Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

NIECE

in The Phoenix — Middleton, Thomas

Metadata

PlayThe Phoenix
AuthorMiddleton, Thomas
Year (catalogued)1607
First performance1604
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeBoys Professional
CompanyChildren of Paul's (second)
Theaterbefore the Court;
Speech prefix(es)Neece. | Neec. | Neece : | Neece | Nee.
Words374
Characters1968
Typicality0.30 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA07507
BritDrama no.1420
ClusterCluster 12 — Wooers, gallants & courtly love-talk

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Sir, I am bound to find you, I herd newly Of sudden Travail which his grace intends And only but your self to accompany him. I did not think, so unfashionably of you: How long is your return? Me thinks sha's much disgraced herself. Indeed thats all, My Hope's now rest in you next under heave ̄ I take the meaning chaster then the words: Yet I hope well of both, since it is thus, His phrase off ends least that's known humourous. I cozen. I have lost the dearest Father. I hope you're your self. Uncle to me, and Brother to my Father. I do so. In that love which becomes you best I love (you. Because 'tis chased, and honourable. Most true, he's my vowed Husband. I should have cause then to repent indeed. Do you so far forget the Offices Of blushing modesty? Uncle's are half Father's, Why they come so near our bloods th'are ene partly of it. You do allude all to incestuous will, Nothing to modest purpose: turn me forth, Be Like and Uncle of these latter days, Periurde enough, enough unnatural, Play your Executorship, in Tyranny, Restrain my Fortune's, keep me poor, I care not, In this alone most women isle excel, I'll rather yield to beggary then to hell. You wish me well sir. My ever vowed love, how is his health? O me, I'm dearly sorry for your chance, was it your lose? They boldly look you in the face that robbed you, No farther villains then my uncle's men. 'Tis my grief I speak so true. One and the chief. Then you have herd the sum of all my wrongs. I rejoice in his chased care of me, I'll soon be furnished. I'm chiefly glad,—but whither is the place? I desire it,— Her conference will fit mine, well you prevail, I'll not fail. I'm present to affirm it my loved Lord. Either I must agree. To loathed lust, or despised beggary. His grace commands, I must not think amiss, farewell Twould be a grief indeed. Her birth was kin to mine, she may prove more dest, for my sake I beseech you pardon her. I'm sick with joy, do's the Prince love him so?

Plot summary

Plot — The Phoenix
The old Duke of Ferrara has reigned 45 years, and is now near death. He accepts his nobles’ advice that his son, ===== PAGE 76 ===== Prince Phoenix, should travel to other nations in order to prepare himself for government. Phoenix suspects a stratagem to have him out of the country at the time his father dies, jeopardizing the succession, so he decides instead to travel incognito within Ferrara itself, witnessing abuses which require reformation, but which would be concealed from a visitor known to be of high rank; he will be attended only by his servant Fidelio. Fidelio has a new stepfather, a sea-captain: against all advice, his mother Castiza has remarried, only to find herself tied to an abusive bully. The captain also regrets the marriage and is looking for a way out of it; so he agrees to sell his wife to the courtier Proditor. Phoenix and Fidelio hear of this and infiltrate the sales meeting in disguise: Fidelio poses as the scrivener who has.drawn up the contract, and Phoenix as a potential investor in the captain’s next voyage. Once the contract is signed and the money handed over, they confront the captain and force him to go into exile, giving the money to Castiza. Fidelio’s girlfriend has just lost her father, whose will leaves her in the custody of her uncle, the corrupt Justice Falso. He proposes to marry her, threatening to withhold payment of her dowry if she should marry anyone else (such as Fidelio). Fidelio goes to see her in disguise, bringing a letter and gift from himself, but on the way he and Phoenix are attacked by robbers and the token is stolen. The thieves are in fact Falso’s servants in disguise, seeking to supplement the meagre wage he pays them. Phoenix captures one of them and has him brought before a judge; but this happens to be Falso himself, and he commits the prisoner to the custody of the other servants, his accomplices. The niece explains to Phoenix what has happened and absconds with him and Fidelio. Falso also abets his own daughter’s adultery with her husband’s brother, a knight. She sets up an assignation, promising to give him money: he is gently to disturb the door-knocker after her jeweller husband has gone to bed, whereupon the maid will let him in. Phoenix accidentally gives the signal and is admitted by mistake. Meeting him in darkness, the wife does not notice the error, and gives him the money. Meanwhile the knight is arrested for debt. He takes the officers to his lover’s house, expecting to receive the…