in Caesar and Pompey (The Wars of Caesar and Pompey) — Chapman, George
Metadata
Play
Caesar and Pompey (The Wars of Caesar and Pompey)
Author
Chapman, George
Year (catalogued)
1631
First performance
1605
Decade
1630s
Genre
Tragedy
Play type
Adult Professional (?); Unacted (?)
Company
Unacted (?)
Speech prefix(es)
1 Len. | 1 Lent. | 1 Len
Words
211
Characters
1184
Typicality
0.29 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A18425
BritDrama no.
1499
Cluster
Cluster 1 — Wives, widows & intimate counsel
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
You learned Ladies may hold any thing. Nay, that was sure enough. Physicians know When sick men's eyes are broken, they must die. Your letters telling you his victory Lost in the skirmish, which I know hath broken Both the eyes and heart of Caesar: for as men Healthful through all their lives to greyhaired age, When sickness takes them once, they seldom escape: So Caesar victor in his general fights Till this late skirmish, could no adverse blow Sustain without his utter overthrow. Seest thou no travellers addressed this way? In any number on this Lesbian shore? She's a Philosophresse Augur, and can turn Ill to good as well as you. Some, my Lord, that lately The Sentinel discovered, but not knew Yet falls not heaven? Madam, Oh make good Your late great spirits; all the world will say, You know not how to bear adverse events, If now you languish. Your Lord? no madam. These can be no plumes in the train of Pompey. See, madam, two Thessalian Augurs it seems By their habits. Call, and inquire if either by their Skills or travels, they know no news of your husband. Miraculous standing in a fallen so great, Would Caesar knew, Sir, how you conquered him In your conviction.
Plot summary
Plot — Caesar and Pompey (The Wars of Caesar and Pompey)
The armies of Caesar and Pompey are both dangerously close to Italy: Pompey’s has been summoned by the Senate, fearful of Caesar’s ambition, and this provoked Caesar to bring up his own forces. The Senate meets to discuss the issue. Caesar’s agents unsuccessfully try to keep out his incorruptible enemy, Cato. Caesar arranges for a motion to be put to allow Pompey’s army to enter Italy, as a pretext to allow his to do the same; but this meets with the opposition of Cato. A quarrel erupts between Caesar and Pompey, and the Senate orders Caesar to disband his army, whilst requiring Pompey to mobilize in defence of the state. Civil war ensues. Fearing that the war will put a stop to his long criminal career, Fronto tries to hang himself. The devil Ophioneus prevents him and offers him a senior position in the priesthood in return for his service. Fronto declines ecclesiastical preferment, but is content to accept a more secular office. Pompey flees Rome to avoid an early battle. His ally Vibius is taken prisoner after a daring exploit goes wrong; Caesar salutes his bravery and sends him back to Pompey with an offer of peace. Pompey’s troops are gathering: Brutus joins him, despite bearing him a grudge, and so do the kings of five of Rome’s satellite states. Meanwhile the convergence of Caesar’s forces is hindered by Pompey’s navy, until it is dispersed by a tempest. Vibius brings Caesar’s offer of peace, but Brutus persuades Pompey that it must be a trap. Pompey prepares for his last stand at Pharsalus, but his men are uncertain: all omens point to Caesar’s victory. The portents are fulfilled: Pompey is routed in the battle. He flees in disguise to join his wife, who initially doesn’t recognize him; he reveals himself only after he has made sure of her stoic acceptance of the defeat. He is murdered by agents of the King of Egypt. Brutus surrenders to Caesar, who hastens to rendezvous with Cato, but Cato decides to kill himself rather than submit to tyranny. His household tries to stop him by hiding his sword, but he insists, and disembowels himself before Caesar arrives. Caesar is disgusted when Pompey’s assassins present him with his enemy’s head, and he orders them tortured. He also has a fine tomb built for Cato.