Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

AMBASSADOR

in The Maid of Honor — Massinger, Philip

Metadata

PlayThe Maid of Honor
AuthorMassinger, Philip
Year (catalogued)1632
First performance1621
Decade1630s
GenreTragicomedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyQueen Henrietta Maria's Men
TheaterPhoenix/Cockpit;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Embas.
Words318
Characters1731
Typicality0.29 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA07240
BritDrama no.2291
ClusterCluster 17 — Intriguers & schemers

Important excerpts

Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 17 (nat, leaguer, assyrian, mowche, bashas, andalle…). Matches are highlighted.

the desperate Fortune's of my Lord, and pity Of the much that your confederate hath suffered (You being his last refuge) may persuade you Not alone to compassionate, but to lend Your royal aids to stay him in his fallen To certain ruin. He too late is conscious, That his ambition to encroach upon His neighbours territories,
principal seat Siena. And yet that justice is To be with mercy tempered, which heau' S Deputies Stand bound to minister. The injured Duche see By reason taught, as nature, could not with The reparation of her wrongs, but aim at A brave revenge, and my Lord feels too late That innocence will find friends. The great Gonzagam, The

Full speech

Your Majesty Hath been long since familiar, I doubt not, With the desperate Fortune's of my Lord, and pity Of the much that your confederate hath suffered (You being his last refuge) may persuade you Not alone to compassionate, but to lend Your royal aids to stay him in his fallen To certain ruin. He too late is conscious, That his ambition to encroach upon His neighbours territories, with the danger of His liberty, nay his life, hath borough in question Him own inheritance: but youth and heat Of blood in your interpretation, may Both plead, and ediate for him. I must grant it And error in him, being denied the favours though Of the fair Princess of Siena He sought her in a noble way) t'andeavou To for affection, by surprisal of Her principal seat Siena. And yet that justice is To be with mercy tempered, which heau' S Deputies Stand bound to minister. The injured Duche see By reason taught, as nature, could not with The reparation of her wrongs, but aim at A brave revenge, and my Lord feels too late That innocence will find friends. The great Gonzagam, The honour of his Order, I must praise Virtue, though in and enemy. He whose fights And conquests hold one number, rallying up Her scattered troops, before we could get time To victual, or to man the conquered City, Sat down before it, and presuming that It's not to be relieved, admits no parley, Our S ags of truce hung out in vain, nor will he Lend and ear to composition, but exacts With the rendering up the own, the goods, and lines Of all within the walls, and of all Sexes To be at his discretion. Will you then In his extremity forsake your friend? And bind, My Lord, your servant: My Prince pays n me his duty. Your speed, my Lord, Doubles the benefit.

Plot summary

Plot — The Maid of Honor
Before the start of the action, Aurelia, Duchess of Siena, refused a marriage proposal by Ferdinand, Duke of Urbino. In reprisal, Ferdinand attacked Siena, conquered it, but then found himself trapped inside the city by the regrouped Sienese troops. To raise the siege, he invokes a defensive treaty with Sicily, but King Roberto refuses to honour it because Ferdinand was the aggressor and has brought his troubles on himself. However, he allows his bastard half-brother Bertoldo to go to war with a volunteer army. The court favourite Fulgentio takes advantage of Bertoldu: absence to woo his fiancée, Camiola. But she misses Bertoldo and refuses Fulgentio; his mpaste 1s to produce Roberto’s ring and make it a reval order that she accept him. She wishes Bertoldo were present to defend her honour: another suitor. Adurni. steps in. fights a duel, and wounds Fulgentio, which gets him into trouble with the King. Far trom raising the siege. Bertolde is routed by Gonzaga, Aurelia’s general. Both men are kKrughts «1 Malta, and Gonzaga is affronted to find Bertalds: unmindtul of chivalry as to be leading an ara searnst a lady’s interests. Roberta seuds Astutio te ransens: the Sicilian prisoners of war, but Bertoldo from the payment of his ransam by any private cen © aiid, expressly crcbeudhe + a ' torbnds ihe arrangement and ignores the order and sends Adurnt Go pay the ratsern Bertoldy is released. abligation to marry Camtola: bat Aurelia asks 1) him, falls in love with huni. arranges a dispersaticn redoubling his ctstrae tee ered toe release him from his vow to marry © cate to Sicily with him to arrange Chere ortreniss wetunal intervenes, apparently to stop the weddtap. but tars: out that she has taken helv orders aed ab safer nunnery.