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)
Flaccus: | Flascus: | Flacc. | Flaceus:
Words
337
Characters
1886
Typicality
0.19 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A06184
BritDrama no.
802
Cluster
Cluster 3 — Citizens, tradesfolk & neighbors
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 3 (numps, numpes, blastfield, wares, parson, nidden…). Matches are highlighted.
Happy and fortunate thy return to Room. Long, fortunate and happy life betide Old Marius in his sevenfold Consulship. Madame, in danger wise dome does advise, In humble terms to reconcile
device, If Scillas friends and Fortune's merit fame, should Dictators name. Then in the name of Room I here present The rods and axes into Scillas hand, And fortunate prove Scylla our Dictator. what means Scylla in this sullen mood, To leave his titles on the sudden thus? Sirrah, go you and bring the soldier That hath so loosely
chance? What shall a little biting blast of pain Blemish the blossoms of thy wonted pride? Ladies, to Tyre the time in restless moan Were tedious unto friends and nature too, Suffices you that Scylla so is dead, As fame shall sing his power though life be fled. Romans you know, and to your griefs have seen A world of troubles
Full speech
Happy and fortunate thy return to Room. Long, fortunate and happy life betide Old Marius in his sevenfold Consulship. Madame, in danger wise dome does advise, In humble terms to reconcile our foes. I countrymen, if Scillas pour and mind If Scillas virtue courage and device, If Scillas friends and Fortune's merit fame, should Dictators name. Then in the name of Room I here present The rods and axes into Scillas hand, And fortunate prove Scylla our Dictator. what means Scylla in this sullen mood, To leave his titles on the sudden thus? Sirrah, go you and bring the soldier That hath so loosely leaned to lawless lust, We will have means sufficient be assured To cool his heat, and make the wanton chased. But in this humbleness of mind my Lord, Whereas experience prooude and Art do meet. How happy were these fair Italian fields, If they were graced with so sweet a sun: Then I for Room and Room with me requires, That Scylla will abide and govern Room. Why Scylla, where is now thy wonted hope In greatest hazard of unstayed chance? What shall a little biting blast of pain Blemish the blossoms of thy wonted pride? Ladies, to Tyre the time in restless moan Were tedious unto friends and nature too, Suffices you that Scylla so is dead, As fame shall sing his power though life be fled. Romans you know, and to your griefs have seen A world of troubles hatched here at home, Which through prevention being wellnigh crossed By worthy Scylla and his warlike band: I Consul with these father's think it meet To fortify our peace and Cities weal, To name some man of worth that may supply Dictators power and place, whose majesty Shall cross the courage of rebellious minds, What think you Romans, will you condescend? We grieve to see the aged Marius Stand Like a private man in view of Room. While graver thoughts of honour should allure thee What makes Scylla muse and mutter thus?
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.