Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

RUF

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)Ruf. | Ruf,
Words257
Characters1285
Typicality0.41 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA10041
BritDrama no.480
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

By his Flesh, nose, Eyes and Ears, I will venture void of all cares. He is not a Soldier that doth fear any doubt: If that he would bring his purpose about. If a man ask you, you may hap to say nay. No by my troth fellow Huf I never see him before. I insure you by mine honesty no hurt we meant. Beside that again we do not know what you are: You know that Soldiers their stoutness will declare, Therefore if we have any thing offended: Pardon our rudeness and it shall be amended. Strike of his head at one blow: we be Soldiers, Gogs heart let him know. By his heart she looks for gifts by and by. Gogs heart the whore would not kiss me yet: Gogs Nails, Mistress Meretrix now he is gone: A match you shall make straight with me: I will give thee sixpence to lie one night with Thee. By Gogs heart she were better be hanged, to forsake me and take this Gogs wounds Master Snuff are you so lusty? You may happen to see: Alas good mistress Meretrix no more: My legs, sides, and arms with beating be soar. Good Mistress Meretrix my weapon let me have: Take pity on me mine honesty to save. If it be known this repulle I sustain: It will redound to my ignomy and shame. I will do all at your commandment: As servant to you I will be obedient By Gogs heart my Dagger into her I will thrust.

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.