The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 120 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 · 488 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T48: lady, love, heart, fair, eyes, la, lord, tears, fie, face.
Since we are come hither to be merry, (good mother) do not weep, I pray, do not vex yourself: be of good cheer, pluck up your heart like a woman; the world while we are in it, is bound to keep us all, and no doubt but you shall have enough. O daughter! I have cause enough, I think, to weep, when I call to mind those pleasant days that are past and gone, that merry life which then I led, and how I had the world at will, being served, honoured, and sought to of all. Why, then there was not any new fruit, or any the like dainty, which I had not in my hands, before others knew they were scarce blossomed: in those days, they were sure to be found in my house, if any one with child should long for such a Toy. Mother, the remembrance of the good time we have had, doth profit us nothing, when it cannot be recovered again, but rather brings grief and sorrow to ourselves, as this interrupting discourse hath done: but mother, we will go off and solace ourselves, whilst you stay here: and give this maid her answer. Daughter Lucrecia, passing over our former discourse, I pray you tell me what is the cause of your happy coming hither? Believe me, I had almost forgot my chief errand unto you, with thinking on that merry time which you talked of. methinks, I could continue fasting almost a whole year in harkening unto thee, and thinking on that pleasant life, which those young wenches led; methinks, that with the very talking thereof, I have a conceit with myself, that at this present, I feel myself in the same happiness with them. I shall now, mistress, give you to understand the cause of my coming: I am sent unto you for my Lady's Girdle; and moreover, my Lady entreats you, that you would come and visit her, and that out of hand, for she feels herself very ill, and much pained and troubled with griefs and pangs about the heart; I assure you, she is very heartsick. Of these petty griefs, the report is more than the pain. Is't about the heart, say you? I marvel (I promise you) that so young a Gentlewoman as she is, should be pained at the heart. Would thou wert as well dragged along the streets, (thou old traitorous Hag) as thou know'st well enough what she ails. The subtle old Bawd comes, and does her witcheries, and her tricks, and then goes her ways, and afterwards when one comes unto her for help, she makes forsooth as if she knew no such matter, it is news (forsooth) to her. What sayst thou, Daughter? marry, I say (mother) would we were gone once; and that you would give me the Girdle. Come, let us go. I will carry it along with me.
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)
Since we are come hither to be merry, (good mother) doe not weepe, I pray, doe not vexe your selfe: be of good cheere, plucke vp your heart like a woman; the world while wee are in it, is bound to keepe vs all, and no doubt but you shall haue enough. O daughter! I haue cause enough, I think, to weep, when I call to mind those pleasant daies that are past and gone, that merry life which then I led, and how I had the world at will, being serued, honoured, and sought to of all. Why, then there was not any new fruit, or any the like dainty, which I had not in my hands, before others knew they were scarce blossom'd: in those daies, they were sure to be found in my house, if any one with child should long for such a Toy. Mother, the remembrance of the good time we haue had, doth profit vs nothing, when it cannot be recouered againe, but rather brings griefe and sorrow to our selues, as this interrupting discourse hath done: but mother, we will goe off and solace our selues, whil'st you stay heere: and giue this maid her answer. Daughter Lucrecia, passing ouer our former discourse, I pray you tell mee what is the cause of your happy comming hither? Beleeue me, I had almost forgot my chiefe errand vnto you, with thinking on that merry time which you talkt of. Me thinkes, I could continue fasting almost a whole yeere in harkening vnto thee, and thinking on that pleasant life, which those young wenches led; me thinkes, that with the very talking therof, I haue a conceit with my selfe, that at this present, I feele my selfe in the same happinesse with them. I shall now, mistresse, giue you to vnderstand the cause of my comming: I am sent vnto you for my Ladies Girdle; and moreouer, my Ladie intreats you, that you would come and visit her, and that out of hand, for shee feeles her selfe very ill, and much pained and troubled with griefes and pangs about the heart; I assure you, she is very heart-sicke. Of these petty griefes, the report is more then the paine. Is't about the heart, say you? I maruell (I promise you) that so young a Gentlewoman as shee is, should be pained at the heart. Would thou wert as well drag'd along the streetes, (thou old traiterous Hagge) as thou know'st well inough what shee ayles. The subtill old Bawd comes, and does her witcheries, and her tricks, and then goes her waies, and afterwards when one comes vnto her for helpe, she makes forsooth as if she knew no such matter, it is newes (forsooth) to her. What sai'st thou, Daughter? Mary, I say (mother) would we were gone once; and that you would giue me the Girdle. Come, let vs goe. I will carry it along with me.