Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

LONGFIELD

in Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant — Cooke, John

Metadata

PlayGreene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant
AuthorCooke, John
Year (catalogued)1614
First performance1611
Decade1610s
GenreComedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyQueen Anne's Men
Speech prefix(es)Long. | Lon.
Words640
Characters3288
Typicality0.22 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA19260
BritDrama no.1649
ClusterCluster 1 — Wives, widows & intimate 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 you sir, what business draws you towards this end o'th town? Why 'tis Will Rashes father's, a man that you are well acquainted with. Enter a wench with a basket of linen Marry is it sir. You are taken sir extremely, what's the object? Nay, and your thoughts be on wenching I'll leave you. What's the price of this? You set a high rate on't, it had need be good. I, I see't. This fellow has and excellent tongue, sure he was brought up in the Exchange. No, t'is no matter, for I mean to buy none. Say so; fallen to your work, I'll be your chapman. How now man! what! entranced? Yes faith, I think as much as you, and t'is joust no thing: where's the wench? Uds pity! unbutton man, thou'lt stifle her else. With all my heart, I stay but for you. What say? Not a penny more then I bid. Ex. Her. & Long. Why I'll tell you sir what she is, if you do not know. Why t'is your sister. Yes, your eldest sister. No more words as you fear a challenge. Zownds what have we here? How now! what, are these onions? Why thou reportest miracles, things not to be belee ved: I protest to thee, hadst thou not vnrip't thy self to me, I should never have known thee. This morning at his Chamber, hell be here. Please you sir. Very willingly sir. The best the house yields. What play we, twelve pence gleek. With all my heart. You must speak sir. Sixteen, seventeen. Take it to you sir. I'll none of it. And me a gleek of knaves. Honour. Look you (to make us the merrier) who comes here. Good master Bubleb From which sister? Why what's the matter? But first let me instruct thee in the condition of this Gentleman, whom dost thou take him to be? By this light but you do, if his beard were off, it's St ined . Why cheating, do you not see how he plays upon his worshipful Master, and the rest. Yes truly. O, when a woman knows the power and authori tie of her eye. A good observation by my faith. When he came first, death startled in his eyes, His hand had not forsook the dagger hilt, But still he gave it strength, as if he feared He had not sent it home unto his heart. Oh for a little blood to besprinkle him. I do protest she draws sad tears from me, I pre thee let her see her Geraldine. Look, look, I think shee'l ravish him. I thank you. How is it with you, sir? What on the ground Look up, there's comfort towards you. Liberty. The able, and well-minded Widow Ra sby, Whose hand is still upon the poor men Box, Hath in her Charity remembered you: And being by your Master seconded, Hath taken order with your Creditors For day, and payment; and freely from her Purse, By me her Deputy, she hath discharged All Duties in the House: Beside, to your necessities, This is bequeathed, to furnish you with Clothes. 'Tis not my practice to mock Misery. In your good wishes, you requite me amply. Well, I'm glad so good and occasion stayed thee at home, And mayest thou prosper in thy project, and go on, With best success of thy invention. Nay thou shalt take another into him, one that laughs out his life in this Ordinary, thanks any man that wins his money; all the while his money is losing, he swears by the cross of this silver, and when it is gone, he changes it to the hilts of his sword. How think you now? have I not carved him out to you? Behold yonder the oak and the Ivy how they embrace.

Plot summary

Plot — Greene's Tu Quoque, or The City Gallant
The gallant Geraldine woos the mercer’s daughter Gertrude. She is attracted to him, but feigns lack of interest. Her father, Sir Lionel, is newly knighted at court. He plans to give up life as a tradesman and leaves Spendall to run his shop. Spendall is prodigal with the shop’s money: he sups with a whore and her associates, borrows money, gambles, and_ lives extravagantly. Staines is in the clutches of a usurer, his servant Bubble’s uncle, and plans to cut and run: he dismisses Bubble and is about to flee London when news arrives that the usurer is dead. Bubble inherits the estate, hires his former master as a servant, and plans, with his advice, to make himself a gallant. Staines intends to bilk his money back from Bubble and then use it buy back his lands once Bubble is forced by prodigality to sell them. Bubble sends him to buy new clothes, but Staines wears them himself and uses the money to gamble; Bubble himself joins the game as one of his opponents. Staines cheats with false dice, but is discovered by Spendall. They fight a duel; after both sustain slight wounds, they become friends. Sir Lionel plans to marry Gertrude to Bubble, hoping to get control of his inheritance. Her sister Joyce tries to get her to accept Geraldine, but she is _ steadfast. Joyce tells Geraldine that Gertrude does love | him, and he induces her to reveal her true feelings by feigning suicide. Bubble comes to Sir Lionel’s house to woo Gertrude, but Staines advises him that the best way to win the ladies’ admiration is to dispraise himself — so he makes a fool of himself. Even so, Sir Lionel continues with his plans — though now Bubble’s wife is to be Joyce, while Gertrude is destined for Scattergood, another gallant. Joyce herself is attracted to Staines, but she too is reluctant to act on it. Her brother Will gets Staines a fashionable suit in place of his servant’s blue coat and brings him to see Joyce, but at first she will not speak; when she does, it is to insult him at great length, making him wish he could shut her up again. Spendall is arrested for debt. He tries to get money from his whore with which to bribe the sergeants, but she will not admit to knowing him. He is taken to prison, where he sells all his clothes; but this fails to clear the debt. A widow hears about his case from Sir Lionel and charitably pays his debts; released, he takes her generosity as evidence of sexual interest, and plans to woo her. The night before the double wedding, she stays at Sir…