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)
Olimpia. | Olimp. | Olympia.
Words
260
Characters
1411
Typicality
0.25 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A07234
BritDrama no.
2074
Cluster
Cluster 1 — Wives, widows & intimate counsel
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 1 (nony, tailors, butler, mall, jesu, massinissa…). Matches are highlighted.
legs, and so search upwards. A sweet becoming boldness: they are rough, Boisterous and saucy, and at the first sighed Ruffle, and towse us, and as they find their stomachs Fallen roundly to it. We may commend A Gentleman's modesty, manners, and fine language, His singing, dancing, riding of great horses, The wearing of his clothes,
Full speech
We are instructed. Were he a Courtier, I have sweet meat in my Closet should content him Be his palate never so curious. These men of war As I have herd, know not to court a Lady. They cannot praise our dressings, kiss our hands, Usher us to our Litters, tell love Stories; Commend our feet, and legs, and so search upwards. A sweet becoming boldness: they are rough, Boisterous and saucy, and at the first sighed Ruffle, and towse us, and as they find their stomachs Fallen roundly to it. We may commend A Gentleman's modesty, manners, and fine language, His singing, dancing, riding of great horses, The wearing of his clothes, his fair complexion, Take presents from him, and extol his bounty, Yet, though he observe, and waste his state upon us, If he be staunch and bid not for the stock That we were born to traffic with; the truth is We care not for his company. No more, they come. The first kiss for this Jewel. He asked not our consent. He thinks women No partly of the republic. A raw young thing, We have too much tongue sometime, our Husbands say, And she outstrips us. She's studying how to entertain these Strangers, And to engross them to her self. I offered my self twice, and yet the Churl Would not salute me. We thought we were forgotten. Oh my Doctor, I never shall recover. I complain not, Sir, I have born my fortune patiently. Hold: He's your chief. This is tyranny, Now she offends not.
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…