The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 136 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 · 539 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 well hast thou spoken! thou hast given me my life, by giving me this sound advice; for there needeth nothing more to bear me home dead to my house, then that she through my improvidence, should have gone her ways back: I will go thither myself, and do you stay here. What dost thou think (Sempronio) of the fool our Master, who thought to have made me to be his Target, for to receive the encounter of this first danger? What do I know, who stands between or behind the doors? What know I if there be any treason intended, or no? What can I tell, whether Melibea have plotted this, to cry quittance with our Master, for this his great presumption? Besides, we are not sure, whether the old Trot told him truth or no. Thou know'st not, Parmeno, how to speak. Thy life shall be taken from thee, and thou ne'er the wiser for it: thy soul shall be let forth, & thou not know who was he that did it. Do not thou turn flatterer, nor soothe up thy Master in every thing, that he would have thee, and than thou shalt never have cause to weep for other men's woes, or to mourn for others miseries. Do thou not follow Celestina's counsel in that which is fit and convenient for thee, and thou wert as good go break thy neck blindfold. Go on with thy good persuasions, and faithful admonitions, and thou shalt be well cudgeled for thy labour. Turn the leaf now no more, lest thou be forced to bid the world good night, before thou be willing to leave it. I will solemnize this as my birthday, since I have escaped so great a danger. Hush, I say, softly (Parmeno) softly. Do not you keep such a leaping and skipping, not for joy make such a noise, lest you may hap to be heard. Content yourself (brother) hold your peace, I pray, for I cannot contain myself for very joy, to think, that I should make him believe, that it was most fit for him to go to the door; whenas indeed, I did only put him on, because I held it fittest for mine own safety. Who could ever have brought a business more handsomely about for his own good, than I myself have done? Thou shalt see me do many such things, if thou shalt hereafter but observe me, which every man shall not know of, as well towards Calisto himself, as all those who shall any way intermeddle, or interpose themselves in this business. For, I am assured that this Damsel is but the bait to this hook, whereat he must hang himself: or that flesh which is thrown out to Vultures, whereof he that eateth, is sure to pay soundly for it. Let this pass, ne'er trouble thy head with these jealousies, and suspicions of thine; no, though they should happen to be true. But prepare thyself, and like a tall soldier, be in readiness upon the first Alarm, or word given, to betake thee to thy heels. Do like the men of Villa-Diego, who being besieged, ran away by night, with their Breeches in their hands.
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 well hast thou spoken! thou hast giuen mee my life, by giuing mee this sound aduice; for there needeth nothing more to beare me home dead to my house, then that she through my improuidence, should haue gone her waies backe: I will goe thither my selfe, and doe you stay heere. What dost thou thinke (Sempronio) of the foole our Master, who thought to haue made me to be his Target, for to receiue the incounter of this first danger? What doe I know, who stands betweene or behind the dores? What know I if there be any treason intended, or no? What can I tell, whether Melibea haue plotted this, to cry quittance with our Master, for this his great presumption? Besides, wee are not sure, whether the old Trot told him truth or no. Thou knowst not, Parmeno, how to speake. Thy life shall be taken from thee, and thou ne'r the wiser for it: thy soule shall be let forth, & thou not know who was he that did it. Do not thou turne flatterer, nor sooth vp thy Master in euery thing, that he would haue thee, and then thou shalt neuer haue cause to weepe for other mens woes, or to mourne for others miseries. Doe thou not follow Celestina's counsell in that which is fit and conuenient for thee, and thou wert as good goe breake thy neck blind-fold. Goe on with thy good perswasions, and faithfull admonitions, and thou shalt bee well cudgell'd for thy labour. Turne the leafe now no more, lest thou be forced to bid the world good night, before thou be willing to leaue it. I will solemnize this as my birthday, since I haue escaped so great a danger. Hush, I say, softly (Parmeno) softly. Doe not you keepe such a leaping and skipping, not for ioy make such a noise, lest you may hap to be heard. Content your selfe (brother) hold your peace, I pray, for I cannot containe my selfe for very ioy, to thinke, that I should make him beleeue, that it was most fit for him to goe to the doore; when as indeed, I did onely put him on, because I held it fittest for mine owne safety. Who could euer haue brought a businesse more handsomely about for his owne good, then I my selfe haue done? Thou shalt see mee doe many such things, if thou shalt heerafter but obserue mee, which euery man shall not know of, as well towards Calisto himselfe, as all those who shall any way inter-meddle, or interpose themselues in this businesse. For, I am assured that this Damsell is but the baite to this hooke, whereat hee must hang himselfe: or that flesh which is throwne out to Vultures, whereof hee that eateth, is sure to pay soundly for it. Let this passe, ne'r trouble thy head with these iealousies, and suspitions of thine; no, though they should happen to be true. But prepare thy selfe, and like a tall souldier, be in readinesse vpon the first Alarme, or word giuen, to betake thee to thy heeles. Do like the men of Villa-Diego, who being besieged, ranne away by night, with their Breeches in their hands.