The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 84 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 0.84 · 429 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
Parmeno, my son; since we last talked together, I have not had any fit opportunity to express unto thee the infiniteness of that love which I bear unto thee, and as all the world can well witness for me, how well I have spoken of thee in thy absence. Every man, ear hath been filled with the good reports I have made of thee. The reason thereof I need not to repeat; for I ever held thee to be my son, at least, by adoption; and therefore thought thou wouldst have showed thyself more natural and loving towards me. But in stead thereof, thou gav'st me bad payment, even to my face; crossing, whatsoever I said; thinking ill of all that I spoke; whispering and murmuring against me in the presence of Calisto. I was well persuaded, that after thou hadst once yielded to my good counsel, that you would not have turned your heel, and kicked against me as you did, nor have fall'n off from your promise. But notwithstanding all this, I perceive some old relic yet still remaining of my former folly. And so speaking rather to satisfy thine own humour, then that thou canst render any reason for it; thou dost hinder thyself of profit, to give thy tongue contentment. Hear me (my son) if thou hast not heard me already. Look I, say, and consider with thyself, that I am old, and well strucken in years; and good counsel only lodgeth with the elder sort, it being proper to youth, to follow pleasure and delight. But my hope is, that of this thy error, thy youth only is in fault: and I trust that you will bear yourself better towards me hereafter, and that you will alter your ill purpose, together with your tender years; For as it is in the Proverb: Our customs suffer change, together with our hairs; and we vary our disposition, as we vary our years. I speak this (my son) because as we grow in age, so grow we in experience; new things daily offering themselves to our view: for youth looks no farther than to things present, occupying his eye only in that he sees set before him; but riper years omit neither things present, things past, nor things to come. And son Parmeno, if you would but bethink yourself of the love I have heretofore borne you, I know it cannot escape your knowledge, that the first night's lodging that you took, when you were a stranger, and came newly to this City, was in my house.
seed 43: T48 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Parmeno, my sonne; since we last talkt together, I haue not had any fit opportunitie to expresse vnto thee the infinitenesse of that loue which I beare vnto thee, and as all the world can well witnesse for mee, how well I haue spoken of thee in thy absence. Euery man, eare hath beene filled with the good reports I haue made of thee. The reason thereof I need not to repeate; for I euer held thee to be my sonne, at least, by adoption; and therefore thought thou wouldst haue shew'd thy selfe more naturall and louing towards me. But in stead thereof, thou gau'st me bad payment, euen to my face; crossing, whatsoeuer I said; thinking ill of all that I spake; whispering and murmuring against me in the presence of Calisto. I was well perswaded, that after thou hadst once yeelded to my good counsell, that you would not haue turned your heele, and kickt against me as you did, nor haue falne off from your promise. But notwithstanding all this, I perceiue some old relique yet still remaining of my former folly. And so speaking rather to satisfie thine owne humor, then that thou nst render any reason for it; thou dost hinder thy selfe of profit, to giue thy tongue contentment. Heare me (my sonne) if thou hast not heard me already. Looke I, say, and consider with thy selfe, that I am old, and well strucken in yeeres; and good counsell only lodgeth with the elder sort, it being proper to youth, to follow pleasure and delight. But my hope is, that of this thy errour, thy youth onely is in fault: and I trust that you will beare your selfe better towards mee heereafter, and that you will alter your ill purpose, together with your tender yeeres; For as it is in the Prouerbe: Our customes suffer change, together with our hayres; and wee vary our disposition, as we vary our yeeres. I speake this (my sonne) because as we grow in age, so grow we in experience; new things daily offring themselues to our view: for youth lookes no farther then to things present, occupying his eie only in that he sees set before him; but riper yeeres omit neither things present, things past, nor things to come. And sonne Parmeno, if you would but bethink your selfe of the loue I haue heeretofore borne you, I know it cannot escape your knowledge, that the first nights lodging that you tooke, when you were a stranger, and came newly to this City, was in my house.