in The Royal Entertainment at Caversham — Campion, Thomas
Metadata
Play
The Royal Entertainment at Caversham
Author
Campion, Thomas
Year (catalogued)
1613
First performance
1613
Decade
1610s
Genre
Entertainment; Masque
Play type
Occasional
Theater
before the Court;
Speech prefix(es)
Cynick | Cyn. | Cynick.
Words
302
Characters
1581
Typicality
0.37 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A17879.1
BritDrama no.
1708
Cluster
Cluster 21 — Old fathers & plain counsel
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 21 (gar, shillings, alii, yongrave, ogenes, nat…). Matches are highlighted.
is a place of silence; here a kingdom I enjoy without people; my self commands, my self oh beys; Host, Cook, and Guest my self; I reap without sowing, owe all to Nature, to none other beholding: my skin is my coat, my ornaments these boughs and flowers, this Bower my house, the earth my bed, herbs my food, water my drink; I
Full speech
STay; whither you humane be or divine; here is no passage; see you not the earth furrowed? the region solitary? Cities and Courts fit tumultuous multitudes: this is a place of silence; here a kingdom I enjoy without people; my self commands, my self oh beys; Host, Cook, and Guest my self; I reap without sowing, owe all to Nature, to none other beholding: my skin is my coat, my ornaments these boughs and flowers, this Bower my house, the earth my bed, herbs my food, water my drink; I want no sleep, nor health; I envy none, nor am envied, neither fear I, nor hope, nor joy, nor grieve: if this be happiness, I have it; which you all that depend on others service, or command, want: will you be happy? be private; turn Palaces to Hermi tages, noies to silence, outward felicity, to inward con tent. Naked I am, and so is truth; plain, and so is ho nesty; I fear no men encounter, since my cause deserves neither excuse, nor blame. I do. They are. The best of things. Yes. They did. True. I am conquered by reason, and humbly ask pardon for my error, henceforth my heart shall honour greatness, and love society; lead now, and I will follow as good a fellow as the best. A very Musical motion, and I agree to it. Sure I am, it hath stirred up strange thoughts in me; never knew I the difference between Wine and Uva ter before. Bacchus hath opened mine eyes, I now see bram very and admire it, beauty & adore it. I find my Arms naked, my discourse rude, but my heart soft as Wax, ready to melt with the least beam of a fair eye; which (till this time) was as untractable as Iron.
Plot summary
Plot — The Royal Entertainment at Caversham
As the Queen arrives at Caversham Park, her way is barred by a woodland Cynic, who wants to be left alone in his happy poverty. He is rebuked by a traveller, who 1613 debates with him the virtues of a poor, solitary life; the Cynic is convinced and renounces it. After the Queen has entered the park, she is welcomed by the keepers with a song. As she approaches the house, the gardeners strive to outdo the woodmen with their song. Further singing welcomes her as she passes into the upper garden. After supper, the Traveller, Gardener, and Cynic return, praise the Queen, and sing. Sylvanus arrives, does homage to the greater goddess visiting the house, and introduces some masquing semi-deities. Dancing ensues, in which the Queen herself participates. The following day, the Queen is to depart. As she is given three home-made presents, the gardeners sing their sorrow at her going.