The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 173 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat typicality 0.91 · 561 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
My Lord Pleberio, heaven bless her, and send her so to do, that we may see our desires accomplished in our life time. And I am rather of opinion that we shall want one that is equal with our daughter, considering her virtue and nobleness of blood, then that there are overmany that are 〈◊〉 to wear her; but because this office more properly appertaineth to the father then the mother, as you shall dispose of her, so shall I rest contented, and she remain obedient, as shall best beseem her chaste carriage, her honest life, and meek disposition. But if you knew as much as I do, your hearts would burst in sunder. ay, ay, you mistake your mark, she is not the woman you wot of; the best is lost; an ill year is like to attend upon your old age. Calisto hath plucked that flower wherein you so much glory. There is not any that can now new film her, or repair her lost Virginity, for Celestina is dead, the only curer of a cracked maidenhead, you have awaked somewhat of the latest; you should have risen a little earlier. Hark, hark; good Mistress Melibea, hark, I say. What does the fool there sneaking in the corner? Come hither, madam, and you shall hear how forward your father and mother are for to provide you a husband, you shall be married out of hand, out of hand, madam. For all love's sake speak softly; they will hear you by and by; let them talk on, they begin to dote; for this month they have had no other talk; their mind hath run on nothing else; it may be their heart tells them of the great love which I bear to Calisto, as also of that which for this months' space hath passed between us. I know not whether they have had any inkling of our meeting? or whether they have overheard us? nor can I devise in the world, what should be the reason, why they should be so hot upon the matter, and more eager for the marrying of me now, then ever heretofore: but they shall miss of their purpose; they shall labour it in vain: for to what use serves the clapper in the Mil, if the Miller be deaf? Who is he that can remove me from my glory? Who can withdraw me from my pleasure? Calisto is my Soul, my Life, my Lord; on whom I have set up my rest, and in whom I have placed all my hopes; I know that in him I cannot be deceived. And since that he loves me, with what other thing but love can I requite him? All the debts in the world receive their payment in a diverse kind; but love admits no other payment, but love. I glad myself in thinking on him; I delight myself in seeing him; and rejoice myself in hearing him. Let him do with me what he will, and dispose of me at his pleasure; if he will go to Sea, I will go with him; if he will round the world, I will along with him; if he will sell me for a slave in the enemy's Country, I will not resist his desire. Let my Parents let me enjoy him, if they mean to enjoy me;
seed 43: T6 · seed 44: T7 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
My Lord Pleberio, heauen blesse her, and send her so to doe, that we may see our desires accomplished in our life time. And I am rather of opinion that wee shall want one that is equall with our daughter, considering her vertue and noblenesse of blood, then that there are ouer-many that are to weare her; but because this office more properly appertaineth to the father then the mother, as you shall dispose of her, so shall I rest contented, and she remaine obedient, as shall best beseeme her chaste carriage, her honest life, and meeke disposition. But if you knew as much as I doe, your hearts would burst in sunder. I, I, you mistake your marke, shee is not the woman you wot of; the best is lost; an ill yeere is like to attend vpon your old age. Calisto hath pluckt that flowre wherein you so much glory. There is not any that can now new filme her, or repaire her lost Virginity, for Celestina is dead, the onely curer of a crackt maiden-head, you haue awaked somewhat of the latest; you should haue risen a little earlier. Harke, harke; good Mistresse Melibea, harke, I say. What does the foole there sneaking in the corner? Come hither, Madame, and you shall heare how forward your father and mother are for to prouide you a husband, you shall be married out of hand, out of hand, Madame. For all loues sake speake softly; they will heare you by and by; let them talke on, they beginne to doat; for this month they haue had no other talke; their minde hath runne on nothing else; it may be their heart tels them of the great loue which I bear to Calisto, as also of that which for this months space hath passed between vs. I know not whether they haue had any inkling of our meeting? or whether they haue ouer-heard vs? nor can I deise in the world, what should be the reason, why they should be so hot vpon the matter, and more eager for the marrying of mee now, then euer heeretofore: but they shall misse of their purpose; they shall labour it in vaine: for to what vse serues the clapper in the Mil, if the Miller be deafe? Who is he that can remoue me from my glory? Who can withdraw me from my pleasure? Calisto is my Soule, my Life, my Lord; on whom I haue set vp my rest, and in whom I haue placed all my hopes; I know that in him I cannot be deceiued. And since that hee loues me, with what other thing but loue can I requite him? All the debts in the world receiue their payment in a diuers kind; but loue admits no other payment, but loue. I glad my selfe in thinking on him; I delight my selfe in seeing him; and reioyce my selfe in hearing him. Let him doe with mee what he will, and dispose of me at his pleasure; if he will goe to Sea, I will goe with him; if hee will round the world, I will along with him; if he will sell mee for a slaue in the enemies Countrey, I will not resist his desire. Let my Parents let me inioy him, if they meane to inioy me;