The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 39 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T47 Knaves, thieves and bawds · 531 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T47: knave, rogue, money, knaves, thief, rogues, pray, whore, nichol, book.
Go, never to return, and the devil go with thee. Let a man tell these fools all that he can for their own good, they will never see it; and I, for my part believe; that if I should now at this instant give him a blow on the heel, I should beat more brain out of his heel then his head. Go whither thou wilt for me: For I dare pawn my life, that Celestina and Sempronio will fleece you ere they have done with you, and not leave you so much as one Master-feather to maintain your flight. O unfortunate that I am, that I should suffer hatred for my truth, and receive harm for my faithful service! Others thrive by their knavery, and I lose by my honesty. The world is now grown to that pass, that it is good to be bad, and bade to be good; and therefore I will follow the fashion of the times, and do as other men do: since that Traitors are accounted wise and discreet, and faithful men are deemed silly honest fools. Had I credited Celestina, with her six dozen of years about her, and followed her counsel, I had not been thus ill entreated by Calisto. But this shall be a warning unto me ever hereafter, to say as he says. If he shall say, Come, let us eat, and be merry, I will say so too. If, Let us throw down the house, I also will approve it. If he will burn all his goods, I will help to fetch the fire. Let him destroy, hang, drown, burn himself, and give all that he hath (if he will) to Bawds; I for my part will hold my peace, and help to divide the spoil. Besides, it is an ancient and true received Rule; That it is best fishing in troubled 〈◊〉▪ Wherefore I will never any more be a dog in a mill, to be beaten for my barking. Look what leisure the old bearded Bawd takes How softly she goes How one leg comes drawling after another Now she has her money, her arms are broken. Well overtaken, Mother, I perceive, you will not hurt yourself by too much haste. How now, son? What news with you? Why, this our sick patient knows not well himself what he would have. Nothing will content him; he will have his cake baked before it be dough; and his meat roasted, before it be spitted. He fears thy negligence; and curseth his own covetousness; he is angry with his close fistedness, and offended that he gave thee no more. There is nothing more proper to Lovers, than impatience Every small tarriance, is to them a great torment; the least delay breeds dislike; In a moment what they imagine, must be fully effected; nay, concluded before begun; especially these new Lovers, who against any luring whatsoever, fly out to check, they care not whither, without any advisement in the world, or once thinking on the harm which the meat of their desire may (by ouer-reaching) occasion unto them, intermingled amidst the affairs and 〈◊〉 concerning their own persons, and their servants.
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)
Go, neuer to returne, and the diuell goe with thee. Let a man tell these fooles all that he can for their owne good, they will neuer see it; and I, for my part beleeue; that if I should now at this instant giue him a blow on the heele, I should beat more braine out of his heee then his head. Goe whither thou wilt for me: For I dare pawne my life, that Celestina and Sempronio will fleece you ere they haue done with you, and not leaue you so much as one Master-feather to maintaine your flight. O vnfortunate that I am, that I should suffer hatred for my truth, and receiue harme for my faithfull seruice! Others thriue by their knauery, and I lose by my honesty. The world is now growne to that passe, that it is good to be bad, and bad to be good; and therefore I will follow the fashion of the times, and doe as other men doe: since that Traitours are accounted wise and discreet, and faithfull men are deemed silly honest fooles. Had I credited Celestina, with her sixe dozen of yeeres about her, and followed her counsell, I had not beene thus ill intreated by Calisto. But this shall bee a warning vnto mee euer heereafter, to say as he saies. If he shall say, Come, let vs eate, and be merrie, I will say so too. If, Let vs throw downe the house, I also will approue it. If hee will burne all his goods, I will helpe to fetch the fire. Let him destroy, hang, drowne, burne himselfe, and giue all that hee hath (if hee will) to Bawds; I for my part will hold my peace, and helpe to deuide the spoyle. Besides, it is an ancient and true receiued Rule; That it is best fishing in troubled ▪ Wherefore I will neuer any more be a doge in a mill, to be beaten for my barking. Looke what leysure the old bearded Bawd takes How softly she goes How one leg comes drawling after another Now she has her money, her armes are broken. Well ouertaken, Mother, I perceiue, you will not hurt your selfe by too much haste. How now, sonne? What newes with you? Why, this our sicke patient knowes not well himselfe what hee would haue. Nothing will content him; hee will haue his cake bak'd before it be dough; and his meat rosted, before it be spitted. He feares thy negligence; and curseth his owne couetousnesse; hee is angry with his close fistednesse, and offended that he gaue thee no more. There is nothing more proper to Louers, then impatience Euery small tarriance, is to them a great torment; the least delay breedes dislike; In a moment what they imagine, must be fully effected; nay, concluded before begune; especially these new Louers, who against any luring whatsoeuer, flie out to checke, they care not whither, without any aduisemēt in the world, or once thinking on the harme which the meate of their desire may (by ouer ing) occasion vnto them, intermingled amidst the affayres and concerning their owne persons, and their seruants.