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)
Sooth.
Words
259
Characters
1470
Typicality
0.39 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A18425
BritDrama no.
1499
Cluster
Cluster 24 — Gods, cupids & celestial agents
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Imperial Caesar, at your sacred charge, I drew a milk white Ox into the Temple, And turning there his face into the east, (Fearfully shaking at the shining light) Down fell his horned forehead to his hoof, When I began to greet him with the stroke, That should prepare him for the holy rites, With hideous roars he laid out such a throat As made the secret lurkings of the God To answer ecco-like, in threatening sounds: I stroke again at him, and then he slept, His lifeblood boiling out at every wound In streams as clear as any liquid Ruby, And there began to altar my presage, The other ill signs showing th'other fortune, Of your last skirmish, which far opposite now Proves, ill beginnings good events foreshow. For now the beast cut up, and laid on th'Altar, His limbs were all licked up with instant flames, Not Like the Elemental fire that burns In household uses, lamely struggling up, This way and that way winding as it rises, But (right and upright) reached his proper sphere Where burns the fire eternal and sincere. That even the spirit Of heavens pure flame flew down and ravished up Your offerings blaze in that religious instant, Which shows alacrity and cheerful virtue Of heavens free bounty, doing good in time, And with what swiftness true devotions climb. Oh behold with wonder, The sacred blaze is Like a torch enlightened, Directly burning joust above your camp! Believe it, with all thanks: The Roman Genius is altered now, And arms for Caesar.
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.