in The Bondman (The Noble Bondman) — Massinger, Philip
Metadata
Play
The Bondman (The Noble Bondman)
Author
Massinger, Philip
Year (catalogued)
1624
First performance
1623
Decade
1620s
Genre
Tragicomedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Lady Elizabeth's Men
Theater
Phoenix/Cockpit;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)
Cymbrio. | Cimbrio. | Cimb. | Cimbrio
Words
235
Characters
1243
Typicality
0.50 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A07234
BritDrama no.
2074
Cluster
Cluster 15 — Devils, vices & grotesques
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 15 (ang, hunc, fleire, shillings, chil, sblood…). Matches are highlighted.
with your wives, toyed with your daughters. And sudden. Leave not a man alive; a wound is but a fleabyting, To what we suffered being slaves. I begin To have strange Conundrums in my head. We are no Brokers: Our fortune. God's-light, I would cut mine own, Rather then miss it, so I might but have A taste on't, ere I die. The
Full speech
The business? We'll not fail. A little fighting Will serve a Generals turn. Discover to a Drachma, Or I will famish thee. Hunger shall force thee to cut off the brawns From thy arms and thighs, then broil them on the coals For Carbonadoes. Wait here, You have been tired with feasting, learn to fast now. Do not hold me, Enter Poliphron, Cymbrio, Gracculo, Zanthia, Olimpiam, drunk and quarreling. Not kiss the Bride? We are equals, I will know no obedience. Yes, in our Wine, Sir, And for our Wenches. How? But what would you impart? I feel the whip Upon my back already. The truth is, We have been bold with your wives, toyed with your daughters. And sudden. Leave not a man alive; a wound is but a fleabyting, To what we suffered being slaves. I begin To have strange Conundrums in my head. We are no Brokers: Our fortune. God's-light, I would cut mine own, Rather then miss it, so I might but have A taste on't, ere I die. The means? She's common good, And so wee'll use her. Say, we submit, And yield us to their mercy. Take heed, you be not wurried. Or throat uncut of those We have in our power. Mercy, mercy; where Shall we hide us from their fury? And it's but justice, you should bring us off. what do we see? the whip! our Master's!
Plot summary
Plot — The Bondman (The Noble Bondman)
Carthage has territorial designs on Sicily, so Corinth sends its general, Timoleon, to take charge of the defence of Syracuse. On arrival, he criticizes the Sicilians for appointing unworthy and inexperienced senators and for general corruption. He decrees that all private wealth should be sequestered to pay for the war. It is an unpopular measure until Cleora public- spiritedly gives up her jewels, forcing the others to follow her example. Cleora has several suitors, including Pisander of Thebes; but her brother Timagoras, keen for her to marry his friend Leosthenes, slandered Pisander to induce their father to send him away. Now that the young men are going to war, Leosthenes is jealous about what she may get up to in his absence, so she promises literally not to see or say anything until his return. The slaves of Syracuse take advantage of the absence of the army and rebel, enslaving their former masters. The ringleader is Cleora’s slave Marullo, who claims to be motivated by unrequited passion for his mistress, but, when he gains access to her, disclaims any intention of raping her and receives in return a wordless acknowledgement of her regard for him. He encourages the former slaves to treat their former masters well, since their positions may again be reversed. News arrives of a victory over the Carthaginians, with particular military distinction achieved by Leosthenes. The rebellious slaves man the city’s walls and gates to keep out the returning army; from the walls, Marullo declares their grievances and demands their freedom. Timoleon realizes they will have to fight their way into the city, but the slaves put up a valiant resistance until cowed by the sight of their masters’ whips. Marullo flees to Cleora’s house, where he is captured. Cleora tells Leosthenes what happened, and asks him to use his influence to have Marullo spared, but this only makes Leosthenes jealous again. Cleora’s father gives her freedom to choose her own husband; he respects Marullo for his restraint in not ransacking the house during the revolt. Cleora realizes she must marry either Leosthenes or Marullo: both are worthy of her, but she is bound to disappoint one. On hearing that Marullo has been ill-treated by his captors, she rushes off to visit him in prison. Leosthenes and Timagoras follow, alerted by her maid, and find them alone together. Timagoras tries to kill Marullo, but is prevented, Timoleon is appointed to try Marullo’s case. Leosthenes and Marullo both…