Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

ASTELLA

in The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant) — Shirley, James

Metadata

PlayThe Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant)
AuthorShirley, James
Year (catalogued)1630
First performance1629
Decade1630s
GenreComedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyQueen Henrietta Maria's Men
TheaterPhoenix/Cockpit;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Astel. | Ast. | Ast ▪ | Astella, | Astel: | Astella:
Words292
Characters1475
Typicality0.40 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA12138
BritDrama no.2287
ClusterCluster 22 — Ghosts, curses & horror voices

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

If it please you stay Your Ladyship and i'll converse together, My unkind fate hath indisposed me, To these state ceremonies too. To undo my name N v Soul for ever with one act. Heaven. Nay you shall give me leave a little further. Here I am vsele e. He is entered. It is of joy to see you fit in health, I hope the Prince is well? Eene what you please. At heart my Lord, to think of your unkindness. What sin have I committed Sir, deserves This distance? There's and other duty, my Lord required from ̄ husband If the suspicion that I am unchaste— I know you never meant it I would you would enjoin me any testimony, So I might be in hope to win your lo e. Of w at? If it be grief, 'tis welcome. TO y breath does scatter and infection. What means my Lord? Whither you please You shall not needs to force me si , you ma Led me with gossamere, or the least thread The industrious spider weaves. I hope it. Most willingly. If I've any skill in mine own eyes, Since they beheld you, they have looked More cheerfully, then they are wont. when he leaves to be unkind To thee, but let's forget him, Touch me not villain , piety defend me Art thou a man, or have I all this while Conversed with some ill Ang ll in the shape Of my Lords friend, I'll sooner Empty my veins, not to redeem thy Soul, Should Sin betray mine honour to one lose Embrace, hence traitor I do feel corruption I'th air already, it will kill me if I stay, hereafter I'll not wonder how My Lord became so wicked.

Plot summary

Plot — The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant)
PLOT The Duke of Savoy was to marry Leonora, Princess of Milan; but with the death of her father, the Milanese feared falling under the dominion of Savoy and have tried to force her to marry her uncle instead. Rather than go to war, the Duke redirects his amorous attentions to Cleona, who is Savoy-born and so poses none of the problems of language and obedience associated with a foreign wife. Cleona has just lost another lover, Foscari, who was reported dead on a journey. In fact, he has returned with a new page, Dulcino, whom he rescued from the banditti. He sends Dulcino with a letter announcing his return. Cleona at once loses all interest in the Duke; but when Foscari learns that he is the Duke’s rival in love, he decides to bow out: Dulcino is sent back to make a false confession that the letter was a forgery and that Foscari is dead after all, clearing the way for the Duke’s suit and Cleona’s advancement. The Duke, however, finds himself unaccountably attracted to Dulcino. Foscari intends to become a monk, taking Dulcino with him. Dulcino does not share this ambition: ‘he’ is really Leonora, who fled Milan to escape the forced marriage. The monk sent to negotiate Foscari’s admission to the abbey turns out to be the one who also helped her to abscond, Valentino, and he promises to arrange matters. Meanwhile the Duke learns that Foscari is alive, but promises to keep it from Cleona until after the monastic initiation ceremony, which they are both to witness. In the event, however, Valentino slips the Duke a paper identifying Leonora. That not only debars her from joining the abbey but also puts an end to any interest the Duke may have in marrying Cleona; which means that Foscari in turn no longer needs to take himself out of the Duke’s way. Both couples can pair off as originally intended. In the sub-plot, the Duke’s brother Lodwick neglects his wife, and plans to give himself grounds for divorce by procuring his associate Piero to commit adultery with her; this will leave him free to marry Cleona. He then aims to succeed to the dukedom by inducing his brother to enter religion. His former governor, Grimundo, persuades him that he is himself a secret debauchee, and offers to arrange a garden assignation for him. His date introduces herself as the devil in sexy human form, which somewhat dampens his ardour. He rushes back, to find with relief that Piero’s attempted seduction has been unsuccessful, and resolves to become a more dutiful husband — even…