The Entertainment of the French Ambassadors (The Fortress of Perfect Beauty) (Tilt of the Foster-Children of Desire) · chunk 1 of 12
Goldwell, Henry · published 1581 · first performed or written 1581 [May 15-16] (Annals) tilt · before the Court unassigned nearest T48 Addressing a lady: love, desire and inti · 356 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T48: lady, love, heart, fair, eyes, la, lord, tears, fie, face.
O Lady, that doth entitle the titles you possess with the honour of your worthiness, rather crowning the great crown you hold, with the fame to have so excelling an owner, than you receiving to yourself any increase, keeping that outward ornament? Vouchsafe with patiented attention to hear the words which I by commandment am here to deliver unto you, wherein if your ears (used to the thanks giving of your people and the due praises of the earth) shall feel a stately disdain to hear once the sound of a defie? yet dare I warrant myself so far upon the reply deceiving show of rare beauty, as that malice can not fall from so fair a mind upon the silly messenger, whose mouth is a servant to others direction. Know ye therefore all only Princess, that hereby (for far of they are never) there lies encamped the four long hapless, now hopeful fostered children of Desire: who having been a great while nourished up with that infective milk, and to ●o much care of their fiery fosterer, (though full oft that dry nurse despair endeavoured to wain them from it) being now as strong in that nurture, as they are weak in Fortune, encouraged with the valiant counsel of never fainting DESIRE, and by the same assured, that by right of inheritance even from ever, the FORTRESS OF BEAUTY doth belong to her Fostered Children, Lastly, finding it blazed by all tongues, engraved in all hearts, and proved by all eyes that this fortress built by nature is seated in this Realm: These four I say and say again, thus nourished, thus animated thus entitled, and thus informed, do will you by me, even in the name of justice, that you will no longer exclude virtuous DESIRE from perfect BEAVTIE? Whereto if you yield, (O yield for so all reason requireth) then have I no more to say, but rejoice that my sayings hath obtained so rightful, and yet so blissful a request. But if (alas but let not that be needful) BEAUTIR be accompanied with disdainful pride, and pride weighted on by refusing cruelty.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
O Lady, that doth intitle the titles you possesse with the honour of your worthinesse, rather crowning the great crowne you holde, with the fame to haue so excellinge an owner, then you receiuinge to your selfe any encrease, keeping that outward ornament? Vouchsafe with patient attention to heare the wordes which I by commandement am here to deliuer vnto you, wherein if your eares (vsed to the thankes giuing of your people and the due prayses of the earth) shall feele a stately disdayne to heare once the sounde of a deie? yet dare I warrant my selfe so farre vpon the reply deceiuing show of rare beauty, as that malice can not fall from so fayre a minde vppon the sely messenger, whose mouth is a seruant to others direction. Know ye therefore al onely Princesse, that hereby (for far of they are neuer) there lyes encamped the foure long hples, now hopeful fostered children of Desire: who hauing bin a great vvhile nourished vp vvith that infectiue milke, and to o much care of their fiery fosterer, (though full oft that dry nurse dispaier indeuered to vvaine them from it) being novve as strong in that nurture, as they are vveake in Fortune, incouraged vvith the valiaunt counsaile of neuer fainting DESIRE, and by the same assured, that by right of inheritaunce euen from euer, the FORTRESSE OF BEAVTIE doth belong to her Fostered Children, Lastly, finding it blazed by all tongues, ingraued in all hearts, and proued by all eies that this fortresse built by nature is seated in this Realme: These foure I say and say againe, thus nourished, thus animated thus entituled, and thus enformed, doe vvill you by me, euen in the name of Iustice, that you wil no lō ger exclude vertuous DESIRE frō perfect BEAV TIE? VVhereto if you yelde, (O yelde for so al reason requireth) then haue I no more to say, but reioice that my sayings hath obteined so righfull, and yet so blissefull a request. But if (alasse but let not that be needful) BEAVTIR be accompanied vvith disdainfull pride, and pride vvaighted on by refusing crueltie.