The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 149 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.80 · 548 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
This is not the first time I have heard it spoken; how much in old folks, the sin of avarice reigneth: as also that other, When I was poor, then was I liberal; when I was rich, then was I covetous: So that covetousness increaseth with getting, and poverty with coveting: and nothing makes the covetous man poor but his riches. O heavens! How doth penury increase with abundance, and plenty? How often did this old woman say, that I should have all the profit that should grow from this business? thinking then perhaps, that it would be but little: but now she sees how great it grows, she will not part with any thing, no, not so much as the parings of her nails; that she may comply with that common saying of your little children: Of a little, a little; of much, nothing. Let her give thee that which she promised; let her make that good, or let us take it all from her. I told you before (would you have believed me) what an old cozening companion you should find her. If you are angry either with yourselves, your Master, or your arms, wreck not your wrath upon me; for I wot well enough whence all this grows, I wind you where you are: I now perceive on which foot you halt, not out of want of that which you demand; nor out of any covetousness that is in you: but because you think I will tie you to Rack and Manger, and make you captives all your life-time to Elicia, and Areusa, and provide you no other fresh ware, you make all this ado, quarrel thus with me for money, and seek by fearing me, to force me to a parting and sharing of stakes. But be still (my boys) and content yourselves; for she who could help you with these, will not stick to furnish you with half a score of handsome wenches apiece, fairer than these by far, now that I see, that you are grown to greater knowledge and more reason, & a better deservingness in yourselves. And whether or no, in such a case as this, I am able to be as good as my word, let Parmeno speak for me. Speak, speak, Parmeno, be not ashamed, man, to tell what did betide us, with what wench you wot of, that was sick of the Mother? I go not for that which you think. You talk of Chalk, and we of Cheese. Do not think to put us off with a jest; our demands desire a more, serious answer. And assure yourself (if I can help it) you shall take no more Hares with this Grayhound; and therefore lay aside these tricks, and do not stand arguing any longer on the matter; I know your fetches too well: To an old dog, a man need not cry, Now, now. Come off therefore quickly, and give us two parts of that which you have received of Calisto. Dispatch, I say, and do not drive us to discover what you are; come, come, exercise your wits upon some other. Flap those in the mouth, you old Filth, with your coggings and foistings, that know you not; for we know you too well.
seed 43: T35 · seed 44: T34 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
This is not the first time I haue heard it spoken; how much in old folkes, the sinne of auarice reigneth: as also that other, When I was poore, then was I liberall; when I was rich, then was I couetous: So that couetousnesse increaseth with getting, and pouerty with coueting: and nothing makes the couetous man poore but his riches. O heauens! How doth penury increase with abundance, and plenty? How often did this old woman say, that I should haue all the profit that should grow from this busines? thinking then perhaps, that it would be but little: but now she sees how great it growes, she will not part with any thing, no, not so much as the patings of her nailes; that she may comply with that common saying of your little children: Of a little, a little; of much, nothing. Let her giue thee that which she promised; let her make that good, or let vs take it all from her. I told you before (would you haue beleeued mee) what an old coozening companion you should finde her. If you are angry eyther with your selues, your Master, or your armes, wreck not your wrath vpon mee; for I wot well inough whence all this growes, I winde you where you are: I now perceiue on which foot you halt, not out of want of that which you demand; nor out of any couetousnes that is in you: but because you thinke I will tye you to Racke and Manger, and make you captues all your life-time to Elicia, and Areusa, and prouide you no other fresh ware, you make all this adoe, quarrell thus with me for money, and seeke by fearing me, to force mee to a parting and sharing of stakes. But be still (my boyes) and content your selues; for she who could helpe you with these, will not sticke to furnish you with halfe a score of handsome wenches apiece, fairer then these by farre, now that I see, that you are growne to greater knowledge and more reason, & a better deseruingnesse in your selues. And whether or no, in such a case as this, I am able to be as good as my word, let Parmeno speake for me. Speake, speake, Parmeno, be not ashamed, man, to tell what did betide vs, with what wench you wot of, that was sicke of the Mother? I goe not for that which you thinke. You talke of Chalke, and we of Cheese. Doe not thinke to put vs off with a iest; our demands desire a more, serious answer. And assure your selfe (if I can helpe it) you shall take no more Hares with this Grayhound; and therefore lay aside these tricks, and do not stand arguing any longer on the matter; I know your fetches too well: To an old dogge, a man need not cry, Now, now. Come off therefore quickly, and giue vs two parts of that which you haue receiued of Calisto. Dispatch, I say, and doe not driue vs to discouer what you are; come, come, exercise your wits vpon some other. Flap those in the mouth, you old Filth, with your coggings and foistings, that know you not; for wee know you too well.