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)
B •• . | Bru. | Bru
Words
303
Characters
1700
Typicality
0.25 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A18425
BritDrama no.
1499
Cluster
Cluster 17 — Intriguers & schemers
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
I well assure my self, Sir, that no thought In y ur ingenious construction, touches At the aspersion that my tendered service Proceeds from my despair of elsewhere safety But that my Countries' safety owning justly My whole liabilities of life and Fortune's, And you the ablest fautor of her safety, Her love, and (for your love of her) your own Only makes sacred to your use my offering. What thin clouds fly the winds, Like swiftest shafts Along airs middle region. Who more thirsts The Conquest, then resolves to bear the foil? Were it plain and hearty. 'Tis your best and safest. You should not, Sir, forsake your own wise counsel, Your own experienced discipline, own practice, Own God inspired insight to all changes, Of Protean fortune, and her z nigh, war, For hosts, and hels of such; What man will think The best of them, not mad; to see them range So up and down your camp, already suing For offices fallen, by Caesars built on fallen, Before one stroke be struck? Domitius, Spinther, Your father Scipio new preparing friends For Caesars place of universal Bishop? Are you the observed rule, and vouched example; Who ever would commend Physicians, That would not follow the diseased desires Of their sick patients? yet incur your self The faults that you so much abhor in others. I submit to Caesar My life and Fortune's. Sir, I fought Against your conquest, and your self; and merit ( I must acknowledge) a much sterner welcome. Search, search; they may be found. Mirror of men. It not well done. Let me crave The ease of my hate on their one cursed life. Let my slaves use, Sir, be your president. This straight of his perhaps may needs a sleight Oh some hid stratagem, to bring him off.
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.