Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

ZOYA

in Parasitaster, or The Fawn — Marston, John

Metadata

PlayParasitaster, or The Fawn
AuthorMarston, John
Year (catalogued)1606
First performance1604
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeBoys Professional
CompanyChildren of the Queen's Revels
TheaterBlackfriars;Paul's;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Zoya. | Zoya | Zoy. | Zoya: | Zo. | Zoya;
Words845
Characters4401
Typicality0.29 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA07077
BritDrama no.1455
ClusterCluster 22 — Ghosts, curses & horror voices

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

That's most full truth, he hath most unjustly severed his sheets ever since the old Duke Pietro (heaven rest his soul.) Ever since the old Duke Pietro, the great Devil of hell torture his soul. Why? 'tis indifferent to them what you say fool, but do's my Lord rauell out, do's he fret? for pity of and afflicted Lady load him soundly, let him not go clear from vexation, he has the most dishonourably, with the most sinful, most vicious obstinacy, persevered to wrong me that were I not of a male constitution, it impossible for me to survive it, but in madness name, let him on, I would not the weak fence of some of your soft-eyed whim pering Ladies, who, if they were used Like me, would gall their fin gers with wringing their hands, look Like bleeding Lucresses, and shed salt water enough to powder all the beef in the Dukes lar der. No, I am resolute Donna Zoya ; would; that wives were of my mettle, I would make these ridiculously jealous fools, howl Like a starved dog, before he God a bit, I was created to be the affli ction of such and unsanctified member, and will boil him in his own syrup. If any man would the wit, now let him talk wantonly, but not baudily; come Gallants who'le be my servants: I am now we rye open hearted, and full of entertainment. Or all, I am taken with you all, with you all. Excellent Faunus I kiss thee for this, by this hand. No, good sir Amorous, your teeth hath taken rust, your breath wants airing, and indeed I love found kissing. Come Gall lants, who'le run a Caranto, or leap a Leualto. No matter, now I would the sleight, or rather the fashion of it, I fear no barrenness. Husband? husband? as if women could have no chil dren without husbands. No matter, thei'le be Like their father, 'tis honour enough to my husband, that they vouchsafe to call him father, and that his land shall descend to them (do's he not gnash his very teeth in anguish) Like our husband? I had rather they were vngroand for, Like our husband? prove such a melancholy jealous ass as he is: Do's he not stamp? Faith good enough face for a husband, come gallants I'll dance to mine own whistle, I am as light now as: ah, She sings and daun ces. a kiss to you, to my sweet free servants dream on me, and adue. Exit Zoya. Dear my Lord husband. What fellows that. I will would no mercy, I will not relent. The order shall stand, I am separated, and I will be see parated. Hence fellow, I am none of thy wife, no I will be ty rannous and a most deep revenger, the order shall stand, I will marry a fellow that keeps a fox in his bosom, a goat un der his arm holes, and a polecat in his mouth, rather then re accept thee. Was I not handsome, generous, honest enough from my foot to my feather, for such a fellow as thou art? But go thy ways & wive with whom thou wilt for my partly, thou hast spun a fair thread, whole kiss thee now? whole court thee now? whole would thee now? Well, upon your apparent repentance, that all modest spectators may witness, I have for a short time only thus faith nedly hated you, that you might ever after truly love me, up Pon these cautions I reaccept you: first you shall vow. Fain love to my waiting woman or chamber maid. Never promise them such a farm to their marriage. If sheele discover but whom I affect. Or if they know none that theil but take a false oath; I do, only to be rid of me. That if I chance to have a humour to be in a mask, you shall not grow Jealous. Or grudge at the expense. You shall vow to wear clean linen, and feed wholesomely. So it is your destiny that I should thus revenge your abuse: No the Irishman shall hate Aquavitae, the Welshman cheese and the Dutchman salt butter before isle love or receive thee, dos he cry? dos the babe pule? t'is to late now, thou shoul dest would cried before, t'is to late now, go bury thy head in silence, and let oblivion be thy utmost hope. sweet my Lord. Pity the frailty of my sex sweet Lord. alas poor creature. I wait upon her pleasure. Zuccone Herod, and Nim. depart. That you shall not search, if my chamber door hinges be oiled to avoid creaking. Nor ever suspect the reason why my bedchamber floor is double matted. Didst thou give him the famed report? do's he believe I am with child? do's he give faith? What? You shall vow. That you shall never. Then here my quarrel ends, thus cease all strife. Is he gone: is he blown of? now out upon him vnsuffe rably jealous fool.

Plot summary

Plot — Parasitaster, or The Fawn
After failing to persuade his son Tiberio to marry, Hercules, the widowed Duke of Ferrara, plans to marry Princess Dulcimel of Urbino, and sends Tiberio to negotiate the treaty. Hercules goes to Urbino himself, assumes the alias Faunus, meets Nymphadoro and Herod, and hears some unflattering remarks about himself in his other persona, Hercules. He gets them to introduce him at court, and becomes a favourite with the Duke of Urbino. Dulcimel would rather marry Tiberio than Hercules, and contrives to woo him using her father, Duke Gonzago, as an intermediary. She brings him a scarf which she has embroidered with a message, and tells him that it was sent by Tiberio; the outraged Gonzago gives it to the young man, thinking he is returning an unwanted would-be lover's gift. She then reports to ===== PAGE 176 ===== Gonzago that Tiberio intends to climb up the tree by her bedroom window and surreptitiously marry her. Gonzago repeats the plan back to Tiberio, revokes his diplomatic status, and orders him to leave Urbino. Instead, Tiberio. puts the plan into effect and marries Dulcimel in her bedroom. Faunus: observes the foolish behaviour of the courtiers at Urbino. Herod cuckolds his brother, the impotent Sir Amoroso, and gets his sister-in-law with child — in effect, dispossessing himself of the estate by producing an heir apparent. Donna Zoya, who bas not slept with her husband Zuccone for four years, feigns pregnancy, and the gossip spreads rapidly through the court, each person telling the next on condition that they keep it strictly to themselves. Zuccone repudiates her, then regrets it on learning she is not really an adulteress, but she will only take him back on new terms which give her the upper hand in the marriage. Faunus lays on a court entertainment: a parliament of Cupid to consider the many grievances lovers have sent to heaven. Cupid’s statutes are read, and several of the foolish courtiers are tried. Nymphadoro is convicted as a multiple philanderer and sent to the ship of fools, Herod for falsely boasting of love, and Granuffo for affecting silence to seem wiser than he is. Sir Amoroso (charged with wooing on false pretences) and Zuccone are spared. The last fool to be exposed is Gonzago, for procuring the seduction of his own daughter. Resuming his own identity, Hercules thanks Gonzago for securing Tiberio’s marriage.