Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

CURIUS

in Catiline His Conspiracy — Jonson, Ben

Metadata

PlayCatiline His Conspiracy
AuthorJonson, Ben
Year (catalogued)1611
First performance1611
Decade1610s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
Speech prefix(es)CVR.
Words1022
Characters5410
Typicality0.35 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA04640
BritDrama no.1646
ClusterCluster 12 — Wooers, gallants & courtly love-talk

Important excerpts

Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 12 (signor, sal, zelmane, handkerchief, absolon, dissemble…). Matches are highlighted.

chests, Gold, Pearl, and Jewels, here in Room, which Fulvia, Will then (but late) say that she might have shared. And, grieving, miss. But, when you see the universal flood Run by your coffers; that my Lords, the Senators, Are sold for slaves, their Wives for bondwomen, Their Houses, and fine Gardens given away, And all their

Full speech

Hail the third Cornelius. Lecca? As at Atreus feast! Look forth. Len. It still grows greater. BES. Go on, brave Sergius. Freedom we all stand for. So do I. How pretty Solennesse! So harsh, and short? Then, make my gown off, for the'encounter. I'll put you into't. What! do you coy it? I would you were. You think, this state becomes you? By Hercules, it do's not. Look i'your glass, now, And see, how sciruely that countenance shows; You would be loath to own it. Faith, but you must; and slack this bent brow; And shoot less scorn: There is a Fortune coming Towards you, Dainty, that will take thee, thus, And set thee aloft, to tread upon the head Of her own statue here in Room. How! This's handsome! And somewhat a new strain! I have known it otherwise, Between the parties, though. No, my Mistress? Hear me, You over act when you should underdo. A little call your self again, and think. If you do this to practice on Me or find At what forced distance you can hold your servant; That' it be and artificial trick, to inflame, And fire me more, fearing my love may need it, As, heretofore, you have done; why, proceed. Yes, when you'd feign Your husbands jealousy, your servants watches, Speak softly, and run often to the door, Or to the windore, form strange fears that were not; As if the pleasure were less accountable, That were secure. And, when you might better have done it, at the gate, To take me in at the casement. Yes, you my Lady. And, then, being abed with you, To have your well taught waiter, here, come running, And cry, her Lord, and hide me without cause, Crushed in a chest, or thrust up in a chimney. When he, tame, Crow, was winking at his Farm; Or, had he been here, and present, would have kept Both eyes, and beak sealed up, for six sesterces. How now! Nay, then I must stop your fury, I see; and pluck The tragic visor off. Come, Lady Cypris, Know your own virtues, quickly. I'll not be Put to the wooing of you thus, afresh, At every turn, for all the Venus in you. Yield, and be pliant; or by Pollux —How now? Will Lais turn a Lucrece? Fulvia, you do know The strengths you have upon me; Do not use Your power too Like a Tyrant: I can bear, Almost until you break me. By all the Gods, that Senate will smart deep For your upbraidings. I should be right sorry To have the means so to be venged on you, (At least, the will) as I shall shortly on them. But, go you on still: Fare you well, deer Lady; You could not still be faire'vnlesse you were proud. You will repent these moods, and ere't be long, too. I shall have you come about, again. Yes, and I know so. By the fair Entrails of the Matrons chests, Gold, Pearl, and Jewels, here in Room, which Fulvia, Will then (but late) say that she might have shared. And, grieving, miss. But, when you see the universal flood Run by your coffers; that my Lords, the Senators, Are sold for slaves, their Wives for bondwomen, Their Houses, and fine Gardens given away, And all their goods, under the Spear, at outcry, And you have none of this; but are still Fulvia, Or perhaps less, while you are thinking of it: You will advise then, Coyness, with your cushion, And look of your fingers; say, how you were wished; And so, he left, you. How now, melt you? Yes, And then it's kindly. I would have my Love Angry, sometime, to sweeten off the rest Of her behaviour. By my loved soul, I love thee, Like to it; and it's my study, More then mine own revenge, to make thee happy. Thou shalt, if thou'lt be gracious. And wilt thou kiss me, then? And print them deep? And often? Why, now my Fulvia looks, Like her bright name, And is her self. I, these sounds Become a Mistress. Here is harmony. When you are harsh, I see, the way to bend you Is not with violence, but service. Cruel, A Lady is a fire, gentle, a light. All, That I can think, sweet Love, or my breast holds, I'll pour into thee. I'll tell thee; Catiline shall now be Consul: But, you will hear more, shortly. I'll speak it, in thine arms; Let us go in. Room will be sacked, her wealth will be our prize; By public ruin, private spirits must rise. Do you know it? Oh you are . Speak not so loud. Most noble Consul, I am yours, and ers; I mean my Countries: you' have formed me new. Inspiring me, with h what I should be, truly. And I entreat, my faith may not seem cheaper For springing out of penitence. And constant Sir. We lose occasion, daily. If he do not, He is not worthy the great destiny. and Asia too, Now Pompey is returning. No? whose is not? I would there were more Rome's then one, to ruin. Nay then more e Gods, & Nature's If they took partly. Every slave a master. Made from their hope Of liberty. Then we shall kill them bravest. Make the Earth and Altar. When Husbands, Wives, Grandsires, and Nephews, Servants, and their Lords, Virgins, and Priests, the Infant, and the Nurse Go all to hell, together, in a fleet. What shall I do? For that, trust me, and Cethegus. Remove him first. In good faith, She's very ill, with sitting up. Make hast, and bid him get his guards about him. For Vargunteius, and Cornelius Have undertaken it, should Cethegus miss: Their reason, that they think his open rash esse Will suffer easier discovery, Then their attempt; so veiled under friendship. I'll bring you to your Coach. Tell him, beside, Of Caesars coming forth, here. He needs not her, nor them. Go but on, Sergius. " A valiant man is his own Fate, and Fortune. Nor I.

Plot summary

Plot — Catiline His Conspiracy
Piqued at his rejection for a military command, Catiline has assembled a group of ambitious and malcontented men, and plans to take over the Roman state: some ~ are motivated by envy of those in authority, and by the prospect of wealth, power, and the opportunity for unlimited self-indulgence; another, Lentulus, believes that a prophecy has named him as a future ruler of Rome — an interpretation commissioned by Catiline himself. At a clandestine meeting, the conspirators drink blood to mark their commitment to the plot. Meanwhile Aurelia recruits a network of powerful women supporters. Curius visits his mistress Fulvia, whose resistance to his advances provokes a rape attempt. He excites her curiosity and she wheedles details of the conspiracy out of him. Catiline stands in the consular election, but is defeated by Cicero. When Cicero speaks of the need to protect the Roman state, Caesar and Crassus suspect that he may secure his position by manufacturing a threat for himself to overcome; they set the other consul, Antonius, to keep an eye on him, but Cicero turns him by bribery. Upset that Sempronia has been given pre-eminence in the conspiracy, Fulvia leaks to Cicero what she knows about it; Cicero confronts Curius with the information and recruits him as a double agent inside the plot. The conspirators plan to burn the city, having first assassinated Cicero; the plot is secretly backed by Crassus and Caesar. Curius sends Fulvia to warn Cicero of the attempt on his life, and he makes arrangements for his own security: the would-be killers are unable to gain access to his house. Alarmed at the prospect of civil unrest, people flee from Rome. Cicero exposes the plot in an extended address to the Senate. Catiline protests his innocence, but is forced out of the Senate, and leaves Rome to muster his forces. Lentulus has treated with the ambassadors of the Allobroges, a discontented neighbouring tribe seeking redress from the Senate. These dealings are relayed to Cicero, who persuades the Allobroges to procure letters from the conspirators, which will provide documentary evidence of the plot. When they leave Rome, the Allobroges are arrested as arranged, and deliver up the letters; their escort, Volturcius, offers information in exchange for his life. Seeing that the conspiracy is doomed, Crassus and Caesar quietly withdraw their support. Cicero presents his evidence to the Senate, but refuses to consider allegations implicating Caesar and Crassus. The…