I just came across this play and decided I needed to read it. It's actually pretty good! I can imagine it going nicely with the Roman plays I usually teach in my various Shakespeare courses. There certainly do seem to be some echoes of Antony and Cleopatra in it, though I suppose that may just be a common ancestry in Plutarch. Anyway, I thought I'd write up another Holzknechtian treatment for our friends over at Blogging the Renaissance. They're welcome to cut and paste it from here if they'd like to have it over there.
The False One by John Fletcher and Philip Massinger, circa 1620 (first printed in 1647).
Dramatis Personae
Julius Caesar, Emperour of Rome
Ptolomy, King of Aegypt
Achoreus, an honest Counsellor, Priest of Isis
Photinus, A Politician, minion to Ptolomy
Achillas, Captaine of the Guard to Ptolomy
Septimius, a revolted Roman Villain
Labienus, a Roman Souldier, and Nuncio
Apollodorus, Guardian to Cleopatra
Antony
........................}Caesars Captaines
Dollabella
Sceva, a free Speaker, also a Captaine to Caesar
Boy, Souldiers, Guard, Servants
Women
Cleopatra, Queene of Aegypt, Caesars Mistrisse
Arsione, Cleopatras Sister
Eros, Cleopatras waiting Woman
Masquers
Isis
Nylus and his seven Heads
Three Labourers
The Scene Aegypt
Prologue
The prologue begins with a discussion of originality and derivation. Roman stories may be familiar to the audience, but this treatment of Caesar's erotic desire and of young Cleopatra is certainly different than other stories they may know, such as Shakespeare's treatment of Caesar's subsequent fall in the Capitol or Cleopatra's exercising her wiles on Antony.
Act One
At the court of King Ptolomy, his wise counselor and the captain of his guard provide exposition on the current situation: following others' advice, Ptolomy has imprisoned his sister Cleopatra, rival for the throne. The dastardly Septimus arrives and suffers their calumny. After Ptolomy enters with Labienus and hears that Pompey has been defeated at Pharsalia and now seeks refuge from his former dependent, he holds a council and listens to the wicked advice of Photinus (i.e. murder Pompey since Fortune obviously now favors Caesar) over Achoreus's virtuous advice (i.e. support Pompey, who supported Ptolomy in the past). Ptolomy empowers Photinus, who sends Septimus and Achillas to do the deed. Meanwhile, melancholy Cleopatra suffers house arrest, but plots an escape with the ingratiating Apollodorus. She must find a way to reach and impress Caesar directly, since he may preserve her majesty, though it may come at the cost of her virginity.
Act Two
Septimus enters boasting with Pompey's head, but Achillas rebukes him for taking so much pleasure in a wicked deed. Ptolomy enters with Photinus and Achoreus still contending over the wisdom of the deed. Seeing the head, Achoreus mourns the treachery. Caesar and his party arrive and Photinus with Achillas's help boasts of Ptolomy's devotion to Caesar, but Caesar and his party condemn them for the wicked murder. Rather than more material rewards, Caesar tells them that he forgives them for the murder and that they should give thanks for that reward instead. Ptolomy worries that Photinus's advice may not have been as good as he had hoped. Septimus sulks until Photinus assures him that his deeds will pay off in the end, asking whether he might be willing to commit another despicable deed. Meanwhile, Caesar and company worry about the untrustworthy Egyptians. Unable to rest, Caesar is troubled by a noise outside his chamber. It turns out it is his honest advisor Sceva, who has intercepted a packet intended for Caesar: he opens it for his master and out pops Cleopatra, who immediately enchants Caesar. A disgusted Sceva, who laments inadvertently becoming a bawd, quits the service of the enraptured Caesar as Cleopatra and he retire to discuss how he can serve her.
Act Three
Ptolomy worries that Photinus has ruined him, especially now that Cleopatra has Caesar's ear. Achoreus counsels signalling their trust in Caesar by appealing to him to mediate between the King and Cleopatra. Ptolomy agrees and turns against Photinus and Achillas. The Roman captains lament that Caesar has turned to dalliance rather than pursuing his military gains (though Antony admits she does have her attractions). When Septimus arrives, they scorn him. The murderer finds himself scorned by Eros too. He tries to buy the affections of Caesar's neglected, wounded soldiers, but when Sceva tells them whose gold they're taking, they give it back and reject him too. Meanwhile, Ptolomy has planned a masque to showcase the wealth of Egypt, foolishly hoping this will make Caesar more likely to side with him; his advisors on all sides caution against advertising Egypt's wealth to Caesar, lest it inspire the Roman simply to take Egypt for himself. Caesar enters, talking of the wonderful wealth of Egypt, then Cleopatra arrives. Finally, Ptolomy and his advisors enter with a show of wealth. Caesar can't take his eyes off the treasure, despite Cleopatra's efforts to keep his attention. Caesar watches a masque in which Isis extols the wonders of Nylus's abundance. Overcome, Caesar retires while Ptolomy gloats and Cleopatra sulks.
Act Four
The Egyptian advisors berate Ptolomy for enticing Caesar with the secrets of Egypt's wealth; the King regrets having put his safety at risk, but Photinus hints at a plan to redeem him. Cleopatra cannot believe her wiles have lost out to Caesar's greed for material things. If she were old and wrinkled, that would be one thing, but she's young and fresh! When Caesar arrives, she refuses his entry until he can restore her virginity, but he barges in because he is not accustomed to waiting. She refuses his advances, further whetting his appetite. Having been curtly dismissed, Caesar stands amazed but then hears news that Photinus has incited the Egyptians against the Roman party and reverts to his former martial bearing, pleasing his aides with this new resolve. Meanwhile, Septimius wallows in disgrace and repentance, earning some pity from the Roman soldiers who spurned him earlier. But Photinus and Achillas arrive to tempt him to another dastardly deed. He refuses at first, since their last proposal resulted in his current shame, but they promise him that if he can kill Caesar he will redeem his reputation.
Act Five
With the Egyptians in revolt not only against Caesar but also against their King, Ptolomy comes to the besieged Caesar and offers his assistance and those who remain loyal to him. Caesar is not used to being on the defensive, inside a siege, but recognizes the necessity of accepting Ptolomy's aid. The rebel party of Photinus, Achillas, and Septimius arrive, discussing their plans to kill Caesar's besieged party, including Ptolomy, and make Cleopatra a puppet until she is no longer useful to them. They exchange insults with Caesar, refusing to accept his points about law and authority since he himself abrogated law when he crossed the Rubicon. Caesar orders the palace to be burned and in order to lead his party through the confusion to safety. Septimius, realizing that he's a prop to be discarded by the actor Photinus, changes loyalty and resolves to aid Caesar. Meeting Caesar's party escaping the blaze of a second Troy, he offers to hide him and then bring him to Photinus's chamber to assassinate the rebel, but Caesar and his men scorn to take the base means of escape and leave soldier to kill off Septimius. As anarchy engulfs the city, Cleopatra's attendants lament the outrages they have suffered; a mob killed Arsino's "little dog, / And broke my monkey's chain!" But constant Cleopatra shows no fear, and when Photinus arrives and claims he has done all this for her favor, she scorns the base-born villain, even as he swears that no gods exist but himself. Achillas arrives with Ptolomy's body, but also bears the bad news that Caesar and his party escaped to his fleet. Photinus and Achillas flee as Caesar returns. Sceva reminds his master that he has business to complete before he can entertain Cleopatra and they exit, returning a few lines later with the rebels' heads. Cleopatra compliments him and he promises to bury Ptolomy honorably and to have the Senate install her as Queen of Egypt. A brief epilogue follows.
FINIS.
