Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

CIVET

in The London Prodigal — Anonymous

Metadata

PlayThe London Prodigal
AuthorAnonymous
Year (catalogued)1605
First performance1604
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
Speech prefix(es)Ciuet. | Ciu. | Cyuet. | Ciuit. | Cin. | Ci • . | 〈◊〉 . [Civet]
Words776
Characters3833
Typicality0.39 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA12023
BritDrama no.1443
ClusterCluster 13 — Attendant courtiers & citizens

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Save you sir, I pray may I borrow a piece of a word with you? Why then the whole. I pray sir, what may yonder gentlewomen be? Whats her name sir. Is she a maid sir? Is she married I mean sir? I pray where Inn you sir? I would be very glad to be stow the wine of that gentlewoman. God save you sir. My name is master Ciu to sir. By my truth this is good luck, I thank God for this, In good sooth I have even my hearts desire: sister , now I may boldly call you so, for your father hath franck and freely given me his daughter Frank. You say very true sister Delia, and I prithee call me nothing but Tom and isle call thee sweetheart, and Franck: will it not do well sister Delia? No Frank, isle have thee go Like a Citizen In a guarded gown, and a French-hood. So as my father and my mother went, thats a jest indeed, why she went in a fringed gown, a single ruff, and a white cap. And my father in a mocado coat, a pair of read satin leaves, and a canuis back. My estate, my estate I thank God is forty pound a year, in good leases and tenements, beside twenty mark a year at cuckolds-haven, and that comes to us all by inheritance. You say well sister Delia, you say well: but I mean to live within my bounds: for look you, I have set down my rest thus far, but to maintain my wife in her french hood, and her coach, keep a couple of geldings, and a brace of grey hounds, and this is all isle do. I, and a better penny sister. By my troath well remembered , that to buy thee . Father 'tis so, 'tis even fallen out so, But what remedy, set hand to your heart, and let it pass: Here is your daughter Frances and I, and weel not say, Weel bring forth as witty children, but as pretty Children as ever she was: though she had the prick And praise for a pretty wench: But father, done is The mouse, yowl come? And you master Oliver? And you sir Arthur? And welcome all indeed, and welcome, come Frank are you ready? It shall suffice good sister Delia, it shall suffice, But fail us not good sister, give order to cooks, and others, For I would not have my sweet Frank To soil her fingers. Why I do not mean thou shalt sweet heart, Thou seest I do not go about it: well farewell too: You, Gods pity M. Weathercock, we shall have your continued ̄ pany too? Well, God be with you all, come Frank. How do you Like her sister? Well deer sister, will you draw near, and give direc tions for supper, guess will be here presently. No by your leave father, she is no vagrant: She is my wives chamber maid, & as true as the skin between any men brows here. The charge is small charge sir, I thank God my father left me wherewithal, if it please you sir, I have a great mind to this gentlewoman here in the way of marriage. I with russet feathers. Peace Franck, I would be sorry to see thy sister Cast away, as I am a Gentleman. By my troath God a mercy for this good Christopher, I thank thee for my maid, I Like her very well, How dost thou Like her ? What countriwoman is she Cast r? Why then she is outlandish, is she not? I, I Kester, 'tis such as they wear a their heads, I prithee Kit have her in, and sheweher my house. No Frances, we must not kiss afore folks, God save me Frank, See yonder my sister Delia is come, welcome good sister. I am glad you're come sister Delia to give order for Supper, they will be here soon. By my faith, but that is not well, but God be praised For your escape, will you draw near sister? Soul, I think I am sure crossed, Or with ht with and owl, I have haunted them: Inn after Inn, booth, after booth, yet cannot find them, would yonder they are, thats she, I hope to God she, nay I know 'tis she now, for he treads her shoe a little awry. I good sister with all my heart. And I the Like sweet Frank, no sister Do not think isle go beyond my bounds. I do Franck isle by thee a new one, with a longer handle.

Plot summary

Plot — The London Prodigal
Old Flowerdale returns secretly from Venice and hears tales of his son’s prodigality. Wanting to think the best of his offspring, he tests the young man by posing as Christopher, a sailor bringing news of his own death and a will disinheriting his son. Under his new identity he lends his son money to enable him to pursue an advantageous marriage to Sir Lancelot’s daughter Luce, and enters his service to observe him at close quarters. Sir Lancelot is trying to get husbands for all three of his daughters, but Delia prefers a virgin life. For Luce, Sir Lancelot initially favours the wealthy bumpkin Oliver, and takes his part when Young Flowerdale challenges him to a duel. However, ‘Christopher’ forges a will which makes Flowerdale seem richer than Oliver, so Sir Lancelot changes his mind and persuades Flowerdale to go to his own wedding rather than keep his appointment to fight Oliver. It is to be a double wedding: another daughter, Frances, is marrying a merchant’s son. Flowerdale makes no secret of the fact that he intends to exploit Luce financially. Disappointed in him, Old Flowerdale arranges for his uncle to have him arrested for debt immediately after the wedding; apart from teaching the young man a lesson, it will also establish whether Luce genuinely loves him. When Sir Lancelot tries to shrug off the debt, the will is exposed as a fraud. Luce, who only married Flowerdale in obedience to her father, now insists on honouring her marital vows. Intending that Flowerdale should rot in beggary, Sir Lancelot disowns her. Her entreaties get Flowerdale released, but he too rejects her, so ‘Christopher’ gets her a job in Frances’s household, disguised as a Dutch chambermaid. Destitute and starving after squandering his money in gambling and dissolute living, Young Flowerdale is reduced to theft and begging: first he robs his sister- in-law Delia, then seeks people’s sympathy, and money, with a lie that his wife is dead. He finds that begging is a profitable trade, but the report of Luce’s death causes Sir Lancelot to seek his arrest on suspicion of murder. Luce reveals herself, Flowerdale repents, and most of the characters give Luce money and presents, but Sir Lancelot is not reconciled until ‘Christopher’ reveals who he really is. Though offered the choice of Sir Arthur and Oliver, Delia opts to remain unmarried, and everyone goes off for a celebratory feast.