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)
Stat. | Sta. | Sta
Words
317
Characters
1699
Typicality
0.38 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A18425
BritDrama no.
1499
Cluster
Cluster 21 — Old fathers & plain counsel
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 21 (gar, shillings, alii, yongrave, ogenes, nat…). Matches are highlighted.
day, against both the Rivals, His wife and family mourn, no food, no comfort Allowed them, for his danger) you would use Your utmost powers to stay him from the Senate, All this days Session. Nothing Sir? I saw Castor and Pollux Temple, thrust up full, With all the damned crew you have lately named The market place and suburbs
I saw Castor and Pollux Temple, thrust up full, With all the damned crew you have lately named The market place and suburbs swarming with them: And where the Senate fit, are Ruffians pointed To keep from entering the degrees that go Up to the Bench; all other but the Consuls, Caesar and Pompey, and the Senators, And all for
Full speech
Which Sir, if you saw, And knew, how for the danger, all suspect To this your worthiest friend (for that known freedom His spirit will use this day, against both the Rivals, His wife and family mourn, no food, no comfort Allowed them, for his danger) you would use Your utmost powers to stay him from the Senate, All this days Session. Nothing Sir? I saw Castor and Pollux Temple, thrust up full, With all the damned crew you have lately named The market place and suburbs swarming with them: And where the Senate fit, are Ruffians pointed To keep from entering the degrees that go Up to the Bench; all other but the Consuls, Caesar and Pompey, and the Senators, And all for no cause, but to keep out Cato, With any violence, any villainy; And is this nothing Sir? Is his One life, On whom all good lives, and their goods depend, In Rome's whole Empire! All the Justice there That's free, and simple; all such virtues too, And all such knowledge; Nothing, nothing, all? It was deferred with reason, which not yet Th'euent so clear is to confute. Ask what's his own? Of him he scorns should have the least drop in it At his disposure. The gods avert from every Roman mind The name of slave to any Tyrants power. Why was man ever joust, but to be free, against all injustice? and to bear about him As well all means to freedom every hour, As every hour he should be armed for death, Which only is his freedom? Hear, and judge it Sir. Is't not a manly truth, and mere divine? Cato? my Lord? Our lives shall seal our loves, Sir, with worst death Adventured in your service. Submission? here's for him. I swear by all the gods, I'll run his Fortune's. He shall himself be mine first, and my slaves. 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.