in Adrasta, or The Woman's Spleen and Love's Conquest — Jones, John
Metadata
Play
Adrasta, or The Woman's Spleen and Love's Conquest
Author
Jones, John
Year (catalogued)
1635
First performance
1635
Decade
1630s
Genre
Tragicomedy
Play type
Closet/Unacted
Speech prefix(es)
Miſtris Abig. | Abig. | Ab. | Abigail. | Abi.
Words
368
Characters
1992
Typicality
0.19 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A04604
BritDrama no.
2488
Cluster
Cluster 3 — Citizens, tradesfolk & neighbors
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 3 (numps, numpes, blastfield, wares, parson, nidden…). Matches are highlighted.
does meditate and practice his Principles by my side till nine a Clock many times. But I pray, what did you hear was the cause of my Lady Iulia's daughters contamination? Now Jove forsend it! How desperate be these princock Gentlewomen when they be in love! they'll venture up on any weapons: I marvel themselves be not afraid
Full speech
Indeed Mistress Frailware our Husbands should not be troubled with common business; and Master Damasip put does meditate and practice his Principles by my side till nine a Clock many times. But I pray, what did you hear was the cause of my Lady Iulia's daughters contamination? Now Jove forsend it! How desperate be these princock Gentlewomen when they be in love! they'll venture up on any weapons: I marvel themselves be not afraid of stabbing: I warrant you shee'll to the Rock for it. Lord Mistress Frailware have you any friends in the Court? Doubtless you were one of the happiest living, to have such blessings: I would to heavens my husband, or I, might have and Office under these Courtiers, that I might have friends at Court too. God's my pity, is there Bearbaiting at Court? do the Ladies love Bearbaiting? In good deed la not well: he has been ill at ease ever since tother night. Oh patience deer Mistress Frailware! patience with your Spouse: my husband told me that patience was one of the ten moral virtues. Mistress Frailware will you fit by your husband? I and will do it though my husband herd me. Nay I have been forward enough to you M. Frailware, ever since my first marriage: for in good earnest I did marry M. Dam masippus, only because I saw the Philosophers wives go with the first of the Parish, and so forth—but my heart— Nay so he shall; for truly he is grown a very Pharao, a hardhearted Mirmidon to me of late. Away with him profane Tavern-Leech. I will not hear it. Oh, my husband! I will go to and exercise presently, that the gods may appease your wrath. exit. It eene makes me many times wish him in his grave, that he might sleep and I were free. Well this fit would cost me and exercise if my Husband knew it: but I can endure any thing for your sake sweet M. Frailware. I must confess he has a stinking breathe indeed; & that I have traversd the paths of goodfellowship for your sake. Fie M. Frailware that you'll have such a fearful word in your mouth.
Plot summary
Plot — Adrasta, or The Woman's Spleen and Love's Conquest
Adrasta, Duchess of Florence, objects to the amours between her son Lucilio and Althea, a woman of lower rank. She forges a letter from Lucilio to Althea which describes a plan to murder the Duke; Althea’s reply provides evidence to have her arrested for treason. Lucilio visits her in prison, convinces her that the original letter was a fake, and arranges her escape. Dressed in women’s clothes, he takes her place in the cell, stands trial as her, and is sentenced to death. The substitution is discovered only just before the execution; Lucilio attempts to kill himself anyway, but is prevented by his friend Antonio. He leaves Florence, fearful of his parents’ reprisals, and asks Antonio to assume his name and go to Greece, hoping that his father’s agents will follow this false trail and so leave him in peace. Worried that he may yet take his own life, Antonio passes on the responsibility to the villainous servant Alastor, and shadowys Lucilio in disguise. Consulted by Adrasta, the witch Micale conjures up spirits, who locate Althea living as a shepherdess in the mountains and supply poison to dispose of her. Micale is magically transported there and tries to share food with her, but Althea is melancholy and only her friend Camilla will drink the poisoned wine. Micale’s second strategy entails getting her to despair and kill herself, so she claims that both Lucilio and Althea’s mother Julia have been executed. Camilla dies, and Althea covers her face with a scarf she was given by Lucilio. Shepherds find and bury her body, and show the scarf to Antonio, who infers that the dead girl is Althea and duly notifies Julia. Julia blames Lucilio for her daughter’s death and hires Assassino to murder him. Assassino tracks Lucilio to the port where he is about to take ship for Greece, not knowing it is really Alastor whom he is following; he kills the supposed Prince and disposes of the body in the sea, but is arrested and sent back to Florence for trial. The corpse is later recovered, but is so decomposed that only the clothes are identifiable. Assassino confesses, and implicates Julia in the hope of being spared himself. Antonio offers Julia his help to lie low, but plans to attend Assassino’s execution with her in disguise. Althea goes to the place of execution, intending to throw herself off the rock and be reunited with Lucilio in death; but on the edge she sees the living Lucilio coming with the same intention. They are found together when Assassino is brought…