The Entertainment of the French Ambassadors (The Fortress of Perfect Beauty) (Tilt of the Foster-Children of Desire) · chunk 9 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 · 443 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Report hath bruited all abroad, that desperate DESIRE with a wonderful army of affections hath laid his siege against the invincible FORTRESS OF PEEERELESSE BEAUTY, and that the chiefest champions of this most famous enterprise, are four of ●●incies fellows, Fosterbrothers to DESIRE, and dry-nursed by despair, valiant Knights, and honourable personages, whose haughty hearts deserve renown at least, for venturing to win the golden fleece without MEDEA'S help. The Giants long ago did scale the clouds men say, in hope to win the fort of JUPITER. The wanton youth, whose vaxed wings did flie with soaring up aloft, had scaped unscorched if he had kept a meaner gale below. So falls it ou● in this attempt, DESIRE vaunts to conquer BEAUTIES FORT by force, wherein the goddess keeps continually watch and ward, so that DESIRE may despair to win one inch of her against her will. Her stately seat is set so high, as that no level can be laid against her walls, and sooner may men undertake to hit a star with a stone, then to beat her brave bulwarks by battery. No undermining may preuaile, for that her fort is founded upon so firm a Rock, as will not stir for either fraud or force: And is there any hope to win by famine such a fort as yields continual food to all her foes, and though they feed not fat therewith, yet must they either feed thereon or fast, for BEAUTY is the only bait whereon DESIRE bites, and love the chief restority that lady BEAUTY likes, so that she can no more be left without meat, than men can live with out minds: Of all affections that are, DESIRE is the most worthy to woe, but least deserves to win BEAUTY, for in winning his saint he looseth himself, no sooner hath desire what he desireth, but that he dieth presently: So that when BEAUTY yieldeth once to desire, then can she never vaunt to be desired again: Wherefore of force this principle must stand it is convenient for DESIRE ever to wish, necessary & that he always want, O rare & most renowned BEAUTY, O gods to be honoured of all, not to be equalled of any, become not now a prisoner, your FORTRESS is invincible, no doubt DESIRE will content himself with a favourable parley, & weight for grace by loyalty not challenge it by lawnce, although he make near so brave, the wordle doth know, that Ladie BEAUTY needs no rescue to raise this siege, for that she sits above all reach, her heavenly looks above when she so lists can dazzle all men's eyes.
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)
Report hath bruted all abroad, that desperate DESIRE vvith a vvonderfull armie of affections hath laid his siege against the inuncible FORTRESSE OF PEEERELESSE BEAVVTIE, and that the chiefest champions of this most famous enterprise, are foure of incies fellovves, Fosterbrothers to DESIRE, and drie nurst by dispaire, valiant Knights, and honourable personages, vvhose hautie hearts deserue renovvne at least, for venturing to vvin the goldē fleece vvithout MEDEAS helpe. The Gyaunts long agoe did scale the cloudes men say, in hope to vvinne the fort of IVPITER. The vvantō youth, vvhose vaxed vvings did ftie vvith soaring vp aloft, had scapt vnscorcht if he had kept a meaner gale belovv. So falles it ou in this attempt, DESIRE vaunts to conquer BEAVVTIES FORTE by force, vvherin the goddesse keepes continually vvatch and vvarde, so that DESIRE may dispaire to vvin one ynche of her against her vvill. Her stately seate is set so high, as that no leuell can be laid against her vvalles, and sooner may men vndertake to hit a starre vvith a stone, then to beate her braue bulvvarkes by batterie. No vndermining may preaile, for that her forte is founded vpon so firme a Rocke, as vvill not stirre for either fraude or force: And is there any hope to vvinne by famine such a forte as yeeldes continuall foode to all her foes, and though they feede not fat therevvith, yet must they either feede thereon or fast, for BEAVVTIE is the only baite vvhereon DESIRE bites, and loue the chiefe restoritie that lady BEAVVTIE likes, so that she cā no more be left vvithout meat, then men can liue vvith out mindes: Of all affections that are, DESIRE is the most vvorthie to vvoe, but least deserues to vvinne BEAVVTIE, for in vvinning his sainct he looseth him selfe, no soner hath desire vvhat he desireth, but that he dieth presently: So that vvhen BEAVVTIE yeeldeth once to desire, then can she neuer vaunt to bee desired againe: VVherefore of force this principle must stād it is conuenient for DESIRE euer to vvish, necssarie & that he alvvaies vvant, O rare & most renovvmed BEAVVTIE, O goddes to be honored of all, not to be equalled of any, become not novve a prisoner, your FORTRESSE is inuincible, no doubt DESIRE vvill content him selfe vvith a fauourable parley, & vvaight for grace by loyaltie not chalenge it by lavvnce, although he make nere so braue, the vvordle doth knovve, that Ladi BEAVVTIE needes no rescue to rayse this siege, for that she sits aboue al reach, her heauenly looks aboue when she so listes can dazell all mens eyes.