The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 11 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 514 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
That fortune would so befriend me, as I shall take pleasure to hear you. Since then, that it is so pleasing unto thee, I will figure forth unto thee every part in her, even in the fullest manner that I can devise. here's a deal of do indeed: This is that I looked for, though more than I desired, it will be a tedious piece of business, but I must give him the hearing. I will begin first with her hairs; Hast thou seen those skeins of fine twisted gold which are spun in Arabia? Her hairs are more fine, and shine no less than they; the length of them is to the lowest pitch of her heel, beside, they are daintily combed, and dressed, and knit up in knots with curious fine ribboning, as she herself pleaseth to adorn and set them forth, being of power themselves, without any other help, to transform men into stones. Into Asses rather. What sayst thou? I say that these could not be Asses hairs. See what a beastly and base comparison this fool makes! It is well Sir that you are so wise. Her eyes are quick, clear and full; the hairs to those lids rather long then short; Her eyebrows thinnish, not thick of hair, and so prettily arched, that by their bent, they are much the more beautiful; Her nose of such a middling size, as may not be mended; Her mouth little; Her teeth small and white; her lips red and plump; The form of her face rather long then round; Her breasts placed in a fitting height; but their rising roundness, and the pretty pleasing fashion of her little tender nipples, who is able to figure forth unto thee? So distracted is the eye of man when he does behold them; Her skin as smooth, soft, and sleek as Satin, and her whole body so white, that the snow seems darkness unto it; Her colour so mingled, and of so singular a temper, as if she had chosen it herself. This fool is fallen into his thirteens. O how he overreaches! Her hands little, and in a measurable manner, and fit proportion accompanied with her sweet flesh; Her fingers long; Her nails large and well coloured; seeming Rubies, intermixed with pearls. The proportion of those other parts which I could not eye, undoubtedly (judging things unseen, by the seen) must of force be incomparably far better than that, which Paris gave his judgement of in the difference between the three Goddesses. Have you done, Sir? As briefly as I could. Suppose all this you say were true, yet in that you are a man, I still say, you are more worthy than she. In what? In that she is imperfect: Out of which defect, she lusts and longs after yourself, or some one less worthy. Did you never read that of the Philosopher, where he tells you, That as the matter desires the form, so woman desires man? O wretch that I am, when shall I see this between me and Melibea?
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)
That fortune would so befriend mee, as I shall take pleasure to heare you. Since then, that it is so pleasing vnto thee, I will figure foorth vnto thee euery part in her, euen in the fullest manner that I can deuise. Heer's a deale of doo indeede: This is that I looked for, though more then I desired, it will be a tedious piece of businesse, but I must giue him the hearing. I will beginne first with her haires; Hast thou seene those skaynes of fine twisted gold which are spun in Arabia? Her haires are more fine, and shine no lesse then they; the length of them is to the lowest pitch of her heele, besides, they are daintily combed, and dressed, and knit vp in knots with curious fine ribbaning, as shee her selfe pleaseth to adorne and set them foorth, being of power themselues, without any other helpe, to transforme men into stones. Into Asses rather. What saist thou? I say that these could not bee Asses hayres. See what a beastly and base comparison this foole makes! It is well Sir that you are so wise. Her eyes are quicke, cleare and full; the hayres to those lids rather long then short; Her eye-browes thinnish, not thicke of hayre, and so prettily arched, that by their bent, they are much the more beautifull; Her nose of such a middling size, as may not be mended; Her mouth little; Her teeth small and white; her lips red and plumpe; The forme of her face rather long then round; Her brests placed in a fitting height; but their rising roundnesse, and the pretty pleasing fashion of her little tender nipples, who is able to figure foorth vnto thee? So distracted is the eye of man when he does behold them; Her skinne as smooth, soft, and sleeke as Satten, and her whole body so white, that the snow seemes darknesse vnto it; Her colour so mingled, and of so singular a temper, as if she had chosen it her selfe. This foole is fallen into his thirteenes. O how hee ouerreaches! Her hands little, and in a measurable manner, and fit proportion accompanied with her sweet flesh; Her fingers long; Her nayles large and well coloured; seeming Rubies, intermixt with pearles. The proportion of those other parts which I could not eye, vndoubtedly (judging things vnseene, by the seene) must of force be incomparably farre better then that, which Paris gaue his judgement of in the difference betweene the three Goddesses. Haue you done, Sir? As briefely as I could. Suppose all this you say were true, yet in that you are a man, I still say, you are more worthy then shee. In what? In that shee is imperfect: Out of which defect, shee lusts and longs after your selfe, or some one lesse worthy. Did you neuer reade that of the Philosopher, where he tells you, That as the matter desires the forme, so woman desires man? O wretch that I am, when shall I see this betweene me and Melibea?