Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 2 (horestes, quha, weill, bohor, sysimethres, griselda…). Matches are highlighted.
ball in merit does belong. Then mark my tale the usual time is nigh, When wont the worser nies of life and destiny, In robes of cheerful colours to repair, To this renowned Queen so wise and fair, With pleasant songs this peerless nymph to greet, Clotho lays down her distaste at her feet. And Lachesis does pull the thread at length,
Full speech
Thy will, my wish, fair Ladies, will ye wend? Lo, Ladies, far beyond my hope and will, you see, This thankless office is imposed to me: Wherein if you will rest aswell content, As Dian will be judge indifferent, My equal doom shall none of you offend, And of this quarrel make a final end: And therefore, whither you belief of loath, Confirm your promise with some sacred oath. It is enough, and goddesses attend: There wons within these pleasant shady woods, Where neither storm nor Suns distemperature Have power to hurt by cruel heat or cold, Under the climate of the milder heaven, Where seldom lights Jove's angry thunderbolt, For favour of that sovereign earthly peer: Where whystling winds make music among the trees, Far from disturbance of our country gods, Amids the Cypress springs a gracious Nymph, That honour Dian for her chastity, And likes the labours well of Phoebes groves: The place Elizium hight, and of the place, Her name that governs there Eliza is, A kingdom that may well compare with mine. And ancient seat of kings, a second Troy, Ycompast round with a commodious sea: Her people are leeped Angeli Or if I miss a lettre is the most. She gives laws of justice and of peace, And on her head as fits her fortune best, She wears a wreathe of laurel, gold, and palm: Her robes of purple and of scarlet die, Her vail of white, as best befits a maid. Her ancestors live in the house of fame, She gives arms of happy victory, And flowers to deck her lyons crowned with gold. This peerless nymph whom heaven and earth beloves, This Paragon, this only this is she, In whom do meet so many gifts in one, On whom our country gods so often gaze, In honour of whose name the Muses sing. In state Queen Juno's peer, for power in arms, And virtues of the mind Minvera's As fair and lovely as the queen of love: As chased as Dian in her chased desires. That am is she, if Phoebe do no wrong, To whom this ball in merit does belong. Then mark my tale the usual time is nigh, When wont the worser nies of life and destiny, In robes of cheerful colours to repair, To this renowned Queen so wise and fair, With pleasant songs this peerless nymph to greet, Clotho lays down her distaste at her feet. And Lachesis does pull the thread at length, The third with favour gives it stuff and strength And for contrary kind affords her leave, As her best likes her web of life to weave This time we will attend, and in the mean while With some sweet song the tediousness beguile. And lo beside this rare solemnity, And sacrifice these dams are wont to do, A favour far in deed contrary kind, Bequeathed is unto thy worthiness. She delivereth the ball of gold to the Queens own hands This prize from heaven and heavenly goddesses, Accept it then, thy endue by Dians dome, Praise of the wisdom, beauty and the state, That best becomes thy peerless excellency.
Plot summary
Plot — The Arraignment of Paris
Minor deities greet Juno, Pallas, and Venus and present them with gifts. Intending Troy’s downfall, Ate leaves a golden apple where the three goddesses will find it. Seeing that it is addressed to the most beautiful, they quarrel about which of them should be the recipient, then refer the case to the judgement of the next passer-by. This proves to be Paris, who has just pledged his love to Oenone. Each goddess offers him a reward for judging in her favour: Juno offers wealth, Pallas fame, and Venus love, in the person of Helen. Paris chooses Venus, and wins the enmity of the other two. Colin the shepherd dies for love of Thestylis. Not knowing that he has jilted Oenone, Venus tells Paris of the unpleasant consequences for lovers who break their vows, and punishes Thestylis with unrequited love for an ugly old man. Mercury summons Paris to the court of Jove, to answer charges of partiality laid by Juno and Pallas. He pleads his case before the Council of Gods: the court acknowledges its justice and sends him home to the doomed city of Troy. Juno and Pallas appeal, and Venus gives up the golden apple, confident that it will be awarded to her a second time. At Apollo’s suggestion, Diana is appointed judge in the case, since the incident originally happened near her bower. Diana awards the golden apple to the nymph Eliza, ruler of Elysium (representing Queen Elizabeth, in the audience). The goddesses of destiny, according to their annual custom, also resign their symbols of power to the Queen.