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)
Cor. | Corn.
Words
459
Characters
2485
Typicality
0.29 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A18425
BritDrama no.
1499
Cluster
Cluster 7 — Pedants, satyrs & Latin wit
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
SO may my comforts for this good news thrive As I am thankful for them to the Gods. Joys unexpected, and in desperate plighted, Are still most sweet, and prove from whence they come; When earth's still Moonelike confidence, in joy, Is at her full. True joy descending far From passed her sphere, and from that highest heaven That moves and is not moved: how far was I From hope of these events, when fearful dreams Of Harpies tearing out my heart? of armies Terribly joining? Cities, kingdoms falling, And all on me? proved sleep, not twin to death, But to me, death it self? yet making then, These letters; full of as much cheerful life, I found closed in my hand. Oh gods how justly You laugh at all things earthly? at all fears That rise not from your judgements? at all joys, Not drawn directly from your selves, and in you, Distrust in man is faith, trust in him ruin. Why write great learned men? men merely rapt With sacred rage, of confidence, belief? Undaunted spirits? inexorable fate And all fear treading on? 'tis all but air, If any comfort be, 'tis in despair. Oh may this Isle of Lesbos, compassed in With the Aegaean sea, that does divide Europe from Asia. (The sweet literate world From the Barbarian) from my barbarous dreams Divide my dearest husband and his Fortune's. Seest thou no fleet yet (Sentinel) nor train That may be thought great Pompey's? These serve not our Hope's. One only ship? That should not be my Lord. I'll see him in his letter, once again. My friends? a word. Yes. Are you of Thessaly? Your Country is great. Are you Augurs? Can you do that? Yes; the absence of my husband. Pompey the great. In his command of the world. Pompey. Nothing the less for his greatness. His right is my comfort. My sorrow. Yes. Why is my Lord wronged. Not I. He is so. What call you wrong? Think you my Lord afflicted? Then he is not worldly, but truly good. If he rule well with his greatness, wherein is he ill? I am none of those great Ladies. I he submit himself cheerfully to his fortune I would be so great, if he were. In fact. I am: and welcome, as the world were closed In these embraces. Oh Pompey, Pompey : never Great till now. Oh, I more joy, embrace my Lord thus fixed, Then he had brought me ten inconstant conquests. Why draw they? See, my Lords; attend them ushers. Oh my husband. Why should men Tempt fate with such firm confidence? seeking places Before the power that should dispose could grant them? For then the stroke of battle was not struck.
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.