The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 85 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig · 488 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
But you young men care not for us that are old; but govern yourselves according to the savour and relish of your own palates; you never think that you have, or shall have need of us: you never think upon sickness; you never think, that this flower of your youth shall fade. But do you hear me, (my friend) and mark what I say unto you; That in such cases of necessity, as these, an old woman, (be she well experienced) is a good help, a comforter, a friend, a mother; nay, more than a mother: A good Inn, to give ease and rest to a sound man; and a good Hospital for to cure a sick man; a good Purse in time of need; a good Chest, to keep money in prosperity; a good Fire in winter, environed with spits of good roast-meat; a good Shade in summer, and a good Tavern to eat and drink in. Now my pretty little fool, what sayst thou to all this? What dost thou think of it? I know, thou art by this time ashamed of that which thou hast spoken today; thou canst not say B to a Battledoor; thou art struck so dumb, and so dead: and therefore I will press thee no further, nor crave any more at thy hands, then that which friendship craves of thee, which is, Look upon Sempronio; next under heaven, myself have made him a man; I could wish you would live and love together as brothers and friends: for being in league with him, thou shalt live in the favour and love of thy Master, and in good repute with all the world: for Sempronio, I tell thee, is well beloved, he is diligent, a good Courtier, a proper servant, a fellow of a good fashion, and one that is willing to embrace thy friendship, which will turn to both your profits, if you will but handfast your affections each to other. Besides, you know, that you must love, if you will be beloved. trouts cannot be taken with dry breeches. And if the Cat will have fish, she must wet her foot. Nor does Sempronio owe this of right unto thee; nor is he bound to love thee, unless thou exchange love for love: it is mere simplicity, not to be willing to love, and yet look to be beloved of others. And as great folly, to repay friendship with hatred. Mother, I confess my second fault; and craving pardon for what is past, I offer myself to be ordered by you in all my future proceedings. But yet methinks it is impossible, that I should hold friendship with Sempronio; he is frappish, and I cannot bear; he is choleric, and I can carry no coals. How then is it possible to make a true contract betwixt two such contrary natures? But you were not wont to be thus froward.
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)
But you young men care not for vs that are old; but gouerne your selues according to the sauour and relish of your owne palates; you neuer think that you haue, or shall haue need of vs: you neuer thinke vpon sicknesse; you neuer think, that this flowre of your youth shall fade. But doe you heare me, (my friend) and marke what I say vnto you; That in such cases of necessitie, as these, an old woman, (bee shee well experienced) is a good helpe, a comforter, a friend, a mother; nay, more then a mother: A good Inne, to giue ease and rest to a sound man; and a good Hospitall for to cure a sicke man; a good Purse in time of need; a good Chest, to keepe money in prosperitie; a good Fire in winter, inuironed with spits of good rost-meat; a good Shade in summer, and a good Tauerne to eate and drinke in. Now my pretty little foole, what sai'st thou to all this? What dost thou thinke of it? I know, thou art by this time ashamed of that which thou hast spoken to day; thou can'st not say B to a Battle-doore; thou art strucke so dumbe, and so dead: and therefore I will presse thee no further, nor craue any more at thy hands, then that which friendship craues of thee, which is, Looke vpon Sempronio; next vnder heauen, my selfe haue made him a man; I could wish you would liue and loue together as brothers and friends: for being in league with him, thou shalt liue in the fauor and loue of thy Master, and in good repute with all the world: for Sempronio, I tell thee, is well belou'd, hee is diligent, a good Courtier, a proper seruant, a fellow of a good fashion, and one that is willing to imbrace thy friendship, which will turne to both your profits, if you will but hand-fast your affections each to other. Besides, you know, that you must loue, if you will be beloued. Trowtes cannot bee taken with drie breeches. And if the Cat will haue fish, she must wet her foote. Nor does Sempronio owe this of right vnto thee; nor is hee bound to loue thee, vnlesse thou exchange loue for loue: it is meere simplicitie, not to be willing to loue, and yet looke to be beloued of others. And as great folly, to repay friendship with hatred. Mother, I confesse my second fault; and crauing pardon for what is past, I offer my selfe to be ordred by you in all my future proceedings. But yet me thinkes it is impossible, that I should hold friendship with Sempronio; hee is frappish, and I cannot beare; he is chollericke, and I can carrie no coles. How then is it possible to make a true contract betwixt two such contrary natures? But you were not wont to be thus froward.