Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

WIDOW

in The Scornful Lady — Beaumont, Francis; Fletcher, John

Metadata

PlayThe Scornful Lady
AuthorBeaumont, Francis; Fletcher, John
Year (catalogued)1616
First performance1613
Decade1610s
GenreComedy
Play typeBoys Professional; Adult Professional
CompanyChildren of the Queen's Revels
TheaterBlackfriars;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Wi. | VVi. | Wid. | UUi. | Wi
Words562
Characters2760
Typicality0.23 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA06389
BritDrama no.1626
ClusterCluster 1 — Wives, widows & intimate counsel

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Nor I neither Sir. And therefore not for my diet, for I love a tender one. Good Sir no more, what ere my husband was, I know what I am, and if you marry me, you must bear I bravely off Sir. No, sweet sir, but with your shoulders: I must have you dubbed, for under that I will stoop a feather. My husband was a fellow loved to toil, feed ill, made gain his exercise, and so grew costive, which for I was his wife, and gave way to, and spun mine own smocks course, and sir, so little; but let that pass. Time, that wears all things out, wore out this hu band, who in penitence of such fruitless five years mar riage, left me great with his wealth, which if you'll be á worthy gossip to, be knighted Sir. B you very wise, and be knighted, and then give thanks for me Sir. And yours Sir, if you mean well; it's a handsome Gen tleman. Go, thou art a pretty forehanded fellow, would thou Wertenberg wiser. To answer in short, it's this Sir, No knight, no widow: if you make me any thing, it must be a Lady; and so I take my leave. Sir I do more then think of it, it makes me dream sir. I had rather give it back again believe me, It's a misery to say you had it. Take heed. Sir you speak well, would God that charity had first be gun here. By my troth the Gentleman has stewed him in his own sauce, I shall love im fort. B tter and better still: You do him wrong Sir, he's a Knight. Sir, you speak Like a worthy brother: and so much I do cerdit your fair language, that I shall love your brother: and so love him, but I shall blush to say more. You have half persuaded me, pray use your pleasure: and my good f iends since I do know your diet, I'll take and or der, meat shall not offend you, you shall have ale. Pray Sir cast off these fellows, as unfitting for your bore knowledge, and far more your company: is't fit such Rag amuffins as these are should bear the name of friends? and fur nish out a civil house? you're to be married now, and men that love you must expect a course far from your old carrire: If you will keep um, turn um toth' stable, & there make um grooms: and yet now I consider it, such beggars once set a horse back, you have herd will ride, how far you had best to look to. What do you mean Sir? Sir, you hear these fellows? If you can cast it so Sir, you have my liking; if the eat less, I should not be offended: But how these, Sir, can live upon so little as Counterfeit ne and Uva er. I am unbelieving. I but my sweet Knight, where the meat to this, and clothes that they must look for? To one another let um be companions, but good Sir not to you: you shall be civil and slip off these base trappings. I do not Like these Morals. Good twelve hundred keep your way, I am not for your diet: marry in your own Tribe Iow, and get a Brokes.

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.