Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Pamphilia to Amphilanthus by Lady Mary Wroth: Song V, 1621
Pamphilia to Amphilanthus: Lady Mary Wroth, Sonnet
quatrains are of the form AABB.
Lady Wroth's "Pamphilia to Amphilanthus" quatrain
form is AABB.
Lady Wroth was educated by her uncle, Philip sidney.
It was extremely unusual for a woman to be
highly educated, able to read and write. In fact, it
is likely that Lady Wroth was the most educated woman
in England at this time. Thus Lady Wroth could be
thought of as a "bas bleu" (a bluestocking:
intellectual woman), an early feminist.
Pamphilia to Amphilanthus by Lady Mary Wroth: Song V, 1621
TIme only cause of my vnrest,
By whom I hop'd once to be blest,
How cruell art thou turn'd?
That first gau'st lyfe vnto my loue,
And still a pleasure not to moue,
Or change, though euer burn'd.
Haue I thee slack'd, or left vndone
One louing rite, and so haue wonne,
Thy rage, or bitter changing?
That now noe minutes I shall see,
Wherein I may least happy be,
Thy fauours so estranging.
Blame thy selfe, and not my folly,
Time gaue time but to be holy,
True Loue, such ends best loueth:
Unworthy Loue doth seeke for ends,
A worthy Loue but worth pretends;
Nor other thoughts it proueth.
Then stay thy swiftnes cruell Time,
And let me once more blessed clime
To ioy, that I may prayse thee:
Let me pleasure sweetly tasting,
Ioy in Loue, and faith not wasting,
and on Fames wings Ile raise thee.
Neuer shall thy glory dying,
Be vntill thine owne vntying,
That Tyme noe longer liueth,
'Tis a gaine such time to lend,
Since so thy fame shall neuer end,
But ioy for what she giueth.
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