Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BEAUFORT JUNIOR

in The Unnatural Combat — Massinger, Philip

Metadata

PlayThe Unnatural Combat
AuthorMassinger, Philip
Year (catalogued)1639
First performance1624
Decade1630s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
TheaterGlobe;Outdoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Beauf. jun. | Iu. Beauf. | Beauf. iun. | Beauf. | Beau. jun. | Bea • f. jun. | Beauf jun.
Words1519
Characters8037
Typicality0.33 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA07248
BritDrama no.2185
ClusterCluster 2 — Allegory, Nature & pageant voices

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

As yet it is resolved so, in their determination. But suppose, for I would nourish hope, not kill it in you, I should divert the torrent of their purpose, and render them that are implacable, impartial Judges, and not swayed with spleen: will you, I dare not say in recompense, for that includes a debt you cannot owe me, but in your liberal bounty, in my suit to you be gracious? But this effected, and your father free, what is your answer? I urge no more, confirm it with a kiss. Here comes my father with the Council of war, deliver your petition, and leave the rest to me. For my sake, Sir, pray you receive, and read it. Thus far we are happy. Madam quit the place, ou shall hear how we succeed. I humbly thank you, Sir. Sir, I dare not. They put him hardly oh it. Strange and prodigious. Let me, Sir, have the honour To be your second. I would gladly Be a spectator (since I am denied To be and Actor) of each blow, and thrust, And punctually observe'em. That a certain hit. With utmost speed Acquaint the Governor with the good success, That he may entertain to his full merit, The father of his Countries peace and safety. All honour to the Conqueror. Who dares tax My friend of treachery now? I can wish No happiness beyond it. These rites Paid to the dead, the Conqueror that survives Must reap the harvest of his bloody labour. Found all l worser instruments of joy and triumph, And with all circumstance, and ceremony Wait on the Patron of our liberty, Which he at all parts merits. It's short of your deserts. Led on: O Sir you must: you are too modest. You demand That which with all the service of my life I should have laboured to obtain from you. Oh, Sir, why are you slow to meet foe fair And noble and offer? Can France show a virgin That may be paralleled with her? Is she not The Phoenix of the time? the fairest star In the bright sphere of women? Here she comes, Look on her with impartial eyes, and then Let envy if it can, name one graced feature In which she is defective. Did she needs it, The praise which you (and well deserved) give to her Must of necessity raise new desires In one indebted more to years; to me Your words are but as oil poured on a fire, That flames already at the height. 'Tis beyond example, His resolution to partly with his estate, To make her dower the weightier is nothing, But to observe how curious he is In his own person to add ornament To his daughters ravishing features, is the wonder. I sent a page of mine in the way of courtship, This morning to her to present my service, From whom I understand all: there he found him Solicitous in what shape she should appear, This gown was rich, but the fashion stale, the other Was quaint, and neat, but the stuff not rich enough, Then does he curse the Taylor, and in rage Falls on her Shoemaker, for wanting art To express in every circumstance, the form Of her most delicate foot, then S S in counsel With much deliberation to find out What tire would best adorn her; and one chosen Varying in his opinion, he tears off, And stamps it under foot, then tries a second A third and fourth, and satisfied at length With much a do in that, he grows again, Perplexd and troubled where to place her Jewels To be most marked, and whither she, should wear This diamond on her forehead, or between Her milkwhite paps, disputing on it both ways, Then taking in this hand, a rope of pearl, (The best of France) he seriously considers Whither she should dispose it on her arm Or on her neck, with 20 other tri es, too redious to deliver. I have ever found you, (And 'tis my happiness) a loving father, And careful of my good:—by the loud music, As you gave order for his entertainment, He's come into the house two long hours since, The Colonels, commissioners and captains, To pay him all the rites his worth can challenge, Went to wait on him hither. The Favour doubled on my partly, most worthy Sir, Since your fair daughter, my incomparable Mistress, Deigns us her presence. Nay 'tis yours Without more compliment. 'Tis my purpose, And if I can win her to give her heart, I have a holy man in readiness To join our hands, for the Admiral her father repents him of his grant to me, and So far transported with a strange opinion of her fair features, that should we desire it, I think ere long he will believe, and strongly, The Daulphine is not worthy of her, I Am much amazed with't. And drink a health, and let it be if you please To the worthiest of Women, now observe him. It has gone round Sir. Since then you meet my flames with equal order As you profess, it is your bo ty mistress, Nor must I call it debt, yet 'tis your glory, That your excess supplies my want, and makes Strong in my weakness, which could never be, But in your good opinion. Which you return With large increase (since that you will recome And I dare pleased To make what's yet divided one. but what assurance, (But still without offence) may I demand That may secure me that your heart tongue Join to make up this harmony? I may take then This hand, and with a thousand burning kisses, Swear 'tis the anchor to my Hope's? I'll instruct you. Then being mine, And wholly mine, the river of your love To kinsmen and allies, nay to your father, (Howere out of his tenderness he admires you) Must in the Ocean of your affection To me be swallowed up, and want a name Compared with what you owe me. Both parties being agreed to. This I foresaw. No. Neither. His doors are fast locked up, and solitude Dwells round about em, no access allowed To friend or enemy, but— Or in his death Which for her sake till now I have forborn I will revenge the injury he hath done To my true and lawful love. Troth he never had Affection to the match: yet in his pity To me, he's gone in person to his house, Nor will he be denied, and if he find not Strong and fair reasons Malefort will hear from him In a kind he does not look for. Mine suit my fortune. Look you the Comedy Make good the Prologue, or the scorn will dw ll Upon your self. 'Slight, how she stares, they are worse then she-wolves to him. What answer, Sir, From the Admiral? But here's one retain Her native innocence, that never you Called down heavens anger. I tell thee there is neither Employment yet nor money. Many have hoped so, But Hope's prove seldom certainties with soldiers. As our prizes are brought in, Till then you must be patient. As most captains do Philosopher Like, carry all you have about you. Thats easily decided, My father's tables free for any man That hath born arms. Never fear that. 'Tis she. Away you are troublesome, Designs of more weight. Nay pray you Madam rise, or I'll kneel with you. What is it can deserve so poor a name, As a suit to me? this more then mortal form Was fashioned to command and not entreat, Your will but known is served. I understand you, Without the aids of those interpreters That fallen from your fair eyes, I know you labour, the liberty of your father, at the least and equal hearing to acquit himself: and it's not to endear my service to you, though I must add and pray you with patience hear it, it's hard to be effected, in respect the State's incensed against him: all presuming the world of outrages his impious son, turned worse than Pirate in his cruelties expressed to this poor Country, could not be with such ease put in execution, if your father (of late our great Admiral) held not or correspondency, or connived at his proceedings. And this done, view my self In these true mirrors. And a kiss, Thus printed on your lips will not distaste you? Then when this holy man hath made it lawful. And what's spoke here is registered above, I must ingtosse those favours to my self Which are not to be named. They are at it. 'Tis too true, Sir, In the opinion of the multitude: But for my self that would be held your friend, And hope to know you by a nearer name, They are as they deserve, received. How, worse? All that have eyes to weep, Spare one tear with me. Theocrin is dead, Now 'tis to me. To etch him off. This is curiousness Beyond example.

Plot summary

Plot — The Unnatural Combat
Malefort Junior, son of the Admiral, has committed treason by allying himself with pirates and threatening the ruin of Marseilles. The Admiral is suspected of complicity and imprisoned. Theocrine, his daughter, reluctantly offers herself to Beaufort Junior, son of the Governor of Marseilles, if he will only persuade his father to allow hers a hearing. Beaufort Senior can refuse his son nothing, so the Admiral gets his opportunity to protest his innocence. Malefort Junior ‘challenges his father to a duel over a wrongdoing which he will not specify. The Admiral refuses to be held accountable by his son, and accepts the challenge. Malefort Junior is killed: the threat to Marseilles is over, and Admiral Malefort is lauded a hero. Malefort suggests that Theocrine should marry Beaufort Junior; Beaufort Senior half-heartedly agrees and invites them to a nuptial feast. The Governor's table is open to any former soldier who needs a free ~ meal, a custom regularly invoked by Belgarde, who is unemployed in peacetime and angry at being denied - his -back pay. Fearing embarrassment at the feast, Beaufort Senior has his steward discourage Belyarde with the suggestion that he is underdressed for the ===== PAGE 200 ===== occasion; but the upshot is that Belgarde turns up in a suit of armour and declares his worthiness. His plain- speaking wins him respect and a gift of money from the Governor. He spends it all on new clothes, but the signs of prosperity attract his creditors, and he is still unable to pay them. People are noticing Malefort’s excessive solicitude towards his daughter. This comes to a head when Beaufort Junior takes her off to woo her in private, with a priest ready to perform the marriage. Malefort reacts by calling off the marriage and taking Theocrine home. He harbours an incestuous passion for his daughter, who is very like his dead second wife. Struggling to conquer the urge, he confesses to his friend Montreville and asks him to abduct her: he cannot be tempted if he never sees her again. Beaufort Junior realizes something is wrong and has Belgarde muster troops to besiege Montreville’s fort. Montreville demands sexual favours from Theocrine, and reveals her father’s secret. Meanwhile Malefort reasons from classical precedent that incest is not wicked after all, and goes to fetch his daughter back. Montreville denies him access and reveals that he has.a long-standing grudge: Theocrine’s mother was his mistress before Malefort stole her, poisoning his…