The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 156 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T41 Household service: masters, doors and po · 551 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T41: master, house, door, iohn, old, mistress, basket, lord, gentleman, ick.
Good spirits be his guard, and preserve his person from peril. For, his long stay doth not so much grieve me: but I am afraid, lest some misfortune or other may befall him, as he is on his way unto us. For, who knows, whether he coming so willingly to the place appointed, and in that kind of fashion, as such Gentlemen as he, on the like occasion, and the like hour use to go; whether, or no, I say, he may chance to light upon the night-watch, or be met by the Alguazils, and they not knowing him, have set upon him, and he to defend himself, hath either hurt them, or they him? Or whether some roguish Cur or other with his cruel teeth (for such dogs, as they make no difference of persons,) have perhaps unfortunately bit him? Or whether, he hath fallen upon the Causey, or into some dangerous pit, whereby he may receive some harm? But (Ay me) these are but inconveniences which my conceived love brings forth, and my troubled thoughts present unto me. Goodness forbid, that any of these misfortunes should befall him! Rather let him stay as long as it shall please himself from coming to visit me. But hark, hark, what steps are those that▪ I hear in the street? And to my thinking likewise, I hear somebody talking on this side of the garden. Tristan, set the ladder here; for, though it be the higher, yet I take it to be the better place. Get up, Sir: And I will along with you. For, we know not who is there within, they are talking (I am sure) whoe'er they be. Stay here (you fool) I will in alone, for I hear my Lady and Mistress. Your servant, your slave, Calisto, who prizes more yours then her own life. O my dear Lord, take heed how you leap, leap not down so high; you kill me, if you do: I shall swoon in seeing it. Come down, come down gently, I pray. Take more leisure in coming down the ladder; as you love me, come not so fast. O divine Image; O precious pearl; before whom, the whole world appeareth foul! O my Lady and my glory; I embrace and hug thee in mine arms, and yet I not believe it: such a turbation of pleasure seizeth on my person, that it makes me not feel the fullness of that joy I possess. My Lord, sithence I have entrusted myself in your hands, since I have been willing to comply with your will, let me not be worse thought of for being pitiful, then if I had been coy and merciless. Nor do not work my undoing, for a delight so momentary and performed in so short a space. For, Actions that are ill, after they are committed, may easier be reprehended then amended. Rejoice thou in that, wherein I rejoice; which is, to see and draw near unto thy person, to view and touch thee. But do not offer either to ask or take that, which being taken away, is not in thy power to restore. Take heed (Sir) that you go not about to overthrow that, which with all the wealth in the world, you are not able to repair.
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)
Good spirits be his guard, and preserue his person from perill. For, his long stay doth not so much grieue mee: but I am afraid, lest some misfortune or other may befall him, as he is on his way vnto vs. For, who knowes, whether he cōming so willingly to the place appointed, and in that kind of fashion, as such Gentlemen as hee, on the like occasion, and the like houre vse to goe; whether, or no, I say, he may chance to light vpon the night-watch, or be met by the Alguazils, and they not knowing him, haue set vpon him, and he to defend himselfe, hath either hurt them, or they him? Or whether some roguish Curre or other with his cruel teeth (for such dogs, as they make no difference of persons,) haue perhaps vnfortunately bit him? Or whether, he hath fallen vpon the Causey, or into some dangerous pit, whereby he may receiue some harme? But (Ay me) these are but inconueniences which my conceiued loue brings forth, and my troubled thoughts present vnto me. Goodnes forbid, that any of these misfortunes should befall him! Rather let him stay as long as it shall please himselfe from comming to visit mee. But harke, harke, what steps are those that▪ I heare in the street? And to my thinking likewise, I heare somebody talking on this side of the garden. Tristan, set the ladder here; for, though it be the higher, yet I take it to be the better place. Get vp, Sir: And I will along with you. For, we know not who is there within, they are talking (I am sure) who-ere they be. Stay here (you foole) I will in alone, for I heare my Lady and Mistris. Your seruant, your slaue, Calisto, who prizes more yours then her owne life. O my deare Lord, take heed how you leape, leape not downe so high; you kill me, if you doe: I shall swound in seeing it. Come downe, come downe gently, I pray. Take more leasure in comming downe the ladder; as you loe mee, come not so fast. O diuine Image; O precious pearle; before whom, the whole world appeareth foule! O my Lady and my glory; I imbrace and hug thee in mine armes, and yet I not beleeue it: such a turbation of pleasure seazeth on my person, that it makes me not feele the fulnes of that ioy I possesse. My Lord, ithence I haue intrusted my selfe in your hands, since I haue beene willing to cumply with your will, let me not be worse thought of for being pittifull, then if I had bene coy and mercilesse. Nor doe not worke my vndoing, for a delight so momentary and performed in so short a space. For, Actions that are ill, after they are committed, may easier be reprehended then amended. Reioyce thou in that, wherein I reioyce; which is, to see and draw neere vnto thy person, to view and touch thee. But do not offer either to aske or take that, which being taken away, is not in thy power to restore. Take heed (Sir) that you goe not about to ouerthrow that, which with all the wealth in the world, you are not able to repaire.