The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 47 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T57 Ships, merchants and pirates · 487 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T57: ship, sea, master, sail, home, money, pisaro, life, ships, till.
Now that I am all alone, I will, as I walk by myself, weigh and consider that which Sempronio feared, concerning my travel in this business. For, those things which are not well weighed, and considered, though sometimes they take good effect, yet commonly fall out ill. So that much speculation brings forth much good fruit; for although I dissembled with him, and did set a good face on the matter, it may be, that if my drift and intent should chance to be found out by Melibea's father, it would cost me little less than my life: Or at least, if they should not kill me, I should rest much impaired in my credit, either by their tossing me in a blanket, or by causing me to be cruelly whipped; so that my sweet meats shall have sour sauce: and my hundred Crowns in Gold be purchased at too dear a rate; Ay wretched me● into what a Labyrinth have I put myself? What a trap am I like to fall into, through mine own folly? For that I might show myself solicitous and resolute, I have put myself upon the hazard of the dice. Woe is me; what shall I do? To go back, is not for my profit; and to go on, stands not with my safety. Shall I persist? or shall I desist? In what a strait am I? In what a doubtful and strange perplexity? I know not which I were best to choose. On my daringness dependeth manifest danger; on my cowardice shameful damage. Which way shall the Ox go, out he must needs plough? Every way, go which way I will, discovers to my eyes deep and dangerous furrows; desperate downfalls; if I be taken in the manner; if the theft be found about me, I shall be either killed, or carted, with a paper-crown set upon my head, having my fault written in great Text-letters. But in case I should not go, what will Sempronio then say? Is this all thou canst do? Thy power, thy wisdom, thy stoutness, thy courage, thy large promises, thy fair offers, thy tricks, thy subtleties, & the great care (forsooth) thou wouldst take; What? are they all come to this? And his Master Calisto, what will he say? what will he do? or what will he think? save only this; That there is much deceit in my steps; and that I have discovered this blot to Pleberio, like a prevaricating Sophistress, or cunning Ambidexter, playing the traitor on both sides, that I might gain by both? And if he do not entertain so hateful a thought, he will rail upon me like a madman; he will upbraid me to my face, with most reproachful terms; He will propose a thousand inconveniences, which my hasty deliberation was the cause of; saying, Out you old whore; Why didst thou increase my passions with thy promises?
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)
Now that I am all alone, I will, as I walke by my selfe, weigh and consider that which Sempronio feared, concerning my trauell in this businesse. For, those things which are not well weighed, and considered, though sometimes they take good effect, yet commmonly fall out ill. So that much speculation brings foorth much good fruit; for although I dissembled with him, and did set a good face on the matter, it may be, that if my drift and intent should chance to be found out by Melibea's father, it would cost me little lesse then my life: Or at least, if they should not kill me, I should rest much impaired in my credit, either by their tossing me in a blanket, or by causing me to be cruelly whipt; so that my sweet meats shall haue sowre sauce: and my hundred Crownes in Gold be purchast at too deare a rate; Ay wretched me into what a Labyrinth haue I put my selfe? What a trap am I like to fall into, through mine owne folly? For that I might shew my selfe solicitous and resolute, I haue put my selfe vpon the hazard of the dice. Wo is me; what shall I doe? To goe backe, is not for my profit; and to goe on, stands not with my safety. Shall I persist? or shall I desist? In what a straite am I? In what a doubtfull and strange perplexity? I know not which I were best to choose. On my daringnesse dependeth manifest danger; on my cowardize shamefull damage. Which way shall the Oxe goe, out he must needs plough? Euery way, goe which way I will, discouers to my eyes deepe and dangerous furrowes; desperate downefalls; if I be taken in the manner; if the theft be found about me, I shall be either kill'd, or carted, with a paper-crowne set vpon my head, hauing my fault written in great Text-letters. But in case I should not goe, what will Sempronio then say? Is this all thou canst doe? Thy power, thy wisedome, thy stoutnesse, thy courage, thy large promises, thy faire offers, thy tricks, thy subtilties, & the great care (forsooth) thou wouldst take; What? are they all come to this? And his Master Calisto, what will he say? what will hee doe? or what will hee thinke? saue onely this; That there is much deceit in my steps; and that I haue discouered this blot to Pleberio, like a preuaricating Sophistresse, or cunning Ambi-dexter, playing the traitour on both sides, that I might gaine by both? And if he doe not entertaine so hatefull a thought, he will raile vpon me like a mad-man; he will vpbraid mee to my face, with most reproachful termes; He will propose a thousand inconueniences, which my hasty deliberation was the cause of; saying, Out you old whore; Why didst thou increase my passions with thy promises?