in The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant) — Shirley, James
Metadata
Play
The Grateful Servant (The Faithful Servant)
Author
Shirley, James
Year (catalogued)
1630
First performance
1629
Decade
1630s
Genre
Comedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Queen Henrietta Maria's Men
Theater
Phoenix/Cockpit;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)
Piero: | Pier. | Piero. | Piero, | Pior. | Pi.
Words
716
Characters
3567
Typicality
0.31 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A12138
BritDrama no.
2287
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
I'm happy that my duty to the Prince Brought me to kiss your hand. I Sir, but I am very loath to begin with her, I know she will not let me do the feat, I had as good never attempt it. Would, my Lord, I would don't. I am very well here. What d'ee mean my Lord? What, that? My Lord it is— But think on't again, I pray you think a little bet to r, I would no great ambition to would my throat cut. Wilt please you Madam, walk into your chamber I have something to impart, will require more pri acie. No, wh re is he? What fury thu transports him at some distance I'll follow him, he may intend some violence She is too good to suffer I shall grow In love with my conversion. With your Lady? By you, you cannot choose but kill me for't, when I have done, name any other Lady, or half a score on they, as far as flesh will go, I would but a body, and that shall ven ture upon a disease to do you see vice, but your Lady. My Lord do but con sider—well I will do what I can, and there be no remedy—but I must be a little plain with-thee my Lord, that you wonot ask me blessing, I am Like to be one of your God father's. The ewe name that I shall add to your other title will stick in your head and I fear corrupt your brains too many wise men have run mad vpon't in the City. What needs all this stir I urge your benefit. One act, There be those Ladies that have acted it A hundred times, yet think themselves as good C ristians as other women, and do carry As much opinion too for virtue. What harm can there be in't, can you neglect Revenge so joust, so easy and delightful? Scatter a toy, be wise, and lose no time You know not when-such opportunity, May tempt you too't again, for my own partly I can but do you pleasure in't, your blood Should needs no other argument. You will led me To some more private room, I'll follow Madam. I did but see her. It was enough for me to kiss her hand. How Sir? I am suspected, I must turn this fools discourse, Another way, the present theme is dangerous; What I hear say , your Lady is Like to rise? There is a whisper abroad What if she be married in this absence? I hope a man may get a place for himself or his friend for ready money. But what if after all this imagination of a marri age, fortune should forbid the banes. I have pleased thy Excellence, and you had made more hast, you might would come to the falla'th Dear, deli cate Venison. They talk of Jupiter and a golden shewer, Give me a Mercury with wit and tongue He shall charm more Ladies on their backs, Then the whole bundle of Gods pshew. I have, shall I swear? What dee mean. Did not ou engage me to it, have I done any thing but by your directions? my Lord. Hold, and there be no remedy, I will die better then I would lived, you shall see Sir that I dare fight with you, and if I tall by your Sword, my base consent to act your will de serves it. I find your policy, and by this storm, You'd prove my resolution, how boldly I Dare stand too't when this great Dishonour comes to question prepare To be displeased—she is a miracle Of chastity impenterable Like. A marble she returned my sinful Arron es And they have wounded me, forgive me Lady. Nay for butting, your Lordship is Like to do that better, when I have done with your Lady, upon one con dition, I'll resolve. And bring me in for a witness. And there will be notable preferment for you? He is wound up already. Not by my hope of heaven Which I had almost forfeited, had not she Relieved me with her virtue, in this truth I dare resig e my breath. True love stream in your bosoms Lady forgive me too.
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…