in The Wounds of Civil War, or Marius and Scilla — Lodge, Thomas
Metadata
Play
The Wounds of Civil War, or Marius and Scilla
Author
Lodge, Thomas
Year (catalogued)
1594
First performance
1588
Decade
1590s
Genre
Tragedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Admiral's (Nottingham's) Men
Speech prefix(es)
Iu, Brutus: | Iu. Brutus:
Words
170
Characters
979
Typicality
0.33 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A06184
BritDrama no.
802
Cluster
Cluster 8 — Martial kings & Roman gravity
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 8 (massinissa, yaw, league, renown, quasi, apud…). Matches are highlighted.
Senate here? Yes Pompey, yes: and hereof are we sure If Romans State on Scillas pride should lie, Rome's Conquests would to Pontus Regions fly: Therefore graven and renowned Senators, (Pillars that bear and hold our Rule aloft, You stately, true, and rich Piramides) Descend into the depth of your estates, Then shall you find that
Full speech
Why Pompey, as if the Senate had not pour To appoint, dispose, & change their Generals: Room shall belike be bound to Scillas Rule, Whose haughty pride and swelling thoughts puffed up, Foreshows the reaching to proud Tarquin's state: Is not his lingering to our Roman lose At Capva where he braves it out with feasts, Made known think you unto the Senate here? Yes Pompey, yes: and hereof are we sure If Romans State on Scillas pride should lie, Rome's Conquests would to Pontus Regions fly: Therefore graven and renowned Senators, (Pillars that bear and hold our Rule aloft, You stately, true, and rich Piramides) Descend into the depth of your estates, Then shall you find that Scylla is more fit, To Rule in Room domestical affairs, Then have the Conquest of Bithinia, Which if once God, heel but by death forgo, Therefore I say Marius our General. 'Tis true Scylla the Senate hath agreed, That Marius shall those bans and Legions bear, which you now hold against Mithridates.
Plot summary
Plot — The Wounds of Civil War, or Marius and Scilla
King Mithridates has defied Roman power in Asia Minor, and the consul Sulla has been selected by lot to take reprisals. But Sulla lingers with the army in Capua, and the Senate votes to transfer the command to Marius, a more experienced soldier. Sulla invades the Senate with his troops and threatens to uphold his rights with violence. The senators take sides, and a civil war follows. Sulla is victorious; Marius takes refuge at Minturnum. Sulla proscribes Marius and his allies as traitors, and leads the army to Asia Minor. Marius is warned that his hosts plot his murder, but accepts his fate and goes to sleep. The assassin, Pedro, is unable to go through with the killing, so the magistrates simply ask Marius to leave town. He flees to Africa, and lives in the mountains on a diet of roots. Marius’ son comes to recall him to Rome: the new consul, Cinna, is sympathetic to him. But Sulla returns victorious from the east, and attempts to prevent his rival from entering Italy. Nevertheless Marius reaches Rome, and begins to settle old scores with violence. Cinna deposes and murders his fellow consul Octavius, Marius’ enemy, and Marius is appointed to fill the vacancy. Sulla is proscribed and his property confiscated, and Marius sends his son to engage Sulla’s army in battle. Sulla’s wife and daughter are arrested as they attempt to leave Rome; Marius threatens them with death, but then sends them honourably back to Sulla. Marius dies in office. After a bloody battle, Sulla enters Rome victorious and compiles an extensive death-list of his enemies. Young Marius holes up in Praeneste, the last stronghold of resistance, but after a siege he concedes the inevitable and commits suicide; Sulla’s forces conquer the city and put the inhabitants to the sword. Sulla is proclaimed dictator, and insists that the appointment be made perpetual; but he soon finds that supreme power brings with it a troubled mind, and resigns the office. He plans to retire to the country, but a spirit appears with a prophecy of his death. He takes his leave of his family, and is buried with great pomp.