About the Text
Gauthier de Coste, sieur de La Calprenede wrote his second romance, Cleopatra (formally titled Hymen's Praeludia or Love's Master Piece. Being That so much admired Romance, intituled Cleopatra), from 1646-1657. It proved to be very popular, along with his other heroic romances, for its "heroic mythification of contemporary courtly ideals" (France 428). Although the romance is quite lengthy, the bulk of the action in the story takes place within the course of a week. Despite the fact that the romance is named after the main female protagonist, and most of the action takes place off the battlefield, Hill contends that women do not factor in as much to this plotline as they do in another of his romances, Cassandre (Hill 21).
Character Profiles
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Coriolanus: The male hero of this story who falls in love with Cleopatra and eventually wins her.
Cleopatra II: Not to be confused with her mother, Cleopatra enters the story a slave, but is eventually married to Coriolanus, a Roman prince. Marcellus: One of Coriolanus' rivals for Cleopatra's hand, he eventually drops his suit and helps Coriolanus obtain Cleopatra. Tiberius: Coriolanus' other rival, he persistently tries to keep Cleopatra and Coriolanus apart. |
Zenodorus: A pirate who interrupts the plot a few times with battles and abductions.
Candace: An Ethopian princess, initially loved by Artaban and eventually married to Caesario. Caesario: The son of Caesar and Cleopatra, he marries Candace after she rescues him from prison. Artaban: The son of Pompey and Cordelia, who through many adventures, acquires Elisa. |
Synopsis
Coriolanus, a Roman prince, falls in love with Cleopatra after the fall of Alexandria, but Tiberius comes between their love and forces Coriolanus to Alexandria, while Cleopatra is shipwrecked. Coriolanus meets Caesario when he helps him fight off a band of pirates, led by Zenodorus. Cleopatra and Artemissa meet up with Coriolanus and chastise him for his supposed infidelity, but while they are together, a band of villains comes and steals away the two women. After several adventures, Coriolanus attempts to commit suicide by throwing himself into the sea, but lands within reach of a boat which carries the captive Cleopatra. Coriolanus’ identity is discovered, but he fends off the entire crew of the ship with the help of Marcellus and Alexander. Cleopatra and Coriolanus end up in Alexandria, where Coriolanus is put into prison and Cleopatra is courted by Tiberius. The emperor demands that Cleopatra marry Tiberius if she wants to save Coriolanus’ life. While deliberating on this decision, a revolt staged by Candace, Alexander, Artaban, and others frees Coriolanus. Coriolanus then asks the emperor to execute him in order to save the other rebels captured during the revolt. Marcellus rushes in and threatens to commit suicide if Coriolanus is actually executed. He also tells the emperor that Coriolanus is responsible for saving his life, which causes him to reverse his decision. Cleopatra and Coriolanus reunite.
Important subplots include the Artaban-Elisa plot, in which Artaban falls in love with the princess Candace, is banished, falls in love with Arsinoe, is banished again, and becomes a general among the Medes. He conquers Phraates and captures his daughter, Elisa. Artaban joins the side of Phraates, however, and turns against the Medes. As a reward for his service to Phraates, Artaban asks to marry Elisa, but he is refused and he then leaves. After some adventures including being captured by Zenodorus and his pirates, he meets Elisa again. In Alexandria he is imprisoned by Tigranes, but after the Parthian king dies, the people demand that Artaban become their new ruler, and he and Elisa are married.
The other important sub-plot (though there are others) is the Caesario-Candace plot. Caesario is the son of Cleopatra and he falls in love with Candace, the daughter of the king of the Ethiopians. When the king dies, Tyribasus takes control of the kingdom. Caesario kills Tyribasus in battle, then sets out to find Candace, who has also been captured by Zenodorus. She sets the ship on fire, and is rescued by Tyridates. Caesario has several adventures and meets Candace in Alexandria. Augustus realizes he is in the city and imprisons him, but Candace initiates a rescue plan. Everyone is reconciled in the end (Hill 11-16).
Important subplots include the Artaban-Elisa plot, in which Artaban falls in love with the princess Candace, is banished, falls in love with Arsinoe, is banished again, and becomes a general among the Medes. He conquers Phraates and captures his daughter, Elisa. Artaban joins the side of Phraates, however, and turns against the Medes. As a reward for his service to Phraates, Artaban asks to marry Elisa, but he is refused and he then leaves. After some adventures including being captured by Zenodorus and his pirates, he meets Elisa again. In Alexandria he is imprisoned by Tigranes, but after the Parthian king dies, the people demand that Artaban become their new ruler, and he and Elisa are married.
The other important sub-plot (though there are others) is the Caesario-Candace plot. Caesario is the son of Cleopatra and he falls in love with Candace, the daughter of the king of the Ethiopians. When the king dies, Tyribasus takes control of the kingdom. Caesario kills Tyribasus in battle, then sets out to find Candace, who has also been captured by Zenodorus. She sets the ship on fire, and is rescued by Tyridates. Caesario has several adventures and meets Candace in Alexandria. Augustus realizes he is in the city and imprisons him, but Candace initiates a rescue plan. Everyone is reconciled in the end (Hill 11-16).
Historical References
La Calprenède was influenced by Tacitus, Florus, Suetonius, Flavius Josephus, as well as "others who wrote Augustus' life" (Hill 25) Cleopatra also contains many parallels to Greek Romances. For example, the heroine is shipwrecked, captured by pirates, and falls in love while young. There are also many instances of oracles and dreams to keep the plot moving (47). The Caesario-Candace plot takes much of its material from Heliodorus' Ethiopian History (26).
See the Cleopatra Textual References page to learn more about the use of this romance in Charlotte Lennox's novel.
See the Cleopatra Textual References page to learn more about the use of this romance in Charlotte Lennox's novel.
