Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

PINEDA

in A Challenge for Beauty — Heywood, Thomas

Metadata

PlayA Challenge for Beauty
AuthorHeywood, Thomas
Year (catalogued)1636
First performance1635
Decade1630s
GenreTragicomedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
TheaterBlackfriars;Globe;Indoor Professional;Outdoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Pin. | Pine. | Pyn. | Pineda, | P • n.
Words676
Characters3519
Typicality0.22 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA03190
BritDrama no.2434
ClusterCluster 20 — Conjurers, witches & physicians

Important excerpts

Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 20 (ithimore, nat, invisible, notary, glycerie, humfrey…). Matches are highlighted.

and her cause As far from my acquaintance: by my life, Which never before a more Royal Court, Could have been called in question: what she is, I know not: of what Nation, birth, degree; How, or from whence derived, what continent, Or from what place she's come; she may be Turk, But More she cannot be, she is so fair, She's strange

Full speech

You know the Gentleman conferred with you? Why are you so loath to meet him then? And be persuaded to find usage answerable to your Contempt. Here's both their Ransoms, O yes, your English Jews, they' le buy and fell their fa the, prostrate their wives, and make money of their own chil dren, the male stews can witness that: come on Sir, you must along. Then you'll not fly Like bullets in the jaws Of Death and danger? Divide'em so. Troath I wonder In what remote climb the poor exile tre ds, Or in what place he Hope's to find that piece His impudence durst boast of? Then royal Lady, Might I advice you, keep out of the Sun And walk still in the shade, by pro fe we see Such Meteors oft take fir . As a thing of wax, never was thri ty trader more willing to put of a sullke commodity, than she was to truck for her may denhead, I admire her forwardness. This by my direction is the place the labour in vain, and here spite of delay, she has prevented myhast, you see I keep my word suum to. Sweet, I am come to make tender of my promise. You have my heart already. Welcome as health to the house of sickness: and now, where how, what, when? And can you blame me, my blood chils, my nerves faint. I am abused, my attendant Daemon prompts me, I am abused. Here, and by thee, by both a false imposture and a common Strumpet. Both, they are both dissembled, and my noble purpose frustrate, this is not the Ring. And you the woman my fate points at; how simple in nocence may be played upon? No, I will keep it to witness and evidence against you, for instantly expect the severest punishment law can inflict upon Impostures of this kind. And lusty wondrous lusty. Pox on that slipper. Nay, that upon my knowledge. And faith what thinkest of Bonavida's undertaking? Bold Valladaura, well returned from Sea: we hear— But beauteous Petrocella— It deserves no less. Take your stands, let's have of her full view. And, or die, Or bring you news of her inchastity. But usual in a lover, may we presume upon the trust of this gentleman? WHat disturbs Valladaura? Where? Dishonoured above sufferance. You sent him to bed to your wife. Noble of all sides, and so for joy of your friendly agree meant, the Amorous sun is come to give you a hunts-up. Ten a clock, is the last hour his life has to reckon. Most Divine Princess, Should they mere here, I should not blame your fears, Since th'one appears to be in omparable. You keep your own yet madam. Would, who I? You amaze me, Nor know I what this means. Of which crime, I here protest me clear: Name the time where. I do this! Madam, by all my favours stored in you, I never looked upon that face till now; Nor do I know what this Imposture means Bring me in censure? by that royalty, Beneath whose grace I breathe, she is to me As foreign as and Indian: and her cause As far from my acquaintance: by my life, Which never before a more Royal Court, Could have been called in question: what she is, I know not: of what Nation, birth, degree; How, or from whence derived, what continent, Or from what place she's come; she may be Turk, But More she cannot be, she is so fair, She's strange to me, yet somewhat should I say; To breast with her, I might as well have done it With a Bear, or Lionnesse: Madam with her I vow I never did. I can, and dare. We will. The Land breeds few other: what's here, a Market of Slaves? You may have cause to say so: rh'as sent you Ransom. Madam I hold you In least of these not to be paralleled. you are now heated: a little pause will cool you.

Plot summary

Plot — A Challenge for Beauty
The marriage of Sebastian and Isabella unites the crowns of Portugal and Spain. Covetous of excessive praise, the proud Isabella solicits flattery from her courtiers. Two comply, but Bonavida criticizes her arrogant self-regard and is banished: he may return only when he can produce a woman who is Isabella’s equal in beauty, so he travels the world in search of one. Petrocella thinks she might be in with a chance, and is disappointed when her next caller is not Bonavida but her suitor Valladaura, who has returned injured from a sea-battle. She disparages his exploits and rejects him, but speaks well of the Englishman who wounded him. The soldier in question, Ferrers, has been captured by the Turks; Valladaura finds him in a slave market and buys him and his friend, Manhurst. Though Ferrers is suspicious of his motives, Valladaura frees them both: Manhurst goes back to England, and Ferrers is introduced to Petrocella, in the hope that he will testify to Valladaura’s bravery and court her on his behalf. In England, Bonavida finds the beautiful woman he is searching for: Helena. He proposes marriage, but plans to go home to have his banishment rescinded before bringing Helena there as his wife. They exchange tokens, and Bonavida takes his leave; but when he arrives in Spain, he is imprisoned for breaking his exile, having returned without the woman he was charged to find. Isabella sends her two flatterers to England to get the ring Bonavida left with Helena, and they trick her maid into stealing it. Pursued by his creditors, Manhurst enters Helena’s household in disguise, and tells her that her brother, Ferrers, is still in prison and must be ransomed; she sets off for Spain. Ferrers falls for Petrocella himself, declares his love for her, and finds that she loves him too. He tells her that he may only marry a woman who agrees unconditionally to his first request, and she swears to do so; he then asks her to love and marry Valladaura. At Valladaura’s request, he first disguises himself as a priest and performs the marriage, then substitutes himself for the bridegroom on the wedding night, observing Valladaura’s stipulation that there should be no sex. Valladaura tells his new father-in-law that Petrocella is spending the night with another man; but Petrocella has stabbed the man in bed with her, taking him for Valladaura. Or so it seems, for in fact Ferrers is not dead, and Valladaura can see his plan through: to test his friend’s fidelity and then (having…