Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

1 BLADE

in The Bride

Metadata

PlayThe Bride
Year (catalogued)1640
First performance1640
Decade1640s
GenreComedy
Play typeBoys Professional;Professional
CompanyBeeston's Boys
TheaterPhoenix/Cockpit;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)1 Bla.
Words455
Characters2345
Typicality0.34 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA07970
BritDrama no.576
ClusterCluster 23 — Gulls, fops & laughing-stocks

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

I do not use to answer sir. Sweet Lady. Fellow? one that will admit no fellow sir. Fellow! Fellow your self. How sir Citizen! do you think ever you are quite fledge in the nest, with the shell of your cuckows eg upon your head to confront us? We are blades; and blades must be scoured. You shall be instructed Lady; it's the Blades profession. A long with us: we are company indeed. Who would Cit. (whose teeth are rotten out with sweet meats his more there brings him from goshippings) breathe upon her varnish for the promise of a dry neats tongue and a pottle of Rhenish at the stillyard, when she may command a Blade to toss and tum ble her? and (if she should pawn a petticoat) Beatrice such a fellow as this is till he hath redeemed it. Hold hold; I am hurt. If my sword had had a point, I had paid him home. We do acknowledge and error sir; and for satisfaction sir and to preserve peace, our weapons shall be delivered up to the Master of the house. We hope you'll do the Like sir. We'll think upon your satire. Who fit? Drawer brings in wine and Exit. I had thought you had sent for me. Would you have me to procure you one? Do you take a Blade for a Pandare? Yes and piss upon your back canopy, that shadows your half roasted kidneys if you dishonour a Blade with the least suspicion. Yet in a fair way I care not to exchange a glass or two. Do you disparage my Tobaco? I assure you sir it is right Spanish. Not your Blade? why your French temper will not bear and edge to chop rotten litter for mortar. Pox on your mode Does it touch you sir? why it's your credit to be marked by that French Herald for a gentleman of fashion. No no Monsieur, you shall have a vench for your money, when you have entered into bonds for your good behaviour. Work a cure (if we can) on the itch in your blood, that hath infected many of our wenches, and made them dange rous to us. Peace Monsieur; you shall have a wench presently. Wine, Music, and while you in dalliance, meet We'll tread a measure with our nimble feet Shall tempt you to be sportive, if desire Want whetting and renew the active fire. Come wenches. Monsieur ther's a she for you. Your meat is paid for; if you liked fallen to. Let's leave him now his patience, and go share. And when you want a wench to cool you Monsieur, You know where's those can take your courage down sir. Exeunt

Plot summary

Plot — The Bride
Wit is charged by his father to woo and marry Wisdom, or lose his inheritance, Ignorance sends her son Idleness to mislead him. Posing as Honest Recreation, he introduces Wit to Wantonness, who gives him a fool's headdress and steals his money. Good Nurture restores him to sense and introduces him to the true Honest Recreation, whom Wit finds boring. Two sailors blindfold Idleness and rob him of the money he stole from Wit. Wit rescues Idleness and fights Irksomeness, who leaves him for dead. Wisdom revives him and promises to be his lady if he will kill Irksomeness. She gives him a sword, Perseverance, which he uses to behead the monster. Idleness is proclaimed an outlaw, and is arrested after he steals Mother Bee’s porridge pot while Doll and Lob are kissing in the barn. Wit falls into Fancy’s clutches and is imprisoned. Good Nurture releases him and takes him to be married to Wisdom. Idleness also intends to go to the wedding, disguised as a priest.