0.1 Gallia During the Roman Empire, Gallia, or Gaul, was the area of Western Europe occupied by modern France and Belgium. By 486 CE -- subsequent to the time of Leir -- Gaul fragmented into a collection of smaller kingdoms that included France. Leir generally treats "Gaul" as synonymous with "France". 0.1 three Nobles more. [[ Resource not found ]] The SQM company performed Leir with only 12 actors rather than 14 and thus the French retinue was diminished to one lone French Lord. Visit the Performing the Queen's Men website to learn more about the doubling of roles. 3 some disguise [[ Resource not found ]] Paul Hopkins (Gallia) seized on the character's love of disguise and adventure rather than his classical education as the basis of his performance. Read more about performing the Gallian King and access video of the SQM production. PC. 3 flying Fame Also known as "Rumor", "Fame" or "Fama" was often personified in classical literature. As Heather James points out, she stands for "incomplete, misleading narration" (Shakespeare's Troy 24). Fame was often depicted with wings, because, proverbially, rumors "fly," or travel quickly. Gallia here is wondering whether to trust Fame in her reports of the beauty of Gonorill, Ragan, and Cordella. As in his subsequent reference to Fortune (TLN n=351), and as in his hyperbolically classicized disguise as "Tressilus" (TLN n=592), Gallia indicates here a sophisticated and decidedly courtly knowledge of classical rhetoric. Such knowledge was thought -- by humanists such as Erasmus and Sir Thomas Elyot -- to befit a good humanist monarch. Erasmus' Education of a Christian Prince is the locus classicus of discussions about the relationship between princeliness, courtliness, and classical education (http://www.stoics.com/erasmus_s_education_of_a_chris.html). 6 If present view do answer absent praise, If they will live up to reports when I see them with my own eyes. 8 Venus the Roman goddess of love, beauty, and fertility; Aphrodite in Greek mythology. 8 stand auspicious fortuitously endorses and wishes well. 9 And Fortune favor what I take in hand, proverbial; "Fortune favors the bold" (Tilley F601). 10 seized of having laid claim to or captured. Gallia hopes to claim one of Leir's daughters as a wife as one would claim a prize. 11 As Jason when he won the golden fleece. Jason was a mythical Greek hero who struggled to capture the golden fleece in order to reclaim his kingdom. As Apollonius of Rhodes tells Jason's story in Argonautica, Jason was the son of Aeson, whose half-brother, Pelias, killed Aeson and claimed Aeson's crown as king of Thessaly. When Jason came to claim his rightful crown, Pelias said that Jason could have the crown if Jason would first find the golden fleece of the winged ram, Chrysomallos (http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=850820 ). Ovid tells the story of Jason's search for the fleece in Metamorphoses (Book VII); considering subsequent references to the resurrection of Aeson -- a detail unique to Ovid -- it is quite plausible that Ovid is the source for this allusion (http://classics.mit.edu/Ovid/metam.7.seventh.html). 12 Mumford [[ Resource not found ]] Mumford is clearly a comic role. For the SQM productions we envisaged him as a role designed for the famous company clown Richard Tarlton. Read more about performing Mumford and access video of the SQM production. PC. 15 pilgrimage. a journey to a place thought to be religiously meaningful or sacred. By figuring the journey to Britain to meet Leir's daughters as a pilgrimage, Mumford -- perhaps ironically -- invests it with some sort of spiritual value. 16 gallant attractive and showy. 25-32 So that you . . . I rest content. [[ Resource not found ]] Mumford makes the sexual motivation behind the "pilgrimage" apparent revealing the character's comic function within the play. Read more about performing Mumford and access video of the SQM production. PC. 29 congees, courteous bows. These courteous bows were often elaborate and formal, so performing them was a sign of sophistication and courtliness. See Alon Nashman's interpretation of such bows on the Performing the Queen's Men Website . Mumford seems to imply a double entendre, though it is unclear what, specifically, his hands will be doing when he bows. Such congees often involved large broad gestures of the arms, and they were often paired in the French tradition with hand kissing, so there is certainly room for potential groping. 34 mean means. 35 salute to greet with words or gestures, including kisses (OED 1, 2e). 36 second to agree with and support. 39 words of dignity titles indicating his status as the King of Gallia. 41 Make use of me treat me 42 palmers' Itinerant Christian monks or pilgrims, called palmers because they typically bore with them a palm leaf in memory of pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 42 weeds, garb. 44 Blounts, "The great Elizabethan family of the Blounts enjoyed the baronial title of Mountjoy to which a mysterious allusion is possibly made here" (Lee xxxiv-xxxv). The name is pronounced, "blunts", thus enabling Mumford's quibble on bluntness as directness in speech.
[[ Resource not found ]] Mumford's adoption of colloquial prose and the fact he associates himself with the English Blount family, was key to the SQM casting of this role. Read more about performing Mumford and access video of the SQM production. PC. 45 pleasant company [[ Resource not found ]] In the SQM productions, these two characters perform a key dramaturgical function by proving pleasant company for the audience as well as each other. Read more about Queen's Men Dramaturgy: Medley Style and access video of the SQM production. PC. 46 resteth remains to be done. Gallia's last order of business before his "pilgrimage" is to invest his councilors with regal power for the tenure of his absence. 50 away. [[ Resource not found ]] Paul Hopkins (Gallia) created a comic false exit on this line that emphasized the youthful impetuousness of his interpretation of the King. The nobleman's final words called Paul back to the stage, and once the nobleman finished speaking, Paul dashed off again. Read more about performing the Gallian King and access video of the SQM production. PC.
The History of King Leir (Modern)
Scene 4
340.1[Scene 4] [Video Sc.4]
Enter the King of Gallia with Mumford and three Nobles more.
Gallia
Dissuade me not, my lords, I am resolved
This next fair wind to sail for Brittany
345In some disguise, to see if flying Fame
Be not too prodigal in the wondrous praise
Of these three nymphs, the daughters of King Leir.
If present view do answer absent praise,
And eyes allow of what our ears have heard,
350And Venus stand auspicious to my vows,
And Fortune favor what I take in hand,
I will return seized of as rich a prize
As Jason when he won the golden fleece.
Mumford
Heavens grant you may: the match were full of honor
355And well beseeming the young Gallian king.
I would your grace would favor me so much
As make me partner of your pilgrimage.
I long to see the gallant British dames
And feed mine eyes upon their rare perfections,
360For till I know the contrary, I'll say
Our dames in France are more fair than they.
Gallia
Lord Mumford, you have saved me a labor
In off'ring that which I did mean to ask,
And I most willingly accept your company.
365Yet, first I will enjoin you to observe
Some few conditions which I shall propose.
Mumford
So that you do not tie mine eyes for looking
After the amorous glances of fair dames,
So that you do not tie my tongue from speaking,
370My lips from kissing when occasion serves,
My hands from congees, and my knees to bow
To gallant girls -- which were a task more hard
Than flesh and blood is able to endure --
Command what else you please, I rest content.
375Gallia
To bind thee from a thing thou canst not leave
Were but a mean to make thee seek it more,
And therefore speak, look, kiss, salute for me;
In these myself am like to second thee.
Now hear thy task: I charge thee, from the time
380That first we set sail for the British shore,
To use no words of dignity to me,
But, in the friendliest manner that thou canst,
Make use of me as thy companion,
For we will go disguised in palmers' weeds,
385That no man shall mistrust us what we are.
Mumford
If that be all, I'll fit your turn, I warrant you. I am some kin to the Blounts, and, I think, the bluntest of all my kindred; therefore, if I be too blunt with you, thank yourself for praying me to be so.
390Gallia
Thy pleasant company will make the way seem short. --
It resteth now that in my absence hence
I do commit the government to you,
My trusty lords and faithful counsellors.
Time cutteth off the rest I have to say:
395The wind blows fair, and I must needs away.
Noblemen
Heavens send your voyage to as good effect
As we your land do purpose to protect.
Exeunt.

The History of King Leir (Modern)