Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

PETER

in The Hog Hath Lost His Pearl — Tailor, Robert

Metadata

PlayThe Hog Hath Lost His Pearl
AuthorTailor, Robert
Year (catalogued)1614
First performance1613
Decade1610s
GenreComedy
Play typePrivate
Speech prefix(es)Pe. | Pet.
Words464
Characters2381
Typicality0.20 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA13345
BritDrama no.1701
ClusterCluster 20 — Conjurers, witches & physicians

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

No in very deed sir, is a towardly young gentleman, shall a have my young Mistress, your daughter, I pray you sir? As ere came in parchment, but see, here comes my young lord. Trust me a says well for the most partly. Yes indeed she's and early stirrer, and I doubt not here after, but that your lordship may say she's abroad before you can rise. No and it Like your lordship, nor is fit she should. Indeed your Lordship's conquest would have seemed the greater. For any thing I know, your lordship may go without her. God give you joy. Afore God is a most unanswerable lord, and holds her toot i'faith. Yes indeed an't Like your lordship. I'll warrant you my lord, she's your own, for isle give out to all that comes near her, that she's betrothed to you, and if the worst come to the worst, I'll swear it. Anon sir. Why sir being undone himself; a lives by the undoing or by-lady, it may be by the doing of others, or peradventure both a decayed gallant may live by any thing, if a keep one thing safe. Wilt please you to taste a cup of September bear gentiem. The gentleman here falls out with me, upon nothing in the world but mere courtesy, Is his name Lighfoote, a plague on him, a has a heavy hand. Three at the least sir. Yes indeed sir. I think a dosen hours my Lord, and 'tis nothing, I'll undertake to sleep sixteen, upon the receipt of two cups of muscadine. Hang flinchers they sluncke away as soon as they had drunk as much as they were able to carry, which no ge nerous spirit would a done in deed. Come softly by any means, for we are now upon the threshold of my Master's chamber, through which isle bring you to Mistress Rebecka's lodging, give me your hand and come very nicely. Oh my Lord above, stand still, I am fallen down at least 30. fathom deep, if you stand not still till I recover and have lighten a candle, you're but a dead man. Where are you my Lord? Breaking my neck in your service a plague ont. She's not in the house sir? the street doors are wide open. Good my Lord promise him to marry his daughter, or a will be mad presently, though you never intend to have her. Till which be had, my fare will be but cold. Yet if you please, sir John will back surrender The overplus of what you now did tender. Oh pardon sir, for by our worships leave, We ought to give from whence we do receive. A good night to all. Its out sir. Li. then my hand in sir.

Plot summary

Plot — The Hog Hath Lost His Pearl
Haddit has spent all his money and mortgaged his lands to Hog the usurer, and now ekes out a living selling jigs to players. He aims to solve his financial problems by marrying Rebecca, Hog’s daughter, whose affections he had previously refused in the belief that she was too low-born for him. Hog intends Rebecca to marry young Lord Wealthy, but she refuses, and helps Haddit trick her father. Haddit’s uncle, Lightfoot, helps to get the servant Peter out of the way by picking a quarrel, to give him a pretext for making peace with a drinking contest; Peter imbibes himself insensible in the cellar. Rebecca steals Hog’s keys, giving Haddit and his accomplices access to his bedroom, where he keeps his gold. Lightfoot appears to Hog as the ghost of Croesus, come to make the usurer rich: a spirit will ===== PAGE 291 ===== 1613 take his gold and transform it into pearl, which is even more valuable; in reality, Haddit steals the money and retrieves his mortgage, then absconds with Rebecca and marries her. Hog goes to complain to old Lord Wealthy, but his supernatural experiences induce a conversion: he renounces avarice and gives the couple his blessing. In the sub-plot, Carracus plans to elope with young Lord Wealthy’s sister Maria, and entrusts his friend Albert with the arrangements. Albert visits Maria early, posing as Carracus, and has sex with her; she then leaves with Carracus as planned, and marries him: Albert suffers remorse and decides to leave human society. Some time later, Carracus notices that Maria is wearing Albert’s ring, which he gave her on the night of the elopement. Both realize what Albert did; Maria faints and Carracus is told that she has died of shame. In fact, she disguises herself as a page and flees to the woods, where Albert has carved penitential verses on every tree. Posing as a hermit, Albert finds her almost dead from starvation; he takes her to his cave; and feeds her. Carracus also goes to the woods, where an echo tells him that Maria is alive and innocent. They meet up, and revelations ensue: the page is chaste Maria and the hermit is penitent Albert. Carracus and Maria forgive him, and make their peace with Maria’s family.