Calisto and Melebea :: :: University of Virginia Library

Rastell, John

A new cōmodye in englysh in maner Of an enterlude ryght elygant & full of craft of rethoryk/wherein is shewd & dyscrybyd as well the bewte & good propertes of women/as theyr vycys & euyll cōdiciōs/with a morall cōclusion & exhortacyon to vertew

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Melebea

Franciscus petrarcus the poet lawreate
Sayth that nature whych is mother of all thing
wtout stryff can gyue lyfe to nothing create
And Eraclito the wyse clerk in his wrytyng
Sayth in all thynges create stryff is theyre workyng
And ther is no thing vnder the firmament
with any other in all poyntes equivalent

And accordyng to theyre dictys rehersyd as thus
All thynges are create in maner of stryfe
These folysh louers then that be so amerous
Frō pleasure to displeasure how lede they theyr lyfe
Now sory now sad now Ioyous now pensyfe
Alas I pore mayden than what shall I do
Combryd by dotage of one Calisto

I know that nature hath gyuyn me bewte
with sanguynyous compleccyon fauour & fayrenes
The more to god ought I to do fewte
with wyll lyfe laud and loue of perfytnes
I deny not but calisto is of grete worthynes

But what of that for all hys hygh estate
Hys desyre I defy & vtterly shall hate

O his saynges & sutes so importune
That of my lyfe he makyth me almost wery
O hys lamentacyons & exclamacyons on fortune
wt similytude maner as one that shuld dy
But who shall pyte thys Infayth not I
Shall I accōplysh hys carnall desyre
Nay yet at a stake rather bren in a fyre

Of trouth I am sory for hys troble
To stryue wyth hym self thus for loue of me
But though hys sorows I assure you shuld doble
Out of his daunger wyll I be at lyberte
what a mys woman now cristes benedicite
Nay nay he shall neuer that day see
Hys voluptuous appetyte cōsentyd by me

wyst he now that I were present here
I assure you shortely he wold seke me
And without dout he doth now inquere
wether I am gone or where I shuld be
Se/is he not now come I report me
Alas of thys man I can neuer be ryd
wold to cryst I wyst where I myght be hyd

Calysto
By you feyre melebea may be sene
The grace the gyftes the gretnes of god

M
where i/

C.

In takyng effect of dāe natures strene
Nor yerthly but angellyke of lykelyhode
In bewte so passyng the kinde of woman hod
O god I myght in your presens be able
To manyfest my dolours incōperable

Greter were that reward than the grace
Heuyn to optayn by workys of pyte
Not so gloryous be the saītes that se goddes face
Ne Ioy not so moch as I do you to see
yet dyfferens there is bytwene theym & me
For they gloryfy by his assuryd presens
And I in torment be cause of your absens

M
why thynkyst thou that so grete a reward

Ca
ye more greter than yf god wold set me
In heuyn aboue all seyntes & more in regard
And thynk it a more hyer felycyte

M

yet more gretter thy reward shalbe
yf thou fle frō the determynacyon
Of thy cōsent of mynd by such temptacion

I perseyue the entent of thy wordys all
As of the wyt of hym that wold haue the vertew
Of me such a woman to be come thrall
Go thy wey wyth sorow I wold thou knew
I haue foule skorn of the I tell the trew
Or any humayn creature with me shuld begyn
Any cōmunycacyon perteynyng to syn

And I promyse the where thou art present
whyle I lyff by my wyll I wyll be absent

Et exeat
C
Lo out of all ioy I am fallyn in wo
Uppon whom aduers fortune hath cast her chauns
Of cruell hate whych causyth now away to go
The keper of my ioy and all my pleasauns
Alas alas now to me what noyauns

S
Dew gard my lordes and god be in this place

C
Sempronio/

S.
ye syr.

C.

a syr I shrew thy face

why hast thou bene from me so long absent

S
For I haue bene about your bysynes
To order such thynges as were conuenient
your house and horse and all thyng was to dress

C
O sempronio haue pyte on my dystres
For of all creatures I am the wofullest

S
How so what is the cause of your vnrest

C
For I serue in loue to the goodlyest thyng
That is or euer was.

S.
what is she

C
It is one which is all other excedyng
The picture of angelles yf thou her see
Phebus or phebe no comparyson may be
To her.

S.
what hyght she/

C.
melebea is her name

S
Mary syr this wold make a wyld hors tame

C
I pray the sempronio goo fet me my lute
And bryng some chayre or stole with the
The argumentes of loue that I may dispute
whych scyens I fynd the arte without pyte
Hy the sempronio hy the I pray the

S
Syr shortly I assure you it shalbe done

C

Then farewell cryst send the agayn sone

O what fortune is egall vnto myne
O what wofull wyght with me may compare
The thurst of sorow is my myxyd wyne
which dayly I drynk wyth deepe draughtes of care

S
Tush syr be mery let pas awey the mare
How sey you haue I not hyed me lyghtly

Here is your chayre and lute to make you mery

C

Myry quod a/nay that wyll not be
But I must nedys syt for very feblenes
Gyue me my lute and thou shalt see
How I shall syng myne vnhappynes
Thys lute is out of tune now as I ges
Alas in tune how shuld I set it
when all armony to me discordith yche whyt

As he to whos wyll reson is vnruly
For I fele sharp nedyls within my brest
Peas warr truth haterad and iniury
Hope and suspect and all in one chest

S
Behold nero in the loue of tapaya oprest
Rome how he brent/old and yong wept
But she toke no thought nor neuer the less slept

C
Gretter is my fyre and less pyte shewd me

S
I wyll not mok this foule is a louer

C
what sayst thou/

S.
I say how can that fyre be
That tormentyth but one lyuyng man gretter
Than that fyre that brēnyth a hole cyty here
And all ye people therī.

C.

mary for yt fyre ys grettyst
That brennyth verey sore and lastytes lengyst

And gretter is the fyre that brēnyth one soule
Than that whych brēnyth an hundred bodyes

S
Hys sayeng in this none can controll

C
None but such as lyst to make lyes
And yf the fyre of purgatory bren in such wyse
I had leuer my spirete in brute bestes shuld be
Than to go thydyr and than to the deyte

S
Mary syr that is a spyce of heryse

C
why so/

S.
For ye speke lyke no crystyn man
I wold thou knewyst melebea worshyp I
In her I beleue and her I loue/

S.
A ha than
wyth the melebea is a grete woman
I know on whych fote thou dost halt on
I shall shortly hele the my lyff theruppon

C
An vncredable thyng thou dost promyse me

S
Nay nay it is easy Inough to do
But furst for to hele a man knowlege must be
Of the seknes than to gyff counsell therto

C
what counsell can rule hym sempronio
That kepyth in hym kepyth no order of counsell

S

A is this Calisto his fyre/now I know well

How that loue ouer hym hath cast her net

In whose perseuerans is all inconstans

C
why. is not Eliceas loue and thyn met

S
what than.

C.
why reprouest me than of ignorans

S
For thou settyst mannis dignite in obeysanus
To the imperfeccion of the weke woman

C
A womā Nay a god of goddesses.

S.
beleuyst yt thā

C
ye and as a goddes I here confesse
And I beleue there is no such sufferayn
In heuyn though she be in yerth.

S.
peas peas

S
A woman a god nay to god a vyllayn
Of your sayeng ye may be sory.

C.
it is playn

S
why so.

C.
because I loue her and thynk surely
To obteyn my desyre I am vnworthy

S

O ferfull hart why comparyst thou wt Nembroth
Or alexander of this world not lordes onely
But worthy to subdew heuyn as sayeng goth
And thou reputyst thy self more hye
Then them both and dyspayryst so cowardly
To wyn a woman of whom hath ben so many
Gotten and vngotten neuer hardes of any

It is resytyd in the fest of seynt Ihōn
Thys is the woman of auncyoun malyce
Of whom but of a woman was it long on
That adam was expulsyd from paradyse
She put man to payn whom ely dyd dispyse

C
Than syth adam gaff hym to theyre gouernaunce
Am I gretter than adam my self to auaunce

S

Nay but of those men it were wysedome
That ouercame them to seke remedy
And not of those that they dyd ouercome
Fle from theyre begīnynges eschew theyre foly
Thou knowyst they do euyll thynges many
They kepe no meane but rygour of intencyon
Be it fayre foule wylfull without reason

Kepe them neuer so close they wylbe shewyd
Gyff to kyns of loue by many subtell ways
Semyng to be shepe and serpently shrewd
Craft in them renewyng that neuer decays
Theyre seyenges sightynges prouokynges theyr plays
O what payn is to fulfyll theyre appetytes
And to accomplysh theyre wanton delytis

It is a wonder to se theyre dyssemblyng
Theyre flatteryng countenaunce theyr ingratytude
Inconstaunce fals witnese faynyd wepyng

There vayn glory and how they can delude
Theyre folyshnes theyre Ianglyng not mewde
Theyre lecherous lust and wylenes therfore
whychcraftes & charmys to make men to theyre lore

Theyre enbawmyng & theyre vnshamfastnes
Theyre bawdry theyre suttelte & fresh attyryng
what trīmyng what payntyng to make fayrnes
Theyre fals intentes & flykkeryng smylyng
Therfore lo yt is an old sayeng
That women be the dyuelles nettes and hed of syn
And mannys mysery in paradyse dyd begyn

C
But what thynkyst thou by me yet for all this

S

Mary syr ye were a man of clere wyt
whom nature hath indewyd wt the best gyftes
As bewte & gretnes of membres perfyt
Strenght lyghtnes & beyond this yche whyt
Fortune hath partyd with you of her influens
For to be able of lyberall expens

For wythout goodes wherof fortune is lady
No man can haue welth therfore by coniecture
yow shuld be belouyd of euery body

Calisto

But not of Melebea now I am sure
And thought thou hadst praysyd me wtout mesure
And comparyd me without comparison
yet she is aboue in euery condicion

Behold her noblenes her auncyon lynage
Her gret patrymony her excellent wyt
Her resplendent verteu hye portly corage
Her godly grace her suffereyn bewte perfyte
No tong is able well to expresse it
But yet I pray the let me speke a whyle
My selff to refresh in rehersyng of my style

I begyn at her herr which is so goodly
Crispyd to her helys tyed with fyne lase
Farr shynyng beyond fyne gold of araby
I trow the son coler to hyt may gyff place
That who to behold it myght haue the grace
wold say incomparison nothyng coūteruaylys

S
Then is it not lyke here of asse tayles

Ca

O what foule comparison this felow raylys
Her gay glasyng eyen so fayre and bryght
Her browes her nose in a meane no fassyon faylys
Her mouth proper & feate her teeth small & whyght
Her lyppis ruddy her body streyght vpryght

Her lyttyll tetys to the eye is a pleasure
O what Ioy it is to se such a fygure

Her skyn of whytnes endarkyth the snow
wyth rose colour ennewyd I the ensure
Her lyttyll handes in meane maner this is no trow
Her fyngers small & long wt naylys ruddy most pure
Of proporcyon none such in purtrayture
without pere worthy to haue for fayrenes
The apple that parys gaue venus the goddes

S
Sir haue ye all done.

C.
ye mary what than

S
I put case all this ye haue sayd be trew
yet are ye more noble syth ye be a man

C
wherin.

S.
she is vnperfyte I wold ye knew
As all women be and of lesse valew
Phylozophers say the matter is less worthy
Than the forme/so is woman to man surely

C
I loue not to here this altercacion
Betwene melebea and me her louer

S
Possyble it is in euery condicyon
To abbor her as mych as you do loue her
In the wynnyng/begilyng is the daunger
That ye shall see here after wyth eyen fre

C
with what eyen.

S.
with clere eyen trust me

C
why wyth what eyen do I se now

S
wyth dyme eyen whych shew a lytyl thyng much
But for ye shall not dispayre I assure you
No labour nor dylygens in me shall gruch
So trusty & fryndely ye shall fynd me such
In all thynges possyble that ye can adquire
The thyng to accomplysh to your desyre

C
God bryng that to pase so glad it is to me
To here the thus though I hope not in thy doyng

S
yet I shall do yt trust me for a surete

C
God reward the for thy gentyll intendyng
I gyff the this chayn of gold in rewardyng

S

Sir god reward you & send vs good sped
I dout not but I shall performe it in dede

But wythout rewardes it is hard to work well

C
I am content so thou be not neclygent

S
Nay be not you/for it passyth a meruell
The master slow/the seruant to be dylygent

C
How thynkyst it can be shew me thyne intent

S

Sir I haue a neyghbour a moder of bawdry
That can prouoke the hard rokkys to lechery

In all euyll dedes she is perfet wyse
I trow more than a M vyrgyns
Haue bene distroyed by her subtell deuyse
For she neuer faylyth where she begynnis
All onely by thys craft her lyffyng she wynnis
Maydes wyffys wydows and euerychone
If she ones meddyll ther skapyth none

C
How myght I speke wyth her sempronio

S
I shall bryng her hydyr vnto this place
But ye must in any wyse let rewardis go
And shew her your greuys in euery case

C
Ellys were I not worthy to attayn grace
But alas sempronio thou taryest to long

S
Syr god be with you.

C.

Cryst make the strong

The myghty and perdurable god be his gyde
As he gydyd the iij kynges in to bedleme
From the est by the starr and agayn dyd prouyde
As theyre conduct to retorn to theyre own reame
So spede my sempronio to quench the leme
Of this fyre which my hart doth wast & spende
And that I may com to my desyryd ende

To pas the tyme now wyll I walk
Up and down within myne orchard
And to my self go comyn and talke
And pray that fortune to me be not hard
Longyng to here whether made or mard
My message shall return by my seruaunt sempronio
Thus farewell my lordys for a whyle I wyll go

Now the blessyng that our lady gaue her sone
That same blessyng I gyue now to you all
That I com thus homely I pray you of ∥don
I am sought and sendfore as a woman vniuersall
Celestina of trewth my name is to call
Sempronio for me about doth inquere
And it was told me I shuld haue found hym here

I am sure he wyll com hyther anone
But the whylyst I shall tell you a prety game
I haue a wench of Sempronios a prety one
That soiornyth with me Elecea is her name
But the last day we were both ny a stark shame
For sempronio wold haue her to hym self seuerell
And she louyth one Cryto better or as well

Thys Cryto and Elicea sat drynkyng
In my hous and I also makyng mery

And as the deuyll wold farr from our thynkyng
Sempronio almost cam on vs sodenly
But then wrought I my craft of bawdery
I bad Cryto go vp and make hym self rome
To hyde hym in my chamber among the brome

Then made I Elicea syt doun a sowyng
And I wyth my rok began for to spyn
As who seyth of sempronio we had no knowyng
He knokkyd at the dore and I lete bym in
And for a countenaunce I dyd begyn
To catch hym in myne armys and seyd see see
who kyssyth me Elicea and wyll not kys the

Elicea for a countenaunce made her greuyd
And wold not speke but styll dyd sowe
why speke ye not quod sempronio be ye meuyd
Haue I not a cause quod she no quod he I trow
A traytour quod she full well dost thou know
where hast thou ben these .iii. days fro me
That the impostume and euyll deth take the

Pease myne Elicea quod he why say ye thus
Alas why put you your self in this wo
The hote fyre of loue so brennyth betwene vs
That my hart is wyth yours where euer I go
And for .iii. days absens to say to me so
In fayth me thynkyth ye be to blame
But now hark well for here begynnyth the game

Cryto in my chamber aboue that was hyddyn
I thynk lay not easyly and began to romble
Sempronio hard that and askyd who was within
Aboue in the chamber that so dyd Iomble
who quod she a louer of myne/may hap ye stomble
Quod he on the trewth as many one doth
Go vp quod she and loke whether it be soth

well quod he I go/nay thought I not so
I sayd com sempronio let this foole alone
For of thy long absens she is in such wo
And half besyde her self and her wyt ny gone
well quod he aboue yet ther is one
wylt thou know quod I ye quod he I the requere
It is a wench quod I sent me by a frere

what frere quod he wilt thou nedes know qd I thā
It is the f[OMITTED]
O quod he what a lode hath that woman
To bere hym/ye quod I though women per case

Bere heuy full oft yet they gall in no place
Then he laught/ye quod I no mo wordes of this
For this tyme to long we spend here amys

Intrat sempronio
S
O moder Celestyne I pray god prosper the

C
My son sempronio I am glad of our metyng
And as I here say ye go aboute to seke me

S

Of trouth to seke you was myne hyther cōmyng
Mother ley a perte now all other thyng
And all only tend to me and Imagyn
In that that I purpose now to begyn

Calisto in the loue of fayre melebea
Burnyth wherfore of the he hath grete nede

Thou seyst well knowyst not me Celestina
I haue the end of the matter and for more spede
Thou shalte wade no ferther/for of this dede
I am as glad as euer was the surgyon
For saluys for broke hedes to make prouysyon

And so intend I to do to Calisto
To gyff hym hope and assure hym remedy
For long hope to the hart mych troble wyll do
wherfore to the effect therof I wyll hye

S
Peas for me thynkyth Calisto is nye

Intrat Calisto et parmeno
C
Parmeno.

P.
what sey you.

C.
wottyst who is here
Sempronio that reuyuyth my chere

P
It is sempronio with that old berdyd hore
Be ye they my maister so sore for doth long

C
Peas I sey parmeno or go out of the dore
Cōmyst thou to hinder me then dost thou me wrong
I pray the help for to make me more strong
To wyn this woman elles goddes forbod
She hath equall power of my lyff vnder god

P
wherfore to her do ye make such sorow
Thynk ye in her ars ther is any shame
The contrary who tellyth you be neuer his borrow
For as much she gloryfyeth her in her name
To be callyd an old hore as ye wold of fame
Dogges in the strete and chyldren at euery dore
Bark and cry out ther goth an old hore

C
How knowyst all this dost thou know her

P

ye that [OMITTED] agone
For a fals hore the deuyll ouer throw her
My moder when she dyed gaue me to her alone

And a sterker baud was ther neuer none
For that I know I dare well se
Let se the cōtrary who can ley

I haue bene at her hows & sene her trynkettes
For payntyng thynges īnumerable
Squalmys & balmys I wonder where she gettes
The thynges that she hath with folkes for to fable
And to all baudry euer agreable
yet wors then that whych wyl neuer be laft
Not only a baud but a wych by her craft

Ce
Say what thow wylt son spare not me

S
I pray the permeno lefe thy malycyous enuy

P
Hark hydyr sempronyo here is but we thre
In that I haue sayd canst thou denye

Ca

Com hens permeno I loue not thys I
And good mother greue you not I you pray
My mynde I shall shew now hark what I say

O notable woman O auncyent vertew
O gloryous hope of my desyryd intent
Thende of my delectable hope to renew
My regeneracion to this lyfe present
Resurreccon from deth/so excellent
Thou art aboue other/I desyre humbly
To kys thy handes wherin lyeth my remedy

But myne vnworthines makyth resystence
yet worship I the ground that thou gost on
Beseching the good woman with most reuerens
On my payn with thy pyte to loke vppon
without thy comfort my lyfe is gone
To revyue my dede sprytes thou mayst preferr me
with the wordes of thy mouth to make or marr me

Ce
Sempronio can I lyff with these bonys
That thy master gyffyth me here for to ete
wordes are but wynd therfore attons
Byd hym close his mouth and to his purs get
For money makyth marchaunt that must Iet
I haue herd his wordes but where be his dedes
For wt out money wt me no thyng spedys

Ca
what seyth she sempronio alas my hart bledes
That I wyth you good woman mystrust shuld be

S
syr she thynkyth that money all thyng fedys

Ca
Then come on sempronio I pray the wyth me
And tary here moder a whyle I pray the
For where of mystrust ye haue me appelyd

Haue here my cloke tyll your dout be assoylid

S
Now do ye well for wedes among corn
Nor suspecious wt fryndes dyd neuer well
Or faythfulnes of wordes tornyd to a skorn
Makyth myndes doutfull good reason doth tell

Ca
Come on sempronio thou gyffyst me good counsell

S
Go ye before & I shall wayt you vppon
Farewell mother we wyll come agayn anon

P
How sey ye my lordis se ye not this smoke
In my maisters eyes yt they do cast
The one hath his chayn the other his cloke
And I am sure they wyll haue all at last
Ensample may be by this yt is past
How seruaūtis be dissaytfull in theyr maisters foly
Nothyng but for lucre is all theyr bawdry

Ce

It pleasyth me parmeno that we to gedyr
May speke wherby thou maist se I loue the
yet vndeseruyd now thou cōmyst hydyr
wherof I care not but vertew warnyth me
To fle temptacyon & folow charyte
To do good agayns yll & so I rede the
Sempronio & I wyll helpe thy necessyte

And in tokyn now that it shall so be
I pray the among vs let vs haue a song
For where armony is ther is amyte

P
what a old woman syng/

Ce.
why not among
I pray the no lenger the tyme prolong

P
Go to when thou wylt I am redy

Ce
Shall I begyn/

p.

ye but take not to hye/

& cantant

How sey ye now by this lytyll yong fole

For the thyrd parte sempronio we must get
After that thy maister shall come to skole
To syng the fourth parte yt his purs shall swet
For I so craftely the song can set
Though thy maister be hors his purs shal syng clere
And taught to solf that womans flesh is dere

How seyst to this thou praty parmeno
Thou knowyst not the world nor no delytis therin
Dost vnderstand me infeyth I tro no
Thou art yong inough the game to begyn
Thy maister hath wadyd hym self so farr in
And to bryng hym out lyeth not in me old pore

P
Thou shuldyst sey it lyeth not in me old hore

Ce
A horeson a shame take such a knaue

How darst thou wyth me thou boy be so bold

M
Because such knolege of the I haue

Ce
why who art/∥/∥meno son to albert the old
I dwelt wt the by the ryuer where wyne was sold
And thy moder I trow hyght claudena
That a wyld fyre bren the celestena

Ce
But thy moder was as olde a hore as I
Come hydyr thou lytyll fole let me see the
A it is euen he by our blyssyd lady
what lytyll vrchyn hast forgotyn me
whē thou layst at my beddes fete how mery were we

P

A thou old matrone it were almys thou were ded
How woldest thou pluk me vp to thy beddes hed

And inbrace me hard vnto thy bely
And for thou smellydyst oldly I ran from the

A shamefull horeson fy vppon the fy fy
Come hyther and now shortly I charge the
That all this folysh spekyng thou let be
Leue wantonnes of youth than shalt thou do well
Folow the doctryne of thy Elders and counsell

To whō thy parētes on whos soulis god haue m̄cy
In payn of cursyng bad the be obedyent
In payn wherof I command the straytly
To much ī mastership put not thyne intent
No trust is in theym if thyne owen be spent
Maysters now adays coveyt to bryng about
All for theym self & let theyre seruantes go without

Thy maiffer men sey and as I thynk he be
But lyght karych not who come to his seruyce
Faire wordes shall not lak but smal rewardes trust me
Make sempronio thy frynd in any wyse
For he can handle hym in the best gyse
Kepe thys & for thy profet tell it to none
But loke that sempronio and thou be one

P
Moder celestyne I wot not what ye meane
Calisto is my mayster and so I wyll take hym
And as for ryches I defye it clene
For who so euer with wrong rych doth make hym
Soner than he gat it/it wyll forsake hym
I loue to lyfe in yoyfull pouerte
And to serue my mayster wt trewth and honeste

Ce

Troth and honeste be ryches of the name
But surete of welth is to haue ryches
And after that for to get hym good fame

By report of fryndes thys is truth dowtles
Than no such maner frynd can I exp̄sse
As sempronyo for both your perfettes to spede
whych lyeth in my handes now yf ye be agreyd

O ∥meno what a lyfe may we endure
Sempronyo louyth the doughter of elyso

P
And who arusa/

Ce.
lykyst her/∥/peraduenture
I shall get her to the that shall I do

P

Na moder celystyne I purpose not so
A man shuld be cōuersant I here tell
wyth them that be yl & thynk to do well

Sempronyo hys ensample shall not make me
Better nor wors nor hys fautes wyll I hyde
But moder celestyne a questyon to the
Is not syn a non in one espyed
That is drownyd in delyte/how shuld he prouyde
Agayns vertew to saue hys honeste

Lyke a chyld wt out wysdome thou answeryst me

without cōpany mirth can haue non estate
vse no slowth nature abhorryth idelnes
whych lesyth delyte to nature appropryate
In sensuall causys delyght is chefe maistres
Specyally recountyng louys bysynes
To say thus doth she the tyme thus they pas
And soch maner they vse and thus they kys & basse

And thus they mete & enbrase to gyther
what spech what grase what pleys is betwene theim
where is she there she goth let vs se whyther
Now pleasyd now froward now mume now hem
Stryke vp mynstryl wt sawes of loue the old problē
Syng swete songes now Iustes & torney
Of new inuencyons what conseytes fynd they
Now she goth to mas to morow she cōmyth owt
Behold her better yonder goth a cokold
I left her alone/she comyth/turn abowt
Lo thus permeno thou mayst behold
Fryndes wyll talk to geder as I haue told
wher fore perseyue thou that I sey truly
Neuer can be delyte wt out cōpany

Hic iterum intrat calisto
Ca
Moder as I promysed to assoyle thy dowt
Here I gyfe the an.C.pesis of gold

Ce
Syr I promyse you I shall bryng it about
All thyng to purpose euyn as ye wold

For your reward I wyll do as I shuld
Be mery fere nothyng cōtent ye shall be

Ca
Then moder fare well be dylygent I pray the
How sayst sempronio haue I done well

S
ye syr in my mynd & most accordyng

Ca
Then wylt thou do after my councell
After this old woman wyll thou be hyeng
To remember & hast her in euery thyng

S
Syr I am content as ye cōmaund me

Ca

Then go & byd ∥meno come I pray the

Now god be theyre gyddys the postes of my lyfe
My relefe fro deth the Imbassades of my welth
My hope my hap my quyetnes my stryfe
My Ioy my sorow my sekenes my helth
The hope of thys old woman my hart telth
That comfort shall come shortly as I Intend
Or els come deth & make of me an end

P
In fayth it makyth no forse nor matter mych

Ca
what seyst ∥meno what sayst to me

P
Mary I say playnly that yonder old wych
And sempronio to geder wyll vndo the

Ca
A yll tongyd wrech wyll ye not see
Thynkyst thou lordeyn thou hādelyst me fayre
why knaue woldest thow put me now in dyspayre

Et exeat calisto
P

Lo syrs my master ye se is angry
But thys it is tell folys for theyre proffyt
Or warn theym for theyre welth it is but foly
For stryk theym on the hele and as moch wyt
Shall cō forth as at theyr forehede to perseyue it
Go thy way calesto for on my charge
Thy thryft is sealyd vp though thou be at large

O how vnhappy I am to be trew
For other men wyn by falsehed & flatery
I lese for my troth the world doth so ensew
Troth is put bak & takyn for foly
Therfore now I wyll chaunge my copy
If I had done as celystyne bad me
Calysto hys mynyon styll wold haue had me

Thys gyuyth me warnyng from hens forward
How to dele wt hym for all thyng as he wyll
I will the same forward or bakward
I will go streyght to hym and folow hym still
Say as he sayth be it good or yll

And syth these bawdes get good prouokyng lechery
I trust flatery shall spede as well as bawdery

Hic exeat parmeno et intret melebea
M
I pray you came this woman here neuer syn
In fayth to entre here I am half adrad
And yet why so/I may boldly com in
I am sure from you all I shall not be had
But iesus iesus be these men so mad
On women as they sey/how shuld it be
It is but fables and lyes ye may trust me

Intret Celestina
C
God be here ī

M.
who is ther

C.
wyl ye bye any thred

M
ye mary good moder I pray you come in

C

Cryst saue you fayre mestres & god be your spede
And helth be to you & all your kyn
And mary goddes mother that blessyd vyrgyn
Preserue & prosper your womanly personage
And well to inioy your yough & pusell age

For that tyme pleasurys are most eschyuyd
And age is the hospytall of all maner sykenes
The restyng place of all thought vnreleuyd
The sporte of tyme past the ende of all quiknes
Neybour to deth a dry stok wythout swetnes
Discomforte disease all age alowith
A tre without sap that small charge boweth

M
I meruell moder ye speke so much yll
Of age that all folke desyre effectuously

C

They desyre hurt for them self as all of wyll
And the cause why they desyre to come therby
Is for to lyff for deth is so lothly
He that is sorowfull wold lyff to be soryer
And he that is old wold lyff to be elder

Fayre damesell who can shew all the hurtes of age
His werynes feblenes his discontentyng
His chyldishnes frowardnes of his rage
wrynkelyng in the face lak of syght and heryng
Holownes of mouth fall of teth faynt of goyng
And worst of all possessyd with pouerte
And the lymmys arestyd with debylite

M
Moder ye haue takyn grete payn for age
wold ye not retorn to the begynnyng

C
Folys are they that are past theyre passage
To begyn agayn which be at the endyng
For better is possession than the desyryng

M
I desyre to lyff lengger do I well or no

C

That ye desyre well I thynk not so

For as sone goth to market the lambys fell
As the shyppes/none so old but may lyff a yere
And ther is none so yong but ye wot well
May dye in a day then no aduauntage is here
Betwen youth & age ye matter is clere

wyth thy fablyng & thy resonyng I wys
I am begylyd but I haue knowen the or thys

Art not celystyne yt dwellyd by the ryuer syde

C
ye for soth/

M

in dede age hath aray the
That thou art she now can skant be espyed
Me thynkyth by thy fauour thou shuldyst be she
Thou art sore chaungid thou mayst beleue me

C
Fayre maydon kepe thou well thys tyme of youth
But bewte shall passe at ye last thys is truth
yet I am not so old as ye iuge me

M
Good moder I ioy much of thyne accoyntanaunce
And thy moderly reasons ryght well please me
And now I thank the here for thy pastaunce
Fare well tyll a nother tyme yt hap may chaunce
Agayn that we two may mete to gedyr
May hap ye haue bysynes I know not whether

C
O angelyk ymage o perle so p̄cyous
O how thou spekyst it reioysyth me to here
Knowist thou not by the deuyne month gracyous
That agaynst the infernall feend lucyfere
we shuld not only lyf by bred here
But by our good workys wher in I take some payn
yf ye know not my mynd now all is in veyn

M
Shew me moder hardely all thy nesessite
And yf I can I shall prouyde the remedy

C

My necessite nay god wot it is not for me
As for myne I laft it at home surely
To ete when I wyll & drynk when I am dry
And I thank god euer one peny hath be myne
To by bred when Ilyst & to haue .iiii for wyne

Afore I was wyddow I caryd neuer for it
For I had wyne ynough of myne owne to sell
And wt a tost in wyne by the fyre I coud syt
wt .ii. dosen soppes the collyk to quell
But now wt me it is not so well
For I haue nothyng but that is brought me
In a pytcher pot of quartys skant thre

Thus I pray god help them that be nedy
For I speke not for my self alone
But as well for other how euer spede I
The infyrmyte is not myne though that I grone
It is for a nother yt I make mone
And not for my self it is a nother way
But what I must mone where I dare not say

M
Say what thou wylt & for whom thou lest

C
now gracyous damsell I thank you than
That to gyf audyens ye be so prest
wt lyberall redynes to me old woman
whych gyffyth me boldnes to shew what I can
Of one that lyeth in daunger by sekenes
Remyttyng hys langour to your gētyllnes

M
what meanyst thou I pray the good moder
Go forth wt thy demaund as thou hast done
On the one ∥te thou prouokyst me to anger
And on the other syde to compassyon
I know not how thy answere to fassyon
The wordes whych thou spekyst in my presence
Be so mysty/I perseyue not thy sentence

C
I sayd I laft one in daunger of sekenes
Drawyng to deth for ought that I can se
Now chose you or no to be murderes
Or reuyue hym wt a word to come from the

M

I am happy yf my word be of such necessyte
To help any crystyn man or ells goddes forbod
To do a good dede is lykyng to god

For good dedes to good men be alowable
And specyally to nedy aboue all other
And euer to good dedys ye shall fynd me agreable
Trustyng ye wyll exhort me to non other
Therfor fere not spek your peticiō good mother
For they that may hele seke folk & do refuse theym
Suerly of theyre deth they can not excuse theym

Full well & gracyously the case ye consyder
For I neuer beleuyd that god in vayn
wold gyff you such countenaunnce & bewte to gedyr
But charyte therwith to releue folke in payn
And as god hath gyffyn you so gyff hym agayn
For folkes be not made for them self onely
For then they shuld lyff lyke bestes all rudely

Among whych bestes yet some be pyteful
The vnicorne humblyth hym self to a mayd

And a dog in all his power yrefull
Let a man fall to ground his anger is delayd
Thus by nature pyte is conueyd
The kok when he skrapith & happith mete to fynd
Callith for his hennes lo se the gentyll kynde

Shuld humayn creaturys than be of cruelnes
Shuld not they to theyre neybours shew charyte
And specyally to them wrappyd in sekenes
Than they that may hele theym cause ye infirmyte

M
Mother without delay for goddes sake shew me
I pray the hartly wythout more prayeng
where is the pacient that so is paynyng

Ce
Fayre dāsell thou maist well haue knowlege herto
That in this Cyte is a yong knyght
And of clere lynage callyd Calisto
whose lyfe & body is all in the I plyght
The pellycan to shew naturys ryght
Fedyth his byrdys me thynkith I shuld not p̄ch the
Thou wotist what I meane lo nature shuld tech the

M

A ha is this the entent of thy conclusyon
Tell me no more of this matter I charge the
Is thys the dolent for whom thow makyst petycyō
Art thow come hyther thus to desseyue me
Thow berdyd dame shameles thou semest to be
Is this he that hath the passiō of folishnes
Thīkyst thow rybaud I am such one of lewdnes

It is not sayd I se well in vayn
The tong of man & woman worst members be
Thow brut baud thow gret enmy to honeste certayn
Cause of secret errours Ihū Ihū bnedicite
Sō good bodi take this old thefe fro me
That thus wold me disseyue me wt her fals sleyght
Go owt of my syght now/get the hens streyght

C
In an yuyll howre cam I hyther I may say
I wold I had brokyn my legges twayn

M

Go hens thou brothell go hens in the dyuyll way
Bydyst thou yet to increase my payn
wylt thow make me of thys fole to be fayn
To gyue hym lyfe to make hym mery
And to my self deth to make me sory

wilt thow bere away profet for my perdicion
And make me lese the house of my father
To wyn the howse of such an old matrone
As thow art shamfullyst of all other

Thīkist thou that I ūderstād not thou falls mother
Thy hurtfull message thy fals subtell ways
Make amendes to god thou lyffyst to long days

Answere thou traytres how darst be so bold

Ce
The fere of the makyth me so dysmayd
That the blod of my body is almost cold
Alas fayre maydyn what hast thou sayd
To me pore wydow why am I denayed
Here my cōclusion which ys of honeste
wt out cause ye blame thys gentylman & me

M
I sey I wyll here no more of that fole
was he not here with me euyn now
Thow old which thou bryngyst me in grete dole
Ask him what answere he had of me & how
I toke hys demaund as now know mayst thou
More shewyng is but lost where no mercy can be
Thus I answerd hym & thus I answer the

Ce
The more straunge she makyth the gladder am I
Ther is no tempast that euer doth endure

M
what seyst thou what seyst thow shameful enmy
Speke out.

Ce.
so ferd I am of your dyspleasure
your anger is so grete I perseyue it sure
And your pacyens is in so gret an hete
That for wo & fere I both wepe & swete

M
Lyttyll is the hete in cōparyson to say
To the gret boldnes of thy demeanyng

Ce

Fayre mayden yet one word now I you pray
Appease wt pacyens & here my sayeng
It Is for a prayer mestres my demaundyng
That is sayd ye haue of seynt appolyne
For the toth ake wher of this man is in pyne

And the gyrdle there thou weryst about the

So many holy relykes it hath towchyd
That thys knyght thynkyth his bote thou maist be
Therfore let thy pyte now be a vouchid
For my hart for fere/lyke a dog is couchyd
The delyght of vengennis who so doth vse
Pyte at theyre nede shall theym refuse

M
yf this be trew that thou seyst to me now
Myn hart is lyghtnyd perseyuyng the case
I wold be content well yf I wyst how
To bryng this seke knyght vnto some solas

Ce

Fayre damsell to the be helth & grace
For yf this knyght & ye were aquayntyd both two

ye wold not iudge him the man that ye do

By god & by my soule in him is no malyncoly
with grace indewid in fredome as alexandre
In strenght as hectour in countenaunce mery
Gracious/enuy in him reynyd neuer
Of noble blod as thou knowyst/& yf ye euer
Saw him armyd he semeth a seynt george
Rather than to be made in natures forge

An angell thou woldist iudge him I make auow
The gentyll narciso was neuer so fayre
That was ināmoryd on his own shadow
wherfore fayre mayde let thy pyte repayre
Let mercy be thy mother & thou her heyre
This knyght whom I come for neuer seasyth
But cryeth out of payn that styll encresyth

M
How long tyme I pray the hath it holdyn hym

Ce
I thynk he be .xxiiii. yeres of age
I saw hym born & holpe for to fold hym

M
I demaund the not therof thyne answer aswage
I ask the how long in this paynfull rage
He hath leyn/

Ce.

of trewth fayr maydyn as he says
He hath be in this agony this .viii. days

But he semyth he had leyn this .vii. yere

O how it greuyth me the il of my pacyent
Knowyng his agony & thy innocency here
Unto myne anger thou hast made resistens
wherfore thy demaund I graunt in recompens
Haue here my gyrdyll the prayer is not redy
To morow it shalbe/come agayn secretly

And moder of these wordes passyd betwene vs
Shew nothyng therof vnto this knyght
Lest he wold report me cruell & furyous
I trust the/now be trew for thougtes be lyght

I meruell gretly thou dost me so atwyght
Of the dout that thou hast of my secretnes
As secret as thy self I shall be dowteles

And to calisto wt this gyrdle celestina
Shall go and his ledy hart make hole & lyght
For gabriell to our lady wt aue maria
Came neuer gladder than I shall to this knyght
Calisto how wylt thou now syt vp ryght
I haue shewid thy warer to thy phesycyon
Comfort thy self the feld is half won

M
Moder he is much beholdyn vnto the

Ce
Fayr maydyn for the mercy thou hast done to vs
This knyght & I both thy bedfolkis shall be

M
Moder yf nede be I wyll do more than thus

Ce
It shalbe nedefull to do so/& ryghteous
For this thus begon must nedis haue an ende
which neuer can be wtout ye condescend

Me
well mother to morow is a new day
I shall performe that I haue you promest
Shew to this seke knyght in all that I may
Byd him be bold in all thyngis honest
And though he to me as yet be but a gest
If my word or dede his helth may support
I shall not fayle and thus byd him take comfort

Et exeat melebea.
Ce

Now cryst comfort ye & kepe the in thy nede
How say you now is not this matter caryed clene
Can not old celestina her matter spede
A thing not well handlyd is not worth a bene
Now know ye by ye half tale what ye hole doth meane
These women at the furst be angry & furyous
Fayre wether comyth after stormys tempestyous

And now to calisto I wyll me dres
which lyeth now languyshyng in grete payn
And shew hym that he is not remedyles
And bere hym this to make hym glad and fayn
And handyll hym so that ye shall sey playn
That I am well worthy to bere the name
For to be callyd a noble arche dame

Danio pater melebee.

O meruelous god what a dreme had I to nyght
Most terryble vysyon to report and here
I had neuer none such nor none yerthely wyght
Alas when I thynk theron I quak for fere
It was of melebea my doughter dere
God send me good tythynges of her shortly
For tyll I here from her I can not be mery

M
O dere father nothyng may me more displease
Nothyng may do me more anoyans
Nothyng may do me gretter disease
Than to se you father in any perturbans
For me chefly or for any other chauns
But for me I pray you not to be sad
For I haue no cause but to be mery and glad

Da
O swete melebea my doughter dere
I am replete with Ioy and felycyte

For that ye be now in my presens here
As I perceyue in Ioy & prosperite
From deth to lyfe me thynkyth it reuyuyth me
For the ferefull dreme yt I had lately

M
what dreme syr was that I pray you hertely

D

Dowtles me though yt I was walkyng
In a fayre orchard where were placys two
The one was a hote bath holsome & pleasyng
To all people that dyd repayre therto
To wassh them & clens them from sekenes also
The other a pyt of foule stynkyng water
shortely they dyed all that ther in did enter

And vnto this holesome bath me thought yt ye
In the ryght path were cōmyng apase
But before that me thought that I dyd see
A foule rough bych aprikeryd cur it was
whych strakyng her body along on the gras
And wt her tayle lykkyd her so that she
Made her selfe a fayre spaniell to be

Thys bych then me thought met you in the way
Leppyng & fawnyng vppon you a pase
And rownd a bowt you dyd renne & play
whych made you then dysport & solas
whych lykyd you so well yt in short space
The way to the hote bath anon ye left it
And toke the streyght way to the foule pyt

And euer ye lokyd continually
vppon that same bych & somoch her eyed
That ye cam to the foule pyt brynk sodeynly
Lyke to haue fallyn in & to haue bene dystroyed
whych when I saw anon than I cryed
Stertyng in my slepe & therwt dyd awake
That yet for fere me thynk my body doth quake

was not this a ferefull dreme & meruelous
I pray you doughter what thynk ye now to this

Hic melebea certo tempore nō loquit̄ sed uustu lamentabli respicit

why speke ye not why be ye now so studious
Is there any thyng yt hath chauncyd you amys
I am your father tell me what it is

Alas now your dreme whych ye haue expressyd
Hath made me all pensyfe & sore abasshyd

D
I pray you dere doughter now tell me why

M
Sir I know the cause of your vision
And what your dredefull dreme doth signyfye
Ther of wold I fayn now haue noticion

M
Alas dere fader alas what haue I done
Offendyd god as a wrech vnworthy

D

wherein/dyspayre not god is full of mercy

Et genuflectat
M
Than on my knees now I fall downe
And of god chefely askyng forgyfnes
And next of you for in to oblyuyon
I haue put your doctryne & lessons dowtles

D
Fere not doughter I am not merciles
I trust ye haue not so gretly offendyd
But that ryght well it may be amendyd

M

ye haue fosterid me vp full louyngly
In verteous discyplyne whych is the ryght path
To all grace & vertew whych doth sygnyfye
By your dreme yt fayre pleasaunt holesome bath
The foule pyt whereof ye dremyd which hath
Destroyd so many betokneth vyse & syn
In whych alas I had almost fallyn In

The prikyeryd curr & the foule bych
which made her self so smoth & fayre to see
Betokenyth an old quene a baudy wych
Callyd celystyne that wo myght she be
whych wt her fayre wordes ay so perswadyd me
That she had almost brought me here vnto
To fulfyll the foule lust of calisto

D
Alas dere doughter I taught you a lesson
whych way ye shuld attayn vnto vertew
That was euery mornyng to say an orason
Prayeng god for grace all vyce to eschew

M
O dere fader that lesson I haue kept trew
whych preseruyd me/for though I dyd cōsēt
In mynd/yet had he neuer hys intent

D
The verteu of that prayer I se well on thing
Hath preseruyd you from the shame of that sin
But because ye were somwhat cōsentyng
ye haue offendid god gretly therin
wherefore doughter ye must now begyn
Humbly to besech god of hys mercy
For to forgyue you your syn & mysery

M
O blyssid lord & fader celestiall
whose infynite merci no tong can exprese
Though I be a sinner wrech of wrechis all
yet of thy gret merci graunt me forgifnes
Full sore I repent my syn I cōfese

Intendyng hens forth neuer to offend more
Now humbly I besech thy mercy therfore

D

Now yt is well sayd myne one fayre doughter
Stand vp therfore for I know verely
That god is good & mercyfull euer
To all synners whych wyll ask mercy
And be repentaunt & in wyll clerely
To syn no more/he of hys grete goodnes
wyll graunt them therfore his grace & forgifnes

Lo here ye may see what a thyng it is
To bryng vp yong people verteously
In good custome/for grace doth neuer mys
To them that vse good prayers dayly
which hath preseruyd thys mayde vndoutydly
And kept her frō actuall dede of shame
Brought her to grace preseruyd her good name

wherfore ye vyrgyns & fayre maydens all
Unto this example now take good hede
Serue god dayly the soner ye shall
To Honeste & goodnes no dout procede
And god shall send you euer his grace at nede
To wtstand all euyll temptacions
That shall come to you by any occasions

And ye faders moders & other which be
Rulers of yong folkes your charge is dowtles
To bryng them vp verteously & to see
Them occupied styll in some good bysynes
Not in idell pastyme or vnthryftynes
But to teche them some art craft or lernyng
whereby to be able to get theyr lyffyng

The bryngers vp of youth in this region
Haue done gret harme because of theyr neclygēs
Not puttyng them to lernyng nor occupacyons
So when they haue no craft nor sciens
And com to mans state ye see thexperience
That many of them compellyd be
To beg or stele by very necessite

But yf there be therfore any remedy
The hedys & rulers must furst be dylygent
To make good lawes & execute them straytely
Uppon such maystres that be neclygent
Alas we make no laws but ponyshment
when men haue offendyd/but laws euermore
wold be made to preuent the cause before

yf the cause of the myscheffes were seen before
whych by cōiecture to fall be most lykely
And good laws & ordynauncys made therfore
to put a way the cause/yt were best remedi
what is the cause that ther be so many
Theftes & robberies/it is be cause mē be
Dryuen therto by nede & pouerte

And what is the verey cause of that nede
Be cause they labur not for theyr lyffyng
And trewth is they can not well labour in dede
Be cause in youth of theyr ydyll vpbryngyng
But this thyng shall neuer come to reformyng
But the world cōtynually shalbe nought
As long as yong pepyll be euell vpbrought

wherfore the eternall god that raynyth on hye
Send his mercifull grace & influens
To all gouernours that they circumspectly
May rule theyr inferiours by such prudence
To bryng them to vertew & dew obedyens
And that they & we all by his grete mercy
May be ∥teners of hys blessyd glory.

Amen.

Iohēs rastell me imprimi fecit