The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 171 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin · 436 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
Bethink yourself well, what you mean to do. For, I promise you, though I should do as you would have me, and should send Sosia unto you, yet can I not be persuaded that your desire will take effect. For the punishment of those who lately suffered for disclosing their secrets, will make him seal up his lips, and look a little better to his life. Now for my coming to your house, and to dwell with you; as the offer is very kind, so I yield you the best kind of thanks I can render you; and Ioue bless you for it, and help you in your necessity; for therein dost thou well show, that kindred and Alliance serve not for shadows, but ought rather to be profitable and helpful in adversity; and therefore, though I should be willing to do, as you would have me, in regard of that desire, which I have to enjoy your sweet company; yet can it not conveniently be done, in regard of that loss which would light upon me; for I know, it cannot but be greatly to my hindrance; the reason thereof I need not to tell you, because I speak to one that is intelligent, and understands my meaning; for there, Cousin, where I am, I am well known; there am I well customed; that house will never lose the name of old Celestina; thither continually resort your young wenches bordering thereabouts, loving creatures, willing worms, and such as are best known abroad, being of half blood to those, whom Celestina bred up; there they drive all their bargains, and there they make their matches, and do many other things beside, (as you know well enough) whereby now and then I reap some profit. Besides, those few friends that I have, know not elsewhere to seek after me. Moreover, you are not ignorant, how hard a matter it is, to forgo that which we have been used unto; and to alter custom, is as distasteful as death: A rolling stone never gathers moss, and therefore I will abide where I am: And if for no other reason, yet will I stay there, because my house-rent is free, having a full year yet to come, and will not let it be lost, by lying idle and empty; so that though every particular reason may not take place, yet when I weigh them altogether, I hope I shall rest excused, and you contented. It is now high time for me to be gone; what we have talked of, I will take that charge upon me; and so farewell.
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)
Bethinke your selfe well, what you meane to doe. For, I promise you, though I should doe as you would haue mee, and should send Sosia vnto you, yet can I not be perswaded that your desire will take effect. For the punishment of those who lately suffred for disclosing their secrets, will make him seale vp his lips, and looke a little better to his life. Now for my comming to your house, and to dwell with you; as the offer is very kinde, so I yeeld you the best kinde of thankes I can render you; and Ioue blesse you for it, and helpe you in your necessity; for therein dost thou well shew, that kindred and Alliance serue not for shadowes, but ought rather to be profitable and helpfull in aduersity; and therefore, though I should be willing to doe, as you would haue mee, in regard of that desire, which I haue to inioy your sweet company; yet can it not conueniently be done, in regard of that losse which would light vpon me; for I know, it cannot but be greatly to my hindrance; the reason thereof I need not to tell you, because I speake to one that is intelligent, and vnderstands my meaning; for there, Cousin, where I am, I am well knowne; there am I well customed; that house will neuer lose the name of old Celestina; thither continually resort your young wenches bordring thereabouts, louing creatures, willing wormes, and such as are best knowne abroad, being of halfe blood to those, whom Celestina bred vp; there they driue all their bargaines, and there they make their matches, and doe many other things besides, (as you know well enough) whereby now and then I reape some profit. Besides, those few friends that I haue, know not elsewhere to seeke after mee. Moreouer, you are not ignorant, how hard a matter it is, to forgoe that which we haue beene vsed vnto; and to alter custoe, is as distastefull as death: A rolling stone neuer gathers mosse, and therefore I will abide where I am: And if for no other reason, yet will I stay there, because my house-rent is free, hauing a full yeere yet to come, and will not let it be lost, by lying idle and empty; so that though euery particular reason may not take place, yet when I weigh them altogether, I hope I shall est excused, and you contented. It is now high time for mee to be gone; what wee haue talked of, I will take that charge vpon mee; and so farewell.