The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 33 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.83 · 438 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Good chance attend you. And you too: and so farewell. Tell me (my Masters) The hundred crowns which I gave yonder old Beldame, are they well bestowed, or no? Yes Sir, exceeding well. For, beside, the saving of your life, you have gained much honour by it. And for what end is fortune favourable and prosperous, but to be a handmaid to our honour, and to wait thereon, which of all worldly goods is the greatest? For honour is the reward and recompense of virtue; and for this cause we give it unto the Divine Essence, because we have not any thing greater to give him. The best part whereof consisteth in liberality and bounty: and this close-fistedness, and uncommunicated treasure, doth eclipse and darken, whereas magnificence and liberality doth gain, and highly extol it. What good is it for a man to keep that to himself, which in the keeping of it, does himself no good? I tell you, Sir, and what I speak is truth; Better is the use of riches, than the possessing of them. O, how glorious a thing is it to give? and how miserable to receive? See, how much better action is then passion: so much more noble is the giver, than the receiver. Amongst the Elements, the fire, because it is more active, is the more noble: and therefore placed in the Spheres, in the noblest place. And some say; that nobleness is a praise proceeding from the merit, and antiquity of our Ancestors. But I am of opinion, that another man's light can never make you shine, unless you have some of your own. And therefore do not glory in the nobleness of your father, who was so magnificent a Gentleman, but in your own. Shine not out of his, but your own light; and so shall you get yourself honour, which is man's greatest outward good. Wherefore not the bad, but the good, (such as yourself) are worthy to partake of so perfect a virtue. And beside, I must tell you, that perfect virtue doth not suppose that Honour hath its fellow: and therefore rejoice with yourself, that you have been so magnificent, and so bountiful. And thus, Sir, having told you my mind, let me now advise you that you would be pleased to return back to your chamber, and there take some rest, sithence, that your business is deposited in such hands; assuring yourself, that the beginning being so good, the end will be much better: and so let us go presently to your chamber; where I shall treat more at large with you concerning this business.
seed 43: T13 · seed 44: T16 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Good chance attend you. And you too: and so farewell. Tell me (my Masters) The hundred crownes which I gaue yonder old Bel-dame, are they well bestowed, or no? Yes Sir, exceeding well. For, besides, the sauing of your life, you haue gained much honour by it. And for what end is fortune fauourable and prosperous, but to be a handmaide to our honour, and to wayte thereon, which of all worldly goods is the greatest? For honor is the reward and recompence of vertue; and for this cause wee giue it vnto the Diuine Essence, because wee haue not any thing greater to giue him. The best part whereof consisteth in liberality and bounty: and this close-fistednes, and vncommunicated treasure, doth eclypse and darken, whereas magnificence and liberality doth gaine, and highly extoll it. What good is it for a man to keep that to himselfe, which in the keeping of it, does himselfe no good? I tell you, Sir, and what I speake is truth; Better is the vse of riches, then the possessing of them. O, how glorious a thing is it to giue? and how miserable to receiue? See, how much better action is then passion: so much more noble is the giuer, then the receiuer. Amongst the Elements, the fire, because it is more actiue, is the more noble: and therefore placed in the Spheares, in the noblest place. And some say; that noblenesse is a praise proceeding from the merit, and antiquity of our Ancesters. But I am of opinion, that another mans light can neuer make you shine, vnlesse you haue some of your owne. And therefore doe not glory in the noblenesse of your father, who was so magnificent a Gentleman, but in your owne. Shine not out of his, but your owne light; and so shall you get your selfe honour, which is mans greatest outward good. Wherefore not the bad, but the good, (such as your selfe) are worthy to partake of so perfect a vertue. And besides, I must tell you, that perfect vertue doth not suppose that Honour hath it's fellow: and therefore reioce with your selfe, that you haue beene so magnificent, and so bountifull. And thus, Sir, hauing told you my minde, let mee now aduise you that you would be pleased to returne backe to your chamber, and there take some rest, sithence, that your businesse is deposited in such hands; assuring your selfe, that the beginning being so good, the end will be much better: and so let vs goe presently to your chamber; where I shall treate more at large with you concerning this businesse.