The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 61 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig typicality 0.81 · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
Because my plain and simple meaning made me believe, that though I should have proposed it in any other words whatsoever, had they been worse than they were, yet would you not have suspected any evil in them. For, if I were failing in the fitness of my preface, and did not use so due and convenient a preamble as I should have done, it was, because truth needeth no colours. The very compassion that I had of his pain, and the confidence of your magnificency, did choke in my mouth, when I first began to speak the expression of the cause. And for that you know (Lady) that sorrow works turbation, and turbation doth disorder and alter the tongue, which ought always to be tied to the brain; for heaven's love, lay not the fault on me; and if he hath committed an error, let not that redound to my hurt; for I am no farther blamable of any fault, then as I am the messenger of the faulty. Break not the rope where it is weakest. Be not like the Cobweb, which never shows its force, but on poor little Flies. No humane Law condemns the father for the son's offence, nor the son for the fathers: nor indeed (Lady) is it any reason, that his presumption should occasion my perdition; though considering his desert, I should not greatly care, that he should be the delinquent, and myself be condemned, since that I have no other Trade to live by, save to serve such as he is; This is my occupation, this I make my happiness. Yet withal (madam) I would have you to conceive, that it was never in my desire to hurt one, to help another, though behind my back, your Ladyship hath perhaps been otherwise informed of me. But the best is, it is not the vain breath of the vulgar, that can blast the truth; assuredly I mean nothing in this, but only plain and honest dealing. I do little harm to any; I have as few enemies in this City, as a woman can have; I keep my word with all men; and what I undertake, I perform as faithfully, as if I had twenty feet, and so many hands. I now wonder not, that your Ancients were wont to say; That one only teacher of Vice, was sufficient to mar a great City. For I have heard such and so many tales of thy false and cunning tricks, that I know not whether I may believe, thy errand was for this charm. Never let me pray: or if I pray, let me never be heard, if you can draw any other thing from me, though I were to be put to a thousand torments. My former late anger will not give me leave to laugh at thy excuse. For I wot very well, that neither oath nor torment shall make thee to speak the truth. For it is not in thy power to do it.
seed 43: T48 · seed 44: T49 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Because my plaine and simple meaning made me beleeue, that though I should haue propos'd it in any other words whatsoeuer, had they beene worse then they were, yet would you not haue suspected any euill in them. For, if I were failing in the fitnesse of my preface, and did not vse o due and conuenient a preamble as I should haue done, it was, because truth needeth no colours. The very compassion that I had of his paine, and the confidence of your magnificency, did choake in my mouth, when I first beganne to speake the expression of the cause. And for that you know (Lady) that sorrow workes turbation, and turbation doth disorder and alter the tongue, which ought alwaies to be ty'de to the braine; for heauens loue, lay not the fault on me; and if he hath committed an errour, let not that redound to my hurt; for I am no farther blameable of any fault, then as I am the messenger of the faulty. Breake not the rope where it is weakest. Be not like the Cobweb, which neuer shewes it's force, but on poore little Flyes. No humane Law condemnes the father for the sonnes offence, nor the sonne for the fathers: nor indeed (Lady) is it any reason, that his presumption should occasion my perdition; though considering his desert, I should not greatly care, that hee should be the delinquent, and my selfe be condemned, since that I haue no other Trade to liue by, saue to serue such as hee is; This is my occupation, this I make my happinesse. Yet withall (Madame) I would haue you to conceiue, that it was neuer in my desire to hurt one, to helpe another, though behind mybacke, your Ladiship hath perhaps been otherwise informed of mee. But the best is, it is not the vaine breath of the vulgar, that can blast the truth; assuredly I meane nothing in this, but onely plaine and honest dealing. I doe little harme to any; I haue as few enemies in this City, as a woman can haue; I keepe my word with all men; and what I vndertake, I performe as faithfully, as if I had twenty feete, and so many hands. I now wonder not, that your Ancients were wont to say; That one onely teacher of Vice, was sufficient to marre a great City. For I haue heard such and so many tales of thy false and cunning tricks, that I know not whether I may beleeue, thy errand was for this charme. Neuer let me pray: or if I pray, let me neuer be heard, if you can draw any other thing from me, though I were to be put to a thousand torments. My former late anger will not giue mee leaue to laugh at thy excuse. For I wot very well, that neither oath nor torment shall make thee to speake the truth. For it is not in thy power to doe it.