The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 175 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 0.78 · 350 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
Peace, madam, hark, hark, they continue in their discourse. Since (wife) methinks you seem to like well of this motion, it is not amiss, that we make it known to our daughter; we may do well to tell her how many do desire her, and what store of suitors would be willing to come unto her, to the end that she may the more willingly entertain our desire, and make choice of him whom she liketh best. For in this particular, the Laws allow both men and women, though they be under paternal power, for to make their own choice. What do you mean, husband? Why do you talk, and spend time in this? Who shall be the messenger to acquaint our daughter Melibea with this strange news, and shall not affright her therewith? Alas, do you think that she can tell what a man means, or what it is to marry, or be married? or whether by the conjunction of man and woman, children are begot or no? Do you think, that her simple, and unspotted Virginity, can suggest unto her any filthy desire, of that which as yet she neither knows, nor understandeth; nor cannot so much as conceive what it means? It is the least part of her thought. Believe it, (my Lord Pleberio' she doth not so much as dream on any such matter; and assure yourself, be he what he will be, either noble or base, fair or soul, we will make her to take whom it pleaseth us: whom we like, him shall she like: she shall confirm her will to ours, and shall think that fit, which we think fit, and no further; for I know, I trow, how I have bred and brought up my daughter. Lucrecia, Lucrecia; run, hie thee quickly, and go in by the back door in the hall, and break off their discourse with some feigned errand or other, unless thou wouldst have me cry out, and take on like a Bedlam; so much am I out of patience with their misconceit of my ignorance. I go, madam.
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)
Peace, Madame, harke, harke, they continue in their discourse. Since (wife) mee thinkes you seeme to like well of this motion, it is not amisse, that wee make it knowne to our daughter; wee may doe well to tell her how many doe desire her, and what store of sutors would be willing to come vnto her, to the end that she may the more willingly entertaie our desire, and make choyce of him whom she liketh best. For in this particular, the Lawes allow both men and women, though they be vnder paternall power, for to make their owne choyce. What doe you meane, husband? Why doe you talke, and spend time in this? Who shall be the messenger to acquaint our daughter Melibea with this strange newes, and shall not affright her therewith? Alasse, doe you thinke that she can tell what a man meanes, or what it is to marry, or be married? or whether by the coniunction of man and woman, children are begot or no? Doe you think, that her simple, and vnspotted Virginity, can suggest vnto her any filthy desire, of that which as yet she neither knowes, nor vnderstandeth; nor cannot so much as conceiue what it meanes? It is the least part of her thought. Beleeue it, (my Lord Pleberio' she doth not so much as dreame on any such matter; and assure your selfe, be hee what hee will be, eyther noble or base, faire or soule, we will make her to take whom it pleaseth vs: whom we like, him shall shee like: shee shall confirme her will to ours, and shall thinke that fit, which wee thinke fit, and no further; for I know, I trow, how I haue bred and brought vp my daughter. Lucrecia, Lucrecia; runne, hye thee quickly, and goe in by the backe doore in the hall, and breake off their discourse with some fained errand or other, vnlesse thou wouldst haue me cry out, and take on like a Bedlam; so much am I out of patience with their misconceit of my ignorance. I goe, Madame.