The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 28 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness · 528 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
Woe be unto him that grows old in Court. The Masters of these times love more themselves then their servants; neither in so doing do they do amiss. The like love ought servants to bear unto themselves. Liberality was lost long ago; rewards are grown out of date; magnificence is fled the country; and with her, all nobleness. Every one of them is wholly now for himself, and makes the best he can of his servant's service, serving his turn, as he finds it may stand with his private interest and profit. And therefore they ought to do no less, sithence that they are less than they in substance, but to live after their law, and to do as they do. My son Parmeno, I the rather tell thee this, because thy Master (as I am informed) is (as it seemeth▪ likewise unto me) a Rompenecios, one that befools his servants, and wears them out to the very stumps, looks for much service at their hands, and makes them small, or no recompense: He will look to be served of all, but will part with nothing at all. Weigh well my words, and persuade thyself, that what I have said is true: Get thee some friends in his house, which is the greatest, and preciousest jewel in the world. For, with him thou must not think to fasten friendship. A thing seldom seen, where there is such difference of estate and condition, as is between you two. Opportunity, thou seest, now offers herself unto us, on whose foretop, if we will but take hold, we shall all of us be great gainers, and thou shalt presently have something, wherewithal to help thyself. As for that which I told you of, it shall be well and safely kept, when time shall serve; in the meanwhile, it shall be much for thy profit, that thou make Sempronio thy friend. Celestina, my hair stands an end to hear thee, I tremble at thy words; I know not what I should do, I am in a great perplexity. One while I hold thee for my mother, another while Calisto for my Master, I desire riches, but would not get them wrongfully; for, he that rises by unlawful means, falls with greater speed, than he got up. I would not for all the world thrive by ill gotten gain. Marry, Sir, but so would I: right, or wrong, so as my house may be raised high enough, I care not. Well, we two are of contrary minds. For, I should never live contented with ill gotten goods; for I hold cheerful poverty, to be an honest thing. Besides, I must tell you, that they are not poor, that have little, but they that desire much; And therefore say all you can, though never so much, you shall never persuade me in this, to be of your belief. I would fain pass over this life of mine without envy: I would pass thorough solitary woods and wildernesses without fear: I would take my sleep without ●●●rtings: I would avoid injuries, with gentle answers: endure violence without reviling: and brook oppression by a resolute resistance.
seed 43: T9 · seed 44: T10 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Wo be vnto him that growes old in Court. The Masters of these times loue more themselues then their seruants; neither in so doing doe they doe amisse. The like loue ought seruants to beare vnto themselues. Liberality was lost long agoe; rewards are growne out of date; magnificence is fled the countrie; and with her, all noblenesse. Euery one of them is wholly now for himselfe, and makes the best hee can of his seruants seruice, seruing his turne, as hee findes it may stand with his priuate interest and profit. And therefore they ought to doe no lesse, sithens that they are lesse then they in substance, but to liue after their law, and to doe as they doe. My sonne Parmeno, I the rather tell thee this, because thy Master (as I am informed) is (as it seemeth▪ likewise vnto mee) a Rompenecios, one that befooles his seruants, and weares them out to the very stumps, lookes for much seruice at their hands, and makes them small, or no recompence: He will looke to be serued of all, but will part with nothing at all. Weigh well my words, and perswade thy selfe, that what I haue said is true: Get thee some friends in his house, which is the greatest, and preciousest Iewell in the world. For, with him thou must not thinke to fasten friendship. A thing seldome seene, where there is such difference of estate and condition, as is betweene you two. Opportunity, thou seest, now offers her selfe vnto vs, on whose fore-top, if wee will but take hold, wee shall all of vs be great gainers, and thou shalt presently haue something, wherewithall to help thy selfe. As for that which I told you of, it shall bee well and safely kept, when time shall serue; in the meane while, it shall be much for thy profit, that thou make Sempronio thy friend. Celestina, my hayre stands an end to heare thee, I tremble at thy words; I know not what I should doe, I am in a great perplexity. One while I hold thee for my mother, another while Calsto for my Master, I desire riches, but would not get them wrongfully; for, hee that rises by vnlawfull meanes, falls with greater speed, then he got vp. I would not for all the world thriue by ill gotten gaine. Marry, Sir, but so would I: right, or wrong, so as my house may be raised high inough, I care not. Well, wee two are of contrary minds. For, I should neuer liue contented with ill gotten goods; for I hold cheerefull pouerty, to be an honest thing. Besides, I must tell you, that they are not poore, that haue little, but they that desire much; And therefore say all you can, though neuer so much, you shall neuer perswade me in this, to be of your beliefe. I would faine passe ouer this life of mie without enuy: I would passe thorow solitary woods and wildernesses without feare: I would take my sleepe without rtings: I would auoyd iniuries, with gentle answers: indure violence without reuiling: and brooke oppression by a resolute resistance.