Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 12 (signor, sal, zelmane, handkerchief, absolon, dissemble…). Matches are highlighted.
not say how great thy dowry shall be, Nor boast what cities I command, Let this, though not a king in name, In wealth and friends I am and Emperor. And when thou blushes Dinons heart is fired, Therefore to quench it give a gentle grant. Thereof am I as chairie as thy self, And of thy love as of my proper life, Oh Alexandra thy words
Full speech
To use her worse the honour were but small. Now are we at the banks of Euphrates, Far from the camp where soul dyers haunt, and here may we under this poplar shade, Discourse upon the sweetness of our love. Fair Alexandra, if thou love not me. Thou art compact of adamant and iron, Thy years are fit for love, so are thy looks, Nay rather fit upon this ledgy banks, That I seeing thy shadow in the stream, May feed my fancy with thy pleasant view, If not enjoy the sweetness I desire, and leap into the waves and drown my self, That thou mayest pity Dinon being dead. Love, may I call thee love, lo she does not frown, Her looks gives warrant for that Epitite, For thee I'll kneel before Antiochus, and rather then thou shalt be touched by him, I'll bear thee hence as far as Tanais, Or keep thee close in these Assyrian woods, I do yet know my sword is sharp and keen which when I draw and brandish in the air, all Babylon will fight in my avail, who honour me more than Antiochus. I will not say how great thy dowry shall be, Nor boast what cities I command, Let this, though not a king in name, In wealth and friends I am and Emperor. And when thou blushes Dinons heart is fired, Therefore to quench it give a gentle grant. Thereof am I as chairie as thy self, And of thy love as of my proper life, Oh Alexandra thy words ravisheth me, Lull me a sleep with sweetness of thy voice.
Plot summary
Plot — The Wars of Cyrus, King of Persia
Cyrus has conquered the rulers of Lydia, Arabia, and Assyria, and now he divides the spoils with his men, accepting none for himself. Unwilling to serve the new King of Assyria, who murdered his son, Gobryas defects to Cyrus and is given a command in his army. Panthea is taken captive: the Persians propose to present her to Cyrus, but she is faithful to her husband, Abradatas, and Cyrus refuses the temptation to love her. Appointed Panthea’s keeper, Araspas falls in love with her. When she rejects him, he resorts to magic; but the charm fails, and she reports him to Cyrus. Antiochus, the new King of Assyria, seeks revenge on Cyrus for his father’s death, and sends Ctesiphon as a feigned defector to the Persian camp. He also has vengeful designs on Gobryas’ daughter, Alexandra, but she swaps clothes with her page Libanio, who persuades Antiochus to hold ‘her’ hostage while ‘her page’ goes to persuade Gobryas to return. However, these plans go awry: Ctesiphon is so impressed with Cyrus that he renounces Antiochus’ sovereignty, confesses his former King’s plot, and offers to kill him; and when Dinon attempts to seduce the false Alexandra, ‘she’ sings him to sleep, kills him, and absconds to the Persian camp. Gobryas randomly selects a Persian husband for his daughter using the custom of blindfold turf-throwing; the clod lands on Hystaspas. Cyrus sends Ctesiphon back to Antiochus with a letter purportedly offering peace terms; in fact, it tells the Assyrian king of Ctesiphon’s treachery, and the would-be murderer is executed. Though Araspas is pardoned when he confesses the impropriety of his amorous behaviour, Cyrus persuades him to pretend to desert in fear of his wrath, and sends him to Babylon to spy on the Assyrians. Panthea persuades Cyrus to send for her husband Abradatas, who defects to the Persians because Antiochus attempted to seduce her. Araspas returns with news of Antiochus’ preparations for battle, and the Persians draw lots for the honour of leading the vanguard. Abradatas wins, and goes into battle. Panthea prays to Bellona for his safety, but he is killed. The grieving Panthea kills herself, leaving Cyrus to promise them both a worthy funeral.