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)
Poliphron. | Poliph.
Words
379
Characters
1982
Typicality
0.21 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A07234
BritDrama no.
2074
Cluster
Cluster 21 — Old fathers & plain counsel
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
You may do your pleasure: But, in my judgement, better to make use of The present opportunity. I am silenced. Let it run round, fill every man his Glass. I have a Father living, But if the cutting of his throat could work this, He should excuse me. Do not torment us With expectation. Observe but that. Oh Sir, I sought you. You have mised the best sport. Hell, I think is broke lose, There's such variety of all disorders, As leaping, shooting, drinking, dancing, whoring Among the slaves; answered with crying, howling, By the Citizens and their wives: such a confusion, (In a word, not to Tyre you) as I think The Like was never read of. But Sir; I fear, If your authority restrain them not, They'le fire the City, or kill one another, They are so apt to outrage; neither know I Whither you wish it, and came therefore to Acquaint you with so much. At your pleasure. Spare the old Jade, he's foundered. You have all your wishes In your revenge, and I have mine. You see I use no tyranny: When I was her slave, She kept me as a sinner to lie at her back In frosty nights, and fed me high with dainties, Which still she had in her belly again ever morning, And in requital of those courtesies Having made one another free, we are married, And if you wish us joy, join with us in A Dance at our Wedding. But we shall want A woman. Well done on all sides. I have prepared a Banquet; Let's drink, and cool us. No Sir. I obey, Sir, Better die once, then live and age to suffer New tortures every hour. The conquering Army Is within ken. It's our best refuge. Exeunt. We are sharp set. Nor will we fallen alone, You shall buy us dearly. I have placed it in yond Window. The dance at the end. Enter Pisander. Cheerfully yet; they do refuse no labour, And seem to scoff at danger; it's your presence That must confirm them; with a full consent, You are chosen to relate the tyranny Of our proud Master's; and what you subscribe too, They gladly will allow of, or hold out To the last man.
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…