The main incident of the plot is taken from the life of Timoleon, as related by Plutarch. The revolt and subsequent reduction of the slaves to their duty may have been taken either from Herodotus or Justin, or Purchas's Pilgrim. The artifice by which they are quelled is silly and unnatural, and its introduction degrades a very beautifully managed plot.
The play was revived in 1660 by Betterton, who played Pisander; and several alterations of it have since been produced, but without success.
Our author never writes with more effect than when he combines his own fancy with real history; and in The Bondman he has produced a piece which is, with few exceptions, at once stately and playful, impressive and tender. He matures the love under the cover of the history; till at length the interest changes, and the history becomes subordinate to the love.
The characters are drawn with much variety and interest. The modest gravity and self-command of Timoleon well agrees with the ancient descriptions of the man from whose mouth nihil unquam insolens, neque gloriosum exiit.
TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, MY SINGULAR GOOD LORD,
PHILIP, EARL OF MONTGOMERY,
KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER, &C.
RIGHT HONOURABLE,
However I could never arrive at the happiness to be made known to your lordship, yet a desire, born with me, to make a tender of all duties and service to the noble family of the Herberts, descended to me as an inheritance from my dead father, Arthur Massinger. Many years he happily spent in the service of your honourable house, and died a servant to it; leaving his to be ever most glad and ready to be at the command of all such as derive themselves from his most honoured master, your lordship's most noble father. The consideration of this encouraged me (having no other means to present my humblest service to your honour) to shroud this trifle under the wings of your noble protection; and I hope, out of the clemency of your heroic disposition, it will find, though perhaps not a welcome entertainment, yet, at the worst, a gracious pardon. When it was first acted, your lordship's liberal suffrage taught others to allow it for current, it having received the undoubted stamp of your lordship's allowance: and if in the perusal of any vacant hour, when your honour's more serious occasions shall give you leave to read it, it answer, in your lordship's judgment, the report and opinion it had upon the stage, I shall esteem my labours not ill employed, and, while I live, continue
the humblest of those that
truly honour your lordship,
PHILIP MASSINGER.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
| Timoleon, the general, of Corinth. | ||
| Archidamus, prætor of Syracusa. | ||
| Diphilus, a senator of Syracusa. | ||
| Cleon, a fat foolish lord. | ||
| Marullo, the Bondman (i. e. Pisander, a gentleman of Thebes, disguised as a slave). | ||
| Poliphron, friend to Marullo, also disguised as a slave. | ||
| Leosthenes, a gentleman of Syracusa, enamoured of Cleora. | ||
| Asotus, a foolish lover, and the son of Cleon. | ||
| Timagoras, the son of Archidamus. | ||
| Gracculo, Cimbrio, | } | slaves. |
| A Gaoler. | ||
| Cleora, daughter of Archidamus. | ||
| Corisca, a proud lady, wife to Cleon. | ||
| Olympia, a rich widow. | ||
| Timandra, slave to Cleora (i. e. Statilia, sister to Pisander). | ||
| Zanthia, slave to Corisca. | ||
| Other Slaves, Soldiers, Officers, Senators. | ||
SCENE, Syracuse, and the adjacent country.