Revenge for Honour
Encyclopedia
"Revenge for honour" is a Caroline
tragedy
, printed posthumously in 1654 and presumably written by Henry Glapthorne
(1610-1643).
of Arabia
Abilqualit, his eldest son
Abrahen, his son by a second wife, brother to Abilqualit
Tarifa, an old general, conqueror of Spain, tutor to Abilqualit
Mura, a rough lord, a soldier, kinsman by his mother to Abrahen
Simanthes, a court lord, allied to Abrahen
Selinthus, an honest, merry court lord
Mesithes, a court eunuch, attendant on Abilqualit
Osman, a captain to Tarifa
Gaselles, another captain
Caropia, wife to Mura, first beloved of Abrahen, then of Abilqualit
Perilinda, her woman
Soldiers, Mutes, Guard, Attendants
, as the punishment of adultery in Arabia is blinding. When informed of his son's deed, Tarifa attempts to dissuade Almanzor, the caliph, from this harsh punishment. Almanzor retorts: "twas a rape/Upon my honour more than on her whiteness." Mura asks but justice: "The sun himself, when he darts rays lascivious,/Such as engender by too piercing fervence/Intemperate and infectious heats, straight wears/Obscurity from the clouds his own beams raises." Abrahen enters and pretends to wish to save his half-brother, while soldiers beset the palace. Angry at this intrusion, Almanzor cries out to his son and then to his servants: "Have you your champions?/We will prevent their insolence; you shall not/Boast you have got the empire by our ruin:/Mutes, strangle him immediately." Abilqualit falls. Led by Simanthes, the soldiers enter, but are put down by the caliph. To make sure of his death, Abrahen drops a poisoned handkerchief on Abilqualit, which the father picks up. The poison kills him and Abrahen is pronounced the new caliph. With everyone gone, Abilqualit rises, surviving both strangling and poisoning.
When learning of her lover's apparent death, Caropia stabs Mura to death, crying out : "Would it were possible/To kill even thy eternity!" Before dying, he hears his wife admit Abilqualit "did enjoy me freely". Soldiers loyal to Abilqualit enter to cut Mura's throat. They do so, not knowing he is already dead. They also threaten to cut Caropia's throat, who is saved by Tarifa. Installed as caliph, Abrahen asks Mesenthes to renew his courtship of Caropia. She enters as he would wish. Considering herself the murdereress of Albaquit by her falsehood, Caropia, not knowing that Abilqualit is alive, first intends to avenge him. Abrahen tempts her, saying of his brother: "As I succeeded him in all his glories/'Tis fit I do succeed him in his love." Caropia is about to yield to his advances when Abilqualit and his soldiers suddenly enter. Surrounded, Abrahen stabs Caropia, then kills himself, poisoned by the handkerchief. When Abilqualit kneels to help Caropia, she, frustrated at not being his empress, stabs him to death. The empire is Tarifa's.
, appearing in volumes of his works in the 19th century, but the current consensus appears to favor authorship by Glapthorne since J.H. Walter's article in The Review of English Studies
(1937).
(1935), C.F. Beckingham pronounces the play as being "worthless", comparing it unfavorably to William Shakespeare
's Othello
, and noting borrowings from that play. In both plays, jealousy is a prominent theme. In both, important use is made of a handkerchief, though for different ends. But how many works on jealousy in any era, except for The Winter's Tale
, would be near Othello in emotional impact? Nevertheless, some of the characters are pale images of other Jacobean plays, for example Mura, the blunt soldier, tame in comparison to Mardonius in A King and No King
by Francis Beaumont
and John Fletcher
. But although generally weak in poetic utterance, the play has a few strong scenes of dramatic conflict, especially father versus son and half-brother against half-brother. Competition between family members, especially brothers, is an important characteristic of the tragedies of Jean Racine
, notably La Thébaïde
(1664, The Thebans).
Caroline
-People:*Caroline , a feminine given name*Caroline of Ansbach , queen consort of George II of Great Britain*Caroline of Brunswick , queen consort of George IV of the United Kingdom...
tragedy
Tragedy
Tragedy is a form of art based on human suffering that offers its audience pleasure. While most cultures have developed forms that provoke this paradoxical response, tragedy refers to a specific tradition of drama that has played a unique and important role historically in the self-definition of...
, printed posthumously in 1654 and presumably written by Henry Glapthorne
Henry Glapthorne
Henry Glapthorne was a Caroline era dramatist.Glapthorne was baptized in Cambridgeshire, the son of Thomas Glapthorne and Faith nee Hatcliff. His father was a bailiff of Lady Hatton, the wife of Sir Edward Coke...
(1610-1643).
Dramatic characters
Almanzor, caliphCaliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
of Arabia
Abilqualit, his eldest son
Abrahen, his son by a second wife, brother to Abilqualit
Tarifa, an old general, conqueror of Spain, tutor to Abilqualit
Mura, a rough lord, a soldier, kinsman by his mother to Abrahen
Simanthes, a court lord, allied to Abrahen
Selinthus, an honest, merry court lord
Mesithes, a court eunuch, attendant on Abilqualit
Osman, a captain to Tarifa
Gaselles, another captain
Caropia, wife to Mura, first beloved of Abrahen, then of Abilqualit
Perilinda, her woman
Soldiers, Mutes, Guard, Attendants
Summary
Arabia has declared war on Persia, but the prince and heir to the throne, Abilqualit, does not wish to go. Instead, he wishes to pursue adulterous relations with Caropia, wife to Mura, a blunt soldier. Abrahen is jealous of his half-brother, all the more so since Caropia refused him as her lover. He wishes to obtain the crown from him. An opportunity arises when Mesithes the eunuch divulges to Abrahen that his brother cuckolds Mura. Abrahen warns Caropia of her husband's frantic jealousy, suggesting she should accuse Abilqualit of rape. When her husband arrives in rage, she follows Abrahen's suggestion. Later, Abrahen appeases Mura by telling him he will obtain revenge by his father, the caliphCaliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
, as the punishment of adultery in Arabia is blinding. When informed of his son's deed, Tarifa attempts to dissuade Almanzor, the caliph, from this harsh punishment. Almanzor retorts: "twas a rape/Upon my honour more than on her whiteness." Mura asks but justice: "The sun himself, when he darts rays lascivious,/Such as engender by too piercing fervence/Intemperate and infectious heats, straight wears/Obscurity from the clouds his own beams raises." Abrahen enters and pretends to wish to save his half-brother, while soldiers beset the palace. Angry at this intrusion, Almanzor cries out to his son and then to his servants: "Have you your champions?/We will prevent their insolence; you shall not/Boast you have got the empire by our ruin:/Mutes, strangle him immediately." Abilqualit falls. Led by Simanthes, the soldiers enter, but are put down by the caliph. To make sure of his death, Abrahen drops a poisoned handkerchief on Abilqualit, which the father picks up. The poison kills him and Abrahen is pronounced the new caliph. With everyone gone, Abilqualit rises, surviving both strangling and poisoning.
When learning of her lover's apparent death, Caropia stabs Mura to death, crying out : "Would it were possible/To kill even thy eternity!" Before dying, he hears his wife admit Abilqualit "did enjoy me freely". Soldiers loyal to Abilqualit enter to cut Mura's throat. They do so, not knowing he is already dead. They also threaten to cut Caropia's throat, who is saved by Tarifa. Installed as caliph, Abrahen asks Mesenthes to renew his courtship of Caropia. She enters as he would wish. Considering herself the murdereress of Albaquit by her falsehood, Caropia, not knowing that Abilqualit is alive, first intends to avenge him. Abrahen tempts her, saying of his brother: "As I succeeded him in all his glories/'Tis fit I do succeed him in his love." Caropia is about to yield to his advances when Abilqualit and his soldiers suddenly enter. Surrounded, Abrahen stabs Caropia, then kills himself, poisoned by the handkerchief. When Abilqualit kneels to help Caropia, she, frustrated at not being his empress, stabs him to death. The empire is Tarifa's.
Authorship
"Revenge for Honour" was believed up to the 20th century to have been written by George ChapmanGeorge Chapman
George Chapman was an English dramatist, translator, and poet. He was a classical scholar, and his work shows the influence of Stoicism. Chapman has been identified as the Rival Poet of Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Minto, and as an anticipator of the Metaphysical Poets...
, appearing in volumes of his works in the 19th century, but the current consensus appears to favor authorship by Glapthorne since J.H. Walter's article in The Review of English Studies
The Review of English Studies
The Review of English Studies is an academic journal published by Oxford University Press covering English literature and the English language from the earliest period to the present...
(1937).
Critical opinions
In The Review of English StudiesThe Review of English Studies
The Review of English Studies is an academic journal published by Oxford University Press covering English literature and the English language from the earliest period to the present...
(1935), C.F. Beckingham pronounces the play as being "worthless", comparing it unfavorably to William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
, and noting borrowings from that play. In both plays, jealousy is a prominent theme. In both, important use is made of a handkerchief, though for different ends. But how many works on jealousy in any era, except for The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
, would be near Othello in emotional impact? Nevertheless, some of the characters are pale images of other Jacobean plays, for example Mura, the blunt soldier, tame in comparison to Mardonius in A King and No King
A King and No King
A King and No King is a Jacobean era stage play, a tragicomedy written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher and first published in 1619. It has traditionally been among the most highly-praised and popular works in the canon of Fletcher and his collaborators.The play's title became almost...
by Francis Beaumont
Francis Beaumont
Francis Beaumont was a dramatist in the English Renaissance theatre, most famous for his collaborations with John Fletcher....
and John Fletcher
John Fletcher
John Fletcher may refer to:*Sir John Aubrey-Fletcher, 7th Baronet , British soldier and cricketer*John Gould Fletcher , Pulitzer Prize winner*John Fletcher Hurst , Methodist bishop...
. But although generally weak in poetic utterance, the play has a few strong scenes of dramatic conflict, especially father versus son and half-brother against half-brother. Competition between family members, especially brothers, is an important characteristic of the tragedies of Jean Racine
Jean Racine
Jean Racine , baptismal name Jean-Baptiste Racine , was a French dramatist, one of the "Big Three" of 17th-century France , and one of the most important literary figures in the Western tradition...
, notably La Thébaïde
La Thébaïde
La Thébaïde, or The Thebaid, is a tragedy in five acts in verse by Jean Racine first presented, without much success, on June 20, 1664 in Petit-Bourbon. A play about the struggle and death of the young son of Oedipus, as well as that of Antigone. This subject had already occupied many authors...
(1664, The Thebans).