The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 105 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T27 Uncles, nephews and cousins: kinship and · 486 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T27: uncle, niece, nephew, gentlemen, faith, cousin, wife, house, gentleman, money.
I like your words well, but should like them better, were your works like unto them: which as I see the performance, so shall I give them credence; but tell me, I pray thee, what's that, methought, I heard you talk even now of Areusa? Do you know Areusa, that is Cousin to Elicia? Why, what were all the joy I now enjoy, did I not enjoy her? What does the fool mean? He cannot speak for laughing. What dost thou call this thy enjoying her? Did she show herself unto thee out at a window? Or what is the matter? No great matter. Only I have left her in doubt, whether she be with child or no. Thou hast struck me into a maze; continual travel may do much; often dropping makes stones hollow. How? continual travel? Why, I never thought of having her till yesterday; then did I work her; and now she is mine own. The old woman had a finger in this business, had she not? Why should you think so? Because she told me how much she loved you, how well she wished you, and that she would work her for you; you were a happy man, Sir, you had no more to do, but to come and take up. And therefore they say, It is better with him whom fortune helpeth, then with him that riseth early. But was she the godfather to this business? No, but she was the godmother, which is the truer of the two. And you know, when a man comes once to a good tree, he will stay a while by it, and take the benefit of the shade. I was long a coming, but when I came, I went quickly to work: I dispatched it in an instant. O brother, what shall I say unto thee of the graces that are dwelling in that wench, of her language, and beauty of body? But I will defer the repetition thereof to a fitter opportunity. She can be no other but cousin to Elicia; thou canst not say so much of her, but that this other hath as much, and somewhat more. But what did she cost thee? Hast thou given her any thing? No, not any thing, but whatsoever I had given her, it had been well bestowed: for she is capable of every good thing; and such as she, are by so much the better esteemed, by how much the dearer they are bought: and like jewels, are the higher prized, the more they cost us. But, save in this my Mistress, so rich a thing was never purchased at so low a rate. I have invited her today to dinner to Celestina's house; and if you like of it, let us all meet there. Who, brother? Thou and she, and the old woman and Elicia; and there we will laugh and be merry.
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)
I like your words well, but should like them better, were your workes like vnto them: which as I see the performance, so shall I giue them credence; but tell me, I pray thee, what's that, me thought, I heard you talke euen now of Areusa? Doe you know Areusa, that is Cousin to Elicia? Why, what were all the ioy I now inioy, did I not inioy her? What does the foole meane? He cannot speake for laughing. What doest thou call this thy inioying her? Did shee shew her selfe vnto thee out at a window? Or what is the matter? No great matter. Onely I haue left her in doubt, whether shee be with childe or no. Thou hast strucke mee into a maze; continuall trauell may doe much; often dropping makes stones hollow. How? continuall trauell? Why, I neuer thought of hauing her till yesterday; then did I worke her; and now shee is mine owne. The old woman had a finger in this businesse, had shee not? Why should you thinke so? Because shee told mee how much shee loued you, how well she wisht you, and that she would worke her for you; you were a happy man, Sir, you had no more to doe, but to come and take vp. And therefore they say, It is better with him whom fortune helpeth, then with him that riseth earely. But was shee the godfather to this businesse? No, but shee was the godmother, which is the truer of the two. And you know, when a man comes once to a good tree, he will stay a while by it, and take the benefit of the shade. I was long a comming, but when I came, I went quickly to worke: I dispatcht it in an instant. O brother, what shall I say vnto thee of the graces that are dwelling in that wench, of her language, and beauty of body? But I will deferre the repetition thereof to a fitter opportunitie. Shee can be no other but cousin to Elicia; thou canst not say so much of her, but that this other hath as much, and somewhat more. But what did shee cost thee? Hast thou giuen her any thing? No, not any thing, but whatsoeuer I had giuen her, it had beene well bestowed: for shee is capable of euery good thing; and such as shee, are by so much the better esteemed, by how much the dearer they are bought: and like Iewels, are the higher prized, the more they cost vs. But, saue in this my Mistresse, so rich a thing was neuer purchast at so low a rate. I haue inuited her to day to dinner to Celestina's house; and if you like of it, let vs all meet there. Who, brother? Thou and she, and the old woman and Elicia; and there wee will laugh and be merry.