Cesario and the Prince, Illustration by J. R. Clayton

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Cesario and the Prince

J. R. Clayton

1857

Wood engraving on paper

3 15/16 x 3 7/16 inches (10 x 8.8 cm)

Illustration for "The Way to Conquer" in Dramatic Scenes by Barry Cornwall (real name, Bryan Waller Proctor (1787-1874))

Private Collection

Scanned image and caption material by Dennis T. Lanigan; commentary (below) and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]

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In this dramatic dialogue in Cornwall's Dramatic Scenes, the Prince starts by mentioning a certain "foreign youth" (64) known to Cesario, and tells of a plot against his uncle, stressing its heinousness. From Cesario's wretchedness, it seems that this story hits home: it is, in fact, a subtle way of telling him that the Prince has discovered the boy's own plot against him. By making him fully aware of the wickedness of his designs, the Prince brings him back to to the path of virtue again: Cesario tells the older man,

My noble prince, rest soundly: you have gained
Cesario's soul twice over. If a knave
Should say I wrong you now, believe him not.
If I myself should swear I was your foe,
Discredit me. Oh! once more on my knees,
I thank you: dearest father! look upon
Your prodigal son. Thanks from my heart. [76]

Thus, it is fair to say, just as the illustration suggests, that the Prince is manipulating Cesario, but to good rather than evil ends. His gesture is that of a wise tutor (the other hand holding the youth's) while Cesario's hang-dog expression is the perfect expression of his shame.

Bibliography

Cornwall, Barry (pseud.). Dramatic scenes: with other poems. London: Chapman and Hall, 1857.

Sambrook, James. "Procter, Bryan Waller (1787–1874), poet and lawyer." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online ed. Web. 12 January 2022.

Last modified 1 November 2009