in The Contention between Liberality and Prodigality — Anonymous
Metadata
Play
The Contention between Liberality and Prodigality
Author
Anonymous
Year (catalogued)
1602
First performance
1601
Decade
1600s
Genre
Moral
Play type
Boys Professional
Company
Children of the Chapel (second)
Theater
before the Court;
Speech prefix(es)
Cap.
Words
218
Characters
1129
Typicality
0.28 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A19182
BritDrama no.
1276
Cluster
Cluster 3 — Citizens, tradesfolk & neighbors
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Sir, I beseech you speak a good word for me to the Prince, That by her letters, I may be commended to some Province, Where service is to be had, either there to die with fame, Or elsto get me somewhat, whereon to live without shame: For beg I cannot, and steal I may not, the truth is so; But needs does make, the Proverb says, th'old wife to trot for woe. Yet whom stark needs does pinch, at length the devil drives to go: Therefore, I beseech you, pity his extremity, That would not make this suit without necessity. By birth a Gentleman, by profession a soldier, Who, though I say it, in all our Sovereigns war, With hazard of my blood and life, have gone as far, As haply some others, whole Fortune's have been better: But I in service yet, could be a getter, Ne can it but to mine own destiny: For well I know, the Prince is full of liberality, My name is, Weldon. Though unworthy, sir, I bear that name. My duty binds me to obey. My Lord, according to your appointment and will, I come to attend your pleasure. Yea, my Lord. God save the Queen, and God save Liberality. He was my soldier, indeed sir, until he lost his leg.
Plot summary
Plot — The Contention between Liberality and Prodigality
Fortune rules the world even though her gifts are unreliable, whereas Virtue rewards genuine merit. The roisterer Prodigality and the miser Tenacity both sue to Fortune for the custody of her son Money, and this is granted to Prodigality. Meanwhile, various suitors approach Liberality, Virtue’s steward: the good are rewarded and the impatient told to wait and accrue desert. Prodigality falls into bad company and loses everything: Money has to pay all the bills, grows lean, and goes home to his mother. He is then granted to Tenacity, is kept indoors and grows fat for lack of exercise. Prodigality turns to burglary to steal back Money, but Fortune puts a halter around his neck as he is climbing into the house; he is saved from hanging when the rope snaps. He fatally assaults Tenacity, finds Money, and offers medical treatment for his obesity. Pursued by a hue and cry, he is arrested for robbery and murder. Money is given into the safe keeping of Liberality, and Prodigality is indicted and sentenced to death. He admits that his situation is the result of a bad life and over-reliance on Fortune. The court petitions Queen Elizabeth, in the audience, for a reprieve.