The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 4 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.72 · 566 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Especially, since that it, together with all other things, whatsoever are in this world, march under the standard of this noble Sentence; For even the very life of men, if we consider them from their first and tender age, till they grow gray-headed, is nothing else but a battle. Children with their sports, boys with their books, young men with their pleasures, old men with a thousand sorts of infirmities, skirmish and war continually: and these Papers, with all ages. The first blots and tears them; the second knows not well how to read them; the third (which is the cheerful livelihood of youth, and set all upon jollity) doth utterly dislike of them. Some gnaw only the bones, but do not pick out the marrow, saying there is no goodness in it; that it is a History, huddled, I know not how, together, a kind of hodgepodge, or gallimaufry; not profiting themselves out of the particularities, accounting it a fable, or old wife's tale, fitting for nothing, save only for to pass away the time upon the way. Others call out the witty conceits, and common proverbs, highly commending them, but slighting and neglecting that which makes more to the purpose, and their profit. But they for whose true pleasure it is wholly framed, reject the story itself, as a vain and idle subject, and gather out the pith and marrow of the matter for their own good and benefit, and laugh at those things that savour only of wit, and pleasant conceit, storing up in their memory, the sentences and sayings of Philosophers, that they may transpose them into such fit places, as may make, upon occasion, for their own use and purpose. So that when ten men shall meet together to hear this Comedy, in whom perhaps shall happen this difference of dispositions, as it usually falleth out; who will deny, but that there is a contention in that thing which is so diversly understood? the Printers, they likewise have bestowed their puncture, putting Titles, and adding Arguments to the beginning of every Act; delivering in brief, what is more largely contained therein; a thing very excusable, in former times being much used, and in great request with your ancient Writers; others have contended about the name, saying, that it ought not to be called a Comedy, because it ends in sorrow and mourning, but rather termed a Tragedy. The Author himself would have it take its denomination from its beginning, which treats of pleasure, and therefore called it a Comedy. So that I seeing these differences, between their extremes have parted this quarrel, by dividing it in the midst, and call it a tragicomedy. So that observing these contentions, these disagreements, these dissonant and various judgements, I had an eye, to mark whither the maior part inclined, and found that they were all desirous, that I should enlarge myself in the pursuit of the delight of these Lovers; whereunto, I have been earnestly importuned; in so much, that I have consented (though against my will) to put now the second time my Pen to this so strange a task, and so far estranged from my faculty, stealing some hours from my principal studies, together with others allotted to my recreation, though I know, I shall not want new Detractors for my new Edition. In this, Melibea, I see heaven's greatness, and goodness.
seed 43: T16 · seed 44: T15 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Especially, since that it, together with all other things, whatsoeuer are in this world, march vnder the standard of this noble Sentence; For euen the very life of men, if we consider them from their first and tendeer age, till they grow gray-headed, is nothing else but a battell. Children with their sports, boyes with their bookes, young men with their pleasures, old men with a thousand sorts of infirmities, skirmish and warre continually: and these Papers, with all ages. The first blots and teares them; the second knowes not well how to read them; the third (which is the cheerefull liuelihood of youth, and set all vpon iollity) doth vtterly dislike of them. Some gnaw onely the bones, but do not picke out the marrow, saying there is no goodnesse in it; that it is a History, huddled, I know not how, together, a kind of hodgepode, or gallimaufrey; not profiting themselues out of the particularities, accounting it a fable, or old wifes tale, fitting for nothing, saue only for to passe away the time vpon the way. Others call out the witty conceits, and common prouerbs, highly commending them, but slighting and neglecting that which makes more to the purpose, and their profit. But they for whose true pleasure it is wholy framed, reiect the story it selfe, as a vayne and idle subiect, and gather out the pith and marrow of the matter for their owne good and benefit, and laugh at those things that sauour onely of wit, and pleasant conceite, storing vp in their memorie, the sentences and sayings of Philosophers, that they may transpose them into such fit places, as may make, vpon occasion, for their owne vse and purpose. So that when ten men shall meete together to heare this Comedy, in whom perhaps shall happen this difference of dispositions, as it vsually falleth out; who will deny, but that there is a contention in that thing which is so diuersly vnderstood? the Printers, they likewise haue bestowed their puncture, putting Titles, and adding Arguments to the beginning of euery Act; deliuering in briefe, what is more largely contained therein; a thing very excusable, in former times being much vsed, and in great request with your ancient Writers; others haue contended about the name, saying, that it ought not to be called a Comedy, because it ends in sorrow and mourning, but rather termed a Tragedy. The Authour himselfe would haue it take it's denomination from it's beginning, which treates of pleasure, and therfore call'd it a Comedy. So that I seeing these differences, between their extremes haue parted this quarrell, by diuiding it in the midst, and call it a Tragick-Comedy. So that obseruing these contentions, these disagreements, these dissonant and various iudgements, I had an eye, to marke whither the maior part inclined, and found that they were all desirous, that I should inlarge my selfe in the pursuite of the delight of these Louers; whereunto, I haue been earnestly importuned; in so much, that I haue consented (though against my will) to put now the second time my Penne to this so strange a taske, and so farre estranged from my faculty, stealing some houres from my principall studies, together with others allotted to my recreation, though I know, I shall not want new Detractors for my new Edition. In this, Melibea, I see heauens greatnesse, and goodnesse.