The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 19 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T6 Money, debt and credit · 556 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T6: money, master, pound, law, lawyer, chain, gentleman, gold, pay, pray.
Believe me (Sir) it is true as I tell you. Besides, out of charity forsooth, she relieved many Orphans, and many straggling wenches, which recommended themselves unto her. In another partition, she had her knacks for to help those that were lovesick, and to make them to be beloved again, and obtain their desires. And for this purpose, she had the bones that are bred in a stag's heart, the tongue of a Viper, the heads of Quails the brains of an Ass, the calls of young Colts, when they are new foaled, the bearing cloth of a newborn babe, Barbary beans, a Sey-Compasse, A Horn-fish, the halter of a man that hath been hanged, Juice berries, the prickles of a Hedgehog, the foot of a Badger, fern-seed, the stone of an eagle's nest, and a thousand other things. Many both men and women came unto her: of some she would demand a piece of that bread where they had bit it: of others, some part of their apparel: of some, she would crave to have of their hair: others, she would draw characters in the palms of their hands with Saffron; with othersome she would do the same with a kind of colour, which you call Vermilion: to others she would give hearts made of wax, and stuck full of broken needles; and many other the like things, made in clay, and some in lead, very fearful, and ghastly to behold: she would draw circles, portrait forth figures, and mumble many strange words to herself, having her eyes still fixed on the ground. But who is able to deliver unto you those things that she hath done? And all these were mere mockeries and lies. Parmeno, hold thy hand; thou hast said enough; what remaineth, leave it till some fitter opportunity. I am sufficiently instructed by thee, and I thank thee for it; Let us now delay them no longer, for necessity cuts off slackness. Know thou, that she comes hither requested, and we make her stay longer than stands with good manners. Come, let us go, lest she be offended, and take it ill. I fear, and fear makes me more and more think upon her, quickens my memory, and awakens in me a more provident carefulness how I communicate myself unto her. Well, let us go, and arm ourselves as well as we can against all inconveniences. But I pray thee Parmeno, let me entreat thee, that the envy thou bearest unto Sempronio, who is to serve and pleasure me in this business, be not an impediment to that remedy, whereon no less than the safety of my life relieth. And if I had a doublet for him, thou shalt not want a Mandilion. Neither think thou, but that I esteem as much of thy counsel and advice, as of his labour and pains; and as bruit beasts (we see) do labour more bodily than men, for which they are well respected of us, and carefully looked unto; but yet for all this, we hold them not in the nature of friends, nor affect them with the like love: the like difference do I make between thee and Sempronio. And laying aside all power and dominion in myself, under the privy-seal of my secret love, sign myself unto thee for such a friend.
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)
Beleeue mee (Sir) it is true as I tell you. Besides, out of charity forsooth, she relieued many Orphanes, and many straggling wenches, which recommended themselues vnto her. In another partition, she had her knacks for to help those that were loue-sicke, and to make them to be beloued againe, and obtaine their desires. And for this purpose, shee had the bones that are bred in a Stagges heart, the tongue of a Viper, the heads of Quailes the braines of an Asse, the kalls of young Coltes, when they are new foaled, the bearing cloth of a new-borne babe, Barbary beanes, a Sey-Compasse, A Horne-fish, the halter of a man that hath beene hang'd, Iuse berries, the prickles of a Hedge-hogge, the foote of a Badger, Fearne-seed, the stone of an Eagles nest, and a thousand other things. Many both men and women came vnto her: of some she would demand a piece of that bread where they had bit it: of others, some part of their apparell: of some, shee would craue to haue of their hayre: others, she would draw characters in the palmes of their hands with Saffrom; with othersome she would doe the same with a kinde of colour, which you call Vermilion: to others she would giue hearts made of waxe, and stucke full of broken needles; and many other the like things, made in clay, and some in lead, very fearefull, and ghastly to behold: shee would draw circles, portraite foorth figures, and mumble many strange words to her selfe, hauing her eyes still fixed on the ground. But who is able to deliuer vnto you those things that she hath done? And all these were meere mockeries and lyes. Parmeno, hold thy hand; thou hast said inough; what remaineth, leaue it till some fitter opportunity. I am sufficiently instructed by thee, and I thanke thee for it; Let vs now delay them no longer, for necessity cuts off slackenesse. Know thou, that shee comes hither requested, and wee make her stay longer then stands with good manners. Come, let vs goe, lest she be offended, and take it ill. I feare, and feare makes me more and more thinke vpon her, quickens my memorie, and awakens in me a more prouident carefulnesse how I communicate my selfe vnto her. Well, let vs goe, and arme our selues as well as we can against all inconueniences. But I pray thee Parmeno, let me intreat thee, that the enuy thou bearest vnto Sempronio, who is to serue and pleasure me in this businesse, be not an impedimēt to that remedy, wheron no lesse then the safety of my life relyeth. And if I had a doublet for him, thou shalt not want a Mandillion. Neither thinke thou, but that I esteeme as much of thy counsell and aduice, as of his labour and paines; and as bruite beasts (we see) doe labour more bodily then men, for which they are well respected of vs, and carefully lookt vnto; but yet for all this, we hold them not in the nature of friends, nor affect them with the like loue: the like difference doe I make betweene thee and Sempronio. And laying aside all power and dominion in my selfe, vnder the priuie-Seale of my secret loue, signe my selfe vnto thee for such a friend.