The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 135 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T46 Swords, quarrels and valour · 487 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
O how it discontents me, to see servants so reckless! Of my much mindfulness for this night's meeting, and your much unmindfulness, and extreme carelessness, there might have been had some indifferent both remembrance, and care; how inconsiderately (knowing how much it importeth me, to be either ten or eleven) dost thou answer me at haphazard, with that which comes first to mouth? O unhappy I, if by chance I had overslept myself! and my demand had depended on the answer of Sempronio, to make of eleven, ten, and of twelve, but eleven? Melibea might have come forth; I had not gone out; and she returned back: so that, neither my misery should have had an end, nor my desire have taken effect. And therefore it is not said in vain, That another man's harm hangs but by one hair, no man caring whether he sink or swim. methinks it is as great an error in a man, to ask what he knows, as to answer to what he knows not. It were better (Sir) that we should spend this hour that remaineth, in preparing weapons, then in propounding questions. The fool says well, I would not at such a time receive a displeasure. I will not think on't that which may be, but on that which hath been; not on the harm which may arise by his negligence, but on the good which may come by my carefulness. I will give leisure to my anger, and will either quite dismiss it, or force it to be more remiss. Parmeno, Take down my Corslets, and arm yourselves, so shall we go the safer: For it is in the Proverb, Half the battle is then waged, when a man is well prepared. Lo, Sir, here they be. Come help me here to put them on. Do you look on, Sempronio, and see if anybody be stirring in the street. Sir, I see not any, and though there were, yet the darkness of the night is such, and so great, that it is impossible for any that shall meet us, either to see or know us. Let us along then. Here, my masters, this way; for though it be somewhat about, yet is it the more private way, and the lesser frequented. Now it strikes twelve, a good hour. we are near unto the place. we are come in very good time. Go thou, Parmeno, and peep in at the door, to see if that Lady be come or no? Who, ay, Sir? God forbid, that I should mar that which I never made. Much better were it (Sir) that your presence should be her first encounter, lest in seeing me, she should be moved to anger, in seeing so many acquainted with that, which she so secretly desires to be done, and undergoeth with so great fear: as also, because she may haply imagine that you mock her.
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)
O how it discontents me, to see seruants so wretchlesse! Of my much mindfulnesse for this nights meeting, and your much vnmindfulnesse, and extreme carelesnesse, there might haue been had some indifferent both remembrance, and care; how inconsiderately (knowing how much it importeth mee, to be either tenne or eleuen) dost thou answer mee at hap-hazard, with that which comes first to mouth? O vnhappy I, if by chance I had ouerslept my selfe! and my demand had depended on the answer of Sempronio, to make of eleuen, ten, and of twelue, but eleuen? Melibea might haue come forth; I had not gone out; and shee returned backe: so that, neither my misery should haue had an end, nor my desire haue taken effect. And therefore it is not said in vaine, That another mans harme hangs but by one haire, no man caring whether hee sinke or swimme. Me thinks it is as great an errour in a man, to aske what hee knowes, as to answer to what hee knowes not. It were better (Sir) that we should spend this houre that remaineth, in preparing weapons, then in propounding questions. The foole saies well, I would not at such a time receiue a displeasure. I will not thinke ont that which may be, but on that which hath beene; not on the harme which may arise by his negligence, but on the good which may come by my carefulnesse. I will giue leasure to my anger, and will either quite dismisse it, or force it to be more remisse. Parmeno, Take downe my Corslets, and arme your selues, so shall we goe the safer: For it is in the Prouerbe, Halfe the battell is then waged, when a man is well prepared. Lo, Sir, heere they bee. Come helpe mee heere to put them on. Doe you looke on, Sempronio, and see if any body be stirring in the street. Sir, I see not any, and though there were, yet the darkenesse of the night is such, and so great, that it is impossible for any that shall meet vs, either to see or know vs. Let vs along then. Heere, my masters, this way; for though it be somewhat about, yet is it the more priuate way, and the lesser frequented. Now it strikes twelue, a good houre. Wee are neere vnto the place. Wee are come in very good time. Goe thou, Parmeno, and peepe in at the dore, to see if that Lady be come or no? Who, I, Sir? God forbid, that I should marre that which I neuer made. Much better were it (Sir) that your presence should be her first incounter, lest in seeing mee, shee should be moued to anger, in seeing so many acquainted with that, which she so secretly desires to be done, and vndergoeth with so great feare: as also, because she may haply imagine that you mocke her.