The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 161 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play T1 Death, grief and revenge typicality 0.69 · 465 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
Or liest thou all along? Consider with thyself that thou art in thy chamber. Dost thou not see that the offendor is not present? With whom dost thou contend? Come again to thyself; weigh with thyself, that the absent were never found just. But if thou wilt be upright in thy judgement, thou must keep an ear for either party. Dost thou not see, that the Law is supposed to be equal unto all? Remember that Romulus, the first founder of Rome, killed his own brother, because he transgressed the Law. Consider that Torquatus the Roman slew his own son, because he exceeded his Commission. And many other like unto these did this man do. Think likewise with thyself, that if the judge were here present, he would make thee this Answer; that the Principal and the Accessary, the Actor and Consenter, do merit equal punishment. Howbeit, they were both notwithstanding executed, for that which was committed but by one. And if that other had not his pardon, but received a speedy judgement, it was, because the fault was notorious, and needed no further proofs: as also that they were taken in the very Act of murder, and that one of them was found dead of his fall from the window. And it is likewise to be imagined, That that weeping wench which Celestina kept in her house, made them to hasten the more by her woeful and lamentable noise: And that the judge, that he might not make a hurly-burly of it, that he might not defame me, and that he might not stay till the people should press together, and hear the proclaiming of that great infamy, which could not choose but follow me, he did sentence them so early as he did; and the common Hangman, which was the Crier, could do no otherwise, that he might comply with their execution and his own discharge. All which, if it were done as I conceive it to be, I ought rather to rest his debtor, and think myself bound unto him the longest day of my life, not as to my father's sometimes servant, but as to my true and natural brother. But put case it were not so; or suppose I should not conster it in the better sense, yet call, Calisto, to mind the great joy and solace thou hast had, bethink thyself of thy sweet Lady and Mistress, and thy whole and sole happiness: and since for her sake thou esteemest thy life as nothing for to do her service, thou art not to make any reckoning of the death of others: and the rather, because no sorrow can equal thy received pleasure. O my Lady and my life, that I should ever think to offend thee in thy absence!
nodes 1122–1122 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · piece 3–3 of a split node · chunk 161 of 205 in this edition
Length
465 words · 574 tokens · flags: long_node_piece
Topic (seed 42)
T1 — Death, grief and revengecross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.686 (cosine to the topic centroid)
Other seeds
seed 43: T7 · seed 44: T1 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Or liest thou all along? Consider with thy selfe that thou art in thy chamber. Doest thou not see that the offendor is not present? With whome doest thou contend? Come againe to thy self; weigh with thy selfe, that the absent were neuer fōnd iust. But if thou wilt be vpright in thy iudgement, thou must keepe an eare for either party. Doest thou not see, that the Law is supposed to be equall vnto all? Remember that Romulus, the first founder of Rome, kill'd his owne brother, because he transgressed the Law. Consider that Torquatus the Romane slew his owne sonne, because he exceeded his Commission. And many other like vnto these did this man doe. Thinke likewise with thy selfe, that if the Iudge were here present, hee would make thee this Answer; that the Principall and the Accessary, the Actor and Consenter, doe merit equall punishment. Howbeit, they were both notwithstanding executed, for that which was cōmitted but by one. And if that other had not his pardon, but receiued a speedy iudgement, it was, because the fault was notorious, and needed no further proofes: as also that they were taken in the very Act of murther, and that one of them was found dead of his fall from the window. And it is likewise to be imagined, That that weeping wench which Celestina kept in her house, made them to hasten the more by her wofull and lamentable noyse: And that the Iudge, that he might not make a hurly burly of it, that he might not defame mee, and that he might not stay till the people should presse together, and heare the proclaiming of that great infamy, which could not choose but follow mee, hee did sentence them so early as he did; and the common Hangman, which was the Cryer, could doe no otherwise, that he might cumply with their execution and his owne discharge. All which, if it were done as I conceiue it to bee, I ought rather to rest his debtor, and thinke my selfe bound vnto him the longest day of my life, not as to my fathers sometimes seruant, but as to my true and naturall brother. But put case it were not so; or suppose I should not coster it in the better sence, yet call, Calisto, to mind the great ioy and solace thou hast had, bethinke thy selfe of thy sweete Lady and Mistrisse, and thy whole and sole happines: and since for her sake thou esteemest thy life as nothing for to doe her seruice, thou art not to make any reckoning of the death of others: and the rather, because no sorrow can equall thy receiued pleasure. O my Lady and my life, that I should euer thinke to offend thee in thy absence!