Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

CYPRUS

in Old Fortunatus — Dekker, Thomas

Metadata

PlayOld Fortunatus
AuthorDekker, Thomas
Year (catalogued)1600
First performance1599
Decade1600s
GenreRomance
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyAdmiral's (Nottingham's) Men
Theaterbefore the Court;
Speech prefix(es)Cypr. | Cyp.
Words627
Characters3414
Typicality0.38 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA20076
BritDrama no.1217
ClusterCluster 18 — Chronicle statesmen & prelates

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

By this then it seems a thing impossible, to know when and English Lady loves truly. Me thinks, soldiers cannot fall into the fashion of love. Thats as good as the first. Are any lovers possessed with this madness? Indeed men are most regarded, when they least regard themselves. Me thinks it is. Its wonder how he escapes drowning. God bless me from loving any of you, if all be so cruel. I will: conditionally, that in all company I may call you my tormenter. The Ruby-coloured portals of her speech Were closed by mercy: but upon her eye, (Attired in frowns) sat murdering cruelty. Enter Agrip. and listens. She's angry, that I durst so high aspire. Oh, she disdains that any strangers breast Should be a Temple for her deity: She's full of beauty, full of bitterness. Till now, I did not dally with loves fire: And when I thought to try his flames indeed, I burned me even to cinders: Oh, my stars, Why from my native shore did your beams guide me, To make me dote on her that does deride me? Never beg mercy? yet be my tormenter. I'll spies her. I hope she herd me not: doubtless she did: And now will she insult upon my passion, And vex my constant love with mockeries. Nay, then isle be mine own Physician, And our face love, and make her think that I Mourned thus, because I saw her standing by. What news, my Lord of Cornwall? Born in the I'll of Cyprus? whats his name? Rich Fortunatus son? Is he arrived? My Lords, whose hand hath been thus prodigal? This is rare. 'Tis strange I must confess, but in this pride, His Father Fortunatus (if he live) Consumes his life in Cyprus: still he spends, And still his Coffers with abundance swell, But how he gets these riches none can tell. But what intic'de young Andelocia's soul To wander hither? My fair tormentor, will you lend a hand? Sweet Insultado let us see you dance. I have herd the Spanish dance is full of state. 'Tis most excellent. Of honourable blood, and more renowned In foreign kingdoms (whither his proud spirit, Plumed with ambitious feathers, caries him) Then in his native Country. but last day, The father and the sons were through their riots, Poor and disdainde of all, but now they glister, More bright than Midas: if some damned fiend Fed not his bags, this golden pride would end. This policy shall clip his golden wings, And teach his pride what 'tis to strive with kings. Where hath the beauteous Agripyna been? Tell me, tormenter, shall fair Agripyne, Without more difference be now christend mine? Then I defy thee, Love, vain Hope's, adieu, You have mocked me long; in scorn isle now mock you. I came to see how the Lord Longauyle Was turned into a monster, and I find And object, which both strikes me dumb and blind. To morrow should have been our marriage morn, But now my bride is shame, thy bridegroom scorn. Oh tell me yet, is there no Art, no charms, No desperate Physic for this desperate wound? Then England, farewell: hapless maid, thy stars, Through spiteful influence set our hearts at wars. I am infor'st to leave thee, and resign My love to grief. Adieu I would say more, had I a tongue Able to help his master: mighty king, I humbly take my leave, to Cyprus I, My father's Son, must all such shame defy. Exit. Heres a pair of your prisoners, lets try their opinion. I never herd of any woman that hated love. He does both: but what mystery lies in this? Will you command me any service, as you have done Orleans:

Plot summary

Plot — Old Fortunatus
Fortunatus gets lost in a wood and falls asleep. He is found by Fortune, attended by fallen kings who complain of her capricious control of their destiny. To spite them, she decides to advance Fortunatus’ fortunes, and offers him a choice of six gifts: wisdom, strength, health, beauty, longevity, or riches. He chooses wealth, and she gives him a purse which will always contain ten gold pieces, of legal tender wherever he may be. Fortunatus travels the world, visiting potentates, and bestows bottomless purses on every host. The Sultan of Babylon boats of his collection of treasures, and shows him the finest: an old hat which will transport its wearer anywhere in an instant. By a ruse, the Sultan puts it on Fortunatus’ head, and he wishes himself back home to Cyprus, thereby acquiring possession of the hat. Fortune decides that he has abused her gifts and reminds him that he did not choose long life or wisdom. He will die at the height of his fortunes with his sins black upon his soul, and will have no opportunity to repent. He dies there and then, leaving the purse and hat to his sons. The virtuous Ampedo takes the hat, while his imprudent younger brother Andelocia has the purse. Andelocia goes to England, where the Prince of Cyprus is wooing the King’s daughter, Agrippine; she is also loved by the melancholy French prisoner Orleans. On arrival, Andelocia is bountiful with largesse, which leaves King Athelstan itching to take him down a peg or two, and eager to learn the source of his riches. When Andelocia plans a magnificent banquet for his hosts, Athelstan orders that nobody is to supply him with any fuel: it will end up being a cold, unappetizing meal. Andelocia dances with Agrippine, and she takes him off to get to know him better. She then drugs him and takes the magic purse as he sleeps, leaving behind a copy. On waking, Andelocia finds that the King’s orders leave him unable to provide the banquet, and the Princess has left him without the wherewithal even to try to pay for it. Andelocia returns home to Cyprus and steals the wishing hat from Ampedo. He acquires some jewels by trickery and returns to England posing as a jeweller. Using the hat, he abducts Agrippine and takes her to a hot country. The climate doesn’t agree with her, so he climbs a tree to pick her a juicy apple; but while he’s up there, she puts on the wishing hat and goes home. Andelocia consoles himself by eating the apple, but it is one of the apples of Vice, sweet with a bitter…