The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 172 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat · 466 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
My wife, and friend Alisa; time (methinks) slips (as they say) from between our hands; and our days do glide away like water down a River There is not any thing that flies so swift, as the life of man: Death still follows us, and hedges us in on every side; whereunto we ourselves now draw nigh. we are now (according to the course of nature) to be shortly under his banner; this we may plainly perceive, if we will but he hold our equals, our brethren and our kinsfolk round about us; the grave hath devoured them all; they are all brought to their last home. And sithence we are uncertain when we shall be called hence, seeing such certain and infallible signs of our short abode, it behooveth us (as is is in the Proverb) to lay our beard a soaking, when we see our neighbours shaving off, and to fear, left that which befell them yesterday, may befall us tomorrow. Let us therefore prepare ourselves, and pack up our farthels, for to go this enforced journey which cannot be avoided. Let not that cruel and doleful sounding trumpet of death, summon us away on the sudden and unprovided. Let us prepare ourselves, and set them in order whilst we have time, for it is better to prevent, than to be prevented; let us confer our substance on our sweet successor; let us couple our only daughter to a husband, such a one as may suit with our estate, that we may go quietly and contentedly out of this world. The which with much diligence and carefulness, we ought from henceforth to endeavour and put in execution: and what we have at other times commenced in this matter, we ought now to consummate it. I would not by our negligence have our daughter in Guardians hands; I like not she should be a Ward; she is not fit for marriage, and therefore much better for her to be in a house of her own, then in ours: by which means we shall free her from the tongues of the vulgar; for there is no virtue so absolute & so perfect, which hath not her detracting and foul-mouthed slanderers; neither is there any thing, whereby a virgin's good name is kept more pure and unsported, then by a mature and timely marriage. Who in all this City will refuse our Alliance? who will not be glad to enjoy such a jewel, in whom those four principal things concur, which are demanded and desired in marriage? The first, Discretion, Honesty and Virginity. The second, Beauty. The third, Noble birth and Parentage. The last, Riches. With all these nature hath endowed her. Whatsoever they shall require of us, they shall find it to be full and perfect.
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)
My wife, and friend Alisa; time (me thinks) slips (as they say) from betweene our hands; and our dayes doe glyde away like water downe a Riuer There is not any thing that flyes so swift, as the life of man: Death still followes vs, and hedges vs in on euery side; whereunto we our selues now draw nigh. Wee are now (according to the course of nature) to be shortly vnder his banner; this wee may plainely perceiue, if wee will but he hold our equals, our brethren and our kinsfolke round about vs; the graue hath deuoured them all; they are all brought to their last home. And sithence we are vncertaine when we shall be called hence, seeing such certaine and infallible signes of our short abode, it behoueth vs (as i is in the Prouerbe) to lay our beard a soaking, when we see our neighbours shauing off, and to feare, left that which befell them yesterday, may befall vs to morrow. Let vs therefore prepare our selues, and packe vp our fardles, for to goe this inforced ourney which cannot be auoyded. Let not that cruell and dolefull sounding trumpet of death, summon vs away on the sudden and vnprouided. Let vs prepare our selues, and set them in order whilest we haue time, for it is better to preuent, then to be preuented; let vs confrre our substance on our sweet successour; let vs couple our onely daughter to a husband, such a one as may sute with our etae, that wee may goe quietly and contentedly out of this world. The which with much diligence and carefulnesse, wee ought from henceforth to endeuour and put in execution: and what we haue at other times commenced in this matter, we ought now to consummate it. I would not by our negligence haue our daughter in Guardians hands; I like not she should be a Ward; she is not fit for marriage, and therefore much better for her to be in a house of her owne, then in ours: by which meanes wee shall free her from the toungs of the vulgar; for there is no vertue so absolute & so perfect, which hath not her detracting and foule-mouthed slanderers; neyther is there any thing, whereby a Virgins good name is kept more pure and vnsported, then by a mature and timely marriage. Who in all this City will refuse our Alliance? who will not be glad to inioy such a Iewell, in whom those foure principall things concurre, which are demanded and desired in marriage? The first, Discretion, Honesty and Virginity. The second, Beauty. The third, Noble birth and Parentage. The last, Riches. With all these nature hath endowed her. Whatsoeuer they shall require of vs, they shall find it to be ull and perfect.