Summary of Cinna
Pierre Corneille
Cinna
Emilia owns a passionate desire to avenge Augusta for the death of her father, Kai Thorania, educator of the future emperor who was executed by him in the time of the triumvirate. As a revengeer, she sees her lover, Cinna; no matter how painful Emilia is to realize that, raising her hand to almighty Augustus, Cinna endangers her life, priceless for her, yet duty is above all else. to evade the call of duty is the greatest shame, the same one who fulfills his duty is worthy of the highest honor. Therefore, even fervently loving Cinna, Emilia is ready to give him her hand only when they kill the hated tyrant.
Emilia’s confidante, Fulvia, tries to dissuade her from a dangerous plan, recalls how Emily Augustus surrounded with honors and respect, atoning for the old guilt. But Emilia stands on her own: the crime of Caesar can only redeem death. Then Fulvia talks about the danger that awaits Cinna on the path of revenge, and that even without
Zinno also composed a whole conspiracy against the emperor. In a close circle of conspirators, all of them, like one, are burning with hatred for the tyrant, who have paved their way to the throne of the corpses, all yearning for the death of man, for the sake of his own elevation, plunging the country into the abyss of fratricidal slaughter, betrayal, betrayal and denunciations. Tomorrow is the decisive day in which the Tyrannists decided either to rid Rome of Augustus or to lay down their own heads. No sooner does Cinna manage to tell Emilia of the plans of the conspirators, to him is the freedman Evander with the news that Augustus demands to him, Cinna, and the second leader of the conspiracy, Maxim. Cinna is embarrassed by the invitation of the emperor, which, however, does not yet mean that the conspiracy has been discovered –
When Cinna and Maximus are with Augustus, the emperor asks all others to retire, and to two friends he is treated with an unexpected speech: he is burdened by the power, the ascension to which he once reveled, but now bearing only a heavy burden of caring, universal hatred and a constant fear of violent death. August offers Cinne and Maxim to take from his hands the government of Rome and decide for themselves whether to be their home country a republic or an empire.
Friends meet the Emperor’s proposal in different ways. Cinna convinces Augustus that the imperial power was given to him by virtue of virtue and strength, that with him Rome reached unprecedented heyday; If there is power in the hands of the people, a senseless crowd, and the country will once again be mired in strife, the greatness of Rome will inevitably come to an end. He is sure that the only correct decision for Augustus is to retain the throne. As for death by the hands of murderers, it’s better to die as the ruler of the world than to drag out the existence of an ordinary citizen or citizen.
Maximus, in his turn, would wholeheartedly welcome the abdication of Augustus and the establishment of the republic: since ancient times the Romans have been known for freedom, and, no matter how legitimate the power of the emperor, they always, even in the wisest ruler, will see primarily a tyrant.
After listening to both, Augustus, who benefits Rome much better than his own peace, accepts Cinna’s arguments and does not quit the imperial crown. Maxima he appoints a viceroy in Sicily, Cinne also leaves with him and gives him to his wife Emilia.
Maxim is perplexed, why suddenly the leader of the conspirators became a friend of tyranny, but Cinna explains to him why he persuaded Augustus not to leave the throne: first, freedom is not freedom when it is taken from the hands of the tyrant, and secondly, the emperor can not be allowed to do so just retire to rest – he must atone for his death atrocities. Cinna did not betray the cause of the conspirators-he would avenge himself at any cost. Maxim complains to his freedman Euphorbus that Rome did not receive liberties only at the whim of Cinna, in love with Emilia; now Maxim will have to go to the crime for the benefit of a happy opponent – he, it turns out, has long been in love with Emilia, but she does not reciprocate with him. Tricky Euphorb offers Maxim the surest, in his opinion, means and does not burn hands in the blood of Augustus, and get Emilia – you need to inform the emperor of the conspiracy,
In the meantime, Cinna, touched by the greatness of Augustus’ soul, loses his former resolve – he realizes that there is a choice before him: betray the sovereign or beloved; He will kill Augustus or not – in both cases he will commit treason. Cinna still cherishes the hope that Emilia will allow him to swear an oath, but the girl is adamant – if she swears to take revenge on Augusta, she will achieve his death at any cost, even at the cost of her own life, which she no longer likes, since she can not connect her with her lover – the culprit. As for the fact that Augustus generously presented it to Cinne, to accept such gifts means to subservient to tyranny.
Emilia’s speech makes Cinna make a choice – no matter how hard it is for him, he will keep his promise and finish with Augustus.
The freedman Euphorb presented Augustus with the whole matter in such a way that, they say, Maxim sincerely repented of the evil intent against the emperor’s person, and Cinna, on the contrary, persists himself and prevents other conspirators from admitting his guilt. The measure of Maxim’s repentance is so great that in desperation he rushed to the Tiber and, according to Euphorb, ended his days in his turbulent waters.
August to the depths of his soul is struck by the betrayal of Cinna and burns with thirst for revenge, but on the other hand, how much can you pour blood? Hundreds of murders have not yet secured the emperor, and new executions are unlikely to provide him with a calm rule in a country where opponents of tyranny will never be transferred. So is it not nobler to dutifully meet death from the hands of conspirators, rather than continue to reign under the sword of Damocles?
For such reflections Augusta finds loving wife Livia. She asks him to heed her women’s advice: not to cast the blood of the conspirators this time, but to pardon them, for mercy to the defeated enemies is no less valiant for the ruler than the ability to deal decisively with them. The words of Libya touched the soul of Augustus, little by little he was inclined to leave Cinna alive. The freedmen Evander and Euphorb have already been captured, but August urges Cinnu to join the council. Emilie realizes that all this means that the plot has been uncovered, and that over her and Cinna there is a mortal danger. But here to Maximia is Maxim and starts an inappropriate conversation about his passion, offering to run on the ship with him, Maxim, since Cinna is already in August’s hands and he will not be helped. Not only is Emilia absolutely indifferent to Maxim,
Maxim’s treacherous design collapsed. Now, with terrible words, he curses Euphorbus and himself, not realizing how he, a noble Roman, could have gone on low crimes on the advice of a freedman who, for all time, had retained, despite his granted freedom, the most that is not a slavish soul.
August calls for Cinna and, not wanting to interrupt, reminds the unsuccessful conspirator of all the benefactions and honors that the emperor has surrounded the ungrateful descendant of Pompey, and then in details expounds to him the plot plan, tells who was supposed to stand when to strike.. August appeals not only to the feelings of Cinna, but also to his reason, explains that even with the success of the conspirators, the Romans would not want to have Cinna as emperor, for in the city there are many husbands with whom he can not be equal in either the glory of ancestors or personal valor.
Cinna does not deny anything, he is ready to bear punishment, but in his return speeches there is no shadow of remorse. Remorse is not heard in the words of Emilia, when she, when she appeared before Augustus, calls herself the real head and inspiration of the conspiracy. Cinna objected that it was not Emilia who tempted him to malicious intent, but he himself was nurturing plans for revenge long before he recognized her.
Augustus and Emilia exhorts to leave anger, asks to remember how he exalted her, in order to atone for the murder of his father, in which not so much he is guilty as much as the rock, whose toys are often the kings. But Cinna and Emilia are inexorable and determined to meet the hour of death together.
In contrast, Maxim repents to the depths of his soul in a triple betrayal – he betrayed the sovereign, conspirator friends, wanted to destroy the union of Cinna and Emilia – and asked to betray him and Euphorb’s death.
But August does not hurry to send enemies to the execution; he surpasses all conceivable limits of generosity – forgives all, blesses the marriage of Cinna and Emilia, grants consular power to Cinne. With wise generosity, the emperor softens his hardened hearts and finds in the person of former conspirators faithful friends and companions.
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