The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 144 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig · 474 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
Sleep again (daughter) I thought it had been something else. A little noise (I perceive) can wake them; methought they spoke somewhat fearfully, as if all had not been well. There is not any so gentle a creature, who with the love or fear of it's young, is not somewhat moved. What would they have done, had they had certain, and assured knowledge of my going down? My Son, shut the door; and you Parmeno, bring up a light. You were better (Sir) to take your rest; and that little that it is till day, to take it out in sleep. I will follow thy counsel; for it is no more than needeth. I want sleep exceedingly; but tell me, Parmeno, what dost thou think of that old woman, whom thou didst dispraise so much unto me? what a piece of work hath she brought to pass? what could we have done without her? Neither had I any feeling of your great pain; nor knew I the gentleness, and well-deservingness of Melibea; and therefore am not to be blamed. But well did I know both Celestina, and all her cunning tricks and devices; and did thereupon advise you, as became a servant to advise his Master, and as I thought, for the best; but now I see, she is become another woman, she is quite changed from what she was, when I first knew her. How? changed? How dost thou mean? So much, that had I not seen it, I should never have believed it: but now, heaven grant you may live as happy, as this is true. But tell me; didst thou hear what passed betwixt me and my Mistress? what did you do all that while? were you not afraid? Afraid, Sir? of what? all the world could not make us afraid; did you ever find us to be fearful? did you ever see any such thing in us? we stood waiting for you well provided, and with our weapons in our hands. Slept you not a whit? took you not a little nap? Sleep, Sir? It is for boys and children to sleep▪ I did not so much as once sit down, nor put one leg over another, watching still as diligently as a Cat for a Mouse; that if I had heard but the least noise in the world, I might presently have leapt forth, and have done as much as my strength should have been able to perform. And Parmeno, though till now, he did not seem to serve you in this business with any great willingness, he was as glad, when he spied the Torches coming, as the Wolf, when he spies the dust of a drove of cattle, or flock of sheep; hoping still that he might make his prey, till he saw how many they were.
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)
Sleepe againe (daughter) I thought it had beene something else. A little noyse (I perceiue) can wake them; me thought they spoke somewhat fearefully, as if all had not beene well. There is not any so gentle a creature, who with the loue or feare of it's young, is not somewhat moued. What would they haue done, had they had certaine, and assured knowledge of my going downe? My Sonne, shut the dore; and you Parmeno, bring vp a light. You were better (Sir) to take your rest; and that little that it is till day, to take it out in sleepe. I will follow thy counsell; for it is no more then needeth. I want sleepe exceedingly; but tell mee, Parmeno, what dost thou thinke of that old woman, whom thou didst dispraise so much vnto me? what a piece of worke hath she brought to passe? what could wee haue done without her? Neither had I any feeling of your great paine; nor knew I the gentlenesse, and well-deseruingnesse of Melibea; and therefore am not to be blamed. But well did I know both Celestina, and all her cunning trickes and deuices; and did thereupon aduise you, as became a seruant to aduise his Master, and as I thought, for the best; but now I see, shee is become another woman, she is quite chang'd from what she was, when I first knew her. How? chang'd? How dost thou meane? So much, that had I not seene it, I should neuer haue beleeued it: but now, heauen grant you may liue as happy, as this is true. But tell me; didst thou heare what past betwixt me and my Mistresse? what did you doe all that while? were you not afraid? Afraid, Sir? of what? all the world could not make vs afraid; did you euer finde vs to be fearefull? did you euer see any such thing in vs? we stood waiting for you well prouided, and with our weapons in our hands. Slept you not a whit? tooke you not a little nappe? Sleepe, Sir? It is for boyes and children to sleepe▪ I did not so much as once sit downe, nor put one legge ouer another, watching still as diligently as a Cat for a Mouse; that if I had heard but the least noyse in the world, I might presently haue leapt forth, and haue done as much as my strength should haue beene able to performe. And Parmeno, though till now, he did not seeme to serue you in this businesse with any great willingnesse, hee was as glad, when hespy'd the Torches comming, as the Wolfe, when hee spies the dust of a droue of cattell, or flocke of sheepe; hoping still that he might make his prey, till he saw how many they were.