Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

PRAXASPES

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)Praxaſpes. | Praxaſpes
Words440
Characters2213
Typicality0.30 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA10041
BritDrama no.480
ClusterCluster 17 — Intriguers & schemers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

I much rejoice to hear, so good news as this. Even so (Oh king) it seemed to me, as you rehearsal made: I doubt the Judge culpable be, in some respect or trade. As your grace hath continued ̄ maundment given, I mean for to fulfil: Behold (Oh King) Sisamnes Son, before you doth appear. Behold (Oh king) how he doth bleed, being of life bereft: Otian, convey your Father hence, to Tomb where be shall lie Yea truly if it please your grace, you have indeed done so. But now (Oh King) in friendly wise, I council you in this: Certain vices for to leave, that in you placed is. The vise of drunkenness (O king) which doth you soar infect: With other great abuses, which I wish you to detect. The Persians much praise your grace, but one thing disco ̄ me ̄ worser: In that to Wine subject you be, wherein you do offend. Sith that the might of wines effect, doth oft subdue your brain My council is to please their hearts, from it you would refrain. Redoubted Prince spare my sweet Child, he is mine only joy: I trust your grace to Infants heart, no such thing will employ. If that his mother hear of this, she is so nigh her flight: In clay her corpse will soon be shrinde, to pass from ̄ world's delight Oh mighty King your grace behest, with sorrow I have scanned. And brought my Child from mother's knee, before you to appear: And she thereof no whit doth know that he in place is here. I beseech your grace not so to do, set this pretence a part. Farewell my déer and loouing babe, come kiss thy father déer: A grievous sighed to me it is, to see Thee slave even here. Is this the gain now from the King for giving council good: Before my face with such despite, to spil my sons heart blood? Oh heavy day to me this is, and mother in Like case. Oh Lady wife I little thought for to háue seen this day. My Lady déer with heavy heart, to it I do consent. Between us both y e child to bear unto our lordly place, Exeum ̄ to I will go fetch him to your grace, but so I trust it shall not be: No correction (my Lord) but council for the best: A woeful man (Oh Lord) am I, to see him in this case. My days I deem desires their end, this deed will help me he ̄ ce: To have the blossoms of my field, destroyed by violence.

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.