He’s only hasty now for his forgiveness.”[108:1]
There is little to add to this sketch, which is sufficiently expressive. The Lord is not interesting, still less striking, as a character; no attempt is made to introduce a vestige of reality into the madness, and thus the comedy leaves us unmoved. We cannot even be indignant at it—it is so feeble.
Is it necessary to complete the story by adding that the Passionate Lord marries the Lady?
As a slightly different example of Fletcher’s work, we may consider his “Noble Gentleman” and the madman Shattillion. We can diagnose his case more readily than that of the Passionate Lord. He suffers from a kind of persecutory delusion, being
“strong opinion’d that the wench he lov’d
Remains close prisoner by the King’s command,
Fearing her title.”[108:2]
At the same time, he believes that certain enemies have designs on his life. Meeting his cousin Cleremont, he enquires of him his “faction,” and being told:
“I know no parties nor no factions, sir,”
he commands him: