Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

URCENZE

in Patient Grissel — Dekker, Thomas; Chettle, Henry; Haughton, William

Metadata

PlayPatient Grissel
AuthorDekker, Thomas; Chettle, Henry; Haughton, William
Year (catalogued)1603
First performance1600
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyAdmiral's (Nottingham's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Vrc.
Words316
Characters1689
Typicality0.43 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA20077
BritDrama no.1230
ClusterCluster 9 — Boon companions & bluff banter

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

But Sirrah Rice, when's the day? will not thy master Sir Owen and Signior Emulo fight? Then heel never be saved by his book. Would, would, adue Rice, Sir Owen belike keeps a lean Kitchen. That long coat makes the master a little king, for wheresoever his piece of a follower comes hopping after him, he's sure of a double Guard. I shall feel them no more then so many fleas, therefore I care not: but Farnese yowl prove a most ac complisht coxecombe. He's Steel to the back you see, for he writes Challenges. What be the accontreme ̄ ts now of these galla ̄ ts? Whats their qualities? They cannot choose but ride well, because every good wit rides them. No more of these Jadith tricks: here comes the Hobby horse. He would jangle villanously. Well encountered S. Owen. His leg graces the boot. Sweet widow even your countryman here. I think Salomon was wiser then Sir Owen. If she miss his crown 'tis no matter for crack king, Peace here comes our fair mistress. So you may, but the hardness is to hit her. Every courteous mouth will be a stage for that, rather tell her of the welch tragedy that's towards. Would you not have men love you sweet mistress? Nor I the sweetness of her looks shall make me relish any punishment. The other I have taken up with the fine finger. Come Signior, one fine lie now to apparel all these former, in some light sarsenet robe of truth: none, none, in this mint? Fie Emulo, nothing but wardrobe, yet hear all your trunks of suits? She's wondrous beautiful & wondrous kind. What says she sir Owen? So does Vrcenze. He had needs for his head is very poor. And your beauty the colours we fight under. I obey though I taste no pleasure in it. Trust me nor I.

Plot summary

Plot — Patient Grissel
Gwaltef has vowed to choose a wife. On the day of decision, he goes hunting instead, but leads his companions to the low-born (GHiSSil] whom he has been wooing in secret. D@WFe6) Grissil’s brother, comes home from university in poverty, but he and his father become courtiers after Gwalter and Grissil are married. Grissil becomes pregnant. Gwalter’s subjects object to his marrying beneath him. Though obsessively uxorious, he is determined to test her patience, and attempts to humiliate her by making her tie a servant’s shoe; she complies without protest. He then banishes her family from court; again she accepts this patiently. She gives birth to a twin son and daughter, and Gwalter has the babies taken away from her: they are sent to PaWia to be looked after by his brother, and Grissil is expelled from court. She ===== PAGE 196 ===== GRISSIL, Janicola’s daughter, Laureo’s sister: later Gwalter’s wife and mother of Prince Gwalter and the Princess; also called Lady Grissil returns to her father’s house, and Gwalter sends Fan to tell her she will never see her children again; he watches the conversation in disguise, and BABULO, Janicola’s man; formerly a traveller ‘accidentally’ drops a piece of gold to ensure that Master LAUREO, a poor young scholar; Janicola’s son, she will not starve. In the sub-plot, Eiiul6 and Siff{Oweni are rivals for Grissil’s brother; later uncle of Grissil’s children Two LapIgs attending Gwalter (sc.2, non-speaking) the Welsh widow GwWénthian, while others compete for - Gwalter’s sister, Jiilia. Emulo challenges Sir Owen toa = ATTENDANTS on Gwalter (sc.2, 5, non-speaking) duel, but then tries to back out of it; his later account of the duel is met with disbelief. Sir Owen marries Gwenthian, and she turns out to be a shrew. He asks Gwaltéf for advice on how to tame her, and is told to cut six osier twigs; Gwalter takes three and Sir Owen SIR OWEN ap Meredith, a Welsh knight; later keeps the others. Later, when Gwalter visits Sir Owen for dinner, GWénthiaW ruins the occasion: she has Gwenthian’s husband and Gwalter’s kinsman; also called Sir Meredith and Sir Owen Meredith allowed beggars to eat all the food, and turns up dressed in rags as a protest after Sir Owen tore the Lady GWENTHIAN, a Welsh widow, Gwalter’s kinswoman by marriage; later Sir Owen’s wife rebato she had bought. Gwalt@r spreads rumours that he plans to marry ONOPHRIO, a gentleman and a bachelor; also called Onophry again, and summons Grissil and her family to attend…