The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 127 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 537 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
No; it is my honesty that is broken; it is my modesty that is broken; my too much bashfulness and shamefastness, occasioned my swooning, which being my natural and familiar friends, and companions, could not slightly absent themselves from my face, but they would also carry away my colour with them for a while, my strength, my speech, and a great part of my understanding. But now (my good Mistress, my faithful Secretary) since that which thou so openly know'st, it is in vain for me to seek to smother it; many, yea many days, are now overpast, since that noble Gentleman motioned his love unto me; whose speech and name was then as hateful, as now the reviving thereof is pleasing unto me: with thy Needles thou hast stitched up my wound; I am come to thy Bent; it is in thy power to do with me what thou wilt. In my girdle, thou carriedst away with thee the possession of my liberty: His anguish was my greater torment; his pain my greater punishment. I highly praise and commend your singular sufferance, your discreet boldness, your liberal pains, your solicitous & faithful steps, your pleasing speech, your good wisdom, your excessive solicitude, and your profitable importunity: the Gentleman is much bound unto you, and myself more; for my reproaches and revilings could never make thee to slack thy courage, thy strong continuance, and forcible perseverance in thy suit, relying still on thy great subtlety and strength of wit; or rather bearing thyself like a most faithful and trusty servant, being then most diligent, when thou wast most reviled; the more I did disgrace thee, the more wast thou importunate; the harsher answer I gave thee, the better didst thou seem to take it: when I was most angry, then wast thou most mild and humble: and now, by laying aside all fear, thou hast gotten that out of my bosom, which I never thought to have discovered unto thee, or to any other whosoever. My most dear both Lady & friend, wonder not so much at this; for those ends, that have their effect, give me daringness to endure those craggy and dangerous byways, by which I come to such Recluses as yourself. True it is, that until I had resolved with myself, as well on my way hitherwards, as also here in your house, I stood in great doubt, whether were I best discover my petition unto you or no? When I did think on the great power of your father, then did I fear; but when withal, I weighed the nobleness of Calisto, than I grew bold again; when I observed your discretion, I waxed timorous; but when I considered your virtue, and your courtesy, I recovered new courage: in the one, I found fear; in the other, safety. And since, madam, you have been willing to grace me with the discovery of so great a favour, as now you have made known unto me, declare your will unto me, lay your secrets in my lap; put into my hands the managing of this matter, and I will give it such a form, as both you and Calisto shall very shortly accomplish your desires.
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)
No; it is my honesty that is broken; it is my modesty that is broken; my too much bashfulnesse and shamefastnesse, occasioned my swowning, which being my naturall and familiar friends, and companions, could not sleightly absent themselues from my face, but they would also carry away my colour with them for a while, my strength, my speach, and a great part of my vnderstanding. But now (my good Mistresse, my faithfull Secretary) since that which thou so openly knowst, it is in vaine for mee to seeke to smother it; many, yea many daies, are now ouerpast, since that noble Gentleman motioned his loue vnto mee; whose speach and name was then as hatefull, as now the reuiuing thereof is pleasing vnto me: with thy Needles thou hast stitcht vp my woūd; I am come to thy Bent; it is in thy power to do with me what thou wilt. In my girdle, thou carriedst away with thee the possession of my liberty: His anguish was my greater torment; his paine my greater punishment. I highly praise and cōmend your singular sufferance, your discreet boldnes, your liberall paines, your sollicitous & faithfull steps, your pleasing speach, your good wisedome, your excessiue solicitude, and your profitable importunity: the Gentleman is much bound vnto you, and my selfe more; for my reproaches and reuilings could neuer make thee to slacke thy courage, thy strong continuance, and forcible perseuerance in thy suite, relying still on thy great subtilty and strength of wit; or rather bearing thy selfe like a most faithfull and trusty seruant, being then most diligent, when thou wast most reuiled; the more I did disgrace thee, the more wast thou importunate; the harsher answer I gaue thee, the better didst thou seeme to take it: when I was most angry, then wast thou most milde and humble: and now, by laying aside all feare, thou hast gotten that out of my bosome, which I neuer thought to haue discouered vnto thee, or to any other whosoeuer. My most deare both Lady & friend, wonder not so much at this; for those ends, that haue their effect, giue me daringnesse to indure those craggy and dangerous by-waies, by which I come to such Recluses as your selfe. True it is, that vntill I had resolued with my selfe, as well on my way hitherwards, as also heere in your house, I stood in great doubt, whether were I best discouer my petition vnto you or no? When I did thinke on the great power of your father, then did I feare; but when withall, I weygh'd the noblenesse of Calisto, then I grew bold againe; when I obserued your discretion, I waxed timorous; but when I considered your vertue, and your courtesie, I recouered new courage: in the one, I found feare; in the other, safety. And since, Madame, you haue beene willing to grace me with the discouery of so great a fauour, as now you haue made knowne vnto mee, declare your will vnto mee, lay your secrets in my lappe; put into my hands the managing of this matter, and I will giue it such a forme, as both you and Calisto shall very shortly accomplish your desires.