The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 86 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 · 547 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
In good fay (mother) you say true. But the more I grow in years, the less I grow in patience; Tush, I have forgotten that lesson, as if I had never known what it meant; I am (I confess) the man I was, nor is Sempronio himself; neither can he, nor will he stead me in any thing. I never yet tasted any the least kindness from him. A sure friend is known in a doubtful matter; and in adversity is his faith proved. Then comes he nearest unto him, when he is farthest from comfort; and with greater desire doth he then visit his house, whenas prosperous fortune hath forsaken it. What shall I say unto thee, Son, of the virtues of a good and fast friend? There is nothing more to be beloved; nothing more rare: he refuseth no burden. You two are equals, and parity of persons, similitude of manners, and sympathy of hearts are the main props that uphold friendship. Take heed (my son;) for if thou hast any thing, it is safely kept for thee. Be thou wise to gain more, for this is gained already to your hands. Your father, O what pains took he for it! But I may not put it into your hands, till you lead a more reposed life, and come to a more complete and full age. Mother, what do you call a reposed life? marry son, to live of yourself. Not to go thorough other men's houses, nor to set thy foot under another man's table: which thou shalt still be enforced to do, unless thou learn to make profit of thy service; for out of very pity to see thee go thus tottered and torn, not having a rag almost to hang on thy breech, did I beg that mantle which thou sawst, of Calisto, not so much for the mantles sake, as for that there being a tailor belonging to the house, and thou before being without a jerkin, he might bestow it upon thee. So that I speak not for mine own profit, (as I heard you say) but for thy good. For, if you rely only upon the ordinary wages of these Gallants, it is such, that what you get by it after ten years' service, you may put it in your eye and never see the worse. Enjoy thy youth, good days, good nights, good meat, and good drink; when thou may'st have these things, lose them not; Let that be lost that will be lost. Do not thou mourn for the wealth which was left thy Master (for that will but shorten thy days) sithence we can enjoy it no longer than we live. O Son Parmeno, (and well may I call thee son, since I had the breeding of thee so long a time) follow my counsel, seeing it proceeds out of pure love, and an earnest desire, to see thee grow up in honour. O! how happy should I be, might I but see thee and Sempronio agree; see you two friends, and sworn brothers in every thing, that ye may come to my poor house to be merry, and to see me now and then, and to take your pleasure each of you with his Wench!
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)
In good fay (mother) you say true. But the more I grow in yeeres, the lesse I grow in patience; Tush, I haue forgotten that lesson, as if I had neuer knowne what it meant; I am (I confesse) the man I was, nor is Sempronio himselfe; neyther can hee, nor will hee stead mee in any thing. I neuer yet tasted any the least kindnesse from him. A sure friend is knowne in a doubtfull matter; and in aduersity is his faith proued. Then comes he neerest vnto him, when hee is farthest from comfort; and with greater desire doth hee then visit his house, when as prosperous fortune hath forsaken it. What shall I say vnto thee, Sonne, of the vertues of a good and fast friend? There is nothing more to bee beloued; nothing more rare: he refuseth no burden. You two are equalls, and paritie of persons, similitude of manners, and simpathy of hearts are the maine props that vp-hold friendship. Take heed (my sonne;) for if thou hast any thing, it is safely kept for thee. Be thou wise to gaine more, for this is gain'd already to your hands. Your father, O what paines tooke hee for it! But I may not put it into your hands, till you lead a more reposed life, and come to a more compleate and full age. Mother, what doe you call a reposed life? Mary sonne, to liue of your selfe. Not to goe thorow other mens houses, nor to set thy foote vnder another mans table: which thou shalt still bee inforced to doe, vnlesse thou learne to make profit of thy seruice; for out of very pitty to see thee goe thus totred and torne, not hauing a ragge almost to hang on thy breeche, did I beg that mantle which thou saw'st, of Calisto, not so much for the mantles sake, as for that there being a Taylor belonging to the house, and thou before being without a Ierkin, hee might bestow it vpon thee. So that I speake not for mine owne profit, (as I heard you say) but for thy good. For, if you rely onely vpon the ordinary wages of these Gallants, it is such, that what you get by it after tenne yeeres seruice, you may put it in your eye and neuer see the worse. Inioy thy youth, good daies, good nights, good meate, and good drinke; when thou mai'st haue these things, lose them not; Let that be lost that will be lost. Doe not thou mourne for the wealth which was left thy Master (for that will but shorten thy daies) sithence wee can inioy it no longer then wee liue. O Sonne Parmeno, (and well may I call thee sonne, since I had the breeding of thee so long a time) follow my counsell, seeing it proceeds out of pure loue, and an earnest desire, to see thee grow vp in honour. O! how happy should I be, might I but see thee and Sempronio agree; see you two friends, and sworne brothers in euery thing, that yee may come to my poore house to be merrie, and to see mee now and then, and to take your pleasure each of you with his Wench!