good what they approue that is bad And since this is a true rule and common custome amongst them doe not iudge of Melibea's either goodnesse or beauty by that which they affirme Sempr. Gentlewomen let mee answer you in a word Your ill tongued multitude and pratling vulgar neuer pardon the faults of great persons no not of their Soueraigne himselfe which makes me to thinke that if Melibea had so many defects as you taxe her withall they would e're this haue beene discouered by those who know her better then wee doe And howbeit I should admit all you haue spoken to be true yet pardon me if I presse you with this particular Calisto is a Noble Gentleman Melibea the Daughter of Honourable parents So that it is vsuall with those that are descended of such high Linage to seeke and inquire each after other and therefore it is no maruell if he rather loue her then another Areusa Let him be base that holds himselfe base they are the Noble Actions of men that make men Noble For in conclusion we are all of one making flesh and bloud all Let euery man striue to be good of himselfe and not goe searching for his vertue in the Noblenesse of his Ancestors Celest. My good children as you loue mee cease this contentious kinde of talke and you Elicia I pray you come to the Table againe sit you downe I say and doe not vexe and grieue your selfe as you doe Elicia With this condition that my meate may be may poyson and that my belly may burst with that I eate Shall I sit downe and eate with this wicked Villaine that hath stoutly maintained it to my face and no body must say him nay That Melibea That Dishclout of his is fairer then I Sempr. I prythee Sweet-heart be quiet it was you that made the comparison and comparisons you know are odious and therefore it is you that are in the fault and not I Areusa Come sister come and sit with vs I pray come eate with vs Haue you no more wit then to be angry with such a crosse foole as hee I would not doe him so much pleasure as to forbeare my meate for him let him goe hang if hee be peeuish will you be peeuish too I pray you sit downe vnlesse you will haue me likewise to rise from the Table Elicia The necessity which I haue imposed vpon my selfe to please thee in all things and in all thy requests makes mee against my will to giue contentment to this enemy of mine and to carry my selfe out of my respect to this good company more fairely towards him then otherwise I would Sempronio Ha ha he Elicia What dost thou laugh at Now the euill Canker eate and consume that vnpleasing and offensiue mouth of thine Celest. Sonne I pray thee no more Do not answer her for then we shall neuer make an end This is nothing to the present purpose Let vs follow our businesse and attend that which may tend to our good Tell me How does Calisto How hap't it you left him thus all alone How fell it out that both of you could slip away from him Parme. He flung from vs with a vengeance fretting and fuming like a mad-man his eyes sparkeling foorth fire his mouth venting forth curses despairefull discontented in minde and like one that is halfe besides himselfe and is now gone to Saint Mary Magdalens to desire of God that thou maist well and truely gnaw the bones of these Chickens vowing neuer to come home till hee heare that thou art come with Melibea in thy lap Thy gowne and kirtle and my cassocke are cock-sure For the rest let the world slide but when we shall haue it that I know not all the craft is in the catching Celest. Let it come when it will come it shall be welcome when e're it comes A cassocke is good weare after winter And sleeues are good after Easter Euery thing makes the heart merry that is gotten with ease and without any labour especially comming from thence where it leaues so small a gap and from a man of that wealth and substance who with the very branne and scraps of his house would make me of a begger to become rich such is the surplus and store of his goods and such as hee it neuer grieues them what they spend considering the cause wherefore they giue For they feele it not when they are in the heat and passion of their loue it paines them not they neither see nor heare which I iudge to be true by others that I haue knowne to be lesse passionate and lesse scorched in the fiery flames of loue then Calisto is in so much that I haue seen them neither eat nor drink neither laught nor weep neither sleep nor wake neither speake nor hold their peace neither liue in paine nor yet finde ease neither be contented nor yet complaine of discontentment answerable to the perplexity of that sweet and cruell wound of their hearts And if naturall necessity forceth them to any one of these they are so wholly forgetfull of themselues and strucke into such sudden senslesnesse of their present being and condition that eating their hands forget to carry their meat to their mouthes Besides if you talke with them they neuer answer you directly Their bodies are there with you but where they loue there are their hearts and their senses Great is the force of loue His power doth not only reach ouer the earth but passeth also ouer the seas He holds an equall command ouer all mankinde He breaks thorow all kinde of difficulties and dangers whatsoeuer It is a tormentfull thing full of feare and of care His eye roles euery way nothing can escape him And if any of you that be heere ing perhaps 100. stripes vpon them and afterwards thrust them out of dores with their haire about their cares and their fardles at their backs rating them in most vile manner crying Out of my doors you thiefe you whore you strumpet this is no place for such paltry baggages Thou shalt not spoyle my house I will not be thus dishonoured by thee So that in stead of expected recompence they receiue nothing but bitter reuilements Where they expect to goe preferred out of the house they goe preiudiced out of the house And where they expect to be well married they are quite mar'd in their reputation And where they expect iewels and wedding apparell there are they sent out naked and disgraced these are their rewards these their benefits and these the payments they receiue for their seruice They are bound to giue them husbands and in liew thereof they strip them of their clothes The greatest grace and honour which they haue in their Ladies house is to be imployed in walking the streetes from one Ladie to another and to deliuer their Ladies message As My Lady hath sent to know how you doe how you did rest to night how your physicke wrought with you and how many occasions it gaue your
secrecy of this walke whereby to worke some heart-burning and breed no good bloud betwixt Calisto and Pleberio out of that enuy which she beares to Melibea's pleasure Beware I say for Enuy I tell you is an incurable infirmity when it is once settled shee is a guest that is alwaies more troublesome then thankfull for her lodging and is neuer merry but at other folkes miseries nor euer laughes but at a shrewd turne Now then if this be so O! how this wicked woman will deceiue thee with her smooth and subtill words whereof such as she are neuer to seeke but haue them still ready in the deck and more perfect then their Pater noster With this venemous vice shee will not sticke to damne her soule so as shee may please her appetite shee would faine turne all things topsituruy and set men together by the eares and onely for to content her damnable desire O Ruffianly Strumpet O mankind Queane With what white bread hath shee giuen thee crooked pinnes to choake thee Shee cares not now shee sells and barters her body so as shee may truck and exchange it for strife and contention Heare mee Sosia and if thou doest as thou may'st presume vpon it that it is as I tell thee deale if thou wilt be aduised by mee as doubly with her for he that deceiues the deceiuer you know what I meane and if the Foxe be crafty more crafty is hee that catches him I would haue thee make a counter-mine against these her wicked and diuellish imaginations Set vp scaling ladders to meete with her lewdnesse and then cry quittance with her when shee thinkes her selfe most safe and secure and laugh at her afterwards when thou art by thy selfe all alone in thy stable the bay horse thinkes one thing and hee that saddles him another Sosia O Tristan thou discreete young man more hast thou spoken then could be expected from one of thy yeeres A shrewd suspition hast thou raised in mee and I feare mee too true but because wee are hard by the garden and our Master is close at our heeles let vs breake off this discourse which is too large for the present and deferre it to some fitter opportunity Calisto Doe you heare there Set vp the ladder and see you make no noyse for mee thinkes I heare my Mistresse tongue Sure it is shee she is talking to some body who e'r it be I will get me vp to the top of the wall and there will I stand harkning awhile to see if I can heare from her any good token of her loue to mee in this my absence Melibea Sing on Lucrecia if thou lou'st mee I prythee sing on for it does my heart good to heare thee sing on I say till my Lord come Be not too loud and let vs goe aside into this greene walke that they that passe by may not heare vs Lucrecia O that I kept the Key Which opes to these faire flowers To plucke them day by day When you doe leaue these bowers The Lillies and the Roses Put on their newest colours And when thy Loue reposes They breathe their freshest odours Melibea O how sweet is thy musick to mine eares it makes my heart euen to melt and dissolue for ioy I prythee giue not ouer Lucrecia Sweete is the fount the place I dranke at being drie More sweete Calisto's face In Melibea's eye And though that it be night His sight my heart will cheere And when hee downe shall light O how I 'll clippe my Deare The Wolfe for ioy doth leape To see the Lambkinnes mooue The Kidde ioyes in the teate And thou ioy'st in thy Loue Neuer was louing wight Of 's friend desired so Ne'r Walkes of more delight Nor nights more free from woe Melibea Friend Lucrecia me thinkes I see that which thou singest represented most liuely vnto me me thinks I see him as perfectly with these mine eyes as if hee stood iust before mee Goe on for thou dost exceeding well and with an excellent Ayre I will beare a part with thee and helpe thee as well as I can Melibea and Lucrecia Sweet trees who shade this mold Of earth your heads downe bend When you those eyes behold Of my best-loued friend Faire starres whose bright appeare Doth beautifie the skye Why wake yee not my Deare If he asleeping lie Melibea Heare mee now I prythee I will sing alone Melibea You birds whose warblings prooue Aurora draweth neere Goe flye and tell my Loue That I expect him heere The night doth poasting mooue Yet comes hee not againe God grant some other Loue Doe not my Loue detaine Calisto The sweetnesse of thy voyce hath rauish't mee I cannot endure to let thee liue any longer in a pained expectation O my sweet Mistresse and my lifes happinesse what woman could euer be borne into the world that should be able to depriue thee of thy great deseruingnesse O interrupted melody O musick suddenly broke oft O short-timed pleasure O my deare heart why didst thou not continue thy harmony without interrupting thy ioy and cumplying with both our desires Melibea O pleasing treason O sweete-sudden passion What my Lord my soule Is it hee I cannot beleeue it where hast thou beene thou bright shining Sunne In what place hast thou hid thy brightnesse from me Is it not a pretty while since that thou heard'st mee Why dist thou suffer me to send forth my words into the Ayre senselesse and foolish as they were and in this hoarse Swannish voyce of mine looke on the Moone and see how bright shee shines vpon vs looke on the Cloudes and see how speedily they racke away harken to the gurgling waters of this fountaine how sweet a murmure and what a pretty kind of purling they make rushing along these fresh herbes and pleasant flowres harken to these high Cypresses how one bough makes peace with another by the intercession of a milde gentle temperate wind which moues them to and fro Behold these silent and quiet shades how darke they are and how excellently well prepar'd for the couering and concealing of our sports Lucrecia why how now friend what are you doing art thou turn'd mad with pleasure Let me alone with my Loue touch him not I charge you doe not you plucke and hale him from me doe not burthen his body with your heauy armes Let mee inioy what is mine you shall not possesse any part of my pleasure Calisto Deare Lady and glory of my life if you loue me giue not ouer your singing let not my presence which glads thee be of a worse and more vnfortunate condition then my absence which did grieue thee Melibea Why my Loue would you haue mee sing or how can I sing for my desire of thee was that which ruled my voyce and made mee to ayre my notes But now that thou art come that desire disappeares it is vanished and the Tone of my voyce distempred and out of tune And because you Sir are the patterne of courtesie and good behauiour
you in these parts this many a day What accident hath brought you hither Celest. My loue daughter my loue and the desire I haue to see all my good friends and to bring you commendations from your Cousin Elicia as also to see my old and young Mistresse whom I haue not seene since I went from this end of the Towne Lucrecia Is this your onely errand from home Is it possible you should come so farre for this I promise you you make me much to maruell For I am sure you were not wont to stirre your stumps but you knew wherefore nor to goe a foote forth of doores vnlesse it were for your profit Celest. What greater profit you foole would you haue then a man to cumply with his desires Besides such old women as we neuer want businesse especially my selfe who hauing the breeding of so many mens daughters as I haue I goe to see if I can sell a little yarne Lucrecia Did not I tell you so before I wote well what I said you neuer put in a penny but you take out a pound Be your paines neuer so little you will be sure you will be well paid for it But to 〈◊〉 that passe my old mistresse hath begunne a web shee hath need to buy it and thou hast neede to sell it Come in and stay heere awhile you and I will not fall out Alisa Lucrecia who is that you talke withall Lucrecia With that old woman forsooth with the scotch on her nose who sometimes dwelt hard by here in Tanners Row close vpon the Riuer-side Alisa Now I am further to seeke then I was before if thou wilt giue mee to vnderstand an vnknowne thing by a thing that is lesse knowne is to take vp water in a Sieue Lucrecia Madame Why this old woman is better knowne then the hearbe Rew. Doe not you remember her that stood on the Pillory for a Witch That sold young wenches by the great and by whole sale and that hath mard many thousands of marriages by sundring man and wife and setting them at oddes Alisa What Trade is she of What is her Profession it may be by that I shall know her better Lucrecia Fosooth she persumes Calls Vailes and the like she makes your sublimate Mercury and hath some thirty seuerall Trades besides shee is very skilfull in hearbs shee can cure little children And some call her The old woman The Lapidary for her great dealing in stones Alisa All this makes me neuer a whit the wiser Tell mee her name if thou knowst it Lucrecia If I knew it Why there is neither young nor old in all this City but knowes it And should not I then know it Alisa If you know it so well why then doe not you tell it me Lucrecia I am ashamed forsooth Alisa Goe too you foole Tell mee her name Doe not anger mee by this your delay Lucrecia Her name sauing your Reuerence is Celestina Alisa Hi hi hi Now beshrew your fingers O my heart O my sides I am not able to stand for laughing to see that the lothing which thou hast of this poore old woman should make thee ashamed to name her vnto me Now I call her to minde Goe too you are a wagge No more of this Shee poore soule is come to begge somewhat of mee Bid her come vp Lucrecia Aunt it is my Mistresse pleasure you come vp Cel. My good Lady All blessings abide with you and your noble daughter My many griefes and infirmities haue hindred my visiting of this your house as in duty I was bound to doe But heauen knowes how faire are the intralls of my inward affection how free from any spot of foulnesse It knowes the sincerity of my heart and trunesse of my loue For distance of place displaceth not that loue which is lodged in the heart So that what heeretofore in my selfe I did much desire now my necessity hath made mee to performe And amongst other my many Crosses and miseries in this life my Crosses in my purse grow dayly lesse and lesse so that I haue no better remedy to helpe my selfe withall and to relieue this my poore estate then to sell this little parcell of yarne of mine owne spinning to make Coyfes and Kerchiefes and vnderstanding by your maid that you had need thereof howbeit I am poore in euery thing I praise my fate saue the richnesse of this grace it is wholy at your command if either it or I may doe you any seruice Alisa Honest neighbour thy discourse and kinde offer moue me to compassion and so moue me that I had rather light vpon some fit occasion whereby I might supply thy wants then diminish thy web still thanking thee for thy kinde offer and if it be such as will serue my turne I shall pay you well for it Celest. Madame by my life as I am true old woman or by any other oath you shall put me to it is such as all the whole Towne is not able to match it Looke well vpon it it is as fine as the haire of your head euen and equall as nothing more strong as the strings of a Viall white as a flake of Snow spun all with mine owne fingers reeled and wound vp with mine owne hands Looke you Lady on some of the same in skaines Did you euer see better Three Royals as I am true woman I receiued no longer agoe then yesterday for an ounce Alisa Daughter Melibea I will leaue this honest woman with you For mee thinks it is now high time if I haue not stayed too long to goe visit my sister Wife vnto Chremes for I haue not seene her since yesterday and besides her Page is now come to call mee and tels me that her old fit hath already beene on her this pretty while Celest. Now does the Diuell goe preparing opportunity for my Stratagem by re-inforcing this sickenesse vpon the other Goe on my good friend stand stifly to your tackling be strong and shrinke not For now is the time or neuer see you leaue her not and remooue away this woman from mee But soft I feare shee heares mee Alisa Say friend what is that thou sai'st Celest. I say Madame Curst be the diuell and my euill Fortune that your sisters sicknesse is growne now vpon her in such an vnlucky houre that we shall haue no fit time to dispatch our businesse But I pray what is her sicknesse Alisa A paine in her side which takes her in such grieuous manner that if it be true which her Page tels me I feare me it will cost her her life Good neighbour let mee intreate you for my sake to recommend her recouery vnto your best deuotions and prayers Celest. Heere Lady I giue you my faithfull promise that as soone as I goe hence I will hye mee to my Vestalls where I haue many deuout virgins my friends vpon whom I will lay the same charge as you haue laid vpon mee Alisa Doe you heare Melibea Content our neighbour and
bent against sorted to a gentle intertaining of thy suite For all that I haue heard hitherto are rather tokens of hate then of loue Celestina The greatest glory which is giuen to that secret office of the Bee which little creature of nature the discreeter sort ought to imitate is that whatsoeuer be toucheth he conuerteth it into a better substance then in it selfe it was In like manner hath it so befalne mee with those coy and squeamish speeches of Melibea and all other her scornefull and disdainefull behauiours all her sowre looks and words I turned into honey her anger into mildenesse her fury into gentlenesse and her running from me into running to mee Tell me man What didst thou thinke Celestina went thither for What would she make there whom you haue already rewarded beyond her desert vnlesse it were to pacifie her fury to oppose my selfe to all accidents to be your shield and buckler in your absence to receiue vpon my mantle all the blowes that were strucke at you to endure those reuilings bitter tauntings and those disdainfull termes which such as she is vsually make show of when they are first sued vnto for their loue And why forsooth doe they this Onely to the end That what they giue may the better be estemed and therefore they still speake worst of him whom they loue best and make a show of most dislike where they like most Which if it should not be so there would be no difference between the loue of a common whore and an honest Damsell that staâ— is vpon her honour if euery one should say yea as soone as she is asked And therefore when they see a man loues them though themselues burne and fry in the liueliest flames of loue yet for modesties sake they will outwardly show a coldnesse of affection a sober countenance a pleasing kinde of strangenesse a constant minde a chaste intent and powre forth words as sharpe as Vineger that their owne tongues wonder at this their great sufferance making them forcibly to confesse that with their mouthes whose contrary is contained in their hearts But because I would haue thee haue some ease of thy sorrowes and take some repose whilst I relate at large vnto thee all the words that passed betweene her and mee and by what meanes I made my first entrance into Melibea's house Know for thy comfort that the end of her discourse was very good Calisto Now deare mother that you haue giuen mee assurance that I may boldly with comfort expect the extremest vigour of her answer say what thou wilt and I shall be attentiue thereunto Now my heart is at rest now my thoughts are quiet now my veynes receiue and recouer their lost bloud now haue I lost my feare now doe I finde some ioy now am I cheerefull Let vs if it please you goe vp where in my chamber you shall report that at full which I haue heard in briefe Celestina With all my heart Sir Come let vs goe Parme. O what starting holes does this foole seeke for to flye from vs that he may at his pleasure weepe for ioy with Celestina and discouer vnto her a thousand secrets of his light and doting appetite First to aske her I know not how oft of euery particular and then haue her answer him to the same sixe seuerall times one after another and neuer to make an end but ouer and ouer and ouer with it againe hauing no body by to tell him how tedious he is Fie vpon him I am sick to think vpon it Go your wayes you foole Get you vp with a murraine but we will not stay long after you Calisto Marke mother how Parmeno goes mumbling to himselfe see how the slaue crosses himselfe to heare what thou hast brought to passe by thy great diligence Obserue in what a maze he stands Looke looke Celestina dost thou see what hee is doing See and the villaine does not crosse himselfe againe Come vp vp vp and sit you downe I pray whilest I on my knees giue eare to thy sweete answer Say on And tell mee quickely by what meanes thou gotst into the house Celest. By selling a parcell of thread which I had by which trick I haue taken in my daies more then thirty of as good worth and quality as her selfe So it pleased fortune to fauour mee in this world and some better women I wisse and of greater rancke were shee more honorable then shee is Calisto Greater mother perhaps in body but not in noblenesse of birth not in state not in beauty not in discretion not in statelinesse linked with gracefulnesse and merit not in vertue nor in speach Parme. Now the fooles steele beginnes to strike fire now his bels beginne to iangle marke how his clocke goes it neuer strikes vnder twelue the finger of his dyall point is still vpon high noone all vpon the most Sempronio tell the clocke keepe true reckoning how standst thou gazing like a wide-mouthed driueling foole hearing his fooleries and her lies Sempr. O thou venomous tongued Villaine thou rayling Rascall Why shouldst thou alone stop thy eares at that to which all the world besides is willing to harken And say they are but tales and fables which shee tels him yet were it onely but for this that their discourses are of loue thou oughtst to lend them a willing attention Celest. Noble Calisto Let thy eares be open to that which I shall tell thee and thou shalt see what thy good fortune and my great eare haue effected for thee For when I was about to pitch a price of my thread and to sell it Melibea's mother was called away to goe visit a sister of hers that lay exceeding sicke and because she could not stay with me her selfe so necessary was her absence she left Melibea to conclude the bargaine and to driue such a price with mee as shee should thinke fit Calisto O ioy beyond compare O singular opportunity O seasonable time O that I had layne hid vnderneath thy mantle that I might haue heard her but speake on whom heauen hath so plentifully powred forth the fulnesse of his graces Celestina Vnder my mantle noble Sir Alacke poore soule as I am what would you haue done there Why shee must needes haue seene you at least thorow thirty holes should not fortune giue mee a better Parm. Well I will get me gon I say nothing Sempronio heare you all for mee I will be hang'd if the foole my Master doe not measure with his thoughts how many steps there be betweene this and Melibea's house And if hee not contemplate euery kinde of action and gesture shee might vse as how she lookt how she stood when shee was bargaining for the thread All his senses all the powers faculties of his soule are wholy taken vp and possest with her but he will finde in the end that my counsell would haue done him more good then all the cunning tricks and coozenages of Celestina Calisto What 's the matter
bed-side but the Diuell a winke that hee sleepes and the Diuell a whit that hee wakes but lies like a man in a trance betweene them both resting and yet taking no rest If I goe in vnto him hee falls a rowting and a snorting If I goe from him hee either sings or raues nor can I for my life comprehend so strange is his carriage heerein whether the man bee in paine or ease whether hee take griefe or pleasure in it Parme. What a strange humour is this But tell me Sempronio Did hee neuer call for mee Did hee not remember mee when I was gone Sempr. Hee remembred not himselfe Why should hee then remember you Parme. Euen in this also fortune hath beene fauourable vnto me And since all things goe so well whilest I thinke on it I will send thither our meate that they may the sooner make ready our dinner Sempro. What hast thou thought vpon to send thither that those pretty fooles may hold thee a compleat Courtier well bred and bountifull Par. In a plentifull house a supper is soone prouided that which I haue heere at home in the Larder is sufficient to saue our credit Wee haue good white bread wine of Monuiedro a good gammon of Bacon and some halfe doozen couple of dainty Chickens which my Masters Tenants brought him in the other day when they came to pay their rent which if hee chance to aske for I will make him beleeue that he hath eaten them himselfe and those Turtledoues which hee will'd mee to keepe against to day I will tell him that they were a little to blame and none of the sweetest and that they did so stinke that I was faine to throw them away and you shall iustifie it and beare me witnesse We will take order that all that hee shall eate thereof shall doe him no harme and that our owne Table as good reason it is it should be wellfurnished and there with the old woman as oft as we meet wee will talke more largely concerning this his loue to his losse and our profit Semp. Calst thou it loue Thou mai'st call it sorrow with a vengeance And by my fay I sweare vnto thee that I verily thinke that he will hardly now escape eyther death or madnesse but since it is as it is dispatch your businesse that we may goe vp and see what hee does Calisto In perill great I liue And strait of force must dye Since what desire doth giue That hope doth mee deny Parme. Harke harke Sempronio Our Master is a riming Hee is turn'd Poet I perceiue Sempr. O whore-sonne Sot What Poet I pray The great Antipater Sidonius or the great Poet Ouid who neuer spake but in Verse I it is he the very same we shall haue the Diuell turne Poet too shortly he does but talke idlely in his sleepe and thou think'st the poore man is turn'd Poet Calisto This paine this martyrdome O heart well dost thou proue Since thou so soone wast wonne To Melibea's loue Parm. Loe did I not tell thee hee was turn'd true Rimer Calisto Who is that that talkes in the Hall Why ho Parmeno Anon Sir Calisto How farre night is it Is it time to goe to bed Parme. It is rather Sir too late to rise Calisto What sai'st thou foole Is the night past and gone then Parmeno I Sir and a good part of the day too Calisto Tell mee Sempronio does not this idle-headed Knaue lye in making mee beleeue it is day Sempr. Put Melibea Sir a little out of your minde and you will then see that it is broad day for through that great brightnesse and splendour which you contemplate in her cleare shining eyes like a Partridge dazeled with a buffit you cannot see being blinded with so sodaine a flash Calisto Now I beleeue it and 't is farre day too Giue mee my clothes I must goe to my wonted retirement to the Mirtle-groue and there begge of Cupid that hee will direct Celestina and put my remedy into Melibea's heart or else that hee will shorten my sorrowfull dayes Sempr. Sir doe not vexe your selfe so much you cannot doe all that you would in an houre nor is it discretion for a man to desire that earnestly that may vnfortunately fall vpon him If you will haue that concluded in a day which is well if it be effected in a yeere your life cannot be long Calisto I conceiue your meaning you would inferre that I am like Squire Gallego's boy who went a yeere without breeches and when his Master commanded a paire to be cut out for him he would haue them made in a quarter of an houre Sempronio Heauen forbid Sir I should say so for you are my Master and I know besides that as you will recompence me for my good counsell so you will punish mee if I speake amisse though it be a common saying that the commendation of a mans good seruice or good speech is not equall to the reprehension and punishment of that which is eyther ill done or spoken Calisto I wonder Sempronio where thou got'st so much philosophie Sempr. Sir all that is not white which differs from blacke nor is all that gold which glisters Your accelerated and hasty desires not being measured by reason make my counsels to seeme better then they be Would you that they should yesterday at the first word haue brought Melibea manacled and tyed to her girdle as you would haue sent into the market for any other marchandize Wherein there is no more to doe then to goe into the market and take the paines to buy it Sir bee of good cheere giue some ease and rest to your heart for no great happinesse can happen in an instant It is not one stroke that can fell an Oake prepare your selfe for sufferance for wisdome is a laudable blessing and he that is prepared may withstand a strong incounter Calisto Thou hast spoken well if the quality of my euill would consent to take it so Sempr. To what end serues vnderstanding if the will shaâ—◠〈◊〉 reason of her right Calisto O thou foole thou foole The sound man sayes to the sicke Heauen send thee thy health I will no more counsell no more kearken to thy reasons for they doe but reuiue and kindle those flames afresh which burne and consume mee I will goe and inuocate Cupid and will not come home till you call me and craue a reward of mee for the good newes you shall bring mee vpon the happy comming of Celestina nor will I eate any thing till Phoebus his horses shall feed and graze their fill in those greene meddowes where they vse to baite when they come to their iourneys end Semp. Good Sir leaue off these circumlocutions leaue off these poeticall fictions for that speech is not comely which is not common vnto all which all men partake not of as well as your selfe or which few doe but vnderstand Say till the Sunne set and euery one will know what you meane Come eate
haue risen a little earlier Harke harke good Mistresse Melibea harke I say Melibea What does the foole there sneaking in the corner Lucrecia Come hither Madame and you shall heare how forward your father and mother are for to prouide you a husband you shall be married out of hand out of hand Madame Melibea For all loues sake speake softly they will heare you by and by let them talke on they beginne to doat for this month they haue had no other talke their minde hath runne on nothing else it may be their heart tels them of the great loue which I beare to Calisto as also of that which for this months space hath passed between vs I know not whether they haue had any inkling of our meeting or whether they haue ouer-heard vs nor can I deuise in the world what should be the reason why they should be so hot vpon the matter and more eager for the marrying of mee now then euer heeretofore but they shall misse of their purpose they shall labour it in vaine for to what vse serues the clapper in the Mil if the Miller be deafe Who is he that can remoue me from my glory Who can withdraw me from my pleasure Calisto is my Soule my Life my Lord on whom I haue set vp my rest and in whom I haue placed all my hopes I know that in him I cannot be deceiued And since that hee loues me with what other thing but loue can I requite him All the debts in the world receiue their payment in a diuers kind but loue admits no other payment but loue I glad my selfe in thinking on him I delight my selfe in seeing him and reioyce my selfe in hearing him Let him doe with mee what he will and dispose of me at his pleasure if he will goe to Sea I will goe with him if hee will round the world I will along with him if he will sell mee for a slaue in the enemies Countrey I will not resist his desire Let my Parents let me inioy him if they meane to inioy me let them not settle their thoughts vpon these vanities nor thinke no more vpon those their marriages For it is better to be well belou'd then ill married and a good friend is better then a bad husband Let them suffer mee to inioy the pleasure of my youth if they minde to iniov any quietnesse in their age if not they will but prepare destruction for me and for themselues a Sepulchre I grieue for nothing more then for the time that I haue lost in not inioying him any sooner and that hee did not know me as soone as he was knowne vnto me I will no husband I will not fully the knots of matrimony nor treade against the matrimoniall steppes of another man nor walke in the way of wedlocke with a stranger as I finde many haue done in those ancient bookes which I haue read which were farre more discreete and wiser then my selfe and more noble in their estate and Linage whereof some were held among the heathens for goddesses as was Venus the mother of Eneas and of Cupid the god of loue who being married broke her plighted troth of wedlocke as likewise diuers others who were inflamed with a greater fire and did commit most nefarious and incestuous errors as Myrrha with her father Semyramis with her sonne Canace with her brother others also in a more cruell and beastly fashion did transgresse the Law of Nature as Pasiphae the wife of King Minos with a Bull and these were Queenes and great Ladies vnder whose faults considering the foulnesse of them mine may passe as reasonable without note of shame or dishonesty My loue was grounded vpon a good and iust cause and a farre more lawfull ground I was wooed and sued vnto and captiuated by Calisto's good deserts being thereunto solicited by that subtil and cunning Mistris in her Art Dame Celestina who aduentured her selfe in many a dangerous Visit before that euer I would yeeld my selfe true prisoner to his loue And now for this month and more as you your selfe haue seene hee hath not failed no not so much as one night but hath still scaled our garden walls as if hee had come to the scaling of a fort and many times hath beene repulsed and assaulted it in vaine being driuen to withdraw his siege And yet for all this hee continued more constant and resolute still and neuer would giue ouer as one that thought his labour to be well bestowed For my sake his seruants haue beene slaine for my sake hee hath wasted and consumed his substance for my sake hee hath fayned absence with all his friends in the City and all day long hee hath had the patience to remaine close prisoner in his owne house and onely vpon hope wherein hee counted himselfe happy to see mee in the night Farre farre therefore from mee be all ingratitude farre be all flattery and dissimulation towards so true and faithfull a Louer for I regard in my regard to him neyther husband father nor kindred for in losing my Calisto I lose my life which life of mine doth therefore please me because it pleaseth him which I desire no longer to inioy then he shall ioy in it Lucrecia Peace Madame harke harke they continue in their discourse Pleberio 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 entertaine 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 Alisa 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 Melibea Lucrecia Lucrecia runne hye thee quickly and goe in by the backe doore in the hall
dust from his horses with his curry-combe What My Sosia My inward friend Him whom I wish so well vnto though perhaps he knowes not of it Him whom I haue longed to know led only by the fame and good report which I heare of him What He that is so faithfull to his Master So good a friend to his acquaintance I will imbrace thee my Loue I will hugge thee in mine armes for now that I see thee I see report comes short and verily perswade my selfe that there are more vertues in thee then I haue been told of Fame hath been too sparing of thy praise come sweet heart let vs goe in and sit downe in my chamber for it does me good to looke vpon thee O! how thou dost resemble my vnfortunate Parmeno How liuely doth thy person represent him vnto mee This is it that makes this day to shine so cleare that thou art come to visit mee Tell mee gentle Sir did you euer know mee before Sosia 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 Elicia 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 Areusa 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 Sosia 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 Areusa My Loue thou know'st how dearely I lou'd Parmeno And as it is in the Prouerbe Hee that loues Beltram loues any thing that is his all his friends were alwaies welcome vnto mee his good seruice to his Master did as much please mee as it pleased himselfe When hee saw any harme towards Calisto hee did study to preuent it Now as all this is true so thought I it good to accquaint thee with it First then did I send for thee that I might giue thee to vnderstand how much I loue thee how much I ioy and euer shall in this thy visiting mee nor shalt thou lose any thing by it if I can helpe it but rather turne to thy profit and benefit Secondly since that I haue setled my eyes my loue and affection on thee that I may aduise thee to take heede how thou commest in danger and besides to admonish thee that thou doe not discouer thy secrets to any For you see what ill befell Parmeno and Sempronio by imparting things of secrecy vnto Celestina for I would not willingly see thee dye in such an ill fashion as your fellow and companion did it is enough for mee that I haue bewayled one of you already and therefore I would haue you to know that there came one vnto mee and told me that you had discouered vnto him the loue that is betwixt Calisto and Melibea and how hee wanne her and how you your selfe night by night went along with him and many other things which now I cannot call to minde Take heede friend for not to keepe a secret is proper onely vnto women yet not vnto all but such as are fooles and children Take heede I say for heere-hence great hurt may come vnto you and to this end did Nature giue you two eares and two eyes and but one tongue to the end that what you see and heare should be double to that you speake Take heede and doe not thinke your friend will keepe your secret when you your selfe cannot keepe it when therefore thou art to goe with thy Master Calisto to that Ladies house make no noyse lest you be heard for some haue told me that euery night you keepe a coyle and cannot containe your selues as men transported and ouer-ioyed Sosia O what busie-bodies and what idle-headed persons be they who abuse your eares with such friuolous tales whosoeuer told you that hee heard any such matter out of my mouth hee told you an vntruth and some others perhaps because they see me goe anights when the Moone shines to water my horses whisling and singing and such like kinde of mirth to driue away care and to make me forget my toyling and my moyling and all this before tenne a clocke at night conceiue an euill suspition and of this suspition make certaineties and affirme that to be true which themselues doe falsly surmize And Calisto is not so madde or foolish that at such an houre as that he should goe about a businesse of so great a consequence but that he will first be sure that all abroad is quiet and that euery man reposes himselfe in the sweetenesse of his first sleepe and lesse are you to suppose that hee should goe euery night vnto her for such a duty will not endure a daily visitation And that you may Mistresse more manifestly see their falsehood for as the Prouerbe is A lyer is sooner ta'ne
the sentences and sayings of Philosophers that they may transpose them into such fit places as may make vpon occasion for their owne vse and purpose So that when ten men shall meete together to heare this Comedy in whom perhaps shall happen this difference of dispositions as it vsually falleth out who will deny but that there is a contention in that thing which is so diuersly vnderstood the Printers they likewise haue bestowed their puncture putting Titles and adding Arguments to the beginning of euery Act deliuering in briefe what is more largely contained therein a thing very excusable in former times being much vsed and in great request with your ancient Writers others haue contended about the name saying that it ought not to be called a Comedy because it ends in sorrow and mourning but rather termed a Tragedy The Authour himselfe would haue it take it's denomination from it's beginning which treates of pleasure and therfore call'd it a Comedy So that I seeing these differences between their extremes haue parted this quarrell by diuiding it in the midst and call it a Tragick-Comedy So that obseruing these contentions these disagreements these dissonant and various iudgements I had an eye to marke whither the maior part inclined and found that they were all desirous that I should inlarge my selfe in the pursuite of the delight of these Louers whereunto I haue been earnestly importuned in so much that I haue consented though against my will to put now the second time my Penne to this so strange a taske and so farre estranged from my faculty stealing some houres from my principall studies together with others allotted to my recreation though I know I shall not want new Detractors for my new Edition The ACTORS in this Tragick-Comedy Calisto A young inamoured Gentleman Melibea Daughter to Pleberio Pleberio Father to Melibea Alisa Mother to Melibea Celestina An old Bawde Seruants to Calisto Parmeno Sempronio Tristan Sofia Crito A Whoremaster Lucrecia Maide to Pleberio Whores Elicia Areusa Centutio A Pandar or Ruffian Errata Folie 5. Line 36. not Read now ibid. l. 45. beene r. bent 24. l. 35. neuer r. new 29. l. 18. part r. port 37. l. 16 Master r. Mother 38. l. 28. Parmeno r. Sempronio 45. l. 35. werticke r. wretch ibid. l. 40. man r. woman So l. 28. my r. thy 97. l. 12. hatefully r. hatefull 110. l. 47. wate r. are 126. l. 30 preferred r. preferre 132. l. 35. out r. on 133. l. 4. on r. out 147 l. 2. poore r. power 169. 〈…〉 l. 20. not r. now 176. l. 1. thou shouldst commend me read thou shouldst not commend me A COMEDIE OR TRAGICKE COMEDIE OF CALISTO and MELIBEA THE ARGVMENT GALISTO who was of Linage Noble of Wit Singular of Disposition Gentle of Behauiour Sweete with many gracefull qualities richly indowed and of a competent estate fell in loue with Melibea of yeeres young of blood Noble of estate Great and only daughter and heire to her father Pleberio and to her mother Alisa of both exceedingly beloued Whose chaste purpose conquered by the hot pursuite of amorous Calisto Celestine interposing her selfe in the businesse a wicked and crafty woman and together with her two deluded seruants of subdued Calisto and by her wrought to be disloiall their fidelitie being taken with the hooke of couetousnesse and pleasure Those Louers came and those that serued them to a wretched and vnfortunate end For entrance whereunto aduerse fortune afforded a fit and opportune place where to the presence of Calisto the desired Melibea presented her selfe ACTVS I. THE ARGVMENT CAlisto entering into a garden after his vsuall 〈◊〉 met there with Melibea with whose loue being caught he began to court her by whom being sharply checkt and dismist he gets him home being much troubled and grieued he consults his seruant Sempronio who after much intercourse of 〈…〉 till Sempronio and Celestina 〈…〉 Parmeno was knowne by Celestina who tells him of the good acquaintance which she had of his mother and many matters that had past between them inducing him in the end to loue and concord with Sempronio INTERLOCVTORS Calisto Melibea Parmeno Sempronio Celestina Elicia Crito CAlisto In this Melibea I see heauens greatnesse and goodnesse Melib. In what Calisto Calisto Greatnesse in giuing such power to nature as to endow thee with so perfect a beauty goodnesse in affoording me so great a fauour as thy faire presence and a place so conuenient to vnsheathe my secret griefe A grace vndoubtedly so incomparable and by many degrees far greater than any seruice I haue performed can merit from aboue What inhabitant heere below euer saw a more glorious creature then I behold Certainly if sublunary bodies can giue a celestiall reflection or resemblance I contemplate and find it in thy diuine beauty had it perpetuity what happines beyond it Yet wretch that I am I must liue like another Tantalus see what I may not enjoy not touch and my comfort must be the thinking of thy disdainnesse thy pleasing coynesse and the torment which thy absence will inflict vpon me Melib. Holdest thou this Calisto so great a reward Calist. So great that if you should giue me the greatest good vpon earth I should not hold it so great a happinesse Melib. I shall giue thee a reward answerable to thy deserts if thou perseuere and goe on in this manner Cal. O fortunate eares which are though vnworthily admitted to heare so gracious a word such great and comfortable tydings Melibea But vnfortunate by that time thou hast heard thy doome For thy payment shall be as foule as thy presumption was foolish and thy entertainment as small at thy intrusion was great How durst such a one as thou hazard thy selfe on the vertue of such a one as I Goe wretch be gone out of my sight for my patience cannot endure that so much as a thought should enter into any mans heart to communicate his mind vnto me in illicite loue Calisto I goe but as one who am the onely vnhappy marke againe whom aduerse fortune the extremity of her hate Sempronio Sempronio, why Sempronio I say Where is this accursed Varlet 〈…〉 Calisto Is 't e'en so Now the diuell take thee misfortune waite on thy heeles to thy destruction mischiefe light vpon thee let some perpetuall intolerable torment seyze vpon thee in so high a degree that it may be beyond all comparison till it bring thee which shortly I hope to see to a most painfull miserable and disastrous death Goe thou vnlucky rogue goe I say and open the chamber doore and make ready my bed Sempronio Presently Sir the bed is ready for you Calisto Shut the windowes and leaue darkenesse to accompany him whose sad thoughts deserue no light Oh death how welcome art thou to those who out-liue their happinesse how welcome wouldst thou but come when thou art call'd O that Hypocrates and Galen those learned Physicians were now liuing and both heere and felt my paine O heauen if
scarlet-dy'd cloathes fitted purposely for women to rub their faces therewith oyntments for to make the face smooth lustrifications clarifications pargetings fardings waters for the morphewes and a thousand other slibber slabbers Some made of the lees of wine some of daffadills some of the barkes and rindes of trees some of Scar-wolfe otherwise called Cittibush or Trifolium some of Taragon some of Centory some of sowre grapes some of Must or new wine taken from the presse first distilled and afterwards sweetned with sugar Shee had a tricke to supple and refine the skin with the juice of Lemmons with Turpentine with the marrow of Deere and of Heron-shawes and a thousand the like confections shee distilled sweet-waters of Roses of Flowers of Oranges of Iesmine of three-leafed Grasse of Woodbine of Gilly-flowers incorporated with Muske and Ciuit and sprinkled with wine shee made likewise Lees for to make the 〈◊〉 turne yellow or of the colour of Gold and this shee compâ—â—d of the sprigs of the Vine of Holme of Rye of Horehound intermixt with Salt-peter with Allum Mill-foyle which some call yarrow or Nose-bleed together with diuers other things The oyles the butters and the greases which shee vsed it is lothsome to tell you and would turne your stomacke as of Kine Beares Horses Caâ—â—eâ—s Snakes Conyes Whaâ—es Herons Bittours Bucks Cats of the mountaines Badgers Squirrells Hedge-hogges and others For her preparatiues for bathings it is a wonderfull thing to acquaint you with all the hearbes and rootes which were ready gathered and hung vp a-high in the roofe of her house as Caâ—romill Rose-mary Marth-mallowes Maiden-haire Blue-bottle Flowers of Elder and of Mustard Spike and white Laurell buds of Roses Rosecakes Gramenilla Wild-Sauory Green figs Picodorae and Folia-tinct The oyles which she extracted for the face it is incredible to recount of Storax and of Iesmine of LeÌ„mons of Apple-kernels of Violets of Benâ—uy of Fistick-nuts of Pine-apple kernels of Grape-stores of Iujuba of Axenuz or Mâ—lanthien of Lupines of Pease of Carilla and Paxarera and a small quantity of Balsamum she had in a little viall wherwith she cured that scotch giuen her ouerthwart her nose For the mending of lost maiden-heads some shee holpe with little bladders and other some she stitch't vp with the needle shee had in a little Cabbinet or painted workeboxe certain fine small needles such as your Glouers sowe withall and threds of the slenderest smallest silke rubb'd ouer with wax she had also roots hanging there of Folia-Plasme Fuste-sanguinio Squill or Sea-Onion and ground Thistle With these she did work wonders and when the French Embassadour came thither shee made sale of one of her wenches three seuerall times for a virgin Calisto So shee might a hundred as well Parme. Beleeue mee Sir it is true as I tell you Besides out of charity forsooth she relieued many Orphanes and many straggling wenches which recommended themselues vnto her In another partition she had her knacks for to help those that were loue-sicke and to make them to be beloued againe and obtaine their desires And for this purpose shee had the bones that are bred in a Stagges heart the tongue of a Viper the heads of Quailes the braines of an Asse the kalls of young Coltes when they are new foaled the bearing cloth of a new-borne babe Barbary beanes a Sey-Compasse A Horne-fish the halter of a man that hath beene hang'd Iuse berries the prickles of a Hedge-hogge the foote of a Badger Fearne-seed the stone of an Eagles nest and a thousand other things Many both men and women came vnto her of some she would demand a piece of that bread where they had bit it of others some part of their apparell of some shee would craue to haue of their hayre others she would draw characters in the palmes of their hands with Saffrom with othersome she would doe the same with a kinde of colour which you call Vermilion to others she would giue hearts made of waxe and stucke full of broken needles and many other the like things made in clay and some in lead very fearefull and ghastly to behold shee would draw circles portraite foorth figures and mumble many strange words to her selfe hauing her eyes still fixed on the ground But who is able to deliuer vnto you those things that she hath done And all these were meere mockeries and lyes Calisto Parmeno hold thy hand thou hast said inough what remaineth leaue it till some fitter opportunity I am sufficiently instructed by thee and I thanke thee for it Let vs now delay them no longer for necessity cuts off slackenesse Know thou that shee comes hither requested and wee make her stay longer then stands with good manners Come let vs goe lest she be offended and take it ill I feare and feare makes me more and more thinke vpon her quickens my memorie and awakens in me a more prouident carefulnesse how I communicate my selfe vnto her Well let vs goe and arme our selues as well as we can against all inconueniences But I pray thee Parmeno let me intreat thee that the enuy thou bearest vnto Sempronio who is to serue and pleasure me in this businesse be not an impedimeÌ„t to that remedy wheron no lesse then the safety of my life relyeth And if I had a doublet for him thou shalt not want a Mandillion Neither thinke thou but that I esteeme as much of thy counsell and aduice as of his labour and paines and as bruite beasts we see doe labour more bodily then men for which they are well respected of vs and carefully lookt vnto but yet for all this we hold them not in the nature of friends nor affect them with the like loue the like difference doe I make betweene thee and Sempronio And laying aside all power and dominion in my selfe vnder the priuie-Seale of my secret loue signe my selfe vnto thee for such a friend Parme. Sir it grieues mee not a little that you should seeme doubtfull of my fidelity and faithfull seruice which these your faire promises and demonstrations of your good affection cannot but call into question and iealousie When Sir did you euer see my enuy prooue hurtfull vnto you Or when for any interest of mine own or dislike did I euer shew myselfe crosse to crosse your good or to hinder what might make for your profit Calisto Take it not offensiuely not mis-conster my meaning for assure thy selfe thy good behauiour towards mee and thy faire carriage and gentle disposition makes thee more gracious in mine eies then any nay then all the rest of my seruants But because in a case so difficult and hard as this not only all my good but euen my life and wholly dependeth it is needfull that I should in all that I am abâ—e prouide for my selfe and therefore seeke to arme my selfe in this sort as thou see'st against all such casualties as may indanger my desire howsoever perswade thy selfe that thy good qualities as farre excell euery naturall good
as euery naturall good excelleth the artificiall from whom it hath it's beginning But of this for this time no more but let vs now goe and see her who must work out well fare Celest. Soft me thinkes I heare some body on the stayres they are now comming downe Sempronio make as though you did not heare them stand close and listen what they say and let me alone to speake for vs both And thou shalt see how handsomely I will handle the matter both for thee and mee Sempr. Due so then Speake thou Celest. Trouble mee no more I say leaue importuning me for to ouercharge one who is heauy enough already laden with paine and â—â—uish were to spurre a sicke beast Alas poore soule mee thinkes 〈◊〉 so possessed with thy Masters paine and so affected with his affliction that Sempronio seemes to be Calisto and Calisto to be Sempronio and that both your torments are both but in one and the same subiect Besides I would haue you thinke that I came not hither to leaue this controuersie vndecided but will dye rather in the demand and pursuite of this my purpose then not see his desire accomplished Calisto Parmeno stay stay awhile make no noyse stand still I pray thee and listen a little what they say So huâ—h that we may see in what state wee liue what wee are like to trust to and how the world is like to goe with vs O notable woman O worldly goods vnworthy to be possessed by so high a spirit O faithfull and trusty Sempronio Hast thou well obseru'd him my Parmeno Hast thou heard him Hast thou noted his earnestnesse Tell me haue I not reason to respect him What saist thou man Thou that art the Clozet of my secrets the Cabinet of my Counsell and Councell of my soule Parme. Protesting first my innocency for your former suspition and cumplying with my fidelity since you haue giuen me such free liberty of speech I will truly deliuer vnto you what I thinke Heare mee therefore and let not your affection make you deafe nor hope of your pleasure blinde you haue a little patience and be not too hasty for many through too much eagernesse to hit the pinne haue shot farre beside the white And albeit I am but young yet haue I seene somewhat in my dayes besides the obseruation and fight of many things doe teach a man much experience Wherefore assure your selfe and thereon I durst pawne my life that they ouer-heard what wee said as also our comming downe the stayres and haue of set purpose fallen into this false and feyned expression of their great loue and care wherein you now place the end of your desire Sempr. Beleeue mee Celestîna Parmeno aimes vnhappily Celest. Be silent For I sweare by my haly-doome that whither comes the Asse thither also shall come the saddle Let mee alone to deale with Parmeno and you shall see I will so temper him e'r I haue done with him that I will make him wholly ours And see what wee gaine hee shall share with vs for goods that are not common are not goods It is communication that makes combination in loue and therefore let vs all gaine let vs all deuide the spoile and let vs laugh and be merry all alike I will make the slaue so tame and so gentle that I will bring him like a bird to picke bread from my first And so we will be two to two and all three joyne to coozen the fourth Thou and I will ioyne together Parmeno shall make a third and all of vs cheate Calisto Calisto Sempronio Sempr. Sir Cal. What art thou doing thou that art the key of my life Open the doore O Parmeno now that I see her I feele my selfe well me thinks I am now aliue againe See what a reuerend Matrone it is What a presence she beares worthy respect A man may now see how for the most part the face is the Index of the mind O vertuous old age O inaged vertue O glorious hope of my desired end O head the all ayer of my passion O relieuer of my torment and viuification of my life resurrection from my death I desire to draw neer vnto thee my lips long to kisse those hands wherein consists the fulnesse of my recouery but the vnworthinesse of my person debars mee of so great a fauour Wherefore I heere adore the ground whereon thou treadest and in reuerence of thee bow downe my body to kisse it Celest. Sempronio Can faire words make me the fatter Can I liue by this Those bones which I haue already gnawne does this foole thy Master thinke to feede mee therewith Sure the man dreames when he comes to frye his egges he will then finde what is wanting Bid him shut his mouth and open his purse I missedoubt his words much more his works Holla I say are you so ticklish I will curry you for this geare you lame Asse you must rise a little more early if you meane to goe beyond me Parme. Woe to these eares of mine that euer they should heare such words as these I now see that hee is a lost man who goes after one that is lost O vnhappy Calisto deiect wretch blind in thy folly and kneeling on the ground to adore the oldest and the rottennest piece of whorish earth that euer rub'd her shoulders in the Stewes He is vndone he is ouerthrowne horse and foote hee is fallen ino a trap whence he will neuer get out hee is not capable of any redemption counsell or courage Calisto Wat said my mother It seemeth vnto mee that shee thinkes I offer words for to excuse my reward Sempr. You haue hit the nayle on the head Sir Calisto Come then with mee bring the keyes with you and thou shalt see I will quickely put her out of that doubt Sempr. In so doing you shall doe well Sir Let vs goe presently for it is not good to suffer weeds to grow amongst corne not suspition in the hearts of our friends but to root it out streight with the weed-hooke of good workes Calisto Wittily spoken come let vs goe let vs slacke no time Celest. Beleeue me Parmeno I am very glad that we haue lighted on so fit an opportunity wherein I may manifest and make knowne vnto thee the singular loue wherewithall I affect thee and what great interest though vndeseruedly thou hast in me I say vndeseruedly in regard of that which I haue heard thee speake against me whereof I make no more reckoning but am content to let it passe For vertue teacheth vs to suffer temptations and not to render euill for euill and especially when wee are tempted by young men such as want experience and are not acquainted with the courses of the world who out of an ignorant and foolish kinde of loyalty vndoe both themselues and their Masters as thou thy selfe dost Calisto I heard you well inough not a word you said that escaped mine care Nor do you think that with these my other outward senses
old age hath made me lose my hearing for not onely that which I see heare and know but euen the very inward secrets of thy heart and thoughts I search into and pierce to the full with these my intellectuall eyes these eies of my vnderstanding I would haue thee to know Permeno that Calisto is loue-sicke sicke euen to the death Nor art thou for this to censure him to be a weak and foolish man for vnresistable loue subdueth all things Besides I would haue thee to know if thou knowst it not already that there are these two conclusions that are euermore infallibly true The first is that euery man must of force loue a woman and euery woman loue a man The second is that he who truely loues must of necessity be much troubled mou'd with the sweetnes of that superexcellent delight which was ordain'd by him that made all things for the perpetuating of mankind without which it must needs perish and not only in humane kind but also in fishes birds beasts all creatures that creepe and crawle vpon the earth Likewise in your soules vegetatiue some plants haue the same inclination disposition that without the interpositioÌ„ of any other thing they be planted in some little distance one of another and it is determined and agreed vpon by the generall-consent of your Gardeners and husband-men to be Make and Female How can you answer this Parmeno Now my pretty 〈◊〉 foole you mad wagge my soules sweet Genius my Pearle 〈…〉 well my honest poore silly Lad my pretty little Monky-face come hither you little whoreson Alack how I pitty thy simplicity thou knowst nothing of the world nor of it's delights Let me run mad and dye in that fit if I suffer thee to come neere me as old as I am Thou hast a harsh and ill fauourd hoarse voyce by thy brizzled beard it is easily guest what manner of man you are Tell mee is all quiet beneath No motions at all to make in Venus Court Sempr. O! As quiet as the taile of a Scorpion Celest. It were well and it were no worse Parme. Ha ha he Celest. Laugh'st thou thou pocky rogue Parme. Nay mother be quiet hold your peace I pray Doe not blame me and doe not hold mee though I am but young for a foole I loue Calisto tyed thereunto out of that true and honest fidelity which euery seruant owes vnto his Master for the breeding that he hath giuen me for the benefit which I receiue from him as also because I am well respected and kindely intreated by him which is the strongest chaine that linkes the loue of the seruant to the seruice of his Master As the contrary is the breaking of it I see hee is out of the right way and hath wholly lost himselfe and nothing can befall a man worse in this world then to hunt after his desire without hope of a good and happy end especially he thinking to recouer his game which himselfe holdeth so hard and difficult a pursuite by the vaine aduice and foolish reasons of that beast Sempronio which is all one as if he should goe about with the broade end of a Spade to dig liâ—le wormes out of a mans hand I hate it I abhorre it It is abominable and with griefe I speake it I doe much lament it Celestina Knowst thou not Parmeno that it is an absolute folly or meere simplicity to bewaile that which by wayling cannot bee holpen Parme. And therefore doe I wayle because it cannot be holpen For if by wayling and weeping it were posible to worke some remedy for my Master so great would the contentment of that hope be that for very ioy I should not haue the power to weepe But because I see all hope thereof to be vtterly lost with it haue I lost all my ioy and for this cause doe I weepe Celest. Thou weepest in vaine for that which cannot by weeping be auoyded thou canst not turne the istreame of his violent passion and therefore maist truly presume that he is past allâ—re Tell mee Parmeno hath not the like happened to others as well as to him Parme. Yes But I would not haue my Master through mourning and grieuing languish and grow sicke Celestina Thy Master is well inough He is not sicke and were hee neuer so sicke neuer so much payned and grieued I my selfe am able to cure him I haue the power to doe it Parme. I regard not what thou saist For in good things better is the Act then the Power And in bad things better the Power then the Act So that it is beter to be well then an the way to bee well And better is the possibility of being sicke then to be sicke indeed and therefore Power in ill is better then the Act Celest. O thou wicked villaine How Idly dost thou talke as if thou didst not vnderstand thy selfe It seemes thou dost not know his disease What hast thou hitherto said What wouldst thou haue What is 't that grieues you Sir Why lamentest thou Be you dispos'd to jest and make your selfe merry or are you in good earnest and would'st faine face out truth with falsehood Beleeue you what you list I am sure hee is sicke and that in Act and that the Power to make him whole lyes wholly in the hands of this weake old woman Parme. Nay rather of this weake old Whore Celest. Now the Hang-man be thy ghostly father my little rascall my pretty villaine how dar'st thou be so bold with me Parme. How as though I did not know thee Celest. And who art thou Parm. Who marry I am Parmeno sonne to Alberto thy gossip who liu'd some little while with thee for my mother recommended mee vnto thee when thou dwelt'st close by the riuers side in Tanners row Celest. Good Lord and art thou Parmeno Claudina's sonne Parm. The very same Celest. Now the fire of the pockes consume thy bones for thy mother was an old whore as my selfe Why dost thou persecute me Parmeno It is he in good truth it is hee Come hither vnto mee come I say many a good jerke and many a cuffe on the eare haue I giuen thee in my daies and as many kisses too A you little rogue dost thou remember sirrha when thou lay'st at my beds feet Parm. Passing well and sometimes also though I was then but a little Apish boy how you would take me vp to your pillow and there lye hugging of me in your armes and because you sauour'd somewhat of old age I remember how I would fling and flye from you Celest. A pocks on you for a rogue Our impudent art thou not ashamed to talke thus But to leaue off all jesting and to come to plaine earnest Heare me now my childe and hearken what I shall say vnto thee For though I am called hither for one end I am come for another And albeit I haue made my selfe a stranger vnto thee and as though I knew thee not yet thou wast
the onely cause that drew mee hither My sonne I am sure thou art not ignorant how that your mother gaue you vnto me your father being then aliue who after thou wentst from me dyed of no other griefe saue onely what she suffered for the vncertainty of thy life and person For whose absence in those latter yeeres of her elder age she led a most painefull pensiue and carefull life And when the time came that she was to leaue this world shee sent for mee and in secret recommended thee vnto me and told me no other witnesse being by but heauen the witnesse to 〈◊〉 our workes our thoughts our hearts whom she alone interpose betweene her and mee that of all loues I should doe so much 〈◊〉 as to make inquirie after thee and when I had found thee 〈◊〉 thee vp foster thee as mine own and that as soon as thou 〈◊〉 come to mans estate wert able to know how to gouern thy selfe and to liue in some good manner and fashion that then I should discouer vnto thee a certain place where vnder many a lock and key she hath left thee more store of Gold and Siluer then all the reuenewes come to that thy Master Calisto hath in his possession And because I solemnly vow'd and bound my selfe by promise vnto her that I would see her desire as far foorth as lay in me to be well and truely performed she peacefully departed this mortall life and though a mans faith ought to be inuiolably obserued both to the liuing and the dead yet more especially to the dead for they are not able to doe any thing of themselues they cannot come to me and prosecute their right here vpon earth I haue spent much time mony in inquiring searching after thee could neuer till now heare what was become of thee and it is not aboue three daies since that I first heard of your being and where you abode Verily it hath much grieued me that thou hast gon trauelling wandring throughout the world as thou hast done from place to place losing thy time without either gaine of profit or of friends For as Seneca saith Trauellers haue many ends and few friends For in so short a time they can neuer fasten friendship with any and hee that is euery where is said to be no where Againe that meat cannot benefit the body which is no sooner eaten then eiected Neither doth any thing more hinder it's health then your diuersities and changes of meates Nor doth that would come to be healed which hath daily change of tents and neuer plasters Nor doth that Tree neuer proue which is often transplanted and remoued from one ground to another Nor is there any thing to profitable which at the first sight bringeth profit with it Therefore my good sonne leaue off these violencies of youth and following the doctrine and rule of thy Ancestors returne vnto reason settle thy selfe in some one place or other And where better then where I shal aduise thee taking mee and my counsell along with thee to whom thou art recommended both by thy father and mother And I as if I were thine owne true mother say vnto thee vpon those curses and maledictions which thy parents haue laid vpon thee if thou should'st be disobedient vnto me that yet a while thou continue heere and serue this thy Master which thou hast gotten thee till thou hearest further from mee but not with that foolish loyalty and ignorant honesty as hitherto thou hast done thinking to finde firmenesse vpon a false foundation as most of these Masters now a daies are But doe thou gaine friends which is a durable and lasting commodity sticke closely and constantly vnto them doe not thou liue vpon hopes relying on the vaine promises of Masters who sucke away the substance of their seruants with hollow-hearted and idle promises as the horse-leaches suck bloud and in the end fall off from them wrong them grow forgetfull of their good seruices and deny them any recompence or reward at all Wo be vnto him that growes old in Court The Masters of these times loue more themselues then their seruants neither in so doing doe they doe amisse The like loue ought seruants to beare vnto themselues Liberality was lost long agoe rewards are growne out of date magnificence is fled the countrie and with her all noblenesse Euery one of them is wholly now for himselfe and makes the best hee can of his seruants seruice seruing his turne as hee findes it may stand with his priuate interest and profit And therefore they ought to doe no lesse sithens that they are lesse then they in substance but to liue after their law and to doe as they doe My sonne Parmeno I the rather tell thee this because thy Master as I am informed is as it seemeth likewise vnto mee a Rompenecios one that befooles his seruants and weares them out to the very stumps lookes for much seruice at their hands and makes them small or no recompence He will looke to be serued of all but will part with nothing at all Weigh well my words and perswade thy selfe that what I haue said is true Get thee some friends in his house which is the greatest and preciousest Iewell in the world For with him thou must not thinke to fasten friendship A thing seldome seene where there is such difference of estate and condition as is betweene you two Opportunity thou seest now offers her selfe vnto vs on whose fore-top if wee will but take hold wee shall all of vs be great gainers and thou shalt presently haue something wherewithall to help thy selfe As for that which I told you of it shall bee well and safely kept when time shall serue in the meane while it shall be much for thy profit that thou make Sempronio thy friend Parme. Celestina my hayre stands an end to heare thee I tremble at thy words I know not what I should doe I am in a great perplexity One while I hold thee for my mother another while Calisto for my Master I desire riches but would not get them wrongfully for hee that rises by vnlawfull meanes falls with greater speed then he got vp I would not for all the world thriue by ill gotten gaine Celest. Marry Sir but so would I right or wrong so as my house may be raised high inough I care not Parme. Well wee two are of contrary minds For I should neuer liue contented with ill gotten goods for I hold cheerefull pouerty to be an honest thing Besides I must tell you that they are not poore that haue little but they that desire much And therefore say all you can though neuer so much you shall neuer perswade me in this to be of your beliefe I would faine passe ouer this life of mine without enuy I would passe thorow solitary woods and wildernesses without feare I would take my sleepe without â—â—â—rtings I would auoyd iniuries with gentle answers indure violence without reuiling
shouldst goe along with her and hasten her on since thou knowst that on her dililigence dependeth my well-fare on her slownesse my painfulnesse on her neglect my despaire Thou art wise I know thee to bee faithfull I hold thee a good seruant And therefore so handle the matter that she shall no sooner see thee but that shee may iudge of that paine which I feele and of that fire which tormenteth mee whose extreme heat will not giue me leaue to lay open vnto her the third part of my secret sickenesse So did it tye my tongue and tooke such hold on my sences that they were not onely busied but in a manner wasted and consumed which thou as one that is free from the like passion maist more largely deliuer letting thy words runne with a looser reyne Sempr. Sir I would faine goe to fulfill your command And I would fayne stay to ease you of your care your feare puts spurs to my sides and your solitarinesse like a bridle pulls mee backe But I will obey and follow your councell which is to goe and labour the old woman But how shall I goe For if I leaue you thus all alone you will talke idlely like one that is distracted doe nothing but sigh weepe and take on shutting your selfe vp in darknesse desiring solitude and seeking new meanes of thoughtfull torment wherein if you still perseuere you cannot escape either death or madnesse For the auoyding whereof get some good company about you that may minister vnto you occasion of mirth by recounting of witty conceits by intertaining you with Musicke and singing merry songs by relating Stories by deuising Motto's by telling tales by playing at cards iesting sporting In a word by inuenting any other kinde of sweet and delightfull recreation for to passe away the time that you may not suffer your thoughts to run still wandring on in that cruell errour whereinto they were put by that your Lady and Mistresse vpon the first trance and encounter of your Loue Calisto How like a silly foole thou talkest Know'st thou not that it easeth the paine to bewaile it's cause O how sweet is it to the sorrowfull to vnsheathe their griefes What ease doe broken 〈◊〉 bring with them O what a diminishing and refreshing to tearefull complaints is the vnfolding of a mans woes and bitter 〈◊〉 As many as euer writ of comfort and consolation doe all of them iumpe in this Sempr. Read a little farther and but turne ouer the leafe and you shall finde they say thus That to trust in things temporall and to seek after matter of sorrow is a kinde of foolishnesse if not madnesse And that Macias the Idoll of Louers forgetfull of himselfe because his mistresse did forget him and carelesse of his well fare because she cared not for him complaines himselfe thus That the punishment of loue consists in the contemplation thereof And that the best remedy against loue is not to thinke on thy loue The ease lies in the forgetting it Kick not therefore against the pricke feyne thy selfe to be merry pluck vp your spirits and be of good cheere and all you shall see shall be well for oftentimes opinion brings things whither it listeth Not that it should cause vs to swarue from the truth but for to teach vs to moderate our seâ—ce and to gouerne our iudgement Calisto Sempronio my friend for so thy loue makes me stile thee since it so grieues thee that I should be alone call Parmeno hither and hee shall stay with me and henceforth be thou as thou hast euer beene faithfull and loyall vnto mee For in the seruice of the seruant consisteth the Masters remuneration O Parmeno Parme. Heere Sir Calisto O I thinke not for I cannot see thee Leaue her not Sempronio Ply her hard follow her at an inch Forget mee not I pray thee Now Parmeno what thinkest thou of that which hath past to day My paine is great Melibea stately Celestina wise she is her crafts Master and we cannot doe amisse Thou hast maynly opposed thy selfe against her and to draw me to a detestation of her thou hast painted her forth to the purpose and set her out in her colours and I beleeue thee For such and so great is the force of truth that it commands euen the tongues of our enemies But be she such as thou hast described her to be yet had I rather giue her an hundred Crownes then giue another fiue Parme. Is the winde in that doore Doe you beginne to complaine already Haue you now better bethought your selfe Wee shall shortly complaine too at home for I feare mee we shall fast for this frankenesse Calisto It is thy opinion Parmeno that I aske Gratifie mee therein Hold dost thou looke Why hang'st thou downe thy head when thou shouldest answer me But I perceiue that as enuy is sad and sadnesse without a tongue thine owne will can doe more with thee then feare of my displeasure What is that thou grumblest at What didst thou mutter to thy selfe as though thou wert angry Parm. I say Sir that it had been better you had imployed your liberality on some present or the like seruices vpon Melibea her selfe then to cast away your money vpon this old Bawd I know well enough what shee is and which is worse on such a one as mindes to make you her slaue Calisto How you foole her slaue Parme. I her slaue For to whom thou tellest thy secret to him doest thou giue thy liberty Calisto It is something that the foole hath said but I would faine know this of thee whether or no when as there is a great distance betwixt the intreater and the intreated the suitor and the party sued vnto either out of authority of obedience or greatnesse of estate and dignity or noblenesse of descent of bloud as there is betwixt my Mistresse and my selfe Whether or no I pray it be not necessary to haue an intercessour or mediatour for mee who may euery foot go to and fro with my messages vntill they arriue at her eares of whom to haue a second Audience I hold it impossible And if it be thus with me tell me whether thou approuest of what I haue done or no Parm. The diuell approue it for mee Calisto What saist thou Parme. Marry I say Sir that neuer any errour came yet vnaccompanied and that one inconuenience is the cause of another and the doore that opens vnto many Calisto Thy saying I approue but vnderstand not thy purpose Parme. Then thus Sir your losing of your Hawke the other day was the cause of your entring into the Garden where Melibea was to looke if she were there your entring the cause that you both saw her and talked with her your talke ingendred loue your loue brought forth your paine and your paine will be the cause of your growing carelesse and wretchlesse both of your body soule and goods And that which grieues me most is that you must fall into the hands of that same
Sempronio remaines in the house with Elicia INTERLOCVTORS Sempronio Celestina Elicia SEmpronio Looke what leysure the old bearded Bawd takes How softly she goes How one leg comes drawling after another Now she has her money her armes are broken Well ouertaken Mother I perceiue you will not hurt your selfe by too much haste Celest. How now sonne What newes with you Sempr. Why this our sicke patient knowes not well himselfe what hee would haue Nothing will content him hee will haue his cake bak'd before it be dough and his meat rosted before it be spitted He feares thy negligence and curseth his owne couetousnesse hee is angry with his close fistednesse and offended that he gaue thee no more Celest. There is nothing more proper to Louers then impatience Euery small tarriance is to them a great torment the least delay breedes dislike In a moment what they imagine must be fully effected nay concluded before begunne especially these new Louers who against any luring whatsoeuer flie out to checke they care not whither without any aduisemeÌ„t in the world or once thinking on the harme which the meate of their desire may by ouerâ—â—â—â—â—â—ing occasion vnto them intermingled amidst the affayres and 〈◊〉 concerning their owne persons and their seruants Sempr. What sayst thou of seruants Thinkest thou that any 〈◊〉 is like to come vnto vs by labouring in this businesse Or that wee shall be burned with those Sparkles which scatteringly flye foorth of Calisto's 〈◊〉 I had rather see him and all his loue 〈◊〉 to the diuell vpon the 〈◊〉 discouery therefore of any danger 〈◊〉 chance to goe 〈◊〉 I will eate no more of his bread I will not stay with him no not an 〈◊〉 For it is better to lose his serue then 〈◊〉 in seruing him But Time will tell mee what I 〈◊〉 doe For before his finall downe-fall he will like a house that is ready to fall giue some token himselfe of his owne ruine And therefore Master let vs in any case keepe our persons from perill let vs doe what may be done if it be possible let vs work her for him this yeer if not this the next if not the next when we may if neuer the worse lucke his Though there is not any thing so hard to suffer in it's beginning which time doth not soften and reduce to a gentle sufferance And there is no wound so painefull which in time doth not slacken much of it's torment Nor was there euer any pleasure so delightfull which hath not by long continuance beene much diminished and lessened Ill and good prosperity and aduersity glory and griefe all these with time lose the force and strength of their rash and hasty beginning Whereas matters of admiration and things earnestly desired once obtained haue no sooner beene come then forgotten no sooner purchased but relinquished Euery day we see new and strange accidents wee heare as many and wee passe them ouer leaue those and hearken after others them also doth time lessen make contingible as things of common course And I pray what wonder would you thinke it if some should come and tell you There was such an earth-quake in such a place or some such other things tell me would you not streight forget it As also if one should say vnto you Such a Riuer is frozen such a blinde man hath recouered his sight thy father is dead such a thunder bolt fell in such a place Granada is taken the King enters it this day the Turke hath receiu'd an ouer-throw to morrow you shall haue a great Eclypse such a bridge is carried away with the flood such a one is now made a Noble man Peter is rob'd Annes hath hang'd her selfe Now in such cases what wilt thou say saue onely this That some three daies past or vpon a second view thereof there will be no wonder made of it All things are thus they all passe after this maner all is forgotten and throwne behind vs as if they had neuer beene Iust so will it be with this my Masters Loue the farther it goes on the more it will slacken For long custome doth allay sorrow weakeneth and subdueth our delights and lesseneth wonders Let vs make our profit of him whilest this plea is depending and if wee may with a dry roote doe him good the easier the better if not by little and little wee will solder vp this flaw and make all whole by Meâ—â—â—â—â— holding him in scorne and contempt And if this will doe no good vpon him Better it is that the Master be pained then his man 〈◊〉 Celestina Well hast thou said I hold with thee and iumpe in thy opinion thy words haue well pleased me wee cannot erre Yet notwithstanding my sonne it is necessary that a good Proctour should follow his Clyents cause diligently and painfully that hee colour his plea with some feyned show of reason that hee presse some quillet or quirke of Law to goe and come into open Court though hee be check't and receiue some harsh words from the Iudges mouth to the end that they who are present may both see and say that though hee did not preuaile yet he both spake and laboured hard for his fee So shall not hee want Clyents nor Celestina suitors in cases of Loue Sempr. Doe as thou thinkst good Frame it to thine own liking This is not the first businesse thou hast taken in hand Celest. The first my sonne Few virgins I thanke Fortune for it hast thou seene in this Citty which haue opened their shops and traded for themselues to whom I haue not beene a broaker to their first spunne thread and holpe them to vent their wares there was not that wench borne in the world but I writ her downe in my Register and kept a Catalogue of all their names to the intent that I might know how many escap'd my net Why what didst thou thinke of mee Parmeno Can I liue by the ayre Can I feed my selfe with winde Doe I inherit any other land Haue I any other house or Vineyard Knowest thou of any other substance of mine besides this office By what doe I eate and drinke By what doe I finde clothes to my backe and shooes to my feete In this City was I borne in it was I bred Liuing though I say it in good credit and estimation as all the world knowes And dost thou thinke then that I can goe vnknowne Hee that knowes not both my name and my house thou maist hold him a meere stranger Sempr. Tell me Mother what past betwixt you and my fellow Parmeno when I went vp with Calisto for the Crownes Celest. I told him his dreame and the interpretation thereof and how that hee should gaine more by our company and ioyning in friendship with vs then with all his gay glozings and imbroydered works which he vttereth to his Master How he would alwaies liue poore and in want and be made a scoffe and laughing stocke vnlesse he would turne ouer a new
leafe and alter his opinion that he should not make himselfe a Saint and play the hypocrite before such an old beaten bitch as my selfe I did put him in minde of his owne mother relating vnto him what a one she was to the end that hee might not set my office at nought her selfe hauing beene of the same Trade for should hee but offer to speake ill of mee hee must needes stumble first on her Sempr. Is it long mother since you first knew her Celest. This Celestina which is heere now with thee was the woman that saw her borne and holpe to breed her vp why I tell thee man his mother and I were nayle and flesh buckle and thong Of hee I learned the better part of my trade Wee did both eate both sleep both inioy our pleasures our counsels our bargaines 〈◊〉 one with another we liued together like two sisters both at home and abroad there was not a farthing which eyther of vs gained but was faithfully and truly diuided betweene vs Had shee liued I should neuer haue liued to be deceiued But it was not my fortune to be so happy shee dy'd too soone for mee O death death how many doest thou depriue of their sweete and pleasing society How many doest thou discomfort with thy vnwelcome and troublesome Visitation For one that thou eatest being ripe thou croppest a thousand that are greene For were shee aliue these my steps should not haue beene vnaccompanied not driuen as now I am to walke the streets alone I haue good cause to remember her for to me shee was a faithfull friend and a good companion And whilest shee was with me she would neuer suffer mee to trouble my body or my braines about any thing if I brought bread shee would bring meate if I did spread the cloth she would lay the napkins she was not foolish nor fantasticall nor proud as most of your women now adaies are And by my say I sweare vnto thee shee would goe barefaced from one end of the City to the other with her Fan in her hand and not one all the way that she went would giue her any worse word then Mistresse Claudina And I dare be bold to say it that there was not a woman of a better palate for wine in the world nor better skill'd in any kind of marchandize whatsoeuer And when you haue thought that she had been scarce out of doores with a whip-Sir Iohn e'r you could scarce say this shee was heere againe Euery one would inuite and feast her so great was the affection which they bare vnto her And she neuer came home till she had taken a taste of some eight or ten sorts of wine bearing one pottle in her Iar and the other in her belly and her credit was so good that they would haue trusted her for a Rundlet or two vpon her bare word as if shee had pawned vnto them a piece of plate Why her word was as currant as gold in all the Innes and Tauernes in the Towne If wee walked the streetes whensoeuer we found our selues thirsty we entred streight the next Tauerne that was at hand and called presently for a quart of wine for to moysten our mouthes withall though we had not a penny to pay for it Nor would they as from others take our vailes and our coyfes from off our heads till we had discharged the reckoning but score it vp and so let vs go on our way O Sempronio Were it but Cat after kind and that such were the son as was the mother assure thy selfe that thy master should remaine without a feather and we without any farther care But if I liue I will bring this iron to my fashion I will worke him like waxe and reckon him in the number of mine owne Sempr. How dost thou thinke to make him thine Hee is a crafty subtill foxe Hee will hardly be drawne in Hee is a shrewd fellow to deale withall Celest. For such a crafty Knaue wee must haue a Knaue and a halfe and intertaine two traytours for the taking of one I will bring him to haue Areusa so and make him Cock-sure ours and he shall giue vs leaue without any let to pitch our nets for the catching of Calisto's coyne Sempr. But dost thou thinke thou canst doe any good vpon Melibea Hast thou any good bought to hang by Celest. There is not that Surgeon that can at the first dressing giue a true iudgement of his Patients wound but what I see and thinke for the present I will plainely deliuer vnto thee Melibea is faire Calisto fond and frank he cares not to spare his purse nor I my paines hee is willing to spend and I to speed him in his businesse Let his money be stirring and let the suite hang as long as it will Money can doe any thing it splitteth hard Rocks it passeth ouer Riuers dry-foote there is not any place so high whereunto an Asse laden with gold will not get vp his vnaduisednesse and feruentnesse of affection is sufficient to marre him and to make vs This I haue thought vpon this I haue searcht into this is all I know concerning him and her and this is that which must make most for our profit Well now must I goe to Pleberio's house Sempronio fare-well For though Melibea braue it and stands so high vpon her pantofles yet is not shee the first that I haue made to stoope and leaue her cackling they are all of them ticklish and skittish the whole generation of them is giuen to winching flinging but after they are well weyghed they prooue good high-way Iades and trauell quietly you may kill them but neuer tyre them If they iourney by night they wish it may neuer be morning They curse the Cockes because they proclaime it is day the Clockes because they go too fast they lye prostrate as if they lookt after the Pleyades and the North star making themselues Astronomers and starre gazers But when they see the morning starre arise they sigh for sorrow and are ready to forsake their bodies And the clearing of the day is the clouding of their ioy And aboue all it is worth the while to note how quickely they change copy and turne the Cat in the pan They intreat him of whom they were intreated they indure torment for him whom before they had tormented they are seruants to those whose Mistresses they were they breake thorow stone walls they open windowes feyne sicknesse if the hinges of their doores chance to creake they anoynt and supple them with oyle that they may performe their office without any noyse I am not able to expresse vnto thee the great impression of that sweetnesse which the primary and first kisses of him they loue leaueth imprinted in their hearts They are enemies of the meane and wholly set vpon extremes Sempr. Mother I vnderstand not these termes Celest. Marry I say that a woman either loueth or hateth him much of whom she is beloued
so that if she entertaine not his loue she cannot dissemble her hate there are no reynes strong inough to bridle their dislike And because I know this to be true it makes mee goe more merrily and cheerefully to Melibea's house then if I had her fast in my fist already For I know that though at the first I must be forced to woo her yet in the end she will be glad to sue to me And though at present perhaps she threaten me and flatly fall out with mee yet at last will shee be well pleased and fall as much a flattering as she did a reuiling me Here in this pocket of mine I carry a little parcel of yarne and other such like trinkets which I alwaies beare about mee that I may haue some pretence at first to make my easier entrance and free accesse where I am not throughly knowne As Gorgets Coyfes Fringes Rowles Fillets Hayre-laces Nippers Antimony Ceruse and sublimated Mercury Needles and Pinnes they shall not aske that thing which I shall not haue for them To the end that looke whatsoeuer they shall call for I may be ready prouided for them And this baite vpon the first sight thereof shall worke my acceptance and hold fast the fish which I minde to take Sempr. Mother looke well about you Take heed what you doe For a bad beginning can neuer make a good ending Thinke on her father who is noble of great power and courage her mother iealous and furious and thou suspition it selfe No sooner seene but mistrusted Melibea is the only child to them both and she miscarrying miscarrieth with her all their happinesse the very thought whereof makes me quake and tremble Goe not to fetch wooll and come home shorne your selfe seeke not to plucke her wings and your selfe without your plumes Celestina Without my plumes my sonne Sempro. Or rather implumed mother which is worse Celestina Now by my say in an ill houre had I need of thee to be my companion As though thou couldst instruct Celestina in her own Trade As if I knew not better what to doe then thou canst teach me Before euer thou wast borne I did eate bread with crust O! you are a proper man to make a Commander and to marshall other mens affaires when thy selfe art so deiected with sinister diuinations and feare of insuing harmes Sempr. Maruell not Mother at my feare since it is the common condition of all men That what they most desire they thinke shall neuer come to passe And the rather for that in this case now in hand I dread both thine and my punishment I desire profit I would that this businesse might haue a good end not because my Master thereby might be rid of his paine but I of my penury And therefore I cast more inconueniences with my small experience then you with all your aged Arte and cunning Elicia I will blesse my selfe Sempronio come I will make a â—â—eake in the water I will score it vp This is newes indeed I had thought to haue strewed greene rushes against your comming What Come hither twice Twice in one day Celest. Peace you foole Let him alone We haue other thoughts I wiâ—â—e to trouble our heads withall matters of more importance then to listen to your trumperies Tell mee Is the house â—eare Is the young wench gone that expected the young Nouice Elicia Gone yes and another come since shee went and gone too Celest. Sai'st thou me so Girle I hope then it was not in vaine Elicia How in vaine No by my fay was it not it was not iâ— value for though he came late yet better late then neuer And little need hee to rise earely whom his starres haue a purpose to helpe Celest. Goe hye you vp quickely to the top of all the house as high as you can goe and bring me downe hither the bottle of that oyle of Serpents which you shall find fastned to that piece of rope which I brought out of the fields with me that other night when it rained so fast and was so darke then open my chest where the paintings be and on your right hand you shall find a paper written with the bloud of a Bat or Flitter-mouse bring it downe also with you ogether with that wing of the Dragon whereof yesterday we did cut off the clawes And take heed you do not shead the Maydeaw which was brought me for to make my confection Elicia It is not here mother you neuer remember where you lay your things Celest. Doe not reproue me I pray thee in mine old age misâ—use me not Elicia Doe not you feyne vntruthes though Sempronio be â—eere be not you proud of it For hee had rather haue mee for his counsellour then you for his play-fellow for all you loue him so well Enter into the chamber where my oyntments be and there in the skinne of a blacke Cat where I will'd you to put the eyes of the shee-Wolfe you shall not faile to finde it and bring down the bloud of the hee Goat and that little piece of his beard which you your selfe did cut off Elicia Take it to you mother Lo heere it is while you stay heere I will goe vp and take my Sempronio with me Celest. I coniure thee thou sad god Pluto Lord of the infernall 〈◊〉 Emperor of the damned court Captaine generall and proud CoÌ„mander of the wicked spirits Grand signor of those sulphureous fires which the flaming hills of Aetna flash forth in most fearefull and most hideous manner Gouernour and Superuisor both of the torments and tormenters of those sinfull soules that lye bowling in Phlegeton Prince and chiefe Ruler of those three hellish Furies Tesiphone Meghera and Alecto Administrator of all the blacke things belonging to the kingdomes of Stix and Dis with all their pitchy Lakes infernall shades and litigious Chaos Maintainer of the flying Harpies with all the whole rabblement of frightfull Hydraes I Celestine thy best knowne and most noted Clyent coniure thee by the vertue and force of these red Letters by the bloud of this bird of the night wherewith they are charactred by the power and weight of these names and signes which are contained in this paper by theâ—e and bitter poyson of those Vipers whence this oyle was extracted wherewith I anoynt this â—â—ew of yarne thou come presently without delay to obey my will to inuelop and wrap thy selfe therin and there to abide neuer depart thence no not the least moment of time vntill that Melibea with that prepared opportunity which shall be offred vnto her shall buy it of mee and with it in such sort be intangled and taken that the more she shall behold it the more may her heart be molified and the sooner wrought to yeeld to my request That thou wilt open her heart to my desire and wound her very soule with the loue of Calisto and in that extreme and violent manner that despising all honesty and casting off all shame shee may
pray in your discourse and tell mee what farther past betweene you What answer made she for the Charme Celest. Mary that with all her heart I should haue it Calisto With all her heart O Ioue How gracious and how great a gift Celest. Nay this is not all I craued more then this Calisto What my honest old woman Celest. Her Girdle which continually she wore about her affirming that it was very good for the allaying of your paine because of some Supereminent Influence from the Sibilla Cumanae Calisto But what said shee Celestina Giue mee Albricias reward me for my good newes and I will tell you all Calisto Take my whole house and all that is in it on condition you tell me or else besides what thou wilt Celestina Giue but this poore old woman a Mantle and I will giue that into thy hand which she weares about her Calisto What dost thou talke of a Mantle Tut a Kirtle a Petticoate any thing all that I haue Celest. It is a Mantle that I need that alone shall content me Inlarge not therefore your liberality Let not any suspectfull doubt interpose it selfe in my demand My request is reasonable and you know it is a common saying To offer much to him that asketh but a little is a kinde of deniall Calisto Runne Parmeno call hither my Taylour and let him presently cut her out a Mantle and a Kirtle of that fine pure cloth which hee tooke to cottening Parm. So so all for the old woman because like the Bee she comes home laden with lyes as hee does with hony as for mee I may goe worke out my heart and goe hang my selfe when I haue done whilest shee with a pockes must haue euery day change of rayment Calisto Now the Diuell goe with him with what an ill will does he goe I thinke there is not any man liuing so ill seru'd as I am maintaining men that deuise nothing but mischiefe murmurers grudgers of my good repiners of my prosperity and enemies to my happinesse Thou Villaine what goest thou mumbling to thy selfe Thou enuious wretch what is that thou sayst for I vnderstand thee not Doe as I command you you were best and that quickely too Get you gone with a murraine and vexe mee no more for I haue griefe inough already to bring me to my graue There will as much of the piece be left which remnant you may take for your selfe as will serue to make you a Ierkin Parm. I say nothing Sir but that it is too late to haue the Taylour for to come to night Cal. And haue not I told you that I would haue you not diuine of things aforehand but to doe as I bid you Let it alone then till to morrow and for you mother let me intreat you out of your loue to me to haue patience vntill then for that is not auferred which is but deferred Now I pray let me see that glorious girdle which was held so worthy to ingirt so goodly a body that these my eyes together with the rest of my senses may enioy so great a happinesse since that together they haue all of them beene a little affected with passion My afflicted heart shall also reioyce therein which hath not had one minute of delight since it first knew that Lady All my senses haue beene wounded by her all of them haue brought whole basket-fulls of trouble to my heart Euery one of them hath vexed and tormented it all they could the eyes in seeing her the eares in hearing her and the hands in touching her Celest. Ha What 's that Haue you toucht her with your hands you make me startle Calisto Dreaming of her I say in my sleepe Celestina O! in your dreames that 's another matter Calisto In my dreames haue I seene her so oft night by night that I feare mee that will happen vnto mee which befell Alcibiades who dream'd that he saw himselfe inwrapped in his mistresses mantle and was the next day murdred and found none to remoue him from forth the common street no nor any to couer him saue onely shee who did spread her Mantle ouer him Though I for my part be it aliue or dead would any way bee glad to see my selfe clothed with any thing that is hers Celestina You haue punishment Sir inough already for when others take their rest in their beds thou preparest thy selfe to suffer thy next daies torment Be of good courage Sir Plucke vp your heart after a Tempest followes a Calme affoord thy desire some time take vnto thee this Girdle for if death preuent mee not I will deliuer the Owner thereof into thy hands Calisto O new guest O happy girdle which hast had such power and worth in thee as to hedge in that body and be its inclosure which my selfe am not worthy to serue O yee knots of my passion it is you that haue intangled my desires Tell me if thou wert present at that vncomfortable answer of fairest she whom thou seruest and I adore And yet the more I torment my selfe for her sake mourning and lamenting night and day the lesse it auailes mee and the lesse it profits me Celest. It is an old Prouerbe He that labours least often-times gets most But I will make thee by thy labouring to obtaine that which by being negligent thou shouldst neuer atchieue For Camora was not wonne in an houre yet did not her besiegers for all this despaire No more was Rome built in one day nor Troy ruined in a yeere Calisto O vnfortunate that I am For Citties are incircled and walled in with stones and stones by stones are easily ouer-throwne But this my deare Lady hath her heart inuironed with steele there is no mettle that can preuaile against her no shot of that force as to make a breach and should Ladders bee reared to scale the walls shee hath eyes which let flye darts of repulsion and a tongue which dischargeth whole volleis of reproches if you once approach forceing you to stand farther off and so inaccessible is her Castle that you cannot come neere it by halfe a league Celest. No more good Sir no more bridle your passion for the stout courage and hardy boldnesse of one man did get Troy Doubt not then but one woman may worke vpon another and at last win her vnto thee thou hast little frequented my house thou art ignorant of my courses thou know'st not what I can doe Calisto Say Mother what thou wilt and I will beleeue thee since thou hast brought me so great a Iewell as is this O thou glorie of my soule and incirler of so incomparable a creature I behold thee and yet beleeue it not O girdle girdle thou louely lace Wast thou mine enemy too Tell me the truth if thou wert I forgiue thee For it is proper vnto good men to forgiue but I doe not beleeue it For hadst thou likewise beene my foe thou wouldst not haue come so soone to my hands vnlesse thou hadst come to
been questioned For without any contradiction they would all of them haue yeelded and ioyntly haue giuen their consent that Melibea should haue borne it from them so that it should rather haue been called the Apple of concord then of discord Besides as many women as are now borne and doe know her curse themselues and their fortune complaining of heauen because it did not remember them when it made her consuming as well their bodies as their liues with enuy being ready to eat their owne flesh for very anger still augmenting martyrdomes to themselues thinking to equall that perfection by arte which Nature had bestowed vpon her without any labour They pill and dis-haire their eye-browes with nippers with playsters of Pitch or Barme and other the like instruments They seeke after Wall-wort and the like hearbs roots sprigs and flowres to make Lyes wherewithall to bring their haire to the colour of hers spoyling and martyring their faces clothing them with diuers colourings glissenings paintings vnctions oyntments strong waters white and red pargetings which to auoide prolixity I repeate not Now iudge then whether shee whom Nature hath so richly beautified be worthy the loue and seruice of so meane a man as my selfe Celest. Sempronio I vnderstand your meaning but giue him leaue to runne on for he will fall anon from his Asse and then his iourney will be at an end you shall see he will come by and by to a full poynt and so conclude Calisto In her Nature as in a glasse did wholy behold her selfe that she might make her most absolutely perfect for those graces which she had diffused vnto diuers she had ioyntly vnited them in her and ouer-viewed this her worke with so curious an eye that nothing might be added to make it fairer To the end that they might know who had the happinesse to see her the worthinesse and excellency of her Painter only a little faire Fountaine-water with a combe of yuorie is sufficient without any other slibber-slabbers to make her surpasse all other of her Sexe in beauty and courtesie These are her weapons with these she kils and ouer-comes and with these hath she bound mee in so hard and strong a chaine that I must for euer remaine her prisoner Celestina Sir put a period to your words trouble your selfe no more for this chaine which shackles thee is not so strong but my file is as sharpe to cut it in sunder which I will doe for thee that thou mayst be at liberty And therefore giue me now licence to take my leaue of you For it growes very late and let me haue the girdle aâ—ng with me For you know I must needs vse it Calisto O disconsolate that I am my misforunes still pursue me for with thee or with this girdle or with both I would willingly haue beene accompanied all this darke and tedious night But because there is no perfect happinesse in this our painefull and vnhappy life let solitarinesse wholy possesse my soule and cares be my continuall companions What ho Where be these men Why Parmeno I say Parmeno Heere Sir Calisto Accompany this Matrone home to her house and as much pleasure and ioy goe with her as sorrow and woe doth stay with me Celest. Sir fare you well To morrow I shall make my returne and visit you againe not doubting but my gowne and her answer shall meete heere together for now time doth not serue And in the interim let me intreate you to be patient Settle your thoughts vpon some other things and doe not so much as once thinke vpon her Calisto Not thinke vpon her It is impossible Nay it were prophane to forget her for whom my life onely pleaseth mee ACTVS VIJ. THE ARGVMENT CELESTINA talkes with Parmeno inducing him to concord and amitte with Sempronio Parmeno puts her in mind of the promise she made him for the hauing of Areusa whom he exceedingly loued They goe to Areusa's house where that night Parmeno remained Celestina hies her home to her owne house and knocking at the doore Elicia opens it vnto her blaming her for her tarrying so long INTERLOCVTORS Celestina Parmeno Areusa Elicia CElestina Parmeno my sonne since we last talkt together I haue not had any fit opportunitie to expresse vnto thee the infinitenesse of that loue which I beare vnto thee and as all the world can well witnesse for mee how well I haue spoken of thee in thy absence Euery man eare hath beene filled with the good reports I haue made of thee The reason thereof I need not to repeate for I euer held thee to be my sonne at least by adoption and therefore thought thou wouldst haue shew'd thy selfe more naturall and louing towards me But in stead thereof thou gau'st me bad payment euen to my face crossing whatsoeuer I said thinking ill of all that I spake whispering and murmuring against me in the presence of Calisto I was well perswaded that after thou hadst once yeelded to my good counsell that you would not haue turned your heele and kickt against me as you did nor haue falne off from your promise But notwithstanding all this I perceiue some old relique yet still remaining of my former folly And so speaking rather to satisfie thine owne humor then that thou canst render any reason for it thou dost hinder thy selfe of profit to giue thy tongue contentment Heare me my sonne if thou hast not heard me already Looke I say and consider with thy selfe that I am old and well strucken in yeeres and good counsell only lodgeth with the elder sort it being proper to youth to follow pleasure and delight But my hope is that of this thy errour thy youth onely is in fault and I trust that you will beare your selfe better towards mee heereafter and that you will alter your ill purpose together with your tender yeeres For as it is in the Prouerbe Our customes suffer change together with our hayres and wee vary our disposition as we vary our yeeres I speake this my sonne because as we grow in age so grow we in experience new things daily offring themselues to our view for youth lookes no farther then to things present occupying his eie only in that he sees set before him but riper yeeres omit neither things present things past nor things to come And sonne Parmeno if you would but bethink your selfe of the loue I haue heeretofore borne you I know it cannot escape your knowledge that the first nights lodging that you tooke when you were a stranger and came newly to this City was in my house But you young men care not for vs that are old but gouerne your selues according to the sauour and relish of your owne palates you neuer think that you haue or shall haue need of vs you neuer thinke vpon sicknesse you neuer think that this flowre of your youth shall fade But doe you heare me my friend and marke what I say vnto you That in such cases of necessitie as these an old
woman bee shee well experienced is a good helpe a comforter a friend a mother nay more then a mother A good Inne to giue ease and rest to a sound man and a good Hospitall for to cure a sicke man a good Purse in time of need a good Chest to keepe money in prosperitie a good Fire in winter inuironed with spits of good rost-meat a good Shade in summer and a good Tauerne to eate and drinke in Now my pretty little foole what sai'st thou to all this What dost thou thinke of it I know thou art by this time ashamed of that which thou hast spoken to day thou can'st not say B to a Battle-doore thou art strucke so dumbe and so dead and therefore I will presse thee no further nor craue any more at thy hands then that which friendship craues of thee which is Looke vpon Sempronio next vnder heauen my selfe haue made him a man I could wish you would liue and loue together as brothers and friends for being in league with him thou shalt liue in the fauor and loue of thy Master and in good repute with all the world for Sempronio I tell thee is well belou'd hee is diligent a good Courtier a proper seruant a fellow of a good fashion and one that is willing to imbrace thy friendship which will turne to both your profits if you will but hand-fast your affections each to other Besides you know that you must loue if you will be beloued Trowtes cannot bee taken with drie breeches And if the Cat will haue fish she must wet her foote Nor does Sempronio owe this of right vnto thee nor is hee bound to loue thee vnlesse thou exchange loue for loue it is meere simplicitie not to be willing to loue and yet looke to be beloued of others And as great folly to repay friendship with hatred Parm. Mother I confesse my second fault and crauing pardon for what is past I offer my selfe to be ordred by you in all my future proceedings But yet me thinkes it is impossible that I should hold friendship with Sempronio hee is frappish and I cannot beare he is chollericke and I can carrie no coles How then is it possible to make a true contract betwixt two such contrary natures Celest. But you were not wont to be thus froward Parm. In good fay mother you say true But the more I grow in yeeres the lesse I grow in patience Tush I haue forgotten that lesson as if I had neuer knowne what it meant I am I confesse the man I was nor is Sempronio himselfe neyther can hee nor will hee stead mee in any thing I neuer yet tasted any the least kindnesse from him Celest. A sure friend is knowne in a doubtfull matter and in aduersity is his faith proued Then comes he neerest vnto him when hee is farthest from comfort and with greater desire doth hee then visit his house when as prosperous fortune hath forsaken it What shall I say vnto thee Sonne of the vertues of a good and fast friend There is nothing more to bee beloued nothing more rare he refuseth no burden You two are equalls and paritie of persons similitude of manners and simpathy of hearts are the maine props that vp-hold friendship Take heed my sonne for if thou hast any thing it is safely kept for thee Be thou wise to gaine more for this is gain'd already to your hands Your father O what paines tooke hee for it But I may not put it into your hands till you lead a more reposed life and come to a more compleate and full age Parm. Mother what doe you call a reposed life Celest. Mary sonne to liue of your selfe Not to goe thorow other mens houses nor to set thy foote vnder another mans table which thou shalt still bee inforced to doe vnlesse thou learne to make profit of thy seruice for out of very pitty to see thee goe thus totred and torne not hauing a ragge almost to hang on thy breeche did I beg that mantle which thou saw'st of Calisto not so much for the mantles sake as for that there being a Taylor belonging to the house and thou before being without a Ierkin hee might bestow it vpon thee So that I speake not for mine owne profit as I heard you say but for thy good For if you rely onely vpon the ordinary wages of these Gallants it is such that what you get by it after tenne yeeres seruice you may put it in your eye and neuer see the worse Inioy thy youth good daies good nights good meate and good drinke when thou mai'st haue these things lose them not Let that be lost that will be lost Doe not thou mourne for the wealth which was left thy Master for that will but shorten thy daies sithence wee can inioy it no longer then wee liue O Sonne Parmeno and well may I call thee sonne since I had the breeding of thee so long a time follow my counsell seeing it proceeds out of pure loue and an earnest desire to see thee grow vp in honour O! how happy should I be might I but see thee and Sempronio agree see you two friends and sworne brothers in euery thing that yee may come to my poore house to be merrie and to see mee now and then and to take your pleasure each of you with his Wench Parme. His Wench mother Celest. I his Wench and a young one too As for old flesh my selfe am old enough and such a wench as Sempronio would be glad of with all his heart with t'one halfe of that regard and affection which I shew to thee What I speake comes from my intralls and the verie bowels of mee Parmeno Mother you shall not be deceiued in mee Celest. And if I should the matter is not great For what I doe I do for charitie and for that I see thee here alone in a strange Land and for the respect which I beare vnto those bones of her who recommended thee vnto me When you are more man you will thinke of all this and come to a truer knowledge of things and then thou wilt say that old Celestina gaue me good counsell Parme. I know that as well now though I am but young as if I were elder and howbeit I spake against you to day it was not because I thought that to be ill spoken which you said but because I saw when I told my Master the truth and aduised him for the best he ill intreated mee and therefore henceforth let vs shake hands and vse him accordingly doe what thou wilt vnto him I will hold my peace for I haue already too much offended in not crediting thee in this businesse concerning him Celest. In this and all other thou shalt not onely trip but fall as long as thou shalt not take my counsell with thee which comes from thy true and faithfull friend Parmeno Now I blesse the time wherein I serued thee counting those daies happy vnder which thou bredst mee vp of
not a button for those that stood beneath staring and gazing vpon her such was her behauiour and carriage at that instant looke they might their fill but I warrant you she was not a farthing in debt no not to the proudest of them all wherein I thought fit to instance to shew thereby vnto you that they who haue any thing in them as shee had and are wise and of worth fall farre more easily and sooner into errour then any other Doe but weigh and consider with your selfe what a manner of man Virgil was how wise in all kinde of knowledge and yet I am sure you haue heard how in a wicker basket hee was hung out from a Towre all Rome looking vpon him yet for all this was hee neither the lesse honoured neyther lost he the name of Virgil Parm. That is true which you say but it was not inioyned by the Iustice Celest. Peace you foole thou art ignorant what a sinister and course kinde of Iustice was vsed and rigorously executed vpon thy mother to the most extremity which as all men confesse is a meere iniury And the rather because it was commonly spoken of all men that wrongfully and against all right and reason by suborning of false witnesses and cruell torments they inforced her to confesse that which in realitie of truth was not But because shee was a woman of a great spirit and good courage and her heart had beene accustomed to endure shee made matters lighter then they were And of all this shee reckoned not a Pinne for a thousand times haue I heard her say If I broke my legge it was all for my good for this made mee better knowne then I was before And certainely so shee was and the more noted and respected nay and thriued the better by it both she and I and the more plentifull our haruest and incomes of customers of the best and wee loued and liued merrily together to her last And be but thou vnto me as she was that is to say a true and faithfull friend and withall indeauour thy selfe to be good since thou hast so good a patterne to follow And for that which thy father left thee thou hast it safely kept for thee Parm. Let vs now leaue talking of the dead and of patrimonies and let vs parley of our present businesses which concernes vs more then to draw things past vnto our remembrance If you be well remembred it is not long since that you promised me I should haue Areusa when as I told you at my Masters house that I was ready to dye for loue so seruent is my affection towards her Celest. If I did promise thee I haue not forgot it nor would I you should thinke that I haue lost my memory with my yeeres For I haue thrice already and better giuen her the checke concerning this businesse in thy absence but now I thinke the matter is growne to some ripenesse Let vs walke towards her house for now doe what shee can shee shall not auoyde the Mate For this is the least thing of a thousand that I will vndertake to doe for thee Parm. I was quite out of hope euer to haue her for I could neuer come to any conclusion with her no not to finde so much fauour as but to speake with her or to haue but a word with her And as it is in the prouerbe In loue it is an ill signe to see his Mistresse flye and turne the face And this did much dis-hearten mee in my suite Celest. I maruaile not much at thy discouragement considering I was then a stranger vnto thee at least not so well acquainted with thee as now I am and that thy selfe did not then know as now thou dost that thou mai'st command her who is the Doctresse of this Arte but now thou shalt see what fauour thou shalt finde for my sake what power I haue ouer these wenches how much I can preuaile with them and what wonders I can worke in matters of Ioue but hush tread softly Loe heere 's the doore let vs enter in with still and quiet steps that the neighbours may not heare vs Stay and attend mee heere at the staires foote whil'st I goe vp and see what I shall be able to doe with her concerning the businesse wee talkt of and it may be wee shall worke more with her then either thou or I did euer dreame of Areusa Who 's there Who is that that at this time of night comes vp into my chamber Celestina One I assure you that meanes you no ill one that neuer treads step but shee thinkes on thy profit one that is more mindfull of thee then of her selfe one that loues thee as her life though I am now growne old Areusa Now the Diuell take this old Trot what newes with you that you come thus stealing like a Ghost and at so late an houre How thinke you Gentlewoman is this a faire houre to come to ones chamber I was euen putting off my clothes to goe to bed Celestina What To bed with the Hen daughter So soone to roost Fye for shame Is this the way to thriue Thinke you euer to be rich if you goe to bed so timely Come walke a turne or two and talke with mee a little let others bewaile their wants not thou Herbs feed them that gather them Who but would if hee could leade such a life Areusa How cold it is I will go put on my clothes againe beshrew me if I am not cold at my very heart Celestina Nay by my fay shall you not but if you will goe into your bed doe and so shall wee talke more conueniently together Areusa Yes indeed I haue neede so to doe for I haue felt my selfe very ill all this day so that necessity rather then lazinesse hath made me thus earely to take my sheetes in stead of my petticoat to wrap about me Celest. Sit not vp I pray any longer but get you to bed and couer your selfe well with clothes and sinke lower in so shall you be the sooner warme O! how like a Syren doest thou looke How faire how beautifull O! how sweetely euery thing smells about thee when thou heauest and turnest thy selfe in thy bed I assure you euery thing is in very good order how well haue I alwaies beene pleased with all thy things and thy doings You will not thinke how this neatnesse this handsomenesse of yours in your lodging doth delight me to see euery thing so trimme and tricksie about you I promise you I am euen proud of it O! how fresh dost thou looke What sheets What quilts be here What pillowes O! how white they be Let me not liue if euery thing neere doth not like me wonderfull well My Pearle my Iewell of gold see whether I loue you or no that I come to visit you at this time of night Let my eye take its fill in beholding of thee it does me much good to touch thee and to looke vpon thee Areusa
you It is a very strange and strong kinde of patience which sharpe taunts and scoffs which like so many needles and bodkins set to the heart cannot pierce and pricke thorow Sempr. I say nothing but that now you haue your wench you will allow one pilchard more to the poore boy in the Stable Parme. You cannot hold your heart would burst if you should not vent your choler Well I will giue way and should you vse me worse I will pocket vp all your wrongs and the rather because it is an old saying No humane passion is perpetuall Semp. But you can vse Calisto worse aduising him to that which thou thy selfe seek'st to shunne neuer letting him alone but still vrging him to leaue louing of Melibea wherein thou art iust like vnto a signe in an Inne which giues shelter to others and none to it selfe O Parmeno now mai'st thou see how easie a thing it is to finde fault with another mans life and how hard to amend his owne I say no more your selfe shall be your own Iudge and from this day forward we shall see how you behaue your selfe sithence you haue now your porrenger as well as other folkes If thou hadst beene my friend as thou professest when I stood in need of thee thou should'st then haue fauoured mee and made shew of thy loue and assisted Celestina in all that had beene for my profit and not to driue in at euery word a nayle of malice Know moreouer that as wine in the Lees when it is drawne to the very dregges driueth drunkards from the Tauerne the like effect hath necessity or aduersity with a fained friend and false mettle that is gilded but slightly ouer quickly discouers it selfe to be but counterfeit Parmeno I haue often-times heard it spoken and now by experience I see it is true that in this wretched life of ours there is no pleasure without sorrow no contentment without some crosse or counterbuffe of fortune We see our fairest daies our clearest Sunne-shines are ouer-cast with clouds darkenesse and raine our solaces and delights are swallowed vp by dolours and by death laughter mirth and merriment are waited on by teares lamentations and other the like mortall passions In a word Sweet meate will haue sowre sauce and much ease and much quietnesse much paine and much heauinesse Who could come more friendly or more merrily to a man then I did now to thee And who could receiue a more vnkind wellcome or vnfriendly salutation Who liues there that sees himselfe as I haue seene my selfe raised with such glory to the height of my deare Areusa's loue And who that sees himselfe more likely to fall from thence then I being so ill intreated as I am of thee Nay thou wilt not giue mee leaue to tell thee how much I am thine how much I will further thee in all I am able how much I repent me of that which is past and what good counsell and reprehensions I haue receiued of Celestina and all in fauour of thee and thy good and the good of vs all And now that we haue our Masters and Melibea's game in our owne hands now is the time that wee must thriue or neuer Sempronio I like your words well but should like them better were your workes like vnto them which as I see the performance so shall I giue them credence but tell me I pray thee what 's that me thought I heard you talke euen now of Areusa Doe you know Areusa that is Cousin to Elicia Parme. Why what were all the ioy I now inioy did I not inioy her Sempronio What does the foole meane He cannot speake for laughing What doest thou call this thy inioying her Did shee shew her selfe vnto thee out at a window Or what is the matter Parm. No great matter Onely I haue left her in doubt whether shee be with childe or no Sempr. Thou hast strucke mee into a maze continuall trauell may doe much often dropping makes stones hollow Parme. How continuall trauell Why I neuer thought of hauing her till yesterday then did I worke her and now shee is mine owne Sempr. The old woman had a finger in this businesse had shee not Parmeno Why should you thinke so Sempr. Because shee told mee how much shee loued you how well she wisht you and that she would worke her for you you were a happy man Sir you had no more to doe but to come and take vp And therefore they say It is better with him whom fortune helpeth then with him that riseth earely But was shee the godfather to this businesse Parm. No but shee was the godmother which is the truer of the two And you know when a man comes once to a good tree he will stay a while by it and take the benefit of the shade I was long a comming but when I came I went quickly to worke I dispatcht it in an instant O brother what shall I say vnto thee of the graces that are dwelling in that wench of her language and beauty of body But I will deferre the repetition thereof to a fitter opportunitie Sempr. Shee can be no other but cousin to Elicia thou canst not say so much of her but that this other hath as much and somewhat more But what did shee cost thee Hast thou giuen her any thing Parme. No not any thing but whatsoeuer I had giuen her it had beene well bestowed for shee is capable of euery good thing and such as shee are by so much the better esteemed by how much the dearer they are bought and like Iewels are the higher prized the more they cost vs But saue in this my Mistresse so rich a thing was neuer purchast at so low a rate I haue inuited her to day to dinner to Celestina's house and if you like of it let vs all meet there Semp. Who brother Parme. Thou and she and the old woman and Elicia and there wee will laugh and be merry Sempr. O good heauens how glad a man hast thou made mee Thou art franke and of a free and liberall disposition I will neuer faile thee now I hold thee to be a man now my minde giues me that Fate hath some good in store for thee all the hatred and malice which I bare thee for thy former speeches is now turned into loue I now doubt not but that the league which thou hast made with vs shall be such as it ought to be Now I long to imbrace thee Come let vs now liue like brothers and let the diuell go hang himselfe All those contentious words notwithstanding whatsoeuer haue passed between vs let there be now no falling out and so haue peace all the yeere long for the falling out of friends is euermore the renewing of loue let vs feast and be merry for our Master will fast for vs all Parme. What does that man in desperation doe Sempr. Hee lyes where you left him last night stretching himselfe all along vpon his pallate by his
Ladiship c They neuer heare their owne name out of their Ladies mouth But the best they can call them by is Come hither you whore Get you gone you drabbe or I 'll set you going Whither gadde you now you mangy harlotry you pockey slut what haue you done to day you loytring Queane why did you eate this you rauening thing you gor-belly you greedy cormorant A you filthy Sow how cleane this frying panne is kept This pispot Minion it is well scowr'd is it not why you lazy bones did you not brush my clothes when I left them off and make cleane my Mantle Why said you thus and thus you Sot you foolish Asse Who lost the piece of plate you scatter-good you draggle-tayle What 's become of my handkercher you purloyning thiefe you haue giuen it to one of your copes-mates some sweet-heart of yours that must helpe to make you a whore Come hither you foule flappes say Where is my Henne my cramm'd Henne that I cannot finde her you were best looke her mee out and that quickly too vnlesse you meane I shall make you pay for her when I come to pay you your wages And besides all this her pantofles shall walke about her eares a thousand times a day pinchings cudgellings and scourgings shall be as common to her as her meat and drinke There is not any that knowes how to please and content them not any that can indure their tartnesse and curstnesse their delight is to speake loud their glory to chide and to brawle and the better one does and the more one seeks to please them the lesse are they contented And this mother is the reason why I haue rather desires to liue free from controlement and to be mistresse in a poore little house of mine owne then to liue a slaue and at command in the richest palace of the proudest Lady of them all Celestina Thou art in the right my girle I will take no care for you you will shift for your selfe I perceiue you know what you doe you need not to be told on which side your bread is buttred you are no baby I see and wise men tell vs that better is a crust of bread and a cup of cold water with peace and quietnesse then a house full of dainties with brabbling and wrangling But now let vs leaue this argument for heere comes Lucrecia Lucrecia Much good to you good Aunt and to all this faire company and great meeting Celesti. So great daughter hold you this so great a meeting It appeares that you haue not knowne me in my prosperity which is now some twenty yeeres since There be those that haue seene mee in better case then I am now and hee that now sees mee I wonder his heart doth not burst with sorrow I tell thee wench I haue seene at this table where your kinswomen now sit nine gallant young wenches much about your age for the eldest was not aboue eighteene and not one of them vnder foureteene But such is this world it comes and goes vpon wheeles We are like pots in a water-wheele or like buckets in a Well one vp and another downe one full and another empty it is fortunes Law that nothing can continue any long time in one and the selfe-same state of being Her order is alteration Her custome change I cannot without teares deliuer vnto you the great honour I then liu'd in though now such is my ill fortune by little and little it hath gone decaying And as my daies declined so diminished and decreased my profit It is an old saying That whatsoeuer is in this world it doth either increase or decrease Euery thing hath it's limits Euery thing it 's degrees of more or lesse my honour did mount to that height as was fitting for a woman of my quality to rise vnto and now of force it must descend and fall as much By this I know that I am neere to my end and that the Lease of my life is now expiring and all my yeeres are almost spent and gone and I also well know that I did ascend that I might descend that I flourished for to wither that I had ioy that I might haue sorrow that I was borne to liue liu'd to grow grew to grow old and grow old to dye and though it did alwaies appeare vnto me that I ought in this respect to suffer my misery the more patiently yet as I am formed of flesh and bloud and beare this heauy masse of sinne about me I cannot but thinke on 't now and then with griefe nor can I wholy as I would blot euery thought thereof out of the wofull role of my wretched remembrance Lucrecia Me thinkes mother it could not choose but be wondrous troublesome vnto you to haue the charge of so many young wenches For they are very dangerous Cattell to keepe and will aske a great deale of paines Celest. Paines Sweet-heart Nay they were an ease and pleasure vnto me they did all of them obey me they did all of them honour me they did all of them reuerence mee not one of them that would swarue from my will what I said stood for a Law it was good and currant amongst them not any one of them to whom I gaue entertainement euer made their owne choise any further then it stood with my liking were he lame crooked squint-ey'd or crippled all was one he was the welcom'st and the soundest that brought me the soundest gaines mine was the profit and theirs the paines Besides I needed no seruants for in keeping them I had seruants enow Why your Noblemen your Knights your old men your young men your learned men men of all sorts and dignities from the highest to the lowest why they were all at my seruice and when I came to a feast my foote was no sooner in but I had presently as many Bonnets vailed vnto me as if I had been a Dutchesse he that had least acquaintance least businesse with me was held the most vile and basest fellow They spying me almost a League off they would forsake their most earnest occasions one by one two by two and come to me to see if I would command them any seruice and withall aske me seuerally how his loue how his mistresse did When they saw me once passe by you should haue such a shuffling and scraping of feet and all in such a generall gaze and so out of order that they did neither doe nor say any thing aright One would call mee mistresse another Aunt others their loue others honest old woman There they would consent when they should come to my house there they would agree when I should goe vnto theirs there they would offer mee mony there they would make me large promises there likewise present me with gifts some kissing the lappet of my Coat and some other my cheeke that by these kindesses they might giue mee contentment and worke me to their will But now Fortune hath brought mee to so low a
place in her wheele that you may say vnto me Mich you good dich you with your old ware you hindges are now growne rustie for want of oyling Sempr. Mother you make my haire stand on end to heare these strange things which you recount vnto vs would your Nobles your Knights and Learned men fall so low I am sure they are not all of them so badde as you make them to be Celest. No my son Ioue forbid that I should raise any such report or lay a generall scandall vpon any of their ranke For there were many old good men amongst them with whom I had but small dealings and could scarce endure to see me But amongst the greatest as they grew great in number so had I a great number of them some of one sort and some of another some I found very chaste and some that took the charge vpon them to maintaine such Traders as my selfe And I am still of this beliefe that of these there is no lack and these forsooth would send their Squires and young men to waite vpon me whithersoeuer I went and I should scarce haue set my foote within mine owne doores but straight at the heeles of me you should haue one come in with chickens another with Hens a third with Geese a fourth with Ducks This man sends me in Partriges that man Turtle Doues he a gammon of Bacon such a one a Tart or a Custard and some good fellow or other a good sucking Pigge or two for euery one as soone as he had a conuenient present so they came presently to register them in my house that I and those their pretty soules might merrily eat them together and as for wine we wanted none the best that a man could lay his lips to in the whole City was sent vnto me from diuers parts and corners of the Towne as that of Monviedro of Lugne of Toro of Madrigall of San-Martin and many other Townes and Villages And indeed so many that albeit I still keepe the differences of their taste and relish in my mouth yet doe I not retaine the diuersity of their foyles in my remembrance For it is enough for such an old woman as I that when a good cuppe of wine comes neer my nose I can be able to say This is such a wine or it comes from such a place or person why your presents from all parts from all sorts came vpon me as thicke as hops as flies to a pot of hony or as stones that are throwne vpon a stage boyes came tumbling in at my doore with as much prouision as they could carry on their backs But now those good daies are past I haue eaten all my white bread in my youth and know not how in the world to liue being fallen from so happy an estate Areusa Since we are come hither to be merry good mother doe not weepe I pray doe not vexe your selfe be of good cheere plucke vp your heart like a woman the world while wee are in it is bound to keepe vs all and no doubt but you shall haue enough Celest. O daughter I haue cause enough I think to weep when I call to mind those pleasant daies that are past and gone that merry life which then I led and how I had the world at will being serued honoured and sought to of all Why then there was not any new fruit or any the like dainty which I had not in my hands before others knew they were scarce blossom'd in those daies they were sure to be found in my house if any one with child should long for such a Toy Sempr. Mother the remembrance of the good time we haue had doth profit vs nothing when it cannot be recouered againe but rather brings griefe and sorrow to our selues as this interrupting discourse hath done but mother we will goe off and solace our selues whil'st you stay heere and giue this maid her answer Celest. Daughter Lucrecia passing ouer our former discourse I pray you tell mee what is the cause of your happy comming hither Lucrecia Beleeue me I had almost forgot my chiefe errand vnto you with thinking on that merry time which you talkt of Me thinkes I could continue fasting almost a whole yeere in harkening vnto thee and thinking on that pleasant life which those young wenches led me thinkes that with the very talking therof I haue a conceit with my selfe that at this present I feele my selfe in the same happinesse with them I shall now mistresse giue you to vnderstand the cause of my comming I am sent vnto you for my Ladies Girdle and moreouer my Ladie intreats you that you would come and visit her and that out of hand for shee feeles her selfe very ill and much pained and troubled with griefes and pangs about the heart I assure you she is very heart-sicke Celestina Of these petty griefes the report is more then the paine Is 't about the heart say you I maruell I promise you that so young a Gentlewoman as shee is should be pained at the heart Lucrecia Would thou wert as well drag'd along the streetes thou old traiterous Hagge as thou know'st well inough what shee ayles The subtill old Bawd comes and does her witcheries and her tricks and then goes her waies and afterwards when one comes vnto her for helpe she makes forsooth as if she knew no such matter it is newes forsooth to her Celest. What sai'st thou Daughter Lucrecia Mary I say mother would we were gone once and that you would giue me the Girdle Celest. Come let vs goe I will carry it along with me ACTVS X. THE ARGVMENT VVHilest Celestina and Lucrecia goe onward on their way Melibea talkes and discourses with her selfe Being come to the doore first enters Lucrecia anon after causes Celestina to come in Melibea after some exchange of words opens her mind to Celestina telling her how feruently she was falne in loue with Calisto They spy Alisa Melibea's mother comming they take their leaue each of other Alisa askes her daughter Melibea what businesse she had with Celestina and what she made there disswading her from conuersing with her and forbidding her her company INTERLOCVTORS Melibea Celestina Alisa Lucrecia MElibea O wretch that I am O vnfortunate Damsell Had I not beene better yesterday to haue yeelded to Celestina's petition and request when in the behalfe of that Gentleman whose sight hath made me his prisoner I was so earnestly sued vnto and so haue contented him and cured my selfe then to be thus forcibly driuen to discouer my heart when haply he will not accept of it when as already disaffianced in his hope for want of a good and faire answer hee hath set both his eyes and his heart vpon the loue and person of another how much more aduantageous vnto me would an intreated promise haue beene then a forced offerture to grant being requested then to yeeld being constrained O my faithfull seruant Lucrecia what wilt thou say of me what wilt thou thinke
a sweet bitternesse a delightfull griefe a cheerfull torment a sweet yet cruell hurt and a gentle death Melibea O wretched that I am for if thy relation be true I rest doubtfull of my recouery For according to the contrariety which these names doe carry that which shall be profitable for one shall to another being more passion Celest. Let not your noble youth be diffident of recouery be of good cheere take a good heart to you and doubt not of your welfare For where heauen giues a wound there it giues a remedy and as it 〈◊〉 so it heales and so much the sooner because I know where the flowre growes that will free you from all this torment Melibea How is it called Celest. 〈…〉 not tell you Melibea 〈…〉 and spare not Celestina Calisto O Madame Malibea ah woe is mee why woman what meane you What a cowardly heart haue you What a fainting is heere O miserable that I am hold vp your head I pray lift it vp O accursed old woman Must my steps end this If she goe 〈◊〉 away in a swound they will kill me if shee reuiue shee will be much pained For she will neuer indure to publish her paine nor giue mee leaue to exercise my cure Why Melibea my sweete Lady my faire Angel What 's the matter Sweet-heart Where is your griefe why speake you not vnto me What is become of your gracious and pleasing speach Where is that cheerefull colour that was wont to beautifie your cheekes Open those brightest Lamps that euer nature tinded Open your eyes I say those 〈◊〉 furnes that are able to giue light to darknesse Lucrecia Lucrecia Come hither quickly come quickely I say you shall see your Lady lye heere in a swound in my armes runne downe quickly for a Iarre of water Melibea Softly speake softly I pray I 'le see if I can rise In no case doe not trouble the house Celestina Ay me Sweet Lady doe not sinke any more speake speake vnto mee as you were wont Melibea I will and much more then I was wont But peace I pray a while and doe not trouble mee Celestin. What will you haue me to doe my precious pearle Whence arose this sudden qualme I beleeue my points are broken Melibea No it is my honesty that is broken it is my modesty that is broken my too much bashfulnesse and shamefastnesse occasioned my swowning which being my naturall and familiar friends and companions could not sleightly absent themselues from my face but they would also carry away my colour with them for a while my strength my speach and a great part of my vnderstanding But now my good Mistresse my faithfull Secretary since that which thou so openly knowst it is in vaine for mee to seeke to smother it many yea many daies are now ouerpast since that noble Gentleman motioned his loue vnto mee whose speach and name was then as hatefull as now the reuiuing thereof is pleasing vnto me with thy Needles thou hast stitcht vp my woūd I am come to thy Bent it is in thy power to do with me what thou wilt In my girdle thou carriedst away with thee the possession of my liberty His anguish was my greater torment his paine my greater punishment I highly praise and cōmend your singular sufferance your discreet boldnes your liberall paines your sollicitous faithfull steps your pleasing speach your good wisedome your excessiue solicitude and your profitable importunity the Gentleman is much bound vnto you and my selfe more for my reproaches and reuilings could neuer make thee to slacke thy courage thy strong continuance and forcible perseuerance in thy suite relying still on thy great subtilty and strength of wit or rather bearing thy selfe like a most faithfull and trusty seruant being then most diligent when thou wast most reuiled the more I did disgrace thee the more wast thou importunate the harsher answer I gaue thee the better didst thou seeme to take it when I was most angry then wast thou most milde and humble and now by laying aside all feare thou hast gotten that out of my bosome which I neuer thought to haue discouered vnto thee or to any other whosoeuer Celest. My most deare both Lady friend wonder not so much at this for those ends that haue their effect giue me daringnesse to indure those craggy and dangerous by-waies by which I come to such Recluses as your selfe True it is that vntill I had resolued with my selfe as well on my way hitherwards as also heere in your house I stood in great doubt whether were I best discouer my petition vnto you or no When I did thinke on the great power of your father then did I feare but when withall I weygh'd the noblenesse of Calisto then I grew bold againe when I obserued your discretion I waxed timorous but when I considered your vertue and your courtesie I recouered new courage in the one I found feare in the other safety And since Madame you haue beene willing to grace me with the discouery of so great a fauour as now you haue made knowne vnto mee declare your will vnto mee lay your secrets in my lappe put into my hands the managing of this matter and I will giue it such a forme as both you and Calisto shall very shortly accomplish your desires Melibea O my Calisto my deare Lord my sweete and pleasing ioy if thy heart feele the like torment as mine I wonder how thy absence giues thee leaue to liue O thou both my mother and mistresse so handle the businesse that I may presently see him if you desire I should liue Celest. See him you shall both see him and speake with him Melibea Speake with him it is impossible Celest. Nothing is impossible to a willing minde Melibea Tell mee how Celest. I haue it in my head Mary thus within the doores of thy house Melibea When Celest. This night Melibea Thou shalt be glorious in mine eyes if thou compasse this But soft at what houre Celest. Iust when the clocke strikes twelue Melibea Goe be gone hye you good Mistresse my faithfull friend and talke with that Gentleman and will him that hee come very softly at his appointed houre and then wee will conclude of things as himselfe shall thinke fit to order them Celest. Farewell Loe yonder is your mother making hitherward Melibea Friend Lucrecia my loyall seruant faithfull secretary you haue heere seene that I haue no power ouer my selfe and what I haue done lies not in my hands to helpe it Loue hath made me prisoner to that Gentleman I intreat thee for pittie sake that you will signe what you haue seene with the seale of secresy whereby I may come to the enioying of so sweet a Loue In requitall whereof thou shalt be held by me in that high regard as thy faithfull seruice deserueth Lucrecia Madame long afore this I perceiued your wound and sounded your desire I did much pitty your torment for the more you sought to hide
the Sword and not against me and my poore weake Distaffe it is an infallible note of great cowardize to assaile the weake and such as haue but small or very little poore to resist your filthy Flyes bite none but leane and feeble Oxen and your barking Curres flye with greater eagernesse and more openâ— mouth vpon your poorest passengers If shee that lies aboue there in the bed would haue hearkned vnto me this house should not haue beene as now it is without a man in the night nor wee haue slept as wee doe by the naked shaddow of a candle But to pleasure you and to be faithfull vnto you wee suffer this solitude and because you see wee are women and haue no body heere to oppose you you prate and talke and aske I know not what without any reason in the world which you would as soone haue beene hang'd as once dar'd to haue proffer'd it if you had heard but a man stirring in the house for as it is in the Prouerbe A hard aduersary appeaseth anger Sempr. O thou old couetous Cribbe that art ready to dye with the thirst of gold cannot a third part of the gaine content thee Celest. What third part A pocks on you both out of my house in a diuels name you and your companion with you doe not you make such a stirre heere as you doe Cause not our neighbours to come about vs and make them thinke wee be madde Put mee not out of my wits make me not madde you would not I trow would you that Calisto's matters and yours should be proclaimed openly at the Crosse Heere 's a stirre indeed Sempr. Cry bawle and make a noyse all 's one we care not eyther looke to performe your promise or to end your daies Dye you must or else doe as wee will haue you Elicia Ah woe is mee put vp your Sword hold him hold him Parmeno for feare lest the foole should kill her in his madnesse Celestina Iustice Iustice helpe neighbours Iustice Iustice for heere be Ruffians that will murder mee in my house Murder murder murder Sempr. Ruffians you Whore Ruffians you old Bawd haue you no better tearmes Thou old Sorceresse thou witch thou looke for no other fauour at my hands but that I send thee poast vnto hell you shall haue letters thither you shall you old Inchantresse and that speedily too you shall haue a quicke dispatch Celest. Ay me I am slaine Ay ay Confession Confession Parmeno So so kill her kill her make an end of her since thou hast begunne be briefe be briefe with her lest the neighbours may chance to heare vs Let her dye let her dye let vs draw as few enemies vpon vs as wee can Celestina Oh oh oh Elicia O cruell-hearted as you are Enemies in the highest nature shame and confusion light vpon you the extremity of Iustice fall vpon you with it's greatest vigour and all those that haue had a hand in it My mother is dead and with her all my happinesse Semprâ—nio Flye flye Parmeno the people beginne to flocke hitherward See see yonder comes the Alguazil Parm. Ay me wretch that I am there is no meanes of escape for vs in the world for they haue made good the doore and are entring the house Sempronio Let vs leape out at these windowes And let vs dye rather so then fall into the hands of Iustice Parm. Leape then and I will follow thee ACTVS XIIJ THE ARGVMENT CALISTO awakened from sleepe talkes a while with himselfe anon after hee calls vnto Tristan and some other of his seruants By and by Calisto falls asleepe againe Tristan goes downe and stands at the doore Sosia comes weeping vnto him Tristan demanding the cause Sosia deliuers vnto him the death of Sempronio and Parmenâ— they goe and acquaint Calisto with it who knowing the truth thereof maketh great lamentation INTERLOCVTORS Calisto Tristan Sosia CAlisto O how daintily haue I slept Euer since that sweete short space of time since that harmonious discourse I inioyed I haue had exceeding ease taken very good rest this contentment and quietude hath proceeded from my ioy Either the trauaile of my body caused so sound a sleepe or else the glory and pleasure of my minde Nor doe I much wonder that both the one and the other should linke hands and ioyne together to cloze the lids of mine eyes since I trauail'd the last night with my body and person and tooke pleasure with my spirit and senses True it is that sorrow causeth much thought and ouermuch thought much hindreth sleepe as it was mine owne case within these few daies when I was much discomfited and quite out of heart of euer hoping to inioy that surpassing happinesse which I now possesse O my sweete Lady and dearest Loue Melibea what dost thou thinke on now Art thou asleepe or awake Thinkst thou on mee or some body else Art thou vp and ready or art thou not yet stirring O most happy and most fortunate Calisto if it be true and that it be no dreame which hath already passed Dream't I or dream't I not was it a meere phantasie or was it a reall truth But now I remember my selfe I was not alone my seruants waited on me there were two of them with me if they shall affirme it to be no dreame but that all that past was true I am bound to beleeue it I will command them to be called for the further confirmation of my ioy Tristanico Why â—ho Where are my men Tristanico Hye you and come vp arise I say get you vp quickly and come hither Tristan Sir I am vp and heere already Calisto Goe runne and call mee hither Sempronio and Parmeno Tristan I shall Sir Calisto Now sleepe and take thy rest Once grieu'd and pained Wight Since shee now loues thee best Who is thy hearts delight Let ioy be thy soules guest And care be banish't quite Since shee hath thee exprest To be her Fauourite Tristan There is not so much as a boy in the house Calisto Open the windowes and see whether it be day or no Tristan Sir it is broad day Calisto Goe againe and see if you can finde them and see you wake me not till it be almost dinner-time Tristan I will goe downe and stand at the doore that my Master may take out his full sleepe and to as many as shall aske for him I shall answer that hee is not within O what an out-cry doe I heare in the Market-place what 's the matter a Gods name There is some execution of Iustice to be done or else they are vp so earely to see some Bull-baiting I do not know what to make of this noyse it is some great matter the noyse is so great but â—o yonder comes Sosia my Masters foot-boy hee will tell mee what the businesse is Looke how the Rogue comes pulling and tearing of his hayre he hath tumbled into one Tauerne or other where he hath beene scuffling But if my Master chance to sent him hee
such a false-hearted white-liuer'd slaue that I should beleeue him and his lies that I should once suffer him to come within my doores What a diuell is there good in him his hayre is curled and shagg'd like a water Spaniell his face scotcht and notcht he hath beene twice whipt vp and downe the Towne hee is lame on his sword-arme and hath some thirty whores in the common Stewes Get thee out of my house and that presently too looke mee no more in the face speake not to mee no not a word neyther say thou that thou did'st euer know mee lest by the bones of my father who begot me of my mother who brought me forth I cause 2000 Bastinadoes to be laid vpon that Millers backe of thine For I would thou shouldst know I haue a friend in a corner that will not sticke to doe a greater matter then that for mee and come off handsomely with it when he has done Centurio The foole is mad I thinke But doe you heare Dame if I be nettled I shall sting some body if my choller be moued I shall drawe teares from some I shall make some body put finger in the eye I shall yfaith But for once I will goe my wayes and say nothing I will suffer all this at your hands lest some body may come in or the neighbours chance to heare vs Elicia I will in for that is no true sound of sorrow which sends forth threatnings and reuilings Areusa O wretch that I am Is 't you my Elicia I can hardly beleeue it But what meanes this Who hath cloath'd thee thus in sorrow What mourning weede is this Beleeue mee Cousin you much afright mee Tell me quickly what 's the matter For I long to know it O what a qualme comes ouer my stomack Thou hast not left me one drop of bloud in my body Elicia Great sorrow great losse that which I shew is but little to that which I feele and conceale My heart is blacker then my mantle my bowels then my veyle Ah Cousin Cousin I am not able to speake through hoarsenesse I cannot for sobbing send my words from out my brest Areusa Ay miserable mee why dost thou hold me in suspence Tell mee tell mee I say doe not you teare your hayre doe not you scratch and martyre your face deale not so ill with your selfe Is this euill common to vs both Appertaines it also vnto mee Elicia Ay my Cousin my deare Loue Sempronio and Parmeno are now no more they liue not they are no longer of this world dead alasse they are dead Areusa What dost thou tell mee No more I intreat thee for pitty hold thy peace lest I fall downe dead at thy feet Elicia There is yet more ill newes to come vnto thine eares Listen well to this wofull wight and shee shall tell thee a longer Tale of woe thy sorrowes haue not yet their end Celestina shee whom thou knewst well shee whom I esteemed as my Mother shee who did cocker mee as her childe shee who did couer all my infirmities shee who made me to be honoured amongst my equals shee by whose meanes I was knowne thorow all the City and suburbs of the same stands now rendring vp an account of all her works I saw her with these eyes stabb'd in a thousand places They slew her in my lap I folding her in mine armes Areusa O strong tribulation O heauy newes worthy our bewayling O swift-footed misfortunes O incurable destruction O inrreparable losse O how quickly hath fortune turned about her wheele Who slew them How did they dye Thou hast made mee almost besides my selfe with this thy newes and to stand amazed as one who heares a thing that seemes to be impossible It is not eight dayes agoe since I saw them all aliue Tell me good friend How did this cruell and vnlucky chance happen Elicia You shall know I am sure Cousin you haue already heard tell of the loue betwixt Calisto and that foole Melibea And you likewise saw how Celestina at the intercession of Sempronio so as shee might be paid for her paines vndertooke the charge of that businesse and to be the meanes to effect it for him wherein shee vsed such diligence and was so carefull in the following of it that shee drew water at the second spitting Now when Calisto saw so good and so quicke a dispatch which he neuer hoped to haue effected amongst diuers other things hee gaue this my vnfortunate Aunt a chaine of gold And as it is the nature of that metall that the more we drinke thereof the more wee thirst shee when she saw her selfe so rich appropriated the whole gaine to her selfe and would not let Sempronio and Parmeno haue their parts it being before agreed vpon betweene them that whatsoeuer Calisto gaue her they should share it alike Now they being come home weary one morning from accompaning their Master with whom they had beene abroad all night being in great choller and heate vpon I know not what quarrells and brawles as they themselues said that had betyded them they demanded part of the chayne of Celestina for to relieue themselues therewith Shee stood vpon deniall of any such couenant or promise made betweene them affirming the whole gaine to be due to her and discouering withall other petty matters of some secrecie For as it in the Prouerbe when Gossips brawle then out goes all So that they being mightily inraged on the one side necessity did vrge them which rents and breaks all the loue in the world on the other side the great anger and wearinesse they brought thither with them which many times workes an alteration in vs And besides they saw that they were forsaken in their fayrest hopes shee breaking her faith and promise with them So that they knew not in the world what to do and so continued a great while vpon termes with her some hard words passing to and fro betweene them But in the end perceiuing her couetous disposition and finding that she still perseuered in her denyall they layd hands vpon their swords and hackt and hew'd her in a thousand pieces Areusa O vnfortunate woman Wast thou ordained to end thy dayes in so miserable a manner as this But for them I pray what became of them How came they to their end Elicia They as soone as euer they had committed this foule murder that they might auoyde the Iustice the Alcalde passing by by chance at that very instant made mee no more adoe but leapt presently out at the windowes and being in a manner dead with the fall they presently apprehended them and without any further delay chopt off their heads Areusa O my Parmeno my loue what sorrow doe I feele for thy sake How much doth thy death torment mee It grieues me for that my great loue which in so short a space I had settled vpon him sithence it was not my fortune to inioy him longer But being that this ill successe hath insued being that this
Elicia For loues sake ha done tell vs of no more Bastonado him I pray thee for I would haue him beaten but not slaine Centurio 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 Areusa 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 Cent. 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 Areusa Mars direct thy hand aright And so farewell for it is time for vs to be gone Centurio Well adieu Goe your waies like a couple of head-strong 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 ACTVS XIX THE ARGVMENT CALISTO going with Sosia and Tristan to Pleberic's garden to visit his Melibea who staid looking for him attended by Lucrecia Sosia recounts vnto Tristan all that which had passed betwixt him and Areusa Calisto remaining in the garden with Melibea Thraso and his companions come sent thither by the appointment of Centurio for the fulfilling of that which hee had promised to Areusa and Elicia Vpon whom Sosia sallies forth Now Calisto hearing from the garden where hee remained with Melibea the clashing and clattering which they made would needes goe foorth amongst them Which issuing forth was the cause that his daies were finished for this is the recompence which such Louers receiue VVhence they may learne that it is better for them not to loue at all then so to loue INTERLOCVTORS Sosia Tristan Calisto Melibea Lucrecia SOsia 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 Tristan Friend Sosia another more ripe and mature braine and better experimented in matters of the world then mine is were very necessary to be your aduiser in this businesse yet as farreforth as my tender age and the meanes of my naturall parts and wit shall be able to reach vnto I will tell you what I thinke This woman as you told me your selfe is a known and a noted whore and therefore whatsoeuer hath past betweene you flatter not your selfe but rather beleeue that her words doe not want deceit Her offers I perswade mee were false though I know not to what end she made them If shee loue thee because thou art a Gentleman how many better then thy selfe hath she reiected If because thou art rich she knowes well enough that thou hast no other dust then that which clings to the Curry-combe If because thou art nobly descended and of high Linage she knowes thy name is Sosia and so was thy fathers and that he was borne and bred in a poore little Hamlet getting his liuing by following the Plough-tayle and breaking Clods of earth for which thy selfe art more fit then to make a Louer Be wise Sosia and consider with thy selfe if she doe not goe a birâ—ing to see if she could get out of thee the
how can you in reason require my tongue to speake when as you cannot rule your owne hands and keepe them quiet Why doe not you forget these tricks and learne to leaue them Lay your command vpon them to be quiet and will them to lay aside this offensiue custome and consider my dearest that as to see thee whilest thou carriest thy selfe quietly and ciuilly is the greatest happinesse that eyther my heart or my eye can inioy so is it as displeasing vnto me to see thee handle me so roughly Thy honest sporting pleaseth mee but thy dishonest hands offend mee especially when they are too farre out of reason And though loue ofttimes forget reason yet amongst your well-educated and noble and generous spirits kindnesse keepes a decorum and reuels not but with decency let such Sweet-heart be our imbraces such and so modest be our dalliance my dearest Calisto my Loue my Lord And since I wholy subiect my selfe to your pleasure be it your pleasure to take make such worthy benefit of my affection presence and seruice as best beseemes true Louers and is agreeable to both our high births and breeding But alas silly woman why should I direct you No I will not Doe Calisto doe what you will and say what you will I am yours to vse please your selfe and you shall please mee Calisto Madame ferueney of loue loues not to be idle pardon then I pray you if I haue beene too busie Lucrecia Now neuer trust mee againe if I harken to them any longer Heer 's a life indeede O how I feele my selfe melt within like snow against the Sunne and how squeamish my Mistresse seemes because forsooth shee would faine be intreated Assuredly had I beene in her case and haue lost so much time I should thinke the worse of my selfe the longest day of my life Melibea Sir shall I send Lucrecia to fetch you some sweet-meats Calisto No Lady no other sweet-meats for mee saue onely to imbrace this thy body to fold it within mine armes and to haue the possession of thy beauty Euery where a man may eate and drinke for his money that a man may haue at any time it is euery where to be bought but that which is not vendible that which in all the world is not to be matched and saue onely in this garden not to be found againe from one Pole to the other Why wish you me not rather that I should not let slippe the least moment in inioying so sweete a treasure Lucrecia My head akes with hearing and yet their tongues ake not with talking nor their armes with colling nor their lips with kissing Sure they will make mee gnaw the finger of my gloue all to pieces Calisto O my deare Mistresse I could wish it would neuer be day that I might still inioy that sweet happinesse and fulnesse of content which my senses receiue in the noble conuersing with this thy delicate and dainty sweete Selfe Melibea Sir it is I that inioy this happinesse this fulnesse of content If any body gaine by it it is I and I must acknowledge my selfe most infinitly beholding vnto you that you would vouchsafe to visit mee in so kinde and louing a manner as no thankes are able to requite so great a fauour Sosia Out you Ruffianly Rascals come yee to fright those that feare you not Had I bin ware of your comming or had you staid any longer I would haue sent some of you packing and haue giuen you somewhat that should haue stuck by youâ— Out you Rogues Calisto Madame this is Sosia's voyce suffer mee to goe and see that they doe not kill him for there is no body with him but a little Page that came with me Giue me my cloake quickly it lies vnder you Melibea O vnfortunate that I am I pray do not go without your Curaces If you loue me come back I wil help to arme you my selfe Calisto That Mistresse which a sword a cloak and a good heart cannot doe can neuer be effected by Curace Caske or Cowardice Sosia Yea are you come againe I shall be with you to bring by and by you come for wooll doe you But if you stay a little longer I shall send you home without a fleece I shall plume you I shall you Rascals Calisto Lady if you loue mee let mee goe The ladder stands ready for mee Melibea O miserable mee Why dost thou goe so furiously and so fast and all disarmed as thou art to hazard thy life among'st thou know'st not whom Lucrecia come hither quickly for Calisto is gone to thrust himselfe into a quarrell Let vs take his Curaces and throw them ouer the wall for he hath left them heere behinde him Tristan Stay Sir doe not come downe They are gone it is no body but lame Thraso and a company of other Rogues with him that made a noyse as they past by And Sosia is come backe againe Take heed Sir hold fast by the ladder for feare lest you fall Calisto Oh oh Looke vpon me Ay me I am a dead man oh Tristan Come hither quickly Sosia for our vnfortunate Master is falne from the ladder and neither speakes nor wagges Sosia Master Master doe you heare Sir Let vs call a little at this other doore Hee heares on neyther eare hee is as dead as a doore-nayle there is no more life in him then in my great grand-father who dy'd some hundred yeeres since O foule mishappe What will become of vs Lucrecia Harke harke Madame what a great mischance is this Melibea O wretch that I am what doe I heare Tristan O my Master my master is dead and with him all my happinesse all my good hee is falne headlong downe hee is dead hee is dead and which is a fearefull thing suddenly dead O pittifull pittifull O horrible sight Helpe Sosia helpe to gather vp these braines that lye scattered heere amongst the stones and let vs put them againe into his head O vnfortunate Master O vnlucky day O sudden and vnexpected end Melibea O disconsolate woman that I am What a thing is this What vile mishap that hath thus disturbed our quiet What mischance can possibly proue so cruell as that which I now heare Help mee Lucrecia to get vp this wall that I may see my sorrow vnlesse you will haue mee fill my fathers house with cryes and skrikes What Is all my ioy turned into smoake Is all my pleasure lost All my glory come to an end Lucrecia Tristan wha't 's the matter my Loue why dost thou weepe so bitterly why take you on so beyond all measure reason Tristan I bewaile my great misery I bewaile my many sorrowes My Master Calisto hath falne from the ladder and is dead his head is in three pieces hee dyed suddenly and lamentably torne and dasht to pieces beare this sad message to his new friend that she must neuer more expect her pained Louer Sosia doe thou take vp his feete and let vs carry his body hence that hee may not in
this place suffer dishonour though hee haue suffered death Let mourning goe along with vs let solitarinesse accompany vs let discomfort waite vpon vs let sorrow apparell vs let mourning weedes couer vs and let vs put on sad habits Melibea Ay me of all other the most miserable So short a time to possesse my pleasure so soone to see my sorrowes come vpon me Lucrecia Madame teare not your face rent not your hayre What but euen now all pleasure and now all sorrow Out alas that one and the selfe-same Planet should so suddenly affoord an effect so contrary where is your courage Fye what a faint heart haue you pray you arise from the ground let not your father find you in so suspitious a place for if you continue thus you cannot choose but be heard Why Madame Madame I say heare you me Doe you heare Lady Of all loues do not fall any more into these swounds Be as valiant and couragious in induring your sorrow as you were hot and hardy in committing your errour Melibea Heare you what moane his poore seruants make heare you how wofully they lament his losse wailing and weeping praying and answering each to other they carry away from mee all my good all my happinesse my dead ioy my dearest Loue they carry away from me my time is come I am but a dead woman I can liue no longer since I may no more inioy the ioy of my heart O that I should let thee goe that I should hold that Iewell no faster which I so lately held in my hands O vngratefull mortals O vnthankefull as wee be who neuer know our happinesse vntill wee want it Lucrecia Vp vp Madame for it will be a greater dishonor vnto you to be found thus heere in the garden then eyther the pleasure you receiued by his comming or the sorrow which you take for his death Come let vs into your chamber And goe lay you downe on your bed and I will call your father Wee will faigne some other ill since to hide this it is impossible ACTVS XX. THE ARGVMENT LVCRECIA comes to Pleberio's chamber and knockes at the doore Pleberic askes her what 's the matter Lucrecia intreates him to come presently to see his daughter Melibea Pleberio rises and goes streight to Melibea's chamber Hee comforts her demanding what shee ayleth and where was her griefe Melibea faignes her paine to be about her heart Melibea sends her father forth for some musicall Instruments Shee and Lucrecia get them when hee was gone to the top of a Tower Shee sends away Lucrecia and shuts the doore after her Her father comes to the foote of the Tower Melibea discouers vnto him all the whole businesse of what had passed That done she throwes her selfe downe from the top of the Tower INTERLOCVTORS Pleberio Lucrecia Melibea PLeberio What would you Lucrecia What meanes this exceeding haste and with so great importunity and troublednesse of minde What ayles my daughter What sudden sicknesse hath seazed on her that I cannot haue the leysure to put on my cloathes nay scarce so much time as to rise Lucrecia Sir if you will see her aliue come quickely What her griefe is I know not Nay scarce know I her so disfigured is her face Pleberio Come let vs goe quickly lead the way in afore lift vp the hangings open this same window set it wide open that I may haue light enough to take a full view of her Why how now daughter What 's the matter What is your paine Where lies it What a strange thing is this What faintnesse doe I see What weakenesse and feeblenesse Looke vpon me daughter I am thy father Speake vnto me for pitties sake speake and tell mee the cause of your griefe that wee may the sooner prouide a remedy Send not my gray hayres with sorrow to the graue thou knowest I haue no other good but thee no other worldly happinesse Open thy gladsome eyes looke cheerefully vpon mee Melibea Ay mee What shall I doe Pleberio What woe can equall mine to see thee in such wofull plight Your mother as soone as euer shee but heard you were ill fell presently into a swound and lies in that extremity and in a manner senslesse that shee is not able to come and see thee Be of good cheere plucke vp thy heart and so raise vp thy spirits that thou may'st rise and goe along with mee to visit her Tell mee sweete soule the cause of thy sorrow Melibea My cure is remedilesse Pleberio My deare daughter the best beloued of thy aged father for pitties sake let not this thy cruell torment cause thee to despaire of recouery being carryed away with the violence and infirmity of thy passion for sorrow still assaulteth the weakest hearts and conquers them most that are most cowardly if thou wilt but tell me thy griefe it shall presently be remedied for neither physick nor Physicians nor seruants shall be wanting for the recouery of thy health whether it consist in herbes in stones or in words or remaine more secret in the bodies and bowels of beasts Doe not then vexe me any more torment me no longer force me not out of my wits make me not madde but tell me good daughter what and where is your paine Mel. I feele a mortall wound euen in the very midst of my heart the anguish whereof is so grieuous vnto mee that it will scarce suffer mee to fetch my breath much lesse to speake there is no malady like vnto mine it is of a different nature from all other diseases And before you can come to cure it in my heart you must first take out my heart for it lies euen in the hidden and most secret place thereof Pleberio Too too soone hast thou receiued this feeling and sense of elder yeeres youth should be a friend to pleasure and mirth and an enemy vnto care and sorrow Rise then from hence and let vs goe and take some fresher ayre along by the Riuer side come and make merry with your mother you shall see that will ease and rid away your paine Take heed what you doe doe not wilfully cast away your selfe for if you flye and shunne mirth there is not any thing in the world more contrary to your disease Melibea Let vs goe whither you please and if it stand with your liking Sir let vs goe vp to the top of the Leades for from thence I may inioy the pleasing sight of those Ships that passe to and fro and perhaps it may giue some ease to my griefe Pleberio Come let vs goe and take Lucrecia with vs Melibea With a very good will I pray father will you cause some musicall instrument to be sent vnto me that by playing thereon or singing thereunto I may see if I can driue away this griefe for though on the one side the force and violence thereof doth much torment mee yet on the other side I doubt not but those sweet sounding Instruments and delightfull harmony will much lossen
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 His death inuiteth mine inuiteth nay inforceth mee that it be speedily effected and without delay it teacheth mee that I should also fall headlong down that I may imitate him in all things It shall not be said of mee that those that are dead and gone are soone forgotten And therefore I will seeke to content him in my death since I had not time to giue him content in my life O my Loue and deare Lord Calisto expect mee for now I come But stay a little though thou dost expect mee and be not angry I prythee that I delay thee being that I am now paying my last debt and giuing it my finall account to my aged father to whom I owe much more O my best beloued father I beseech you if euer you did loue mee in this painefull forepassed life that we may both be interred in one Tombe and both our Obsequies be solemnized together I would faine speake some words of comfort vnto you before this my gladsome and well-pleasing end gathered and collected out of those ancient bookes which for the bettering of my wit and vnderstanding you willed me to reade were it not that my memory failes me being troubled and disquieted with the losse and death of my Loue as also because I see your ill indured teares trickle so fast downe your wrinckled cheekes Recommend mee to my most deare and best-beloued mother and doe you informe her at large of the dolefull occasion of my death I am glad with all my heart that shee is not heere present with you for her sight would but increase my sorrow Take aged father the gifts of old age for in large daies large griefes are to be endured Receiue the pledge and earnest of thy reuerend age receiue it at the hands of thy beloued daughter I sorrow much for my selfe more for you but most for my aged mother and so I recommend me to you both and both of you vnto your more happinesse to whom I offer vp my soule leauing the care to you to couer this body that is now comming downe vnto you ACTVS XXI THE ARGVMENT PPLEBERIO returning weeping to his chamber his wife Alisa demands the cause of this so sudden an ill Hee relates vnto her the death of her daughter Melibea shewing vnto her her bruised body and so making lamentation for her hee giues a conclusion to this Tragick Comedy INTERLOCVTORS Alisa Pleberio ALisa Why Pleberio my Lord what 's the matter why doe you weepe and snobbe and take on in such extreme and violent manner I haue lyen euer since in a dead swound so was I ouercome with griefe when I heard that our daughter was so ill And now hearing your pittifull lamentations your loude cryings your vnaccustomed complaints your mournings and great anguish they haue so pierced my very bowels made so quicke a passage to my heart and haue so quickned and reuiued my troubled and benummed senses that I haue now put away the griefe which I entertained thus one griefe driues out another and sorrow expelleth sorrow Tell mee the cause of your complaint Why doe you curse your honorable old age Why do you desire death Why doe you teare your milke-white hayres vp by the roates Why doe you scratch and rend your reuerend face Is any ill befalne Melibea For I pray you tell mee for if shee be not well I cannot liue Pleberio Out alas Ay mee my most noble wife Our solace is in the suds our ioy is turn'd into annoy all our conceiued hopes are vtterly lost all our happinesse is quite ouerthrowne let vs now no longer desire to liue And because vnexpected sorrowes leaue a greater impression of griefe and because they may bring thee the sooner to thy graue as also that I may not alone by my selfe bewayle that heauy losse which belongs to vs both looke out and behold her whom thou broughtst forth and I begot dash't and broken all to pieces The cause I vnderstood from her selfe but layd open more at large by this her sadde and sorrowfull seruant Helpe to lament these our latter daies which are now growing to an end O yee good people who come to behold my sorrowes and you Gentlemen my louing friends doe you also assist to bewayle my misery O my daughter and my onely good it were cruelty in mee that I should out-liue thee My threescore yeeres were fitter for the graue then thy twenty but the order of my dying was altred by that extremity of griefe which did hasten thy end O yee my boary hayres growne foorth to no other end saue sorrow it would better haue suted with you to haue beene buryed in the earth then with these golden tresses which lye heere before mee Too too many are the dayes that I haue yet to liue I will complaine and cry out
lesse reason doe I finde for my comfort for much more miserable doe I finde my misfortune and doe not so much grieue at her death as I doe lament the manner of her death Now shall I lose together with thee most vnhappy daughter those feares which were daily wont to affright mee Onely thy death is that which makes mee secure of all suspitions and iealousies What shall I doe when I shall come into thy chamber and thy withdrawing roome and shall finde it solitary and empty What shall I doe when as I shall call thee and thou shalt not answer me Who is he that can supply that want which thou hast caused Who can stop vp that great breach in my heart which thou hast made Neuer any man did lose that which I haue lost this day Thogh in some sort that great fortitude of Lambas de Auria Duke of Genoa seemeth to sute with my present estate and condition who seeing his sonne was wounded to death tooke him and threw him with his owne armes foorth of the shippe into the sea But such kinde of deaths as these though they take away life yet they giue reputation and many times men are inforced to vndergoe such actions for to cumply with their honour and get themselues fame and renowne But what did inforce my daughter to dye but onely the strong force of loue What remedy now thou flattering world wilt thou affoord my wearisome age How wouldst thou haue me to rely vpon thee I knowing thy falsehoods thy gins thy snares and thy nets wherein thou intrap'st and takest our weake and feeble wills Tell me what hast thou done with my daughter where hast thou bestow'd her who shall accompany my disaccompanied habitation who shall cherish me in mine old age who with gentle vsage shall cocker my decaying yeeres O Loue Loue I did not thinke thou hadst had the power to kill thy subiects I was wounded by thee in my youth did passe thorow the midst of thy flames Why didst thou let me scape Was it that thou might'st pay me home for my flying from thee then in mine old age I had well thought that I had bin freed from thy snares when I once began to growe towards forty and when I rested contented with my wedded consort and when I saw I had that fruit which this day thou hast cut down I did not dreame that thou would'st in the children haue taken vengeance of the parents and I know not whether thou woundest with the sword or burnest with fire Thou leauest our clothes whole and yet most cruelly woundest our hearts thou makest that which is foule to seeme fayre and beautifull vnto vs Who gaue thee so great a power who gaue thee that name which so ill befitteth thee If thou wert Loue thou wouldst loue thy seruants and if thou didst loue them thou wouldst not punish them as thou dost If to be thy fellow were to liue merrily so many would not kill themselues as my daughter now hath infinit of vs What end haue thy seruants and their Ministers had as also that false Bawd Celestina who dy'd by the hands of the faithfullest companions that euer she lighted vpon in her life for their true performance in this thy venomous impoisoned seruice They lost their heads Calisto he brake his necke and my daughter to imitate him submitted her selfe to the selfe-same death And of all this thou wast the cause they gaue thee a sweete name but thy deedes are exceeding sowre thou dost not giue equall rewards and that Law is vniust which is not equall alike vnto all Thy voyce promiseth pleasure but thy actions proclaime paine happy are they who haue not knowne thee or knowing thee haue not cared for thee Some ledde with I know not what error haue not stickt to call thee a god But I would haue such fooles as these to consider with themselues it sauors not of a Deity to murder or destroy those that serue and follow him O thou enemy to all reason To those that serue thee least thou giuest thy greatest rewards vntill thou hast brought them at last into this thy troublesome dance Thou art an enemy to thy friends and a friend to thy enemies and all this is because thou dost not gouerne thy selfe according to order reason They paint thee blind poore and young they put a Bowe into thy hand wherein thou drawest and shootest at random but more blind are they that serue thee For they neuer taste or see the vnsauory distastful recompence which they receiue by thy seruice thy fire is of hot burning lightning which scorches vnto death yet leaues no impression or print of any wound at all The sticks which thy flames consume are the soules and liues of humane creatures which are so infinit and so numberlesse that it scarce accurreth vnto me with whom I should first begin not only of Christians but of Gentiles of Iewes and all forsooth in requitall of their good seruices What shall I speak of that Macias of our times and how by louing he came to his end Of whose sad and wofull death thou wast the sole cause What seruice did Paris do thee What Helena What Clytemnestra What Aegisthus All the world knowes how it went with them How well likewise didst thou requite Sapho Ariadne and Leander and many other besides whom I willingly silence because I haue enough to do in the repetition of mine own misery I complaine me of the world because I was bred vp in it for had not the world giuen me life I had not therein begot Melibea not being begot shee had not beene borne not being borne I had not lou'd her and not louing her I should not haue mourned as now I do in this my latter and vncomfortable old age O my good companion O my bruised daughter bruised euen all to pieces Why wouldst thou not suffer me to diuert thy death why wouldst thou not take pitty of thy kinde and louing mother why didst thou shew thy selfe so cruell against thy aged father why hast thou left me thus in sorrow why hast thou left me comfortlesse and all alone in hâc lachrimarum valle in this vaile of teares and shadow of death FINIS Lucan lib. 6. iuxta finem To the Reader LO heere thy Celestine that wicked wight Who did her tricks vpon poore Louers prooue And in her company the god of Loue Lo grace beauty desire terrour hope fright Faith falsehood hate loue musicke griefe delight Sighes sobs teares cares heates colds girdle gloue Paintings Mercury Sublimate dung of Doue Prison force fury craft scoffes Art despight Bawds Ruffians Harlots seruants false vntrue And all th' effects that follow on the same As warre strife losse death infamy and shame All which and more shall come vnto thy view But if this Booke speake not his English plaine Excuse him for hee lately came from Spaine
shall meet vs either to see or know vs Calisto Let vs along then Heere my masters this way for though it be somewhat about yet is it the more priuate way and the lesser frequented Now it strikes twelue a good houre Parme. Wee are neere vnto the place Calisto Wee are come in very good time Goe thou Parmeno and peepe in at the dore to see if that Lady be come or no Parmeno Who I Sir God forbid that I should marre that which I neuer made Much better were it Sir that your presence should be her first incounter lest in seeing mee shee should be moued to anger in seeing so many acquainted with that which she so secretly desires to be done and vndergoeth with so great feare as also because she may haply imagine that you mocke her Calisto O how well hast thou spoken thou hast giuen mee my life by giuing mee this sound aduice for there needeth nothing more to beare me home dead to my house then that she through my improuidence should haue gone her waies backe I will goe thither my selfe and doe you stay heere Parmeno What dost thou thinke Sempronio of the foole our Master who thought to haue made me to be his Target for to receiue the incounter of this first danger What doe I know who stands betweene or behind the dores What know I if there be any treason intended or no What can I tell whether Melibea haue plotted this to cry quittance with our Master for this his great presumption Besides wee are not sure whether the old Trot told him truth or no Thou knowst not Parmeno how to speake Thy life shall be taken from thee and thou ne'r the wiser for it thy soule shall be let forth thou not know who was he that did it Do not thou turne flatterer nor sooth vp thy Master in euery thing that he would haue thee and then thou shalt neuer haue cause to weepe for other mens woes or to mourne for others miseries Doe thou not follow Celestina's counsell in that which is fit and conuenient for thee and thou wert as good goe breake thy neck blind-fold Goe on with thy good perswasions and faithfull admonitions and thou shalt bee well cudgell'd for thy labour Turne the leafe now no more lest thou be forced to bid the world good night before thou be willing to leaue it I will solemnize this as my birth-day since I haue escaped so great a danger Sempr. Hush I say softly Parmeno softly Doe not you keepe such a leaping and skipping not for ioy make such a noise lest you may hap to be heard Parmeno Content your selfe brother hold your peace I pray for I cannot containe my selfe for very ioy to thinke that I should make him beleeue that it was most fit for him to goe to the doore when as indeed I did onely put him on because I held it fittest for mine owne safety Who could euer haue brought a businesse more handsomely about for his owne good then I my selfe haue done Thou shalt see mee doe many such things if thou shalt heerafter but obserue mee which euery man shall not know of as well towards Calisto himselfe as all those who shall any way inter-meddle or interpose themselues in this businesse For I am assured that this Damsell is but the baite to this hooke whereat hee must hang himselfe or that flesh which is throwne out to Vultures whereof hee that eateth is sure to pay soundly for it Semp. Let this passe ne'r trouble thy head with these iealousies and suspitions of thine no though they should happen to be true But prepare thy selfe and like a tall souldier be in readinesse vpon the first Alarme or word giuen to betake thee to thy heeles Do like the men of Villa-Diego who being besieged ranne away by night with their Breeches in their hands Parmeno Wee haue read both in one booke and are both of the same mind I haue not only their Breeches but their light easie Buskins that I may runne away the nimbler and out-strip my fellowes And I am glad good brother that thou hast aduised mee to that which otherwise euen for very shame and feare of thee I should neuer haue done as for our Master if he chance to be heard or otherwise discouered he will neuer escape I feare mee the hands of Pleberio's people whereby hee may heereafter demand of vs how wee behau'd our selues in his defence or that he shall euer be able to accuse vs that wee cowardly forsooke him Semp. O my friend Parmeno how good and ioyfull a thing is it for fellowes and companions to liue together in loue and vnity And though Celestina should prooue good to vs in no other thing saue onely this yet in this alone hath shee done vs seruice enough and deserued very well at our hands Parmeno No man can deny that which in it selfe is manifest It is apparant that we for modesties sake and because wee would not be branded with the hatefull name of cowardize wee stai'd heere expecting together with our Master no lesse then death though we did not so much deserue it as he did Sempr. Melibea should be come Harke mee thinkes I heare them whispering each to other Parm. I feare rather that it is not shee but some one that counterfaytes her voyce Sempr. Heauens defend vs from the hands of Traytours I pray God they haue not betaken themselues to that street thorow which we were resolued to flye For I feare nothing else but that Calisto This stirring and murmur which I feare is not of one single person alone Yet will I speake come what will come or be who as will be there Madame Mistresse be you there Lucrecia If I be not deceiued this is Calisto's voyce But for the more surety I will goe a little neerer Who is that that speakes Who is there without Calisto He that is come addressed to your command Lucrecia Madame why come you not Come hither I say be not afraid for heere is the Gentleman you wot of Melibea Speake softly you foole Marke him well that you may be sure it is hee Lucrecia Come hither I tell you it is hee I know him by his voice Calisto I feare mee I am deluded it was not Melibea that spake vnto me I heare some whispering I am vndone But liue or dye I haue not the power to be gone Melibea Lucrecia goe a little aside and giue mee leaue to call vnto him Sir what is your name Who willed you to come hither Calisto She that is worthy to command all the world she whom I may not merit to serue Let not your Ladiship feare to discouer her selfe to this Captiue of your gentle disposition for the sweete sound of those your words which shall neuer fall from my eares giue me assurance that you are that Lady Melibea whom my heart adoreth I am your seruant Calisto Melibea The strange and excessiue boldnesse of thy messages hath inforced me Calisto to
speake with thee who hauing already receiued my answer to your reasons I know not what you may imagine to get more out of my loue then what I then made knowne vnto you Banish therefore from thee those vaine and foolish thoughts that both my honour and my person may be secured from any hurt they may receiue by an ill suspition For which purpose I am come hither to take order for your dispatch and my quietnesse Doe not I beseech you put my good name and reputation vpon the ballance of back-biting and detracting tongues Calisto To hearts prepared with a strong and dauntlesse resolution against all aduersities whatsoeuer nothing can happen vnto them that shall easily be able to shake the strength of their wall But that vnhappy man who weaponlesse and disarmed not thinking vpon any deceit or Ambuscado puts himselfe within the dores of your safe-conduct and protection whatsoeuer in such a case falls out contrary to my expectation it cannot in all reason but torment me and pierce thorow the very soule of me breaking all those Magazines and storehouses wherein this sweet newes was laid vp O miserable and vnfortunate Calisto O how hast thou beene mocked and deluded by thy seruants O thou coozening and deceitfull Celestina thou mightst at least haue let me alone and giuen me leaue to dye and not gone about to reuiue my hope to adde thereto more fuell to the fire which already doth sufficiently waste and consume me Why didst thou falsifie this my Ladies message Why hast thou thus with thy tongue giuen cause to my despaire and vtter vndoing Why dist thou command mee to come hither Was it that I might receiue disgrace interdiction diffidence and hatred from no other mouth but that which keepes the keyes of my perdition or happinesse O thou enemy to my good Didst not thou tell mee that this my Lady would be fauourable and gracious vnto mee Didst not thou tell mee that of her owne accord shee had commanded this her captiue to come to this very place where now I am Not to banish mee afresh from her presence but to repeale that banishment whereunto shee had sentenced mee by her former command Miserable that I am whom shall I trust or in whom may I hope to find any faith Where is truth to be had Who is voyde of deceit Where doth not falsehood dwell Who is he that shewes himselfe an open enemy or who is he that shewes himselfe a faithfull friend Where is that place wherein treason is not wrought Who I say durst trespasse so much vpon my patience as to giue me such cruell hope of destruction Melibea Cease good Sir your true and iust complaints For neither my heart is able to endure it nor mine eyes any longer to dissemble it thou weepest out of griefe iudging me cruell and I weep out of ioy seeing thee so faithfull O my dearest Lord and my lifes whole happinesse how much more pleasing would it be vnto me to see thy face then to heare thy voyce But sithence that at this present we cannot inioy each others as wee would take thou the assignement and seale of those words which I sent vnto thee written and ingrossed in the tongue of that thy diligent and carefull messenger All that which I then said I doe heere anew confirme I acknowledge it as my Deede and hold the Assurance I haue made thee to be good and perfect Good Sir doe not you weepe dry vp your teares and dispose of mee as you please Calisto O my deare Lady Hope of my glory Easeresse of my paine and my hearts ioy What tongue can be sufficient to giue thee thankes that may equall his so extraordinary and incomparable a kindnesse which in this instant of so great and extreme a sorrow thou hast bin willing to conferre vpon me in being willing I say that one so meane and vnworthy as my selfe should be by thee inabled to the inioying of thy sweetest loue whereof although I was euer more most desirous yet did I alwaies deeme my selfe vnworthy thereof weighing thy greatnesse considering thy estate beholding thy perfection contemplating thy beauty and looking into my small merit and thy great worth besides other thy singular graces thy commendable and well-knowne vertues Againe O thou great God how can I be vngratefull vnto thee who so miraculously hast wrought for mee so great and strange wonders O how long agoe did I entertaine this thought in my heart and as a thing impossible repeld it from my memory vntill now that the bright beames of thy most cleare shining countenance gaue light vnto my eyes inflamed my heart awakened my tongue inlarged my desert abridged my cowardize vnwreathed my shrunke-vp spirits reinforced my strength put life and metall into my hands and feet and in a word infused such a spirit of boldnesse into me that they haue borne me vp by their power vnto this high estate wherin with happinesse I now behold my selfe in hearing this thy sweet-pleasing voyce which if I had not heertofore knowne and sented out the sweet and wholsome sauour of thy words I should hardly haue beleeued they would haue been without deceit But now that I am well assured of thy pure and noble both bloud and actions I stand amazed at the gaze of my good and with a stricter eye beginne to view and looke vpon my selfe to see whether I am that same Calisto whom so great a blessing hath befalne Melibea Calisto Thy great worth thy singular graces and thy noblenesse of birth haue euer since I had true notice of thee wrought so effectually with mee that my heart hath not so much as one moment bin absent from thee And although now these many dayes I haue stroue and stroue againe to dissemble it yet could I not so smother my thoughts but that as soone as that Woman returned thy sweet name vnto my remembrance I discouered my desire and appointed our meeting at this very place and time Where I beseech thee to take order for the disposing of my person according to thine owne good will and pleasure These doores debarre vs of our ioy whose strong locks and barres I curse as also mine owne weake strength For were I stronger and they weaker neither shouldst thou be displeased nor I discontented Calisto What Madame is it your pleasure that I should suffer a paltry piece of wood to hinder our ioy Neuer did I conceiue that any thing saue thine owne will could possibly hinder vs O troublesome and sport-hindring doores I earnestly desire that you may be burned with as great a fire as the torment is great which you giue me for then the third part thereof would be sufficient to consume you to ashes in a moment Giue me leaue sweet Lady that I may call my seruants and command them to breake them open Parme. Harke harke Sempronio Hearest thou not what he saies He is comming to seeke after vs wee shall make a badde yeere of it we shall runne