Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

DAFFODIL

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)Daff. | Daffidill. | Daf.
Words231
Characters1194
Typicality0.21 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA12023
BritDrama no.1443
ClusterCluster 24 — Gods, cupids & celestial agents

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Sentesses still sweet mistress, You have a wit, and it were your Alliblaster. No pieces sir. They may be Ladies sir, if the destinies and mortality work. Mistress Frances Spurcocke, sir Laucelots-Spurcockes daughter. You may ask Pluto, and dame Proserpine that: I would be loath to be ridelled sir. The Fates knows not yet what shoc-maker shall make her wedding shoes. At the George sir. I pray your name sir? A sweet name, God be with you good master Civet. I have a trick to know his name sir, He hath a months mind here to mistress Frances, his name master Civet. Mistress still froward? No kind looks unto your Daffidill, now by the Gods. There is your hand, but this shall go with me: My heart is thine, this is my true loves fee. Sir I am a man to be talked withal, I am no horse I tro: I Know my strength, then no more then so. I'll not be whipped sir, theres your livery. (Exit Daffidill. This is a seruiegmans reward, what care I, I have means to trust too: I scorn service I. Oh sir Art r, master ( . Your love, and yours, and mine, sweet mistress , This morn is arried to young Flowerd . The good sign is here sir, but the back gate is before. Oh 'tis too true. Here comes his Uncle.

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.