The Entertainment in Suffolk and Norfolk (Royal Entry of Queen Elizabeth into Norwich) · chunk 11 of 13
Churchyard, Thomas · published 1578 · first performed or written 1578 [Aug] (Annals) entertainment; royal entertainment or entry · before the Court T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.77 · 494 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Much words are spent, where speech shall not prevail, Long time is lost, in threats and fond dispute, Though I good hap, have borne but simple sail, And went aloof, 'tis I must end this suit, And reason bring, as victor of the field, Unto whose troth, your weak discourse shall yield. Fair Beauty here, for whom you foundlings strive, May move, I grant, a God to like her well, But though she were, the fairest thing alive, (As sure indeed, her beauty doth excel) Is that a proof, that you in love must fall, With that which nought pertains to you at all? Admit her mind, by mean of some conceit, With sweet delight, of fancy may be led, Your eager eyes, most greedy of such bait, In forward hope, a season hath been fed. Shall she be spoiled, for favour she bestows In friendly sort, and not in faithful wise? Nay sure, she shall, ne fame nor freedom lose, For frailties faults, or use of gracious eyes. But to the point, and purpose of your strife, One pleads good will, by shape and favour got, (A gallant Boy, to please a pleasant wife) Another tells a penned tale by rote, Bedecked and field with inkhorn terms enough. The third comes in, and calls himself Dezart, And each of them are seen in stories throw, And finely seeks to conquer Love by art. Great sleight is used, and Clerkly cunning both, To force a right, and judgement in this case, Dezart, he tells a trim discourse of troth, The tender twig makes boast of shining face. And Courage he, by Manhood claimeth all. Great points they are, that pleaded are this day, And unto whom, the Lady now should fall, Some doubts may rise, if reason bore the sway. But to be brief, fair Shape and comely port, The wise men hold, but outward blossoms vain, And Manhood's force, may here be knit up short, Stout hearts may not, alone the glory gain: Nor yet Desert, that nearest goes the goal, May win the prize, and thrust his better back, For he it is, that hath the greatest dole, That doth in deed, no piece of Fortune lack. Good Fortune still, a Lord of worldly chance Is only judge, himself, of all is done, Bid Strength stand back, good Fortune leads the Dance, Fine shape likewise, with Fortune dare not run. Dezart is dead, where Fortune men advance. So here I prove, since I good Fortune have, This Dame is mine, her destiny wills it so, In Mother's womb, the Gods this gift me gave, She ordained was, with me away to go. Each worldly grace, and rule with Fortune flies, A wife must needs, then stoop to destiny's lot. Wherefore I here, possess this noble prize, As jewel rich, by hap and Fortune got. Who strives to take, her now from me by force, Shall have withal, my breath and vital corpse.
seed 43: T13 · seed 44: T16 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
MVch words are spent, where speech shall not preuayle, Long time is lost, in threats and fond dispute, Though I good Happe, haue borne but simple ayle, And went aloofe, tis I must end thys sute, And reason bring, as victor of the field, Vnto whose troth, your weak discourse shall yeeld. Faire Beautie heere, for whome you fondlings striue, May moue, I graunt, a God to like hir well, But though she wer, the fayrest thing aliue, (As sure indeede, hir beautie doth excell) Is that a proofe, that you in loue must fall, VVith that which nought pertaynes to you at all? Admitte hir mind, by meane of some consayte, VVith sweete delight, of fancie may be ledde, Your eagre eyes, most greedie of such bayte, In forward hope, a season hath bin fedde. Shall she be spoyld, for fauoure she bestowe In friendly sort, and not in faithfull wise? Nay sure, she shall, ne fame nor freedome lose, For fraylties faultes, or vse of gracious eyes. But to the poynt, and purpose of your strie, One pleades good will, by shape and fauoure got, (A gallant Boy, to please a pleasant wife) Another tels a penned ale by rote, Bedeckt and fylde with ynckone tearmes ynow. The third commes in, and calles himselfe Dezart, And each of them are seene in Storyes throw, And finely seekes to conquere Loue by arte. Great sleight is vsd, and Clarkly cunning both, To force a right, and iudgement in this cace, Dezart, e telles a trimme discourse of troth, The wigge makes boast of shining face. And Courage he, by Manhood claymeth all. Great poynts they are, that pleaded are this day, And vnto whome, the Lady now should fall, Some doubts may rise, if reason bore the sway. But to be briefe, fayre Shape and comely port, The wise men hold, but outward blossoms vayne, And Manhoods force, may heere be knitte vp short, Stoute hearts may not, alone the glorie gayne: Nor yet Dezat, that neerest goes the gole, May winne the prise, and thrust his better backe, For he it is, that hath the greatest dole, That doth in deede, no peece of Fortune lacke. Good Fortune still, a Lord of worldly chance Is only iudge, himselfe, of all is done, Bid Strength stand backe, good Fortune leades the Dance, Fine shape likewise, with Fortune dare not runne. Dezart is dead, where Fortune men aduance. So heere I prooue, since I good Fortune haue, This Dame is mine, hir destnie willes it so, In Mothers wombe, the Gods this gift me gaue, She ordeynd was, with me away to goe. Each worldly grace, and rule with Fortune flyes, A wife must needes, then stope to destnyes lot. VVherefore I heere, possesse thys noble prize, As Iewell rich, by happe and Fortune got. VVho striues to take, hir now from me by force, Shall haue withall, my breath and vitall corse.