Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

TIMOCLEA

in Campaspe (Alexander, Campaspe, and Diogenes) — Lyly, John

Metadata

PlayCampaspe (Alexander, Campaspe, and Diogenes)
AuthorLyly, John
Year (catalogued)1584
First performance1583
Decade1580s
GenreComedy
Play typeBoys Professional
CompanyChildren of the Chapel (first) (Oxford's Boys)
Theaterbefore the Court;
Speech prefix(es)Timo.
Words176
Characters972
Typicality0.36 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA06583
BritDrama no.746
ClusterCluster 19 — Grieving nobles & tragicomic sufferers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Fortune, thou didst never yet deceive virtue, because virtue never yet did trust fortune. Sword and fire will never get spoil, where wisdom and fortitude bears sway. Oh Thebes, thy walls were raised by the sweetness of the harp, but rased by the shrillness of the trumpet. Alexander had never come so near the walls, had Epaminondas walked about the walls, and yet might the Thebans have been merry in their streets, if he had been to watch their towers. But destiny is seldom foreseen, never prevented. We are here now captives, whose necks are yoked by force, but whose hearts can not yield by death. Come Campaspe and the rest, let us not be ashamed to cast our eyes on him, on whom we feared not to cast our darts. Alexander hath overcome, not conquered. He cannot subdue that which is divine. Virtue is. Alexander, I am the sister of Theagines, who fought a battle with thy father, before the City of Chye rony, where he died, I say which none Can ̄ gainsay, valialy.

Plot summary

Plot — Campaspe (Alexander, Campaspe, and Diogenes)
King Alexander has conquered Thebes and brought its captives to Athens, where he means to spend a peaceful interlude with the philosophers. Mo~t 1.:on 1 e and debate for him, but Diogenes churlishly refu:;t:"s to comply. Alexander becomes enamoured of Campaspe, and has her painted by Apelles, who himself falls in love with her. Knowing he must not challenge Alexander in love, he creates an excuse to see her again by blemishing the painting so that a second sitting is needed. Diogenes sends his servant to draw a crowd with a report that he will fly, but it is only a pretext to rail at them. Using a false report of a fire in Apelles' shop, Alexander tricks the painter into revealing his feelings for Campaspe, and, establishing that she reciprocates them, graciously withdraws his suit and allows them to marry. Having subdued his own amorous feelings, he will now go to war with Persia and conquer the world.