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)
Cleon.
Words
338
Characters
1723
Typicality
0.29 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A07234
BritDrama no.
2074
Cluster
Cluster 0 — Clowns, beggars & street sellers
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
I have said it; Stay at home, I cannot brook with gadding, you are a fair one, Beauty invites temptation, and short heals Are soon tripd up. You flatter me, I am old, And Wisdom cries beware. Jealous! of me Wife? Hum, hum! There's no contending, For this time I am pleased, but I'll no more on't. Exeunt. I am old and fat, I could say something else. When arrives he? What shout's this? I'll lock up My doors, and guard my gold; these Lads of Corinth Have nimble fingers, and I fear them more Being within our walls, then those of Carthage, They are far off. Would! how's this? The Cure Is worse then the disease; I'll never yield to it. What could the enemy, though victorious Inflict more on us? all that my youth hath toiled for Purchased with industry, and preserved with care Forced from me in a moment. I must yield, And though my heart blood partly with it, I will Deliver in my wealth. They shall go for me, I will not pay and fight too. I am still Old Cleon, fat, and unwieldy, I shall never Make a good Soldier, and therefore desire To be excused at home. Where are you, Wife? I feign would go abroad, But cannot find my Slaves, that bear my Litter: I am tired, your shoulder, Son; nay sweet, thy hand too, A turn or two in the Garden, and then to Supper, And so to Bed. Oh I am pin'de already. Yes, I do wish too, For what I fed my dogs with. I know I cannot Last long, that's all my comfort: come, I forgive both, It is in vain to be angry, let us therefore Lament together Like friends. Oh for some meat, they fit long. good morality. But are you sure we are safe? Never varlets So triumphed over and old fat man: I was famished. I am deadly sick, To look on him. With all rigour, We do expect. I must consent.
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…