Senat: | 2. Sen: | 1. Sen. | 2. Sen. | Sen: | 1. Sen:
Words
328
Characters
1734
Typicality
0.31 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A04889
BritDrama no.
969
Cluster
Cluster 14 — Law & judgment
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
I would you knew your selves as well as I, Go get you he ̄ ce, it is for young men to ply their books, To practice music, and delight in arms, And not to loiter up and down the streets. When Brishio and I meet, wele talk of that? Let him come crave himself, I'll answer him. The better cause have I to cast him off, I will not raze my house to raise you up, Let me see, you are two good tall youths, And fit for soldiers, go you to Milan to, Where your father is, live by the wars, And do not vex us in peace, for you get not a penny of me. Exit Senate. Remit thou yet thy stern austerity, Most mighty prince, and be not so severe, Though Lelio by the law do merit death, There is no law that may defraud his wife, Or leave his daughter without maintenance, Oh grant thou this joust favour mighty Duke, That they may keep possession of his house, Although the commonwealth command his goods. Thy fault deserves not death, The law requires a hundred crowns for penalty from ̄ thee Thou dost demean too much intemperance, Thou foolish man arise, do not stain the badge of age And wisdom by misgovernment: Our senators in Venice are well schooled in such haps, And can doom of things, not by thy tears, Or sorrow working words, But by the truth and estimate of acts, Thou sayest that Lelio slew Sempronio, But that assertion Servio must not serve, To prove him guilty in these reverend ears. What proofs produceth Servio to the state, To prove Lord Lelio guilty of the murder, When as through Venice nothing was more found, Then faithful friendship plighted betwixt them twain. Now gentlemen what seek you at my hands? We look for money Brishio, not for plaints. We ratify the same by our consent. Craft often lurks in a shepherd's coat.
Plot summary
Plot — A Knack to Know an Honest Man
Sempronio has attempted to commit adultery with Lelio’s wife, so Lelio fights and wounds him in a duel. The affray is witnessed by three shepherds, who pursue him as a murderer, leaving Sempronio dying. He is found by an old hermit, Philip, who attempts to heal his wounds. His uncle, Servio, appeals to the Duke of Venice for justice against Lelio - though, glad to inherit Sempronio’s estate, he is motivated more by malice than moral outrage. The Duke pronounces Lelio guilty of murder and sentences him to death in his absence; his estate is confiscated, but his wife and daughter are allowed to keep his house. The Duke m ===== PAGE 250 ===== further puts a price on his head and orders that nobody should succour him on pain of banishment. Lelio’s father-in-law Brishio helps him to escape from Venice, but Servio sees him being winched into the ship. Brishio is arrested and banished, and his sons, Zepherius and Orphinio, are left destitute. Philip revives Sempronio, whose near-death experience has made him chaste and ascetic. Philip disguises him as an old man, and he swears not to reveal his true identity until the hermit permits it. He assumes the alias Penitent Experience, and meets Fortunio and Marchetto, who are discussing their interest in Lelio’s family and estate: Fortunio wants the love of Lelio’s daughter, Lucida, but Marchetto is more interested in the money. Sempronio tells them that both gold and beauty are evanescent, and offers to show them how to recognize an honest man; Fortunio accepts him into his service. Marchetto seizes Lelio’s property, and offers to give some of it back to Annetta if she will grant him sexual favours; Fortunio also propositions Lucida. Refused, the men plan to return that night and rape them. Sempronio notifies Zepherius and Orphinio, who intervene and wound Fortunio as he is trying to force an entry. They are imprisoned and Servio tries to have them executed for. murder; but his daughter, Phillida, is in love with Orphinio and releases them, on condition that he will marry her should he ever return to Venice. Servio is arrested and sentenced to death for letting the brothers escape; but he is pardoned after Fortunio recovers, newly penitent, and admits that the brothers were right to stop the attempted rape. Lelio and Brishio flee to Florence and Milan ‘ respectively; but the two dukes are on the point of war over a dowry dispute, and the two refugees are appointed their champions. When the two kinsmen recognize one…