Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

GRIMBALL

in 1 Promos and Cassandra — Whetstone, George

Metadata

Play1 Promos and Cassandra
AuthorWhetstone, George
Year (catalogued)1578
First performance1578
Decade1570s
GenreComedy
Play typeUnacted (?)
CompanyUnacted
Speech prefix(es)Gri. | GRi. | Gri | GRym. | Grim. | Grym.
Words698
Characters3498
Typicality0.36 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA15045.1
BritDrama no.615
ClusterCluster 11 — Tosspots & tavern railers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Tush, to find law breakers let me alone, I have eyes, will look into a Millstone. I faith Rapax, what thought thy wife when she, To lie with the Priest, by night stole from thee? Go and a knave with Thee. Fare you well, for us take no care, With us this broad speech seldom breeds square. Well sir, whipping shall keep you warm. All Julio Sir does ring of her lewd life: In such shares as this, henceforth I will begin, For all is his, in his claws, that comes in. Sayest thou me so, then kiss me for acquaintance. Bore me and ase, quoth Boulton, Tush, your mind I know: Ah sir, you would, be Like, let my Cock Sparrows go. Say off hands Daliam. You powte me, if that you God, my Pudding away: Iche were as good geete his, for she will hate, I see. Well, my noun good heart root, I freely give thee this, Upon condition, that thou give me a kys. Why ych was rite now, for my Pudding, honey sweet Grimbal: Well Daliam, you will flout so long, till (though I say) With kindness you will cast a proper handsome man away, Wherefore soot Conny, even a little spurt: Why, you woot hot. Hark in your ear: Nay, for my head, care not a Tinkers torde, For so God judge me, and at one bore word: Isle loose my death, yea, and my great brown Cow, I love you so filthily: law you now. Yes by Gogs foot, to pleasure thee, ych shall, Both sing, spring, fight and play, the dewl and all. Come smack me, come smack me, I long for a smouch, Why pretty Pygsney, my heart, and my honey? I lack money, chy grant, Cham young sweet heart, and feat, come kiss me for love, What mean you by this? First smack me, first smack, I die for a smouch, Cham sick in deed, and therefore ych thank Thee: Well, well, Daliam, the Lone ych bore to Thee, Hath made me sick, and picked my purse from Me. Soft Daliam, a word with you, I pray. Leard how I love thee, Daliam, art thou gone? what wolt serve me so? Oh God, cham ready to ray my self for woe: Be valiant Grimball, kill thy self man? Nay, hum Lady, I will not by Saint Anne. Ich have beard my great Grandsier say: Maid will say nay, and take it: and so she may, And therefore chyll, to Mistress Lamia, With these Puddings, and Cock Sparrows, by and by: And in the dark, again, ych will his try. Good do not bite, for ych mean thee no hurt: Come off Pyggesnie, prefarre me not a jot, God boars, as sayest, when somewhat handsome ch'am, I faith she will come off for very shame: Nay, thou woult say so, when my face is fair washed, A dapper knave, one Rosko. Oh, yea, why he is Mistress Lamia's powler. And look syrra, Then is the little knave. How dost Rosko? Leave, if you be men, Hear you me now? be friends, and by my troth, Chill spend a whole quart of Ale on you both. Why, knowest him not? why it is lusty Rowke. What? wilt give thy nose away? beware that match. For chy see no Copper, unlest be there. I, I, do so: Well then, that we may drink, straight ways wash Me. Thus? Oh, thus: Yes, yes, I shall. Sayest thou me so? Good now dispatch and away? I even fyssell, until I smouch Daliam. Oh Lord, gogs foot, you pick me to the quick: Oh, o no more, Oh God, I spattell blood. I am poisoned, ah, it is bitter gall: Yea marry sir, these are gay sugared gear. Well now, what must I pay, that chy were gone? Sayest me so? Oh cham undone. Oh Leard, my Purse is cut. Now, here. I can not tell. I know not. Oh Leard, I ken not I. Nay hark, I must neades first: Oh Learde, Learde, cham sick, my belly akes, too, too: Nay gogs foot, good now, no more of this stir. Nay, gogs foot,

Plot summary

Plot — 1 Promos and Cassandra
The King of Hungary appoints Lord Promos as his deputy in the city of Gyula. Believing in the efficacy of judicial severity, Promos re-enacts legislation against promiscuity. The brothel business instantly goes from prosperity to disaster, and Cassandra’s brother, Andrugio, who has had premarital sex with Polina, is condemned to death. Cassandra pleads with Promos, and, attracted to her, he grants a temporary stay of execution to allow her to plead further, At this meeting, ===== PAGE 167 ===== 1577 he offers her a reprieve in return for her love: the price of her brother's life is her participation in the very crime for which he was condemned, She refuses, but he gives her two days to think about it; if she changes her mind, she is to come to court at night dressed as a page. When she visits her brother to tell him to prepare for death, they dispute which is the lesser of two evils, and he persuades her to submit to Promos. Phallax, Promos’s corrupt deputy, is busy making himself rich by taking bribes. His accomplices bring in the courtesan Lamia, but he dismisses them and tries to seduce her. She invites him to her house the following night. Lamia can now live with impunity, and her servants lay in food to entertain Phallax. Grimball is keen to seduce Dalia, the maid, but when he goes to clean himself up, Rosko arranges for him to be robbed while being barbered. Cassandra submits to sex with Promos, but not before extracting from him a promise of marriage. Promos double-crosses her and orders Andrugio secretly beheaded. Cassandra is presented with a severed head; she determines to bury the head and expose Promos’s corruption to the King. In fact, however, Andrugio has been saved by the Jailer, and he goes into exile, leaving Polina to mourn him and Cassandra to seek the King’s justice.