in Aristippus, or The Jovial Philosopher — Randolph, Thomas
Metadata
Play
Aristippus, or The Jovial Philosopher
Author
Randolph, Thomas
Year (catalogued)
1630
First performance
1626
Decade
1630s
Genre
Academic Entertainment
Play type
University
Speech prefix(es)
Show.
Words
207
Characters
1067
Typicality
0.30 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A10402.1
BritDrama no.
2194
Cluster
Cluster 4 — Constant hearts & virtuous ladies
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Oh spare your too officious whips a while, Give some small respite to my panting limbs, Let me have leave to speak, and truce to parley, Whose powerful voice hath forced me to salute This hated air! are not my pains sufficient, But you must torture me with the sad remembrance Of my deserts, the Causes of my exile? Then from the depth of truth I here protest, I do disclaim all petulant hate and malice, I will not touch such men as I know vicious, Much less the good: I will not dare to say That such a one paid for his fellowship, And had no learning but in's purse; no Officer Needs fear the sting of my detraction, I'll give all lcaue to fill their guts in quiet: I make no dangerous Almanacs, no gulls, No posts with envious News and biting Packets, You needs not fear this Show, you that are bade, It is no Parliament: you that nothing have Like Scholars, but a Beard and Gown, for me May pass for good grand Sophies: all my skill Shall beg but honest laughter and such smiles As might become a Cato: I shall give No cause to grieve, that once more yet I live.
Plot summary
Plot — Aristippus, or The Jovial Philosopher
Simplicius asks after the philosopher Aristippus in the Dolphin tavern, but is served the wine of the same name. On finding the right Aristippus, he enrols as a pupil, and is sworn in with an oath taken in drink. Aristippus encourages him to renounce beer and drink sack instead, to stay up at night, and to sleep in the morning. The Wild Man, who favours beer, beats Aristippus out of the tavern with the help of two brewers. However, he is quickly persuaded of the error of his ways, and seeks to make amends by fetching a surgeon to mend the philosopher’s head. The boastful Medico de Campo - who claims that he has treated many a world leader, and could even cure decapitation by making an artificial head - restores Aristippus to health with a draught of sack. For his reward, he asks that the Wild Man be forgiven, and the Wild Man promises that in future he will be Aristippus’ faithful disciple.