The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 10 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 516 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Thou seest the more thou tell'st me, and the more inconveniences thou settest before me, the more I love her. I know not how, nor what it is, but sure I am, that so it is. This is no fit counsel I see for young men, who know not how to submit themselves to reason, nor to be governed by discretion; it is a miserable thing, to think that he should be a Master, who was never any scholar. And you Sir, that are so wise, who I pray taught you all this? Who? why, they themselves, who no sooner discover their shame, but they lose it. For all this, and much more than I have told you, they themselves will manifest unto men. Balance thyself then aright in the true scale of thine honour, give thy reputation its due proportion, its just measure, and think yourself to be more worthy than in your own esteem you repute yourself. For (believe me) worse is that extreme, whereby a man suffers himself to fall from his own worth, then that which makes a man overvalue himself, and seat himself in higher place than beseem him. Now, what of all this? what am I the better for it? What? why this: First of all, you are a man; then, of an excellent and singular wit; To this, endued with those better sort of blessings, wherewith Nature hath endowed you, to wit, wisdom, favour, feature, largeness of limbs, force, agility, and abilities of body. And to these, fortune hath in so good a measure shared what is hers with thee, that these thy inward graces, are by thy outward the more beautified. For, without these outward goods, whereof fortune is chief Mistress, no man in this life comes to be happy. Lastly, the stars were so propitious at thy birth, and thyself borne under so good a Planet, that thou are beloved of all. But not of Melibea. And in all that, wherein thou dost so glorify my gifts, I tell she (Sempronio) compared with Melibea's, they are but as stars to the Sun; or dross compared to gold. Do but consider the nobleness of her blood, the ancientness of her house, the great estate she is borne unto, the excellency of her wit, the splendour of her virtues, her stately, yet comely carriage, her ineffable gracefulness in all that she doth; and lastly, her divine beauty; whereof (I pray thee) give me leave to discourse a little, for the refreshing of my soul. And that which I shall tell she, shall be only of what I have discovered, and lies open to the eye: For, if I could discourse of that which is concealed, this contestation would be needless, neither should we argue thereupon so earnestly as now we do. What lies and fooleries will my captived Master now tell me? What's that? I said, I would have you tell me: for I shall take great pleasure in hearing it, so fortune befriend you Sir, as this speech of yours shall be pleasing unto me. What sayst thou?
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)
Thou seest the more thou tell'st me, and the more inconueniences thou settest before mee, the more I loue her. I know not how, nor what it is, but sure I am, that so it is. This is no fit counsell I see for young men, who know not how to submit themselues to reason, nor to be gouerned by discretion; it is a miserable thing, to thinke that hee should be a Master, who was neuer any scholler. And you Sir, that are so wise, who I pray taught you all this? Who? why, they themselues, who no sooner discouer their shame, but they lose it. For all this, and much more then I haue told you, they themselues will manifest vnto men. Ballance thy selfe then aright in the true scale of thine honour, giue thy reputation it's due proportion, it's just measure, and thinke your selfe to be more worthy then in your owne esteeme you repute your selfe. For (beleeue mee) worse is that extreme, whereby a man suffers himselfe to fall from his owne worth, then that which makes a man ouer-valew himselfe, and seate himselfe in higher place then beseeme him. Now, what of all this? what am I the better for it? What? why this: First of all, you are a man; then, of an excellent and singular wit; To this, indewed with those better sort of blessings, wherewith Nature hath endowed you, to wit, wisedome, fauour, feature, largenesse of limbes, force, agility, and abilities of body. And to these, fortune hath in so good a measure shared what is hers with thee, that these thy inward graces, are by thy outward the more beautified. For, without these outward goods, wherof fortune is chiefe Mistresse, no man in this life comes to be happy. Lastly, the starres were so propitious at thy birth, and thy selfe borne vnder so good a Planet, that thou are belou'd of all. But not of Melibea. And in all that, wherein thou dost so glorifie my gifts, I tell shee (Sempronio) compared with Melibea's, they are but as starres to the Sunne; or drosse compared to gold. Doe but consider the noblenesse of her blod, the ancientnesse of her house, the greatestate she is borne vnto, the excellency of her wit, the splendour of her vertues, her stately, yet comely carriage, her ineffable gracefulnesse in all that shee doth; and lastly, her diuine beauty; whereof (I pray thee) giue mee leaue to discourse a little, for the refreshing of my soule. And that which I shall tell shee, shall be onely of what I haue discouered, and lyes open to the eye: For, if I could discourse of that which is concealed, this contestation would be needlesse, neyther should wee argue thereupon so earnestly as now wee doe. What lyes and fooleries will my captiued Master now tell mee? What's that? I said, I would haue you tell mee: for I shall take great pleasure in hearing it, so fortune befriend you Sir, as this speach of yours shall be pleasing vnto mee. What saist thou?