Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

COMMONS' COMPLAINT

in Cambises, King of Persia — Preston, Thomas

Metadata

PlayCambises, King of Persia
AuthorPreston, Thomas
Year (catalogued)1570
First performance1561
Decade1570s
GenreTragedy
Play typeInterlude
Speech prefix(es)Commons complaint.
Words192
Characters1007
Typicality0.31 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA10041
BritDrama no.480
ClusterCluster 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

Commons complaint I represent, with thrall of doleful state: By urgent cause erected forth, my grief for to dilate. Unto the king I will prepare, my misery to tell To have relief of this my grief, and fettered feet so fell. Redoubted Prince & mighty King, my self I prostrate here Vouchsafe (Oh King) with me to bear, for this that I appear. With humble suit I pardon crave, of most royal grace To give me leave my mind to break, before you in this place God preserve your royal grace, and send you blissful days: That all your deeds might still accord, to give the God y e praise. My complaint is (Oh mighty king) against that Judge you by: Whose careless deeds, gain to receive, hath made y e continued ̄ mons cry He, by taking bribes and gifts, the poor he doth oppress: Taking rebeef from Infants yung, widows and fatherless. If it be not so (most mighty King) in place then let me die Behold that I have brought wine, both Proof & I rial true To stand even her and sentence give, what by him did ensue.

Plot summary

Plot — Cambises, King of Persia
Gamibyses leaves Sisamimes in charge of his kingdom while he conquers Egypt. After a comic incident in which soldiers going to the war are beaten by a prostitute, the deputy, encouraged by AlmibiGextér, grows corrupt and takes bribes. Cambyses returns victorious and has him executed and flayed in the presence of Sisamnes’ son @tiaii, whom he appoints as his father’s successor. Praxaspes criticizes Cambyses’ drunkenness, so the King demonstrates his steady hand by shooting the courtier’s son dead. SHIEFAIE is also critical, but bides his time awaiting Cambyses’ death and his own succession to the throne; but Cambyses grows fearful of his ambition and has him murdered. After another comic incident in which Ambidexter first entraps two rustics into speaking ill of the King and then denounces them as traitors, Menus and @upid induce Cambyses into an_ incestuous marriage with a kinswoman. She criticizes him for the murder of Smerdis and he has her killed too. ===== PAGE 46 ===== Finally Cambyses accidentally impales himself on his own sword when leaping onto his horse, and dies. This is interpreted as divine punishment for his tyranny.