The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 157 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play T48 Addressing a lady: love, desire and inti typicality 0.93 · 513 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T48: lady, love, heart, fair, eyes, la, lord, tears, fie, face.
Dear Lady, since for to obtain this favour, I have spent my whole life, what folly were it in me, to refuse that which you have so kindly conferred upon me? Nor (Madame) do I hope, that you will lay so hard a command upon me, or if you should, yet have I not power to contain myself within the limits of your command. Do not impose such a point of cowardice upon me: For I tell you, it is not in any man that is a man, to forbear in such a case, and to condition so hard with himself; much less in me, loving as I do, and having swum, as I have done all my life long, thorough this sea of thy desire and mine own love. Will you then after my so many travels, deny me entrance into that sweet haven, where I may find some ease of all my former sorrows? As you love me (Calisto) though my tongue take liberty to talk what it will; yet, I prithee, let not thy hands do all what they can. Be quiet (good Sir) since I am yours, suffice it you content yourself in the enjoying of this outwardness, which is the proper fruit of Lovers, and not to rob me of the greatest jewel, which Nature hath enriched me with; Consider beside, That it is the property of a good shepherd, to fleece, but not to flay his sheep; to shear them, but not to uncase them. madam, What mean you by this? That my passions should not be at peace? That I shall run over my torments anew? That I shall return to my old yoke again? Pardon (Sweet Lady) these my impudent hands, if too presumptuously they press upon you, which once did never think (so all together were they unworthy) not to touch, no not so much as any part of thy garments, that they now have leave to lay themselves with a gentle palm on this dainty body of thine, this most white, soft, and delicate flesh. Lucrecia, go aside a little. And why madam? I should be proud to have such witnesses as she of my glory. So would not I, when I do amiss. And had I but thought that you would have used me thus, or been but half so violent, as I now see you are; I would not have trusted my person with such a rough and cruel conversation. Tristan, you hear what hath passed, and how the gear goes. I hear so much, that I hold my Master the happiest man that lives. And I assure thee (though I am but a boy to speak of) methinks, I could give as good account of such a business as my Master. To such a jewel as this, who would not reach out his hand? But allow him this flesh to his bread, and much good may it do him. For, he hath paid well for it: for a couple of his servants served to make sauce for this his Love.
seed 43: T31 · seed 44: T44 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Deare Lady, since for to obtaine this fauour, I haue spent my whole life, what folly were it in me, to refuse that which you haue so kindly conferr'd vpon me? Nor (Madame) do I hope, that you will ay so hard a command vpon me, or if you should, yet haue I not power to containe my selfe within the limits of your command. Doe not impose such a point of cowardize vpon me: For I tell you, it is not in any man that is a man, to forbeare in such a case, and to condition so hard with himselfe; much lesse in mee, louing as I do, and hauing swumme, as I haue done all my life long, thorow this sea of thy desire and mine owne loue. Will you then after my so many trauels, deny me entrance into that sweet hauen, where I may find some ease of all my former sorrowes? As you loue me (Calisto) though my tongue take liberty to talke what it will; yet, I prythee, let not thy hands doe all what they can. Be quiet (good Sir) since I am yours, suffice it you content your selfe in the inioying of this outwardnes, which is the proper fruit of Louers, and not to robbe me of the greatest ewell, which Nature hath inrich't mee with; Consider besides, That it is the property of a good shepheard, to fleece, but not to flay his sheep; to sheare them, but not to vncase them. Madame, What meane you by this? That my passions should not be at peace? That I shall runne ouer my torments anew? That I shall returne to my old yoke againe? Pardon (Sweet Lady) these my impudent hands, if too presumptuously they presse vpon you, which once did neuer thinke (so all together were they vnworthy) not to touch, no not so much as any part of thy garments, that they now haue leaue to lay themselues with a gentle palme on this ainty body of thine, this most white, soft, and delicate flesh. Lucrecia, goe aside a little. And why Madame? I should be proud to haue such witnesses as she of my glory. So would not I, when I doe amisse. And had I but thought that you would haue vs'd mee thus, or beene but halfe so violent, as I now see you are; I would not haue trusted my person with such a rough and cruell conuersation. Tristan, you heare what hath past, and how the geare goes. I heare so much, that I hold my Master the happiest man that liues. And I assure thee (though I am but a boy to speake of) me thinks, I could giue as good account of such a businesse as my Master. To such a iewell as this, who would not reach out his hand? But allow him this flesh to his bread, and much good may it doe him. For, he hath paid well for it: for a couple of his seruants serued to make sauce for this his Loue.