The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 133 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T11 Siblings, kin and confidants · 498 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T11: sister, brother, love, friend, heart, father, mother, woman, lord, hear.
Pray heaven it be not a false alarm; one thing rumoured, another purposed: It may be a false firework, to blow us all up. I fear me, it is a false train, a made match, and a trap purposely set to catch us all. Bethink yourself, mother, that so men use to give crooked pins wrapped up in bread; poisonsome pills rolled up in Sugar, that they may not be seen and perceived. I never heard thee speak better in my life: the sudden yielding of this Lady, and her so speedy consenting to all that Celestina would have her, engenders a strong suspicion within me; and makes me to fear, that deceiving our will with her sweet and ready words, she will rob us on the wrong side, as your Gypsies use to do, when they look in our hands to tell us our fortunes. Besides, mother, it is an old saying: that with fair words, many wrongs are revenged: and the counterfeit stalking horse, which is made but of Canvas, with his dissembled gate, and the alluring sound of the tinkling of a bell, drives the Partridges into the net: the songs of the Syrens deceive the simple Mariner with the sweetness of their voices: Even so, she with her exceeding kindness, and sudden concession of her love, will seize handsmooth on a whole drove of us at once, and purge her innocency with Calisto's honour, and our deaths: Being like herein to the teatling Lamb, which sucks both her damm's teat, and that of another Ewe. she by securing us, will be revenged both of Calisto, and all of us; so that with the great number of people which they have in the house, they may catch both the old ones and the young one together in the nest, whilst she shrugging and rubbing herself by the fire side, may safely say, He is out of gunshot, that rings the bell to the battle. Peace, you Knaves, you Villains, you suspicious Rascals, will you make me believe that Angels can do aught that is ill? I tell you, Melibea is but a dissembled Angel, that lives here amongst us. What? will you still play the Heretic? Harken to him, Parmeno; but take thou no care at all; let it not trouble thee. For, if there be any double dealing, or that the play prove foul, he shall pay for all; for our feet be good, and we will betake us to our heels. Sir, you are in the right, and these in the wrong; overlading their thoughts with vain suspicions and jealousies; I have done all that I was enjoined: and so I leave you to your joys. Good Angels defend you and direct you: as for myself, I am very well satisfied. And if you shall have further occasion to use me, either in this particular, or any thing else, you shall find me ever ready to do you the best service I can.
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)
Pray heauen it be not a false alarme; one thing rumord, another purposed: It may be a false fire-worke, to blow vs all vp. I feare mee, it is a false traine, a made match, and a trappe purposely set to catch vs all. Bethinke your selfe, mother, that so men vse to giue crooked pinnes wrapt vp in bread; poysonsome pilles roll'd vp in Suger, that they may not be seene and perceiued. I neuer heard thee speake better in my life: the sudden yeelding of this Lady, and her so speedy consenting to all that Celestina would haue her, ingenders a strong suspition within mee; and makes me to feare, that deceiuing our will with her sweet and ready words, she will rob vs on the wrong side, as your Gypsies vse to doe, when they looke in our hands to tell vs our fortunes. Besides, mother, it is an old saying: that with faire words, many wrongs are reuenged: and the counterfet stalking horse, which is made but of Canuasse, with his dissembled gate, and the alluring sound of the tinckling of a bell, driues the Partridges into the net: the songs of the Syrens deceiue the simple Mariner with the sweetenesse of their voices: Euen so, shee with her exceeding kindnesse, and sudden concession of her loue, will seaze hand-smooth on a whole droue of vs at once, and purge her innocency with Calisto's honour, and our deaths: Being like heerein to the teatling Lambe, which suckes both her damm's teat, and that of another Ewe. Shee by securing vs, will be reuenged both of Calisto, and all of vs; so that with the great number of people which they haue in the house, they may catch both the old ones and the young one together in the nest, whilest shee shrugging and rubbing her selfe by the fire side, may safely say, Hee is out of gun-shot, that rings the bell to the battell. Peace, you Knaues, you Villaines, you suspitious Rascalls, will you make mee beleeue that Angels can doe ought that is ill? I tell you, Melibea is but a dissembled Angell, that liues heere amongst vs. What? will you still play the Hereticke? Harken to him, Parmeno; but take thou no care at all; let it not trouble thee. For, if there be any double dealing, or that the play proue foule, he shall pay for all; for our feete be good, and wee will betake vs to our heeles. Sir, you are in the right, and these in the wrong; ouer-lading their thoughts with vaine suspitions and iealousies; I haue done all that I was inioyned: and so I leaue you to your ioyes. Good Angels defend you and direct you: as for my selfe, I am very well satisfied. And if you shall haue further occasion to vse mee, eyther in this particular, or any thing else, you shall finde mee euer ready to doe you the best seruice I can.