in The Scornful Lady — Beaumont, Francis; Fletcher, John
Metadata
Play
The Scornful Lady
Author
Beaumont, Francis; Fletcher, John
Year (catalogued)
1616
First performance
1613
Decade
1610s
Genre
Comedy
Play type
Boys Professional; Adult Professional
Company
Children of the Queen's Revels
Theater
Blackfriars;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)
Mar. | Ma.
Words
484
Characters
2430
Typicality
0.29 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A06389
BritDrama no.
1626
Cluster
Cluster 4 — Constant hearts & virtuous ladies
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
No, he out-snores the Poet. Sir, my S sters strictness makes not us forget you are a stranger and a Gentleman. Will you fit down Sir, and take a spoon? It is our best banquet Sir. Good Sir Roger keep that breath to cool your partly o'th posset, you may chance have a scalding zeal else: and you will needs be doing, pray tell your twenty to your self. Would you could Like this Sir? Sure Sir she would not eat you: but banish that imagination; she's only wedded to herself, lies with her self, and lou S herself; and for and other husband then her self, he may knock at the gate, but never come in: be wise Sir, she's a woman, and a trouble, and has her many faults, the least of which is, she cannot love you. Faith would thou hadst them all withal my heart: I do not think they would make thee a day older. Well said old sayings. Run for some Rosasolis. Had a hard heart that could not laugh at you Sir. would, would. Faith then lets hear him sister. We had best mussell him, he grows . He looks as though he had a grecuous fit ath Colic. Close at the door. A most ill favoured one, with her Masque on: And how her face should mend the rest I know not. Help sister, this lady swoons. Sister, will you marry that inconstant man? think you he will not cast you off to morrow, to wrong a lady thus, looked she Like dirt, it basely done. May you never prosper with him. That was your modesty, too good for him. I would not see your wedding for a world. Dri up your forsooth, you shall not think we are all uncivil, all such beasts as these. Would I knew how to give you a revenge. Pray walk in with me, 'tis very late, and you shall stay all night: your bed shall be no worse then mine; I wish I could but do you right. For Gods sake Sir be private in this business, You have undone me else. Oh God, what have I done? How shall I look upon my friends again? With what face? Good deer friend go in. I dare not stay sir, use me modestly, I am your wife. Sir, it's so late, and our entertainment (meaning our posset) by this is grown so cold, that 'twere and unmannerly partly longer to hold you from your rest: let what the house has be at your command Sir. Oh my sister. Sister yonders your Servant, with a gentlewoman with him. Faith Sister you are much to balm, to use a woman, what soever she be, thus: e salute her: You are welcome hither. Good Sir go in, and put your woman's clothes on. If you be seen thus, I am lost for ever.
Plot summary
Plot — The Scornful Lady
The Loveless brothers are in trouble. The younger owes money to Morecraft and stands to lose his land, while the elder has been ordered by his lady-love to go into exile for a year as penance for his over-eagerness. He leaves his brother in charge of his house during his absence, with an allowance for his maintenance, and the steward Saville to restrain him, but the young man associates with rogues. Together they reinterpret his brother’s written instructions in order to license his prodigal behaviour. While they are drinking and wenching, the elder Loveless returns in disguise bringing news of his own death: young Loveless inherits his brother’s land, and promptly mortgages it to Morecraft. The elder Loveless also reports his death to the Lady, who consoles herself by chatting up another lover, Welford. When Loveless reveals his true identity, she retorts that she knew it was him and sends him on his way, but also disappoints Welford. Loveless returns and abuses her, pretending to be out of love. She faints and he relents: it was a trick to test her; but, she says, she knew that all along, and Loveless is sent away again. The elder Loveless dismisses Saville for negligence and reclaims his mortgaged property, but his younger brother not only keeps the money but also steals Morecraft’s intended fiancée, a rich, socially ambitious widow. She objects to his low-life friends, but he persuades her that they are cheaper than servants. The Lady’s affections begin to turn: she sends the elder Loveless a love letter. He conspires with Welford to get their own back: Welford cross-dresses as his new fiancée, and Loveless graciously gives in to the Lady’s pleas that he should jilt ‘her’. Loveless marries the Lady (who is angry when she learns how she has been tricked), and Welford sleeps with her sister. Young Loveless arrives with his new wife, and persuades his brother to reinstate Saville.