The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina) · chunk 198 of 205
Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de · published 1631 · first performed or written 1631 (Annals) tragicomedy; literary play unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 431 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
It is now (dear father) many days since that a Gentleman called Calisto, whom you well knew, as likewise his Ancestors, and noble Lineage, did languish and pine away for my love. As for his virtues and goodness, they were generally known to the whole world. So great was his love-torment, and so little both place and opportunity to speak with me, that he was driven to discover his passion to a crafty and subtle woman, named Celestina, which Celestina, coming as a suitor unto me in his behalf, drew my secret love from forth my bosom, and made me to manifest that unto her, which I concealed from mine own mother; she found the means to win me to her will; she made the match between us; she plotted how his desire and mine should take effect. And if he dearly loved me, I was not therein deceived; she made up that sad conclusion of that sweet and unfortunate execution of his will; and thus being overcome with the love of Calisto, I gave him entrance into your house; he scaled your walls with ladders, and broke into your garden; broke my chaste purpose, by taking from me the flower of my Virginity. And thus almost this month have we lived in this delightful error of love. And as he came this lastnight unto me, as he was wont to do, e'en just about the time that he should have returned home (as ill fortune would have it, who in the mutability of her nature, ordereth and disposeth all things, according to her disordered custom) the walls being high, the night dark, the ladder light and weak, his servants that brought it, unacquainted with that kind of service, he going down somewhat hastily to see a fray, which he heard in the street between his servants and some others that then passed by, being in choler, making more haste than good speed, thinking he should never come soon enough, not eyeing well his steps, he sets his foot quite besides the rounds, and so fell down, and with that woeful and unfortunate fall, he pitched upon his head, and had his brains beaten out, and dashed in pieces against the stones and pavement of the street. Thus did the destinies cut off his thread; thus cut off his life without confession; cut off my hope; cut off my glory; cut off my company. Things therefore being thus; tell me (father) What cruelty were it in me, he dying disbrained, that I should live pained all the days of my life?
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)
It is now (deare father) many dayes since that a Gentleman called Calisto, whom you well knew, as likewise his Ancestors, and noble Linage, did languish and pine away for my loue. As for his vertues and goodnesse, they were generally knowne to the whole world. So great was his loue-torment, and so little both place and opportunity to speake with me, that he was driuen to discouer his passion to a crafty and subtill woman, named Celestina, which Celestina, comming as a suiter vnto mee in his behalfe, drew my secret loue from forth my bosome, and made mee to manifest that vnto her, which I concealed from mine own mother; she found the meanes to win me to her will; shee made the match betweene vs; shee plotted how his desire and mine should take effect. And if hee dearely loued me, I was not therein deceiued; shee made vp that sad conclusion of that sweete and vnfortunate execution of his will; and thus being ouer-come with the loue of Calisto, I gaue him entrance into your house; hee scaled your walls with ladders, and brake into your garden; brake my chaste purpose, by taking from mee the flowre of my Virginity. And thus almost this moneth haue wee liu'd in this delightfull errour of loue. And as he came this lastnight vnto mee, as hee was wont to doe, e'en iust about the time that he should haue returned home (as ill fortune would haue it, who in the mutability of her nature, ordereth and disposeth all things, according to her disordered custome) the walls being high, the night darke, the ladder light and weake, his seruants that brought it, vnacquainted with that kinde of seruice, hee going downe somewhat hastily to see a fray, which he heard in the streete betweene his seruants and some others that then passed by, being in choller, making more haste then good speed, thinking he should neuer come soone enough, not eying well his steps, he sets his foot quite besides the rounds, and so fell downe, and with that wofull and vnfortunate fall, hee pitcht vpon his head, and had his braines beaten out, and dasht in pieces against the stones and pauement of the streete. Thus did the destinies cut off his thred; thus cut off his life without confession; cut off my hope; cut off my glory; cut off my company. Things therefore being thus; tell me (father) What cruelty were it in me, he dying disbrained, that I should liue pained all the daies of my life?