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)
Porc. | Por.
Words
303
Characters
1553
Typicality
0.41 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A18425
BritDrama no.
1499
Cluster
Cluster 21 — Old fathers & plain counsel
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
And all these are said To be suborned, in chief, against your self; Since Caesar chiefly fears, that you will fit This day his opposite; in the cause for which Both you were sent for home; and he hath stolen Access so soon here; Pompey whole rest raised To his encounter; and on both sides, Room In general uproar. Take you No note that I take it, nor let any servant, Beside your self, of all my father's nearest, Serve any mood he serves, with any knowledge Of this or any other, Caesar comes And gives his army wings to reach this town. Not for the towns sake, but to save my father. Whom justly he suspects to be resolved Of any violence to his life, before He will preserve it by a Tyrants favour. For Pompey hath miscarried, and is fled. Be true to me, and to my father's life; And do not tell him; nor his fury serve With any other. Oh my Lord and father. I beseech you, Sir, Rest patient of my duty, and my love; Your other children think on, our poor mother, Your family, your Country. I think Sir, gone with the three hundred Roman In Lucius Caesars charge, to serve the victor. My brother Brutus Is gone to Caesar. I, my Lord, shall gladly Obey that counsel. Oh my Lord, and father, come, advise me. Exeunt. I swear ( Statilius ) He's forth, and gone to seek you, charging me To seek elsewhere, lest you had slain your self; And by his love entreated you would live. You may, you may; but shun the victor now, Who near is, and will make us all his slaves. Look, look in to my father, Oh (I fear) He is no sighed for me to bear and live. Exit.
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.