Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

MONTANUS

in Messalina, the Roman Empress — Richards, Nathaniel

Metadata

PlayMessalina, the Roman Empress
AuthorRichards, Nathaniel
Year (catalogued)1640
First performance1635
Decade1640s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Revels Company
Speech prefix(es)Mon. | Mon
Words803
Characters4430
Typicality0.26 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA68655
BritDrama no.2472
ClusterCluster 20 — Conjurers, witches & physicians

Important excerpts

Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 20 (ithimore, nat, invisible, notary, glycerie, humfrey…). Matches are highlighted.

Like those blue flames the damned taste in hell. Celestial Angels guard me, now she comes, And I so ill prepared, I, know not what, A sudden earthquake trembles nature's frame, Which Like a falling Pine tree to and from, Uncertain where to fallen, it tottering stands. She's most bewitching sweet, I fear, I fear, She will over
immortality, forewarns to fly, The dire event of future Tragedy Which as the flame, the fire of force must follow By th'Emp'resse bloody project; that Monster In nature, in this the Emperors absence, Mounts on the highest Spire of infamy, Resolves to join in Hymeneal bans With Caius which Silius quaint vallanie, To put in speedy

Full speech

That I am truly miserable, weak, And vile, not being able to endure This torment, Oh let me down; my pain, but Not my mind yields to your bed, I do Consent, consent. A murderer and villain, Oh Sir, It's the best thriving trade and best employed against such malevolent Satirists S you. You that are all for virtue, a mere word, When indeed ther's no such thing; say there be None truly loves it but die beggarly. A little more, And then I'll speed you, excellent Ladies Cannot disable with a charming spell, (A trick of wit, a humour that they have) Husbands they not affect; making free way For Atlas backs to leap their lovely laps, But your Satirical censure straight must pa e, Th'ones pride's scab -hammd Rascals, and the Mischiefs venerial Trulls; these are fine terms, Pray who made you a censurer of manners. T'upbraid such eminent persons What madness durst the Like, deservest not death, Yes, yet your life is safe, pass but your vow Embrace a beauty I shall bring you to, (More delicate then was the Spartan Queen) One that shall pay large tribute night by night, Give thee thy weight in gold for each delight. No? Are you so confident, have at you Sir, Your love, your love, it's only that I seek I am no villain, though I seemed in show But one that fearful in these dangerous times For to retain a friend; led on by hope Of your fair life, whom envy in your foes Reports no less of; caused me through disguise, To put to trial your valued worth, Which beyond man I find of such pure mould, Sunlike your virtues outshine purest gold. But there is A miracle, which but in me in partly, Through friendships deer respect incorporate. And you shall bind me everlastingly To bless the How e we met. So am I yours. Unparalleled is that love where friends come bine Here comes the top top gallants of the time. Let us withdraw, and seem to mind them not. Libidnious Goat. — Aside. Silence, mark the event. — Aside. Here was a storm of mischief soon blown over, Repose a while I'll read. Sir the Like to you. Know you the cause. Your favour sir a while; I'll but awake my friend, (Soho) sleepy still, Pray heaven this heaviness imports no harm. Oh Potent lust, thou that hast power to make The valiant and the wise, coward, and fool, I'm not so dull, but that I know thee now. Now comprehend why Music breathes delight, And why this banquet; why both presents themselves To be my slaves; It's to make me a slave To lust; that deadly potion of the soul, Ne Trauli quidem Montano equitis Romani, defensio est, u modesta juventa, said corpore insigni, accitus ultr noct que intra unam a Messallina proturbatus erat, paribus lasci I and cupidinem & fastidio. Tacit. Whose poison quaffed, kills body and the soul. That's the main end of these harmonious strains, These stirring meats, which unto me appear, Like those blue flames the damned taste in hell. Celestial Angels guard me, now she comes, And I so ill prepared, I, know not what, A sudden earthquake trembles nature's frame, Which Like a falling Pine tree to and from, Uncertain where to fallen, it tottering stands. She's most bewitching sweet, I fear, I fear, She will over come; now I begin to burn, To scorch, Like to the coals of Etna ; strike Me eternal winter with thy frosts; quench Quench this hight combustion in my blood, And if I needs must fallen, Oh sacred powers Benumb my senses so, that I may taste No sweetness in the Act, yield no delight. Oh — Hell-cat no more, no more of thy embrace, Findest thou my body enemy to lust And yet again attempts me. Keep off insatiate Empress, I'll no more, Poison of Monsters, the blood of Nessas Dam up thy Curtain -gulph-like appetite; May furies fright thy whorish fortitude Dancing Lavolto's in the very act And dambe you. 'Tis so, and I am happily mistook, Thy pardon worthy friend, it was my fear Of further ill; made me forget my self Distracted sense, as well it might, Other's A strange deed passed. Your counsel points my actions their true way To immortality, forewarns to fly, The dire event of future Tragedy Which as the flame, the fire of force must follow By th'Emp'resse bloody project; that Monster In nature, in this the Emperors absence, Mounts on the highest Spire of infamy, Resolves to join in Hymeneal bans With Caius which Silius quaint vallanie, To put in speedy practice, he last night Arrived at Court. Prove prosperous my design upon this Brother to the banished Seneca, Are you catch Sir?

Plot summary

Plot — Messalina, the Roman Empress
Having successfully competed with the prostitute Calpurnia to see which of them can sleep with more men in 24 hours, the Empress Messalina sets her sights on the chaste Silius as her lover. He is summoned to the brothel and successfully seduced. The Emperor Claudius leaves Rome for an annual religious ceremony. While he is away, Messalina’s debauchery has free rein. Romans are summoned to court to participate: the actor Mnester is tortured into compliance, and three women taking refuge with Lepida, Messalina’s mother, are murdered when they refuse to come. Messalina invokes the Furies to make her sexy, and resists Lepida’s attempts to persuade her to a chaste life; Lepida goes mad. Silius is sent to murder his wife, Silana, but finds himself unable to go through with it; instead he conceals from Messalina the fact that she is still alive. Messalina’s seduction programme is not universally successful: she identifies Montanus as a desirable sexual partner, but he resists her and flees Rome. She decides to go through a ceremony of marriage with Silius, and has a document of approval drawn up and authenticated with the imperial seal. A wedding masque is planned, in which the Vestal Virgins are to be raped; but Lepida overhears the arrangements being discussed, and rescues the Virgins through a secret passage before they are called on to perform. They are pursued by Messalina’s agents, but the earth swallows them and the Virgins are saved; the pander Saufellus is confronted by the ghosts of the three murdered women and struck by a thunderbolt before he goes down. Claudius’ minions inform him of Messalina’s sexual misconduct, and he sends in the guard. The palace is raided and Messalina’s favourites killed. Silana arrives too late to help Silius, and dies kissing his dead lips. Claudius orders Messalina to be tried before the Senate, but his minion Narcissus fears his susceptibility to her feminine wiles, and sends an executioner to kill her. She is visited by the ghosts of her victims, agents, and favourites, and pre-empts the executioner by taking her own life. Claudius decides not to marry again.