell them that the ladies decided not to go after all, asa test of tolerance. Clarence is also in love with Eugenia, and confides this to his best friend, her uncle, Lord Momford. Disturbed to hear of the supper with the knights, Momford visits his niece and tries to press Clarence’s suit. Relatives of Goosecap and Rudesby likewise sing their in-laws’ praises, albeit rather unconvincingly. Momford brings a love-letter from Clarence and tries to get Eugenia to reply; he agrees to take dictation from her, but writes down her refusal with additional phrases which turn it into an acceptance, then signs her name on her behalf. Momford invites the ladies to supper. Eugenia is persuaded to come only on the assurance that Clarence is too ill to be present. The other suitors are also invited. Momford takes his guests on a tour of the house, during which they overhear Clarence discussing Eugenia with his doctor - an ‘accident’ which was planned by Momford all along. Eugenia suspects that he also intends to arrange a more direct encounter with Clarence, so she hides in the one place they will not expect to find her: Clarence’s bedroom. But Clarence is there, and they agree to marry. Momford is delighted that she has accepted his friend without knowing that the young man is also his heir.