Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

URANIA

in Cupid's Revenge — Beaumont, Francis; Fletcher, John

Metadata

PlayCupid's Revenge
AuthorBeaumont, Francis; Fletcher, John
Year (catalogued)1615
First performance1608
Decade1610s
GenreTragedy
Play typeBoys Professional
CompanyChildren of the Queen's Revels
Speech prefix(es)Vra. | Ura. | Urania. | Vran. | V. | Vrania. | Ur.
Words721
Characters3340
Typicality0.34 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA06177
BritDrama no.1533
ClusterCluster 21 — Old fathers & plain counsel

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 fene speak to the good Marquess my brother, if I but thought he could abaid me. Very well I thank you. Feth a she be no good, God may her so. Leave us a while. My Lord Ismenus, I pray for the love of heaven and God, That you would tell me one thing, which I know You can do weel. But will you tell me this one thing? Yes faith 'tis matter. I pray you let we know whaire the Prince my brother is. But believe me, she knows none of this. Why I will tell you: and if I speak false Let the Devil would me, Yonders a bade man, Come from a Tayrant to my mother, and what name They would for him, good faith I cannot tell. Thats it: but he would carry me away, And have me marry his Master; and I'll day Ere I will would him. Yes, for you know all my mother does: Again the Prince is but to ma me great. Why I would go to the good Marquess my Brother, and put my self into his hands, that so He may preserve himself. Why feth I do, would I might never stir more if I do not. By my troth you may. But ail go i'this ladst reparrell: But you must help me to Silver. In good feth I shall be weell and rich enough If you will love me, and not put me from you. You have fair eyes Master. To think that such a fine man should live, and no gay Lady love him. Yes sure till I die, and when I am in heaven I'll eene wish for you. You are sad, but I am not sleepy, would I could do ought to make you merry: shall I sing? Law Master, theres one, look to your sen. Gods keep me but from knowing him till I die: aye me, sure I cannot live a day, o thou foul Traitor: How do you Master? 'Tis nothing sir and you be well. I know you well enough, Feth I am dying, and now you know all too. Do you not know me? I shall smile till death and I see you. I am Urania your sister-in-law. I am Urania. Feth for love, I would not let you know till I was dying; for you could not love me, my Mother was so nought. I, but never sir be afred; For though she take th'vngainst weas she can, I'll never hat from you. And though she be my Mother, If she take any caurse to do you wrong, If I can seet, youst quickly hear ont sir: And so I'll take my leave. And wone you tell me then? Why, and I do, would I might never see day again. I but I'll never deliver it. When I have found my Brother, I will beg To serve him; but he shall never know who I am; For he must hate me then for my bad mother: I'll say I am a country Lad that want a service, And have streid on him by chance, lest he discover me; I know I must not live long, but that taime I would to spend, shall be in serving him. And though my Mother seek to take his life away, In ai day my brother shall be taught that I was Ever good, though she were nought. I can not eat God thank you, But I'll eat to morrow. Alas, I fear I shall be discovered now. I cannot tell if I go from you, Sir I shall never dawn day more: Pray if you can I will be true To you: Let me wait on you: If I were a man, I would fight for you: Sure you have some ill-willers, I would slay um. What hast thou found him? Gods bless my brother where so ere he is: And I be seech you keep me from the bed Of any naughty Tyrant whom my mother Would would me have to wrong him. You know me weel enough, but that you mock, I am she my sen. If you have any mercy left i'you to a poor wench tell me. I should be well then, for you will not love me.

Plot summary

Plot — Cupid's Revenge
Leontius, King of Lycia, promises his daughter Hydaspes anything she asks for on her birthday. She wants him to ban the cult of Cupid in Lycia: the god’s naked statues are to be taken down and burnt, and Cupid-worship to be made a capital offence. Leontius agrees, persuaded that the religion is the cause of national immorality. His nephew Ismenus demurs: he will promulgate the Duke’s orders, but will himself take no hand in obeying them. As his temples are dismantled, Cupid declares vengeance on the kingdom. The Lycian royal family begins to behave with inappropriate amorousness. Hydaspes fixates on Zoilus, a deformed dwarf, and asks to be allowed to marry him; her father’s response is to have him beheaded, and she pines to death. Prince Leucippus falls for Bacha, a strumpet only interested in his wealth and power, but, questioned by his father, denies sexual misbehaviour and praises her virtue and chastity. Leontius is so impressed that he sends Leucippus away ===== PAGE 378 ===== and woos Bacha for himself, affecting youthful clothing and behaviour. Bacha becomes Queen of Lycia. When Leucippus returns to court, Bacha tries to seduce him again. He refuses to cuckold his father, and, annoyed at his refusal, she plots his death; this will leave her daughter Urania as the only heir to the throne. She makes Leontius jealous of his son’s popularity with the people and courtiers, and persuades him that Leucippus is plotting his assassination. The court parasite Timantus tells Leucippus that the King is to discuss his arrest at a council, and arranges to place him where he can eavesdrop and be forewarned of the charges. It is a ruse: Leucippus is arrested and sentenced to death, and Urania is proclaimed heir to the throne. At the execution, the citizens rise in rebellion and rescue the Prince from the scaffold. As Leontius sickens, Bacha schemes to marry Urania to a foreign prince; but she is in love with Leucippus, locates him through the good offices of Ismenus, and follows him posing as a page. Bacha engages Timantus to murder Leucippus. He finds the Prince by intercepting a letter from Ismenus; but his attack fails when Urania interposes her own body and is mortally wounded. Timantus is killed, but reveals her true identity before he dies. Ismenus brings Leucippus news that Leontius is dead. He declares that he will leave Bacha to heaven’s justice, but she stabs him. He dies, bequeathing the throne to Ismenus and enjoining him to reinstate the cult and…