The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 30 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 · 475 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
O Celestina; I have heard old men say, that one example of luxury or covetousness, does much hurt, And that a man should converse with those that may make him better; and to forsake the fellowship of those whom he thinks to make better. As for Sempronio, neither by his example shall I be won to be virtuous; nor he by my company be withdrawn from being vicious. And suppose that I should incline to that which thou sayst, I would fain know this one thing of thee, how by example faults may be concealed. And though a man overcome by pleasure, may go against virtue; yet notwithstanding, let him take heed how he spot his honesty. There is no wisdom in thy words; For, without company, there is no pleasure in the possession of any thing. Do not thou then draw back, do not thou torment and vex thyself. For, Nature shuns whatsoever favours of sadness; and desires that which is pleasant and delightsome. And delight is with friends, in things that are sensual; but especially in recounting matters of love, and communicating them, the one to the other. This did I do myself; this such a one told me; such a jest did we break; in this sort did I win her; thus often did I kiss her: thus often did she bite me; thus I embraced her; thus came we nearer and nearer. O what speech, what grace▪ what sport, what kisses! Let us go thither, Let us return hither, Let us have music, Let us paint mottoes, Let us sing songs, Let us invent some pretty devices; Let us tilt it; What shall be the Impress? What the letter to it? Tomorrow she will walk abroad; Let us round her street; Read this her Letter; Let us go by night; Hold thou the ladder; Guard well the gate; How did she escape thee? Look, where the Cuckold her husband goes; I left her all alone; Let us give another turn; Let us go back again thither. And is there any delight (Parmeno) in all this, without company? By my say, by my say, they that have trial can tell you, that this is the delight, this is the only pleasure; As for that other thing you wot of, your Asses have a better, and can do better than you, or the best of you all. I would not, mother, that you should draw me on by your pleasing persuasions to follow your advice, as those have done, who wanting a good foundation to build their opinion on, have invited and drawn men to drink of their heresies, sugaring their cup with some sweet kind of poison, for to catch and captivate the wills of weak-minded men, and to blind the eyes of their reason, with the powder of some sweet-pleasing affection.
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)
O Celestina; I haue heard old men say, that one example of luxury or couetousnesse, does much hurt, And that a man should conuerse with those that may make him better; and to forsake the fellowship of those whom hee thinkes to make better. As for Sempronio, neyther by his example shall I be won to be vertuous; nor he by my company be with-drawne from being vicious. And suppose that I should incline to that which thou saist, I would faine know this one thing of thee, how by example faults may bee concealed. And though a man ouercome by pleasure, may goe against vertue; yet notwithstanding, let him take heed how hee spot his honesty. There is no wisdome in thy words; For, without company, there is no pleasure in the possession of any thing. Doe not thou then draw backe, doe not thou torment and vexe thy selfe. For, Nature shunnes whatsoeuer fauours of sadnesse; and desires that which is pleasant and delightsome. And delight is with friends, in things that are sensuall; but especially in recounting matters of loue, and communicating them, the one to the other. This did I do my selfe; this such a one told me; such a iest did wee breake; in this sort did I winne her; thus often did I kisse her: thus often did shee bite me; thus I imbraced her; thus came wee neerer and neerer. O what speech, what grace▪ what sport, what kisses! Let vs goe thither, Let vs returne hither, Let vs haue musick, Let vs paint Motto's, Let vs sing songs, Let vs inuent some pretty deuices; Let vs tilt it; What shall be the Impresse? What the letter to it? Tomorrow shee will walke abroad; Let vs round her streete; Read this her Letter; Let vs goe by night; Hold thou the ladder; Guard well the gate; How did shee escape thee? Looke, where the Cuckold her husband goes; I left her all alone; Let vs giue another turne; Let vs goe backe againe thither. And is there any delight (Parmeno) in all this, without company? By my say, by my say, they that haue tryall can tell you, that this is the delight, this is the onely pleasure; As for that other thing you wot of, your Asses haue a better, and can doe better then you, or the best of you all. I would not, mother, that you should draw mee on by your pleasing perswasions to follow your aduice, as those haue done, who wanting a good foundation to build their opinion on, haue inuited and drawne men to drinke of their heresies, sugring their cup with some sweet kinde of poyson, for to catch and captiuate the wills of weakeminded men, and to blinde the eyes of their reason, with the powder of some sweet-pleasing affection.