The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 179 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 466 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
The fame (gentlewoman) of your gentle and sweet disposition of your good graces, discretion and wisdom, flies with so swift a wing, and in so high a pitch, through all this City, that you need not much to marvel, if you be of more known, then knowing. For there is not any man, that speaks any thing in praise of the fairest and beautifullest in this City, but that you are ranked in the first place, and remembered, as the prime and chiefest amongst them all. This poor silly fellow, this wretched son of a whore, to see how he exceeds himself, and speaks beyond the compass of his common wit! he doth not use to talk thus wisely. He that should see him go to water his horses, riding on their bare ridge without a Saddle, and his naked legs hanging down beneath his Canvas frock, cut out into four quarters; and should now see him thus handsome, and well suited, both in his cloak, and other his clothes, it would give a man wings, and tongue; and make him crow, as this cockerel doth. Your talk would make me blush, and run away for shame, were there anybody here, to hear how you play upon me. But (as it is the fashion of all you men) you never go unprovided of such kind of phrases as these: these false and deceitful praises are too common amongst you; you have words moulded of purpose, to serve your turn withal, and to suit yourselves as you see cause, to any woman whatsoever: yet for all this, am I not afraid of you, neither will I start, or budge from you. But I must tell you (Sosia) by the way; this praising of me thus, is more than needs, for though thou shouldst commend me, yet should I love thee. And that thereby thou shouldst think to gain my love, is as needless; for thou hast gained it already. There are two things, which caused me (Sosia) for to send for thee, entreating thee to take the pains to come and see me; wherein if I find you to double, or dissemble with me, I have done with you. What they are, I will leave them to yourself to relate, though I know it is for your own good, which makes me to do as I do. Heaven forbid that I should use any cogging with you, or seek by subtlety to deceive you. I came hither upon the assurance that I had of the great favours which you intend, and now do me; holding myself not worthy to pull off your shoes. Do thou therefore direct my tongue; answer thou for me to thine own questions: for I shall ratify and confirm whatsoever thou shalt propound.
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)
The fame (gentlewoman) of your gentle and sweete disposition of your good graces, discretion and wisdome, flies with so swift a wing, and in so high a pitch, through all this City, that you need not much to maruell, if you be of more knowne, then knowing. For there is not any man, that speakes any thing in praise of the fairest and beautifullest in this City, but that you are ranked in the first place, and remembred, as the prime and chiefest amongst them all. This poore silly fellow, this wretched sonne of a whore, to see how hee exceedes himselfe, and speakes beyond the compasse of his common wit! hee doth not vse to talke thus wisely. He that should see him goe to water his horses, riding on their bare ridge without a Saddle, and his naked legges hanging downe beneath his Canuasse frocke, cut out into foure quarters; and should now see him thus handsome, and well suited, both in his cloake, and other his cloathes, it would giue a man wings, and tongue; and make him crow, as this Cockrell doth. Your talke would make mee blush, and runne away for shame, were there any body heere, to heare how you play vpon me. But (as it is the fashion of all you men) you neuer goe vnprouided of such kinde of phrases as these: these false and deceitfull praises are too common amongst you; you haue words moulded of purpose, to serue your turne withall, and to suite your selues as you see cause, to any woman whatsoeuer: yet for all this, am I not afraid of you, neyther will I start, or budge from you. But I must tell you (Sosia) by the way; this praising of me thus, is more then needs, for though thou shouldst cōmend me, yet should I loue thee. And that thereby thou shouldst thinke to gaine my loue, is as needlesse; for thou hast gained it already. There are two things, which caused me (Sosia) for to send for thee, intreating thee to take the paines to come and see me; wherein if I finde you to double, or dissemble with mee, I haue done with you. What they are, I will leaue them to your selfe to relate, though I know it is for your owne good, which makes mee to doe as I doe. Heauen forbid that I should vse any cogging with you, or seeke by subtilty to deceiue you. I came hither vpon the assurance that I had of the great fauors which you intend, and now do me; holding my selfe not worthy to pull off your shooes. Do thou therefore direct my tongue; answer thou for mee to thine owne questions: for I shall ratifie and confirme whatsoeuer thou shalt propound.