The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 16 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 · 429 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
How canst thou tell? dost thou know her? I shall tell you Sir, how I know her: It is a great while ago, since my mother dwelled in her Parish, who being entreated by this Celestina, gave me unto her to wait upon her, though now she know me not, grown out perhaps of her remembrance; as well by reason of the short time I abode with her, as also through the alteration which age hath wrought upon me. What service didst thou do her? I went into the market place, and fetch't her victuals; I waited on her in the streets, and supplied her wants in other the like services, as far as my poor sufficiency, and slender strength was able to perform. So that though I continued but a little while with her, yet I remember every thing as fresh, as if it were but yesterday, in so much that old-age hath not been able to wear it out. This good honest whore, this grave matron, forsooth, had at the very end of the City, there where your Tanners dwell, close by the waterside, a lone house, somewhat far from neighbours, half of it fallen down, ill contrived, and worse furnished. Now, for to get her living, ye must understand, she had six several Trades: she was a Laundress, a Perfumeress, a Former of faces, a Mender of cracked maidenheads, a Bawd, and had some smatch of a Witch; Her first Trade was a cloak to all the test; under colour whereof, being withal a piece of a Sempstress, many young wenches that were of your ordinary sorts of servants, came to her house to work: some on smocks, some on gorgets and many other things: but not one of them that came thither, but brought with her either bacon, wheat, flower, or a jar of wine, or some other the like provision, which they could conveniently steal from their Mistresses, and some other thefts of greater quality, making her house (for she was the receiver, and kept all things close) the Rendezvous of all their Roguery: she was a great friend to your Students, Noble men's Caterers, and Pages: To these she sold that innocent blood of these poor miserable souls, who did easily adventure their virginities, drawn on by fair promises, and the restitution and reparation which she would make them of their lost maidenheads. Nay, she proceeded so far, that by cunning means, she had access and communication with your very Vestals, and never left them, till she had brought her purpose to pass.
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)
How canst thou tell? dost thou know her? I shall tell you Sir, how I know her: It is a great while ago, since my mother dwelt in her Parish, who being intreated by this Celestina, gaue me vnto her to wait vpon her, though now she know me not, growne out perhaps of her remembrance; as well by reason of the short time I abode with her, as also through the alteration which age hath wrought vpon mee. What seruice didst thou doe her? I went into the market place, and fetch't her vitailes; I waited on her in the streetes, and supplyed her wants in other the like seruices, as farre as my poore sufficiency, and slender strength was able to performe. So that though I continued but a little while with her, yet I remember euery thing as fresh, as if it were but yesterday, in so much that old-age hath not been able to weare it out. This good honest whore, this graue matrone, forsooth, had at the very end of the Citty, there where your Tanners dwell, close by the waterside, a lone house, somewhat far from neighbours, halfe of it fallen downe, ill contriued, and worse furnished. Now, for to get her liuing, yee must vnderstand, shee had sixe seuerall Trades: shee was a Laundresse, a Persumeresse, a Former of faces, a Mender of crackt maiden-heads, a Bd, and had some smatch of a Witch; Her first Trade was a cloak to all the test; vnder color wherof, being withall a piece of a Sempstresse, many young wenches that were of your ordinary sorts of seruants, came to her house to worke: some on smockes, some on gorgets and many other things: but not one of them that came thither, but brought with her either bacon, wheate, flower, or a Iar of wine, or some other the like prouision, which they could conueniently steale from their Mistresses, and some other thefts of greater quality, making her house (for shee was the receiuer, and kept all things close) the Rendeuous of all their Roguery: she was a great friend to your Students, Noble mens Caerers, and Pages: To these shee sold that innocent blood of these poore miserable soules, who did easily aduenture their virginities, drawne on by faire promises, and the restitution and reparation which she would make them of their lost maiden-heads. Nay, shee proceeded so far, that by cunning meanes, she had accesse and communication with your very Vestalls, and neuer left them, till shee had brought her purpose to passe.