The Entertainment of the French Ambassadors (The Fortress of Perfect Beauty) (Tilt of the Foster-Children of Desire) · chunk 2 of 12
Goldwell, Henry · published 1581 · first performed or written 1581 [May 15-16] (Annals) tilt · before the Court unassigned nearest T13 Knights, squires and ladies · 411 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T13: knight, raph, lady, knights, george, master, squire, rafe, pray, god.
Then must I denounce unto you (Woe is me, answer before it be denounced) that they determine by request to accomplish their claim, And because they will better testify to the world, they have been brought up under the wings of honourable DESIRE, this honourable forewarning they send you. That upon the xxiiii day of this month of April they will besiege that fatal FORTRESS, vowing not to spare (if this obstinacy continue) the sword of faithfulness, and the fire of affection? Now if so it fall out, the worthy knights of your Court (moved with passion in themselves) disdain of my senders boldness, or partial liking (which I most doubt) to the majesty of your eyes, will either bid them battle before they approach, or suffering them to approach, will after labor to leuye the siege, They protest to meet them in what sort they will choose, wihning only it may be performed before your own eyes, whom they know as even in judgement, as dainty in choosing, where if so they list. First at the Tilt in so many courses, as yourself shall please to appoint. And then if any will call them to the course of the field with Lance and sword, they hope to give such true proofs of their valler, as at least shall make their desires more noble, vowing on the other side, that if before the night part the fray, they do not overcome all them that come in against them, they will yield themselves slaves unto you for ever? This therefore O Queen (greater in that you are Queen of yourself, then in passing the whole compass of the earth) have I delivered my charge, not as a challenge to your knights? against whom, (but in so just a cause) they acknowledge themselves unable to match the meanest, But as a plain proclamation of War, unless the FORTRESS OF BEAUTY, that hath won so many to lose themselves, be speedily surrendered: And now it shallbe seen what knights you have, whom BEAUTY may draw to resist a rightful title, And I for my poor part moved by that I see in you (though I serve your enemies) will daily pray that all men may see you, & then you shall not fear any arms of adversaries: Or if enemies you must have, that either they may have the minds of them that send me, or their fortunes in that they have long desired.
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)
Then must I denounce vnto you (VVoe is me, ansvvere before it be denounced) that they determine by request to accomplish their claim, And because they vvill better testifie to the vvorlde, they haue bene brought vp vnder the vvings of honorable DESIRE, this honourable forevvarning they sende you. That vpon the xxiiii day of this month of April they vvill besiege that fatal FORTRESSE, vowing not to spare (if this obstinacie continue) the svvoorde of faithfulnesse, and the fire of affection? Novve if so it fall out, the vvorthie knights of your Court (moued vvith passion in them selues) disdaine of my senders boldenesse, or partiall liking (vvhiche I moste doubt) to the maiestie of your eyes, will either bid them battell before they approch, or suffering them to approch, will after laor to luye the siege, They protest to meet them in vvhat sort they vvill chuse, vvihning onely it may bee perfourmed before your ovvne eies, vvhome they knovv as euen in iudgement, as daintie in chusing, vvhere if so they list. First at the Tilte in so many courses, as your self shall please to appoint. And then if any wil call them to the course of the field vvith Launce and svvord, they hope to giue such true proofes of their valler, as at least shal make their desires more noble, vovving on the other side, that if before the night part the fray, they do not ouercome al thē that come in against them, they vvil yeeld themselues slaues vnto you for euer? This therefore O Queene (greater in that you are Queen of your selfe, then in passing the vvhole compasse of the earth) haue I deliuered my charge, not as a challenge to your knightes? againste vvhome, (but in so iust a cause) they acknovvledge themselues vnable to match the meanest, But as a plaine proclaimation of VVarre, vnlesse the FORTRESSE OF BEAVTIE, that hath vvoon so many to lose themselues, be speedily surrendered: And novv it shalbe seene vvhat knights you haue, whom BEAVTIE may draw to resist a rightful title, And I for my pore part moued by that I see in you (thogh I serue your enemies) vvill daily pray that all men may see you, & then you shal not feare any arms of aduersaries: Or if enimies you must haue, that either they may haue the mindes of them that send me, or their fortunes in that they haue long desired.