Delia. | Deli. | Dali. | De • . | Deli | Dely. | 〈◊〉 . [Delia]
Words
531
Characters
2766
Typicality
0.40 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A12023
BritDrama no.
1443
Cluster
Cluster 10 — Mourners, mothers & doleful voices
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Why sister now you have your wish. It will do very well with both of you. Brother, maintain your wife to your estate, Apparel you your self Like to your father: And let her go Like to your ancient mother, He sparing God his wealth, left it to you, Brother take heed of pride, some bids thrift adue. And yet his wealth was all as much as yours. That may indeed, 'tis very fitly plied, I know not how it comes, but so it falls out That those whose father's have died wondrous rich, And took no pleasure but to gather wealth, Thinking of little that they leave behind: For them they hope, will be of their Like mind, But falls out contrary, forty years sparing Is scarce three seven years spending, never caring What will inshue, when all their coin is gone, And all too late, then thrift is thought upon: Ofthaue I herd, that pride and ryotkist, And then repentance cries, for had I wist. And yowl do this with forty pound a year? Keep you the rest for points, alas the day, Fools shall have wealth, though all the world say nay: brot r will you in, dinner stays for us. God grant you may not. Father be patient, sorrow comes too late. Yet sister in this passion do not run headlong to confusion. You may affect him, though not follow him. No master Oliver, 'tis master Flowerdale, he did but jest with me. Brother, you see how all men consure you, Farewell, and I pray God amend your life. Very well sister. Yes brother, lead the way follow you. Hark you Dutch frowe a word. I ir, am yours. I prithee Artichoake go not so fast, The weather is hight, and I am something weary. Oh God, is all grace banished from thy heart, Think of the shame that does attend this fact. No, bind me not, hold there is all I have, And would that money would redeem thy shame. Here brother Flowerdale isle lend you this same money Oh he is worse then bade, I him And let not once thy heart to think on him. Not that I do condemn a married life, For 'tis no doubt a thing: But for the care and crosses of a wife, The trouble in this world that children bring, My vow is in heaven in earth to live alone, Husbands howsoever good, I will have none. That voice I have herd often before this time, What brother Flowerdale, become a thief? Peace syrrha, no more. Sister Luc 'tis not your broken language, Nor this same habit, can disguise your From I that know you: pray tell me, what means this? Well, seeing no counsel can remove your mind, I'll not disclose you, that art wilful blind. I am ready sir, I will first go to Green-witch, From thence to my cousin Chesterfeelds, and so to London. I Like your maid well. You were best ask your husband. Pardon me sir, I mean I am yours, In love, in duty: and affection. But not to love as wife, shall be said, Delya was buried married, but a aid.
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.