The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 36 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 466 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
I say, Sir, that it had been better you had employed your liberality on some present, or the like services upon Melibea herself, than to cast away your money upon this old Bawd: I know well enough what she is; and which is worse, on such a one, as minds to make you her slave. How (you fool) her slave? ay, her slave. For to whom thou tellest thy secret, to him dost thou give thy liberty. It is something that the fool hath said; but I would fain know this of thee; whether or no, whenas there is a great distance betwixt the entreater, and the entreated, the suitor, and the party sued unto, either out of authority of obedience, or greatness of estate and dignity, or nobleness of descent of blood, as there is betwixt my Mistress, and myself; Whether or no (I pray) it be not necessary to have an intercessor, or mediator for me, who may every foot go to and fro with my messages, until they arrive at her ears, of whom, to have a second Audience, I hold it impossible. And if it be thus with me, tell me, whether thou approvest of what I have done, or no? The devil approve it for me. What sayst thou? Marry, I say, Sir, that never any error came yet unaccompanied; and that one inconvenience is the cause of another, and the door that opens unto many. Thy saying I approve, but understand not thy purpose. Then thus, Sir, your losing of your Hawk the other day, was the cause of your entering into the Garden, where Melibea was to look if she were there; your entering, the cause that you both saw her, and talked with her; your talk engendered love; your love brought forth your pain; and your pain, will be the cause of your growing careless and reckless both of your body, soul, and goods. And that which grieves me most, is, that you must fall into the hands of that same Trot-vp-and down; that maiden-head-monger, that same gadding to and fro Bawd, who for her villainies, and rogueries in that kind, hath been three several times implumed. Is't e'en so, Parmeno? Is this all the comfort thou canst give me? Tell me rather something that may please me, and give me better content than this can. And know withal, that the more thou dost dispraise, the better do I like her. Let her comply with me, and effect my business, and let them implume her the fourth time too, if they will, I care not. Thou hast thy wits about thee; thou speak 〈◊〉 having any sense of pain; thou art not heartsick, as I 〈◊〉 Parmeno, nor is thy mind touched with that sense of sorrow, 〈...〉
seed 43: T5 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I say, Sir, that it had been better you had imployed your liberality on some present, or the like seruices vpon Melibea her selfe, then to cast away your money vpon this old Bawd: I know well enough what shee is; and which is worse, on such a one, as mindes to make you her slaue. How (you foole) her slaue? I, her slaue. For to whom thou tellest thy secret, to him doest thou giue thy liberty. It is something that the foole hath said; but I would faine know this of thee; whether or no, when as there is a great distance betwixt the intreater, and the intreated, the suitor, and the party sued vnto, either out of authority of obedience, or greatnesse of estate and dignity, or noblenesse of descent of bloud, as there is betwixt my Mistresse, and my selfe; Whether or no (I pray) it be not necessary to haue an intercessour, or mediatour for mee, who may euery foot go to and fro with my messages, vntill they arriue at her eares, of whom, to haue a second Audience, I hold it impossible. And if it be thus with me, tell me, whether thou approuest of what I haue done, or no? The diuell approue it for mee. What saist thou? Marry, I say, Sir, that neuer any errour came yet vnaccompanied; and that one inconuenience is the cause of another, and the doore that opens vnto many. Thy saying I approue, but vnderstand not thy purpose. Then thus, Sir, your losing of your Hawke the other day, was the cause of your entring into the Garden, where Melibea was to looke if she were there; your entring, the cause that you both saw her, and talked with her; your talke ingendred loue; your loue brought forth your paine; and your paine, will be the cause of your growing carelesse and wretchlesse both of your body, soule, and goods. And that which grieues me most, is, that you must fall into the hands of that same Trot-vp-and down; that maiden-head-monger, that same gadding to and fro Bawd, who for her villanies, and rogueries in that kinde, hath beene three seuerall times implumed. Is't e'n so, Parmeno? Is this all the comfort thou canst giue me? Tell me rather something that may please me, and giue mee better content then this can. And know withall, that the more thou dost dispraise, the better doe I like her. Let her cumply with mee, and effect my businesse, and let them implume her the fourth time too, if they will, I care not. Thou hast thy wits about thee; thou speak hauing any sense of paine; thou art not heart-sicke, as I Parmeno, nor is thy minde touched with that sense of sorrow,