Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

PERO

in Bussy D'Ambois

Metadata

PlayBussy D'Ambois
Year (catalogued)1607
First performance1607
Decade1600s
GenreHistory;Foreign History
Play typeBoys Professional;Professional
CompanyChildren of Paul's (second)
TheaterPaul's;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Per. | Pero.
Words443
Characters2231
Typicality0.36 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA18403
BritDrama no.1428
ClusterCluster 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 will, yet I will watch to know why you watch. Exit. To tell you truth, my Lord, I have made a strange dis couery. 'Tis thus then: This last night my Lord lay forth: and I wondering my Ladies sitting up, stole at midnight from my pal lat: and (having before made a hold both through the wall and arras to her inmost chamber) I saw D'Ambois and she set close at a banquet. Even he my Lord. No my Lord, he is the man. Nay my Lord, that amazes me: I cannot by any study so much as guess at it. Portions my Lord, yes and such portions as your prin cipality cannot purchase. Riddle my riddle my Lord. You shall my Lord. What's that, that being most rar's most cheap? That if you sow, you never reap? That when it grows most, most you in it? And still you loose it when you win it: That when 'tis commonest, 'tis dearest, And when 'tis farthest off'tis nearest? Even this my Lord. No my Lord, 'tis my chastity, which you shall neither riddle nor fiddle. Why my Lord, when you cannot get it, it goes toth' heart on you; and that I think comes most near you: and I am sure it shall be far enough off; and so I leave you to my mercy. Exit. Was nobly done. And I forgive his Lordship from my soul. I hope it be, at least, if not a volume Of worthy curses for your perjury. Furies rise Led her out. Out of the black lines, and torment his soul. Building on that you have sworn (my Lord) I may speak: and much the rather, because my Lady hath not trusted me with that I can tell you; for now I cannot be said to betray her. What does your Lordship mean? Madam, be comforted; my Lord but tries you. Madam? Help good my Lord are you not moved? Do your set looks print in your words, your thoughts? Sweet Lord, clear up those eyes, for shame of Noblesse: Merciless creature; but it is enough, You have shot home, your words are in her heart; She has not lived to bear a trial now. My Lord? My Lord hath played a prodigals partly, To break his Stock for nothing; and and insolent, To cut a Gordian when he could not lose it: What violence is this, to put true fire To a false train? To blow up long crowned peace With sudden outrage? and believe a man Sworn to the shame of women, gainst a woman, Born to their honours: I'll attend your Lordship.

Plot summary

Plot — Bussy D'Ambois
Monsieur is heir presumptive to the French crown: only his brother's life stands between him and the throne. He seeks to engage the services of the poor, discontented, and ambitious soldier Bussy D'Amboise, and sends Maffé to him with money. Maffé tries to fob off Bussy with a smaller sum, intending to pocket the difference; but Bussy takes offence and assaults Maffé. Monsieur introduces Bussy to court as an attendant on the King, but many courtiers regard him as an upstart, especially the Duke of Guise, who considers him inappropriately familiar with his Duchess. A fight breaks out between Bussy and a group of courtiers; only Bussy escapes alive, and Monsieur procures a royal pardon for him. Monsieur attempts to seduce Tamyra, but she is more interested in Bussy and engages her confessor, Friar Comolet, to act as go-between. While her husband, Montsoreau, is away overnight, she has an assignation with Bussy. Unbeknown to them, this is witnessed by Tamyra's maid, Pero, who tells Montsoreau what she has seen. Monsieur is jealous of Bussy's intimacy with Tamyra, but his higher plans take precedence - until Bussy declares that he will serve him in any way except by killing the King. Monsieur and Guise conspire to inform Montsoreau of Tamyra's adultery. In order to discover what they know and what they intend, Comolet conjures the spirit Behemoth, who is unable to procure the letter containing Guise's information, but declares that Tamyra is the greatest danger to Bussy and promises to tell more when invoked by him. At Guise's suggestion, Montsoreau tries to force Tamyra to write to Bussy inviting him to another assignation - which will, in reality, be a trap. He wounds and tortures her, and finally she writes the letter in her own blood. Comolet drops dead, and his ghost warns Bussy of violence to come. Bussy seeks further information from Behemoth,who tells him that the Friar is dead and Tamyra's letter will be fatal; but when Montsoreau delivers the letter disguised as Comolet, Bussy disbelieves the spirit and keeps his date with Tamyra. Most of the murderers are scared off by Comolet's ghost, but one remains, and Bussy kills him. Montsoreau returns with the assassins and Bussy is killed. Tamyra is ordered out of the house, her marriage to Montsoreau irretrievably broken.