in The Miseries of Enforced Marriage — Wilkins, George
Metadata
Play
The Miseries of Enforced Marriage
Author
Wilkins, George
Year (catalogued)
1607
First performance
1606
Decade
1600s
Genre
Tragedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
King's Men
Speech prefix(es)
Bart. | Bar. | Bat. | Ba.
Words
357
Characters
1937
Typicality
0.33 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A15352
BritDrama no.
1521
Cluster
Cluster 23 — Gulls, fops & laughing-stocks
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
But Frank, Frank, now we are come to the house, what shall we make to be our business? True, and then you shall be accounted a gallant of good credit. Prithee tells who owes this building. Sfut, the Knight would have made and excellent Zany, in and Italian Comedy. But can they Love one another so soon? And why is a Cuckold monstrous, Knight? Honest Frank, valorous Frank, a portion of thy wit, but to help us in this enterprise, and we may walk London stret and cry pish at the Sergiants. Master Scarborrow is a married man. His brother's and sisters portions. Sfut friends, friends, all friends: Here comes young Scar borrow, should he knew of this, all our designs were prevented. How, arrest a Gentleman in our company? You wear good clothes. Keep the best company. Stand not vpont, be bound, be bound. Of merit. Our selves. And how dost feel thy self Frank, now thy father is dead? What, Dost mean to be married? What shall she be, prithee? So she be honest. Or I. Wilt thou. Here about is the house sure. What, turned Micher, steal a wife, and not make your old friends acquainted with it. As that you have two thousand pound a year. A wife, fair, rich, and virtuous. Plate in abundance. A Comedy, a Comedy. How? Nay, do not weep. But art thou thus gulled infaith. In which wele second thee. Withal, I have provided M. Gripe the Usurer, who upon the instant will be ready to step in, charge the Seargeaunts to keep thee fast, and that now he will have his five hundred pounds, or thou shalt rot for it. Why, dost laugh Frank? Stand not vpon't, be bound, be bound. Love not your wife. Who shall be your heir. Some groom. That shall command our souls. Hadst. And he would would had them all would he. But how Butler. We will live together as fellows. Mass he's yonder: Now Butler. You lie, 'tis and old Servingman in a Nut-tree. Good sir. Also concealing from them, the lodging beauty and riches of your new, but admirable Mistress.
Plot summary
Plot — The Miseries of Enforced Marriage
The ward William Scarborow betroths himself to Clare Harcop, but on his return to London he is forced to marry Katherine, the niece of his guardian, Lord Falconbridge. He is rewarded with control of his own’ and his younger brothers’ property. He writes to tell Clare the news of his unwelcome marriage; upon receiving the letter, she dies (possibly by suicide). ===== PAGE 337 ===== 1606 Scarborow takes her death badly: he blames his wife, and becomes prodigal. Ilford fakes his own arrest for debt in order to induce Scarborow to guarantee the supposed loan, thereby defrauding him of his money. This still leaves him with the patrimony of his younger brothers, Thomas and John; but he spends it, and drunkenly assaults his friends and kinsmen. The brothers and the honest family servant Butler are forced into theft to keep themselves from starvation. They steal £300 from Harcop, Clare’s father, which they use to make their sister appear to be a rich woman. Butler tricks Ilford into marrying her, but on learning that she is penniless her new husband throws her out; Butler offers to support her out of his meagre wages. Thomas confronts and fights with his elder brother, but saves his life when they are attacked by Ilford. Now penitent, Thomas declares his intention to confess to Harcop that he and John stole the money, even though it will mean hanging for them both. John falls out with him over this, but they are reconciled by Butler. Dr Baxter, who married Scarborow to Katherine, talks him into repentance. On his deathbed, Lord Falconbridge also repents and leaves the Scarborow brothers double their original wealth in restitution, along with a dowry for their sister.