The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 6 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T3 Sickness, physic and doctors · 583 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T3: doctor, master, cure, disease, pray, physic, physician, mr, sick, lady.
With me Sir? there is no reason that he should go with me, who stays with you. O unfortunate, O sudden and unexpected ill; what contrarious accident, what squint-eyed starre is it that hath robbed this Gentleman of his wonted mirth? and not of that alone, but of it (which is worse) his wits. Shall I leave him all alone? or shall I go in to him? If I leave him alone, he will kill himself. If I go in, he will kill me. Let him bide alone, and bite upon the bit, come what will, come I care not. Better it is that he die, whose life is hateful unto him, then that I die, when life is pleasing unto me, and say that I should not desire to live, save only to see my Elicia, that alone is motive enough to make me look to my self, and guard my person from dangers: but admit he should kill himself without any other witness, then must I be bound to give account of his life. Well, I will in for that, but put case when I come in, he will take neither comfort nor counsel: marry his case is desperate, for it is a shrewd sign of death, not to be willing to be cured. Well, I will let him alone a while, and give his humour leave to work out itself; I will forbear, till his angry fit be overpast, and that his hat be come again to his colour. For I have heard say, that it is dangerous to lance or crush an Impostume before it be ripe, for then it will 〈◊〉 the more: Let him alone a while, let us suffer him to weep who suffers to sorrow, for tears and sighs do ease the heart that is surcharged with grief; but then again, if he see me in sight, I shall see him more incensed against me: For there the sun scorcheth most, where he reflecteth most: the sight which hath no object set before it, waxeth weary and dull, and having its object, is as quick. And therefore I think it my best play, to play lest in sight, and to stay a little longer; but if in the meanwhile he should kill himself, than farewell he. Perhaps I may get more by it then every man is aware of, and cast my skin, changing rags for robes, and penury for plenty: But it is an old saying, He that looks after dead-men's shoes, may chance to go barefoot: Perhaps also the devil hath deceived me. And so his death may be my death, and then all the fat is in the fire: The rope will go after the Bucket: and one loss follow another; on the otherside, your wise men say, That it is a great ease to a grieved soul, or one that is afflicted, to have a companion, to whom he may communicate his sorrow. Besides, it is generally received, that the wound which bleeds inward, is ever the more dangerous. Why then in these two extremes hang I in suspense what I were best to do? Sure, the safest is to enter: and better it is that I should endure his anger, then for fear of his displeasure to forbear to comfort him. For, if it be possible to cure without Art, and without things ready at hand, far easier is it to cure by Art, and wanting nothing that is necessary.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
With me Sir? there is no reason that he should goe with me, who stayes with you. O vnfortunate, O sudden and vnexpected ill; what contrarious accident, what squint-ey'd ame is it that hath robbed this Gentleman of his wonted mirth? and not of that alone, but of it (which is worse) his wits. Shall I leaue him all alone? or shall I goe in to him? If I leaue him alone, he will kill himselfe. If I goe in, he will kill me. Let him bide alone, and bite vpon the bit, come what will, come I care not. Better it is that hee dye, whose life is hatefull vnto him, then that I dye, when life is pleasing vnto mee, and say that I should not desire to liue, saue onely to see my Elicia, that alone is motiue inough to make mee looke to my selfe, and guard my person from dangers: but admit he should kill himselfe without any other witnesse, then must I be bound to giue account of his life. Well, I will in for that, but put case when I come in, he will take neither comfort nor counsell: mary his case is desperate, for it is a shrewd signe of death, not to be willing to be cured. Well, I wil let him alone a while, and giue his humour leaue to worke out it selfe; I will forbeare, till his angry fit be ouer-past, and that his hat be come againe to his colour. For I haue heard say, that it is dangerous to lance or crush an Impostume before it bee rie, for then it will the more: Let him alone a while, let vs suffer him to weepe who suffers to sorrow, for teares and sighes doe ease the heart that is surcharded with griefe; but then againe, if he see mee in sight, I shall see him more incensed against mee: For there the sunne scorcheth most, where he reflecteth most: the sight which hath no obiect set before it, waxeth weary-and dull, and hauing its obiect, is as quicke. And therefore I thinke it my best play, to play least in sight, and to stay a little longer; but if in the meane while he should kill himselfe, then farewell he. Perhaps I may get more by it then euery man is aware of, and cast my skinne, changing rags for robes, and penury for plenty: But it is an old saying, He that lookes after dead-mens shooes, may chance to goe barefoote: Perhaps also the diuell hath deceiued me. And so his death may be my death, and then all the fat is in the fire: The rope will go after the Bucket: and one losse follow another; on the otherside, your wise men say, That it is a great ease to a grieued soule, or one that is afflicted, to haue a companion, to whom he may communicate his sorrow. Besides, it is generally receiued, that the wound which bleedes inward, is euer the more dangerous. Why then in these two extremes hang I in suspence what I were best to doe? Sure, the safest is to enter: and better it is that I should indure his anger, then for feare of his displeasure to forbeare to comfort him. For, if it be possible to cure without Arte, and without things ready at hand, farre easier is it to cure by Arte, and wanting nothing that is necessary.