Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

TEDIOUSNESS

in The Marriage of Wit and Science — Anonymous

Metadata

PlayThe Marriage of Wit and Science
AuthorAnonymous
Year (catalogued)1570
First performance1568
Decade1570s
GenreMoral
Play typeInterlude(?); Boys Nonprofessional/School(?)
CompanyChildren of Paul's (first)(?)
Speech prefix(es)Tediousnes.
Words217
Characters1063
Typicality0.48 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA07052
BritDrama no.461
ClusterCluster 15 — Devils, vices & grotesques

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

What pryncox have we here, that dares me to assail, Alas poor boy, and winnest thou, against me to preva le. Full small was he thy friend, whoever sent the hither, For I must driven the back with shame, or slay thee altogether. First I must quise this brain oh thine, if I can reach it. These friscoles shall not serve your turn for all your haunts so brave Hoh hoh, did I not tell thee thou camest to thy pain. Where are these lust e blood, that make their match with me? Here lies a pa torn for them all, to look at and to see. To teach them to conspire against my force and might, To promise for their woman's love, to vanquish me in fight: Now let them go and crake, how wisely they have sped, Such is the end of those, that seek this curious Dame to wed. Hoh hoh hoh. A dought e dirt these iiii. oyes will do, I will eat them by morsels two and two. Thou fyghteste for a wife a rod a rod, Had I wist this, I would have laid on load, And beat thy bram ne and this my cloobe together, And made thee safe enough for returning hither, Let me come to that self. O

Plot summary

Plot — The Marriage of Wit and Science
Hearing Science’s reputation, Wit falls in love with her. His mother sends him on a journey to Mount Parnassus, with Will as his companion. Preferring a bachelor master (because it means an easier life for a servant), Will argues against marriage, but delivers Wit’s suit to Science, including his picture. Science has decided not to admit any more suitors, because they have all come to harm, but tells Wit that he must take time to learn to fight, so that he can take on her enemy Tediousness. Reason gives him a mirror and Experience commends him to seek help from Instruction. However, he finds Instruction boring, and he is killed in the battle with Tediousness. Recreation revives Wit with a song, but he is tempted by another sung by Idleness, and sleeps with her. She exchanges his coat for that of Ignorance, and he is not recognized by Science and Reason. He only realizes what has happened when he sees his own face in Reason’s mirror. Reason rebukes him and Shame whips him, but then, at Science’s request, he is given another chance. By following Instruction’s advice, he defeats and beheads Tediousness, so that his marriage with Science can proceed.