The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 76 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T48 Addressing a lady: love, desire and inti · 442 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T48: lady, love, heart, fair, eyes, la, lord, tears, fie, face.
Dear mother, thou hast told me that, which whilst I was hearing thee, I had forecasted in mine own judgement, I did still dream it would come to this; but I do not see how thou couldst light upon a fit excuse, that might serve the turn, and prove good enough to cover and colour the suspicion of thy demand; though I know, that thou art exceeding wise, and in all that thou dost (to my seeming) more than a woman. Sithence, that as thou didst prognosticate her answer, so didst thou in time provide thee of thy reply. What could that Tuscan Champion (so much famoused throughout all Italy) have done more? Whose renown (hadst thou then been living) had been quite lost; who three days before she died, divined of the death of her old husband, and her two sons. Now do I believe that, which is so commonly spoken; that a woman is never to seek for an answer; and though it be the weaker Sex, yet is their wit more quick and nimble than that of men. Say you me so, Sir? Well, let it be so then, I told her, your torment was the toothache; and that the word which I craved of her, was a kind of Prayer, or Charm, which she knew to be very good, and of great power against that pain. O admirable craft! O rare woman in thy art! O cunning creature! O speedy remedy! O discreet deliverer of a message! What humane understanding is able to reach unto so high a means of help? And I verily persuade myself, that if our age might purchase those years past, wherein Aeneas and Dido lived, Venus would not have taken so much pains, for to attract the love of Elisa to his son, causing Cupid to assume the form of Ascanius, the better to deceive her: but would (to make short work of the business) have made choice of thee to mediate the matter: and therefore do I hold my death happily employed, since that I have put it into such hands, and I shall evermore be of this mind, that if my desire obtain not its wished effect, yet know I not what could be done more, according to nature, for my good and welfare. What think you now my Masters? What can ye imagine more? Was there ever the like woman borne in this world? Had she ever her fellow? Sir, do not stop me in the course of my speech. Give me leave to go on, for night draws on. And you know, He that does ill, hateth the light.
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)
Deare mother, thou hast told me that, which whil'st I was hearing thee, I had fore-casted in mine owne iudgement, I did still dreame it would come to this; but I doe not see how thou couldst light vpon a fit excuse, that might serue the turne, and proue good inough to couer and colour the suspition of thy demand; though I know, that thou art exceeding wise, and in all that thou dost (to my seeming) more then a woman. Sithence, that as thou didst prognosticate her answer, so didst thou in time prouide thee of thy reply. What could that Tuscane Champion (so much famoused thorowout all Italy) haue done more? Whose renowne (hadst thou then beene liuing) had beene quite lost; who three daies before shee dyed, diuined of the death of her old husband, and her two sonnes. Now doe I beleeue that, which is so commonly spoken; that a woman is neuer to seeke for an answer; and though it be the weaker Sexe, yet is their wit more quicke and nimble then that of men. Say you me so, Sir? Well, let it be so then, I told her, your torment was the tooth-ache; and that the word which I craued of her, was a kinde of Prayer, or Charme, which she knew to be very good, and of great power against that paine. O admirable craft! O rare woman in thy arte! O cunning creature! O speedy remedy! O discreet deliuerer of a message! What humane vnderstanding is able to reach vnto so high a meanes of helpe? And I verily perswade my selfe, that if our age might purchase those yeeres past, wherein Aeneas and Dido liu'd, Venus would not haue taken so much paines, for to attract the loue of Elisa to his sonne, causing Cupid to assume the forme of Ascanius, the better to deceiue her: but would (to make short worke of the businesse) haue made choyce of thee to mediate the matter: and therefore doe I hold my death happily imployed, since that I haue put it into such hands, and I shall euermore be of this minde, that if my desire obtaine not it's wished effect, yet know I not what could be done more, according to nature, for my good and welfare. What thinke you now my Masters? What can yee imagine more? Was there euer the like woman borne in this world? Had shee euer her fellow? Sir, doe not stop me in the course of my speach. Giue me leaue to goe on, for night drawes on. And you know, Hee that does ill, hateth the light.