The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 42 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 · 599 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
This Celestina, which is here now with thee, was the woman that saw her borne, and holp to breed her up: why, I tell thee (man) his mother and I were nail, and flesh, buckle and thong; Of he I learned the better part of my trade. we did both eat, both sleep, both enjoy our pleasures, our counsels, & our bargains, 〈◊〉 one with another; we lived together like two sisters both at home and abroad: there was not a farthing which either of us gained, but was faithfully and truly divided between us. Had she lived, I should never have lived to be deceived. But it was not my fortune to be so happy, she died too soon for me. O death, death, how many dost thou deprive of their sweet and pleasing society! How many dost thou discomfort with thy unwelcome and troublesome Visitation? For one that thou eatest being ripe, thou croppest a thousand that are green; For were she alive, these my steps should not have been unaccompanied, not driven (as now I am) to walk the streets alone. I have good cause to remember her; for to me she was a faithful friend, and a good companion. And whilst she was with me; she would never suffer me to trouble my body, or my brains about any thing: if I brought bread, she would bring meat; if I did spread the cloth, she would lay the napkins: she was not foolish, nor fantastical, nor proud, as most of your women now adays are. And by my say, I swear unto thee, she would go barefaced from one end of the City to the other, with her Fan in her hand, and not one, all the way that she went, would give her any worse word, than Mistress Claudina. And I dare be bold to say it, that there was not a woman of a better palate for wine in the world, nor better skilled in any kind of merchandise whatsoever. And when you have thought that she had been scarce out of doors, with a whip-Sir Iohn, ere you could scarce say this, she was here again. Every one would invite and feast her, so great was the affection which they bore unto her; And she never came home, till she had taken a taste of some eight or ten sorts of wine, bearing one pottle in her jar, and the other in her belly: and her credit was so good, that they would have trusted her for a Roundlet or two upon her bare word, as if she had pawned unto them a piece of plate. Why, her word was as currant as gold, in all the Inns and Taverns in the Town. If we walked the streets, whensoever we found ourselves thirsty, we entered straight the next Tavern that was at hand, and called presently for a quart of wine for to moisten our mouths withal, though we had not a penny to pay for it. Nor would they (as from others) take our veils and our coifs from off our heads, till we had discharged the reckoning, but score it up, and so let us go on our way. O Sempronio; Were it but Cat after kind, and that such were the son, as was the mother, assure thyself that thy master should remain without a feather, and we without any farther care. But if I live, I will bring this iron to my fashion; I will work him like wax, and reckon him in the number of mine own.
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)
This Celestina, which is heere now with thee, was the woman that saw her borne, and holpe to breed her vp: why, I tell thee (man) his mother and I were nayle, and flesh, buckle and thong; Of hee I learned the better part of my trade. Wee did both eate, both sleep, both inioy our pleasures, our counsels, & our bargaines, one with another; we liued together like two sisters both at home and abroad: there was not a farthing which eyther of vs gained, but was faithfully and truly diuided betweene vs. Had shee liued, I should neuer haue liued to be deceiued. But it was not my fortune to be so happy, shee dy'd too soone for mee. O death, death, how many doest thou depriue of their sweete and pleasing society! How many doest thou discomfort with thy vnwelcome and troublesome Visitation? For one that thou eatest being ripe, thou croppest a thousand that are greene; For were shee aliue, these my steps should not haue beene vnaccompanied, not driuen (as now I am) to walke the streets alone. I haue good cause to remember her; for to me shee was a faithfull friend, and a good companion. And whilest shee was with me; she would neuer suffer mee to trouble my body, or my braines about any thing: if I brought bread, shee would bring meate; if I did spread the cloth, she would lay the napkins: she was not foolish, nor fantasticall, nor proud, as most of your women now adaies are. And by my say, I sweare vnto thee, shee would goe barefaced from one end of the City to the other, with her Fan in her hand, and not one, all the way that she went, would giue her any worse word, then Mistresse Claudina. And I dare be bold to say it, that there was not a woman of a better palate for wine in the world, nor better skill'd in any kind of marchandize whatsoeuer. And when you haue thought that she had been scarce out of doores, with a whip-Sir Iohn, e'r you could scarce say this, shee was heere againe. Euery one would inuite and feast her, so great was the affection which they bare vnto her; And she neuer came home, till she had taken a taste of some eight or ten sorts of wine, bearing one pottle in her Iar, and the other in her belly: and her credit was so good, that they would haue trusted her for a Rundlet or two vpon her bare word, as if shee had pawned vnto them a piece of plate. Why, her word was as currant as gold, in all the Innes and Tauernes in the Towne. If wee walked the streetes, whensoeuer we found our selues thirsty, we entred streight the next Tauerne that was at hand, and called presently for a quart of wine for to moysten our mouthes withall, though we had not a penny to pay for it. Nor would they (as from others) take our vailes and our coyfes from off our heads, till we had discharged the reckoning, but score it vp, and so let vs go on our way. O Sempronio; Were it but Cat after kind, and that such were the son, as was the mother, assure thy selfe that thy master should remaine without a feather, and we without any farther care. But if I liue, I will bring this iron to my fashion; I will worke him like waxe, and reckon him in the number of mine owne.