Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

ROSSA

in The Just Italian — Davenant, William

Metadata

PlayThe Just Italian
AuthorDavenant, William
Year (catalogued)1630
First performance1629
Decade1630s
GenreTragicomedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
TheaterBlackfriars;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Roſſa: | Roſſa. | Roſſa ▪ | Roſsa.
Words283
Characters1539
Typicality0.24 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA19877
BritDrama no.2282
ClusterCluster 16 — Errand servants & brief parts

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Noble Signior, unprofitable love Is all our wealth— She was born in a storm! Yellow as foot of Kite! Is there some aged vessel now asleep In the Dock, that will pay for her calking? The calling (Sir) I do vouchsafe. I am entire flame! Thy Province is Chaldeam, thy Father Was a Rabby! My Lord! Your Lordship hath forgotten to leave notice for Those Princes in disguise that shall by chance Demand you at the gate. Your hypocrisy wants a little Art. He used the Trade (Sir) in his infancy. Come Sir,— Now shall I, Like a melancholy worm, Feed on raw Roots.— No moneis Sir? I feel a herd Of small cattle graze on my left shoulder. — Meruolle Sir, with whom we used your name. Do you observe the Count, and his two lean Janizaries? Certain stratagems (Sir) have been leveled against the Prerogative of your li e ro all. Molard. Ere since the h pe of day they wai ed your Descent from the Cloister Bridge: but doubting Their own courage, and meeting us disguised, Thus in our original weeds; they would Have bribed us for two Pistolets assist The prosecution of your death. Our Grace And strength bound them to their good behaviour. Here is one belonged to Hans van Geulicke. They all are forfeittures to law. If you'll Bestow'em but as prisoners unto us, They shall suffer, or give us large ransom. The Count (Sir) will untie his Strings for'em. Naked they ride As scouts of Tartary they're victualed with A single egg. And my Dread Corporal shall sin no more for Leeks, His Girdle and his socks he shall vnpawne. Be bold and meet your chance

Plot summary

Plot — The Just Italian
A few months ago, Altamont married Alteza against the wishes of her uncle, the Duke. She brought a handsome dowry with her, and expects to be the dominant partner in the marriage; in turn, he finds her rebellious, proud, and prodigal, and determines to tame her. Now it is clear that the marriage has broken down, she refuses him access to her bed and proposes to divide the house between them: they will be. in effect, next-door neighbours rather than husband and wife. Altamont tries to discipline his wite by pretending to take a mistress (impersonated by his sister Scoperta'. but Alteza openly receives a lover. the rake Scialte:. However, she savs he must wait for sex and leaves him alone in the house to amuse himself. Wandetinyg around the house, he encounters Scoperta and courts her under the eavesdropping ears of Altamant: she agrees to go away with him if his intentions ware honourable. Once Alteza ts ready to entertamn Scrotte, he is no longer interested in her and is giving up the libertine life. Alteza is reconciled with her husband ond asks him to kill Sciolto. By a ruse, Altamont pets Scoperta to adnut that ste is a willing object of Sciolto’s attentions. He locks her up, and his men seize Sciolte as he scales Che en tora wall for the elopement. Altarmont and Scrolte heb a duel; Sciolto is beaten, but Altamont is wounded in the chest. Alteza is told that he is dead. and giver the power to pass sentence on Sciolta and Scoperta as tin people responsible; she orders them strangled thes ===== PAGE 392 ===== take leave of one another in a manner which proves the sincerity of their love. One of their guards reveals himself as Altamont: he has recovered and was testing them. In the sub-plot, Altamont’s brother Florello returns from an unsuccessful war, discharged by an army that cannot afford to pay him. Altamont gives him money to buy new clothes. Having heard that the Milanese count Dandolo is courting Alteza’s sister Charintha by letter, and is not expected to arrive in person for another month, he uses his new wardrobe to impersonate Dandolo. The real Dandolo turns up early too, but Florello convinces Charintha that he is an impostor. Dandolo returns with two bravoes, whom he represents as noblemen who will confirm his identity. Florello defies them, but is exposed when it becomes clear that the house is surrounded by officers waiting to arrest him for debt. Charintha sends him packing, but allows him to leave through the orchard gate to escape…