The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 187 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T11 Siblings, kin and confidants · 600 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T11: sister, brother, love, friend, heart, father, mother, woman, lord, hear.
Well, adieu. Go your ways, like a couple of headstrong and pertinacious whores as you be. Now will I bethink myself, how I may excuse myself of my promise; and in such sort too, that they may be persuaded, that I used all possible diligence for to execute their desire, and that it was not of negligence, for the freeing of myself from danger. I will feign myself sick: But what will that profit me? for then they will be at me again when I am well. Again, if I shall tell them that I have been there, and that I forced them to fly, they will ask me who they were? how many in number, and in what place I buckled with them? and what apparel they wore? and by what marks I knew them to be such and such? and the devil awhit shall I be able to tell them: And then all the fat is in the fire. What counsel then shall I take, that may comply with mine own safety, and their desire? I will send for lame Thraso, and his companions, and tell them, that because this night I shall be otherwise employed, they would go and make a clattering with their Swords and Bucklers in manner of a fray, for to fear, and affright certain young men, whom they shall find in such a place, which service was faithfully recommended unto me to execute. This I know is a sure course, and no other hurt can follow thereupon, save to make them fly, and so get them home to bed. Softly, that we may not be heard. As we go from hence to Pleberio's garden, I will tell thee all (brother Tristan) that passed this day, betwixt Areusa, and myself, taking myself now to be the happiest man in the world. Thou shalt understand then, that upon the good report which she heard of me, she fell extremely in love with me, and sent me word by Elicia, that I would do her the kindness, as to come and speak with her. But omitting many other speeches of good counsel, which then passed between us, she made present show unto me, that she was now as much mine, as ever she was Parmeno's. she requested me, that I would continually come and visit her; and that she did not doubt, but that she should long enjoy my love. And I swear to thee (brother) by that dangerous way wherein we walk, and as ever any good may hereafter befall me, that twice or thrice it was as much as ever I could do for my life, to forbear from boarding her; but that very shame did hinder me, seeing her so fair, and so well clad, and myself in an old Mouse-eaten cloak: still as she moved and advanced herself, she did breathe forth a most sweet and redolent odour of Musk; and I never stirred, or heaved my body, but I sent forth a most rank sent of that horse-dung, which had got within my shoes: She had a hand as white as snow, and ever and anon, as she pulled off her glove, thou wouldst have thought, that she had scattered flowers of Oranges about the room; so that as well in regard of this, as also because at that time she was somewhat busy, I was content to defer my boldness till another day: as likewise because all things at the first sight are not so tractable; for the more they are communicated, the better are they understood in their participation.
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)
Well, adieu. Goe your waies, like a couple of headstrong and pertinacious whores as you be. Now will I bethinke my selfe, how I may excuse my selfe of my promise; and in such sort too, that they may be perswaded, that I vsed all possible diligence for to execute their desire, and that it was not of negligence, for the freeing of my selfe from danger. I will faine my selfe sicke: But what will that profit me? for then they will be at me againe when I am well. Againe, if I shall tell them that I haue beene there, and that I forced them to flye, they will aske mee who they were? how many in number, and in what place I buckled with them? and what apparell they wore? and by what markes I knew them to be such and such? and the diuell awhit shall I be able to tell them: And then all the fat is in the fire. What counsell then shall I take, that may cumply with mine own safety, and their desire? I will send for lame Thraso, and his companions, and tell them, that because this night I shall be otherwise imployed, they would goe and make a clattering with their Swords and Bucklers in manner of a fray, for to feare, and affright certaine young men, whom they shall finde in such a place, which seruice was faithfully recommended vnto mee to execute. This I know is a sure course, and no other hurt can follow thereupon, saue to make them fly, and so get them home to bed. Softly, that wee may not be heard. As wee goe from hence to Pleberio's garden, I will tell thee all (brother Tristan) that passed this day, betwixt Areusa, and my selfe, taking my selfe now to be the happiest man in the world. Thou shalt vnderstand then, that vpon the good report which shee heard of mee, shee fell extremely in loue with mee, and sent me word by Elicia, that I would doe her the kindnesse, as to come and speake with her. But omitting many other speaches of good counsell, which then past betweene vs, shee made present shew vnto mee, that shee was now as much mine, as euer shee was Parmeno's. Shee requested mee, that I would continually come and visit her; and that she did not doubt, but that shee should long inioy my loue. And I sweare to thee (brother) by that dangerous way wherein wee walke, and as euer any good may heereafter befall mee, that twice or thrice it was as much as euer I could doe for my life, to forbeare from boording her; but that very shame did hinder mee, seeing her so faire, and so well clad, and my selfe in an old Mouse-eaten cloake: still as shee moued and aduanced her selfe, shee did breathe forth a most sweet and redolent odour of Muske; and I neuer stirr'd, or heau'd my body, but I sent forth a most ranke sent of that horse-dung, which had got within my shooes: Shee had a hand as white as snow, and euer and anon, as she pull'd off her gloue, thou wouldst haue thought, that she had scattered flowres of Orenges about the roome; so that as well in regard of this, as also because at that time shee was somewhat busie, I was content to deferre my boldnesse till another day: as likewise because all things at the first sight are not so tractable; for the more they are communicated, the better are they vnderstood in their participation.