The Entertainment of the French Ambassadors (The Fortress of Perfect Beauty) (Tilt of the Foster-Children of Desire) · chunk 5 of 12
Goldwell, Henry · published 1581 · first performed or written 1581 [May 15-16] (Annals) tilt · before the Court unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 539 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Certes none more willing: They will attempt any thing for thy sake and service of that earthly, and yet (O strange consceite) most heavenvly Sun, for as they were before driven from their DESIRE, because they desired to know the best, so now shall they be driven to their DESIRE which they covet to honour most, This shall be their reward, they shall come near and yet shall not search, and be they far of, it shall warm, A cloud may sometimes bar their sight, but nothing shall deprive them the safeguard, yet command them to be humble in affection, though ●●●uente, least they seem to disdain that pride 〈◊〉, which they desire themselves, The 〈◊〉 ●he highest, delighteth in the shadow which 〈◊〉 shortest, and nourisheth the tree whose root grows deepest, not whose top springeth loftiest. This commission and counsel ended all things were in a moment accomplished with such celereity (for to the God's time is tied) that they were sped as soon as they were spoken, And now most renowned and divine Sun, Adam & Eve being present, vouchsafe to hear somewhat in their behalves pronounced, Sir Knights, if in besieging the sun ye understood what you had undertaken, ye would not destroy a common blessing for a private benefit: Will you subdue the sun, who shall rest in the shadow where the weary take breath, the disquiet rest, and all comfort, will ye bereave all men of those glistering and gladsome beams, what shall then prosper in the shining, but you will limb it by the rays. O rare exhalations, brothers you may be to DESIRE, but sons ye are to ill hap, which thinks you can not sink deep enough into the sea, unless you take your shall from the sun, Desist you knights, desist, sith it is impossible to resist, content your se●●es with the suns indifferent succour, suffer the juniper shrub to grow by the lofty Oak, and claim no prerogative where the sun grants no privilege, for being of the same metal that others are, the sun will work the like effects, as she doth 〈◊〉 others, The Giants would have been gods, if they could have scaled the heavens & you no less than startes, could you conquer the same But as their throwing hill upon hill did manifest their pride, but nothing further their pretence, So your laying challenge upon claim, & conquest upon challenge, may well prove a will but no worthiness, A desire to reach, but no possibility to recover, In which your soaring attempts if you chance to fall, the only comfort you have, is to cry with PHAETOn MAGNIS EXCIDIMUS AUSIS: But if no persuasions may move your minds: Know ye proud Knights, there are that have hearts as big as mountains, and as far above you in prowess, as ye are above all in presumption, yet not so vain (which ye term valiant) to assault the sun, and why, because it is impregnable, we content to enjoy the light, ye to eclipse it, we to rest under the feet, ye to run over the head, we to yield to that which nothing can conquer, you to conquer that which maketh all men Captives.
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)
Certes none more willing: They will attempte any thing for thy sake and seruice of that earthly, and yet (O straunge consceite) moste heauēly Sunne, for as they were before driuen frō their DESIRE, because they desired to knowe the best, so now shall they be driuen to their DESIRE whiche they couet to honour most, This shall be their rewarde, they shall come neeere and yet shall not searche, and bee they farre of, it shall warme, A cloud may sometimes barre their sight, but nothing shall depriue them the sauegarde, yet commaunde them to be humble in affection, thoughe uente, leaste they seeme to disdayne that pride , whiche they desire themselues, The he higheste, delighteth in the shaddowe whiche shortest, and nourisheth the tree whose roote growth deepest, not whose toppe springeth loftiest. This commission and counsell ended all thinges were in a moment accomplied with suche seleritie (for to the Gods time is tied) that they were sped as soone as they were spoken, And now most renoumed and deuine Sunne, Adam & Eue being present, vouchsafe to heare somwhat in their behalfs pronounced, Sir Knights, if in besieging the sunne ye vnderstood what you had vndertaken, ye would not destroye a common blessing for a priuate benefite: VVill you subdue the sunne, who shal rest in the shadow where the weary take breath, the disquiet rest, and all comforte, wil ye bereaue all men of those glstering and gladsome beames, what shall then prosper in the shining, but you will limbe it by the rayes. O rare exhalations, brothers you may bee to DESIRE, but sonnes ye are to ill hap, whiche thinkes you can not sincke deepe enoughe into the sea, vnlesse you take your sal from the sunne, Desist you knights, desist, sithe it is impossible to resist, content your sees with the sunnes indifferent succour, suffer the Ieniper shrub to growe by the loftie Oake, and claime no prerogtiue where the sunne grauntes no priuiledge, for being of the same mettall that others are, the sunne wil work the like effects, as she doth others, The Giants wold haue ben gods, if they could haue scaled the heauens & you no lesse then stares, could you cōquer the same But as their throwing hil vpō hil did manifest their pride, but nothing further their pretence, So your laying challenge vpō claim, & conquest vpon challeng, may wel proue a wil but no worthinesse, A desire to reach, but no possibility to recouer, In which your soaring attemptes if you chāce to fal, the only cōfort you haue, is to cry with PHAETOn MAGNIS EXCIDIMVS AVSIS: But if no perswasions may moue your minds: Know ye proud Knights, there are that haue hearts as big as mountaines, and as far aboue you in provvesse, as ye are aboue all in presumption, yet not so vaine (vvhiche ye terme valiant) to assault the sunne, and vvhy, because it is impregnible, vvee content to enioy the light, ye to ecclipse it, vve to rest vnder the feete, ye to run ouer the head, we to yeeld to that vvhich nothing can conquer, you to conquer that vvhich maketh all men Captiues.