The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 186 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T46 Swords, quarrels and valour · 550 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
I long more for this night, wherein I may give you content, than you long to be revenged. And that every thing may be done to your good liking; make your own choice, what death you will have him die. For I can show you a Bead-roll (if you will see it) wherein there are set down some seven hundred and seventy several sorts of deaths; which when you have seen, you may choose that which likes you best. If you love me (Areusa) let not this matter be put into such a madman's hands; he is too bloody for the business: and it were better to let all alone, then that the City should receive such a scandal; so that our second harm shall be worse than the first. I pray content yourself, Sister, hold your peace. Name that City unto us (if you can) which is not full of hurly-burlies, and where some scandals do not arise. The affronts and disgraces which are now in request, and wherein I am most conversant, are banging a man over the shoulders with a sword, having it's scabbard on; dry-beatings, without drawing of blood; thumping him on the breast, or making his head ring noon with the pommell of my sword, or by falsifying of a thrust or blow, to give him his payment where he least looks for it. Others I use like Sieves, pricking them full of holes with my poniard; some I cut in a large size, giving them a fearful stocada, or mortal wound: and now and then I use my cudgel, or bastonado, that my sword may keep holiday, and rest itself from its labour. For love's sake ha' done, tell us of no more. Bastonado him, I pray thee: for I would have him beaten, but not slain. I swear by the whole generation of Turk and Termagant, that it is as possible for this right arm of mine to bastonado a man, and not kill him, as it is for the Sun to stand still in the Firmament, and never move. Sister, let not you and I sorrow for the matter; why should we seem to pity him? Let him do with him what he will; let him kill him, as he finds himself humoured, when he comes to do the business: let Melibea weep as well as you have done before her: and so let us leave him. Centurio; see you give a good account of that which is committed to your charge. Take your own course; any way, so as you revenge us on him, shall content us; but in any case take heed, that he do not escape without paying for his error. O Heavens! he is going to Pluto I warrant you already; I will give him his passport, I warrant you, unless he betake him to his heels, and run away from me. Dearest in my affection, it glads me to the heart, that I have this occasion offered unto me (though it be but in a trifle) and a matter scarce worth thanks; that you may know by this, how far I would (if occasion served) enforce myself for your sake. Mars direct thy hand aright. And so farewell, for it is time for us to be gone.
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)
I long more for this night, wherein I may giue you content, then you long to be reuenged. And that euery thing may be done to your good liking; make your owne choyce, what death you will haue him dye. For I can shew you a Bead-roll (if you will see it) wherein there are set downe some seuen hundred and seuenty seuerall sorts of deaths; which when you haue seene, you may choose that which likes you best. If you loue mee (Areusa) let not this matter be put into such a mad-mans hands; hee is too bloudy for the businesse: and it were better to let all alone, then that the City should receiue such a scandall; so that our second harme shall be worse then the first. I pray content your selfe, Sister, hold your peace. Name that City vnto vs (if you can) which is not full of hurly-burlies, and where some scandals doe not arise. The affronts and disgraces which are now in request, and wherin I am most conuersant, are banging a man ouer the shoulders with a sword, hauing it's scabbard on; dry-beatings, without drawing of bloud; thumping him on the brest, or making his head ring noone with the pōmell of my sword, or by falsifying of a thrust or blow, to giue him his payment where hee least lookes for it. Others I vse like Siues, pricking them full of holes with my ponyard; some I cut in a large size, giuing them a fearefull stocada, or mortall wound: and now and then I vse my cudgell, or bastonado, that my sword may keepe holy-day, and rest it selfe from it's labour. For loues sake ha done, tell vs of no more. Bastonado him, I pray thee: for I would haue him beaten, but not slaine. I sweare by the whole generation of Turke and Termagaunt, that it is as possible for this right arme of mine to bastonado a man, and not kill him, as it is for the Sunne to stand still in the Firmament, and neuer moue. Sister, let not you and I sorrow for the matter; why should wee seeme to pitty him? Let him doe with him what hee will; let him kill him, as hee findes himselfe humour'd, when hee comes to doe the businesse: let Melibea weepe as well as you haue done before her: and so let vs leaue him. Centurio; see you giue a good accompt of that which is committed to your charge. Take your owne course; any way, so as you reuenge vs on him, shall content vs; but in any case take heed, that hee doe not escape without paying for his errour. O Heauens! he is going to Pluto I warrant you already; I will giue him his passe-port, I warrant you, vnlesse hee betake him to his heeles, and runne away from me. Dearest in my affection, it glads mee to the heart, that I haue this occasion offred vnto mee (though it be but in a trifle) and a matter scarce worth thanks; that you may know by this, how farre I would (if occasion serued) inforce my selfe for your sake. Mars direct thy hand aright. And so farewell, for it is time for vs to be gone.