The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 167 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T27 Uncles, nephews and cousins: kinship and · 490 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T27: uncle, niece, nephew, gentlemen, faith, cousin, wife, house, gentleman, money.
You shall know. I am sure (Cousin) you have already heard tell of the love betwixt Calisto and that fool Melibea. And you likewise saw how Celestina, at the intercession of Sempronio, so as she might be paid for her pains, undertook the charge of that business, and to be the means to effect it for him; wherein she used such diligence, and was so careful in the following of it, that she drew water at the second spitting. Now when Calisto saw so good and so quick a dispatch, which he never hoped to have effected, amongst diverse other things, he gave this my unfortunate Aunt a chain of gold. And as it is the nature of that metal, that the more we drink thereof, the more we thirst; she, when she saw herself so rich, appropriated the whole gain to herself, and would not let Sempronio and Parmeno have their parts, it being before agreed upon between them, that whatsoever Calisto gave her, they should share it alike. Now, they being come home weary one morning from accompanying their Master, with whom they had been abroad all night, being in great choler and heat, upon I know not what quarrels and brawls, (as they themselves said) that had betided them, they demanded part of the chain of Celestina, for to relieve themselves therewith. she stood upon denial of any such covenant or promise made between them; affirming the whole gain to be due to her; and discovering withal other petty matters of some secrecy. For, (as it in the Proverb) when Gossips brawl, than out goes all. So that they being mightily enraged, on the one side necessity did urge them, which rends and breaks all the love in the world; on the other side, the great anger and weariness they brought thither with them, which many times works an alteration in us. And besides, they saw that they were forsaken in their fairest hopes, she breaking her faith and promise with them: So that they knew not in the world what to do; and so continued a great while upon terms with her, some hard words passing to and fro between them. But in the end perceiving her covetous disposition, and finding that she still persevered in her denial, they laid hands upon their swords, and hacked and hewed her in a thousand pieces. O unfortunate woman! Wast thou ordained to end thy days in so miserable a manner as this? But for them, I pray what became of them? How came they to their end? They, as soon as ever they had committed this foul murder; that they might avoid the justice, the Alcalde passing by by chance at that very instant, made me no more ado, but leapt presently out at the windows; and being in a manner dead with the fall, they presently apprehended them, and without any further delay, chopped off their heads.
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)
You shall know. I am sure (Cousin) you haue already heard tell of the loue betwixt Calisto and that foole Melibea. And you likewise saw how Celestina, at the intercession of Sempronio, so as shee might be paid for her paines, vndertooke the charge of that businesse, and to be the meanes to effect it for him; wherein shee vsed such diligence, and was so carefull in the following of it, that shee drew water at the second spitting. Now when Calisto saw so good and so quicke a dispatch, which he neuer hoped to haue effected, amongst diuers other things, hee gaue this my vnfortunate Aunt a chaine of gold. And as it is the nature of that metall, that th more we drinke thereof, the more wee thirst; shee, when she saw her selfe so rich, appropriated the whole gaine to her selfe, and would not let Sempronio and Parmeno haue their parts, it being before agreed vpon betweene them, that whatsoeuer Calisto gaue her, they should share it alike. Now, they being come home weary one morning from accompaning their Master, with whom they had beene abroad all night, being in great choller and heate, vpon I know not what quarrells and brawles, (as they themselues said) that had betyded them, they demanded part of the chayne of Celestina, for to relieue themselues therewith. Shee stood vpon deniall of any such couenant or promise made betweene them; affirming the whole gaine to be due to her; and discouering withall other petty matters of some secrecie. For, (as it in the Prouerbe) when Gossips brawle, then out goes all. So that they being mightily inraged, on the one side necessity did vrge them, which rents and breaks all the loue in the world; on the other side, the great anger and wearinesse they brought thither with them, which many times workes an alteration in vs. And besides, they saw that they were forsaken in their fayrest hopes, shee breaking her faith and promise with them: So that they knew not in the world what to do; and so continued a great while vpon termes with her, some hard words passing to and fro betweene them. But in the end perceiuing her couetous disposition, and finding that she still perseuered in her denyall, they layd hands vpon their swords, and hackt and hew'd her in a thousand pieces. O vnfortunate woman! Wast thou ordained to end thy dayes in so miserable a manner as this? But for them, I pray what became of them? How came they to their end? They, as soone as euer they had committed this foule murder; that they might auoyde the Iustice, the Alcalde passing by by chance at that very instant, made mee no more adoe, but leapt presently out at the windowes; and being in a manner dead with the fall, they presently apprehended them, and without any further delay, chopt off their heads.