Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

PREPARATION

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)Preparation.
Words174
Characters891
Typicality0.46 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA10041
BritDrama no.480
ClusterCluster 20 — Conjurers, witches & physicians

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

With speed I am sent all things to prepare: My message to do as the king did declare. His grace doth mean a banquet to make: Meaning in this place repast for to take. Well the cloth shall be laid and all things in readiness: To court to return when done is my business. What Ambidexter? thou art not unknown: A wischéef on all good faces, so that I curse not mine own. Now in the knaves name shake hands with me. Good Master Ambidexter, pardon my behaviour: For this your deeds, you are a knave for your labour. I am sorry your mastership offended I have. Shake hands that between us agreement may been: I was over shot with my self, I do see. Let me have your help, this furniture to provide: The King from this place will not long abide. Cleanly master Ambidexter, for fair on the ground they lie: To see all in readiness I will put you in trust: There is no nay to the Court needs I must.

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.