Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

GALLA

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)GAL. | GVL. | GA • .
Words459
Characters2462
Typicality0.59 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA04640
BritDrama no.1646
ClusterCluster 1 — Wives, widows & intimate counsel

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Madame. That from Clodius? Is this it? Madame. Believe me, It is a rich one, Madame. As 'twas yesterday? Will you have't i'the globe, or spire? Alas Madam. I do it, indeed, but for your exercise, As your Physician bids me. Not to anger you, But stir your blood a little: There's difference Between lukewarm, and boiling, Madame. I mean to dress you, Madame. Why, Madame? Wherefore, sweet Madam? It pleases you to flout one. I did dream Of Lady Sempronia. Me thought, She did discourse the best. Yes. OF the Republic, Madame, and the State, And how she was in debt, and where she meant To raise fresh sums: She's a great States-woman. No, but you know she is Madame, And both a Mistress of the Latin tongue, And of the Greek. Indeed, you mock me, Madame. A very masculine one. Yes Madame. Of all kinds, they say. Excellent. So well, As a bald Senator made a jest, and said, 'Twas better, then and honest woman need. She's liberal too, Madam. Of both, you know not which she does spare least. Troth, 'tis pity She is in years. Why so I have. She has been a fine Lady, And, yet, she dresses herself, (except you Madame) One of the best in Room: and paints, and hides Her decays very well. They wrong her verily Madame, she do's sleek With crumbs of bred, and milk, and lies a nights In as neat gloves. But she is feign of late To seek, more then she's sought to (the same is) And so spends that way. She do's well. She has Very good suits, and very rich: but, then, She cannot put them on. She knows not, how To wear a garment. You shall have her all Jewels, and gold sometime, so that her self Appears the least partly of her self. not in troth, As I live, Madame, you put them all down With your mere strength of judgement; and do draw, too, The world of Room to follow you: you attire Your self so diversely, and with that spirit, Still to the noblest humours. They could make Love to your dress, although your face were away, they say. Castor, my dream, my dream. For Venus sake, good Madame see her. And hear her talk, Sweet Madame, of State-matters, and the Senate. Fulvia, good wench, how dost thou? How she do's understand the common business! Excellent rare Lady! The better, for your learned Ladyship. And cleanses Very well, Madam, and resists the crudities. 'Tis the party, Madame. 'Tis Quintus Curius. Why, so they do. You know, he will not be kept out, Madam. Tut, she may bear that. Few wise women's honesties Will do their courtship hurt. For it is.

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…