Early Modern Womens Writing

1
Early Modern Womens Writing

• Sabine Schülting
• Free University of Berlin
• schuelt_at_philologie.fu-berlin.de

2
Let not thy wife be over much eloquent, nor full
of her short and quick arguments, nor have the
knowledge of all histories, nor understand many
things which are written, she pleaseth not me
that giveth herself to poetry, and observing the
art and manner of the old eloquence, doth study
to speak facundiously. Juan Luis Vives, The
Office and Duty of an Husband, 1553
3
Let your women keep silence in the churches for
it is not permitted unto them to speak but they
are commanded to be under obedience, as also
saith the law. And if they will learn any thing,
let them ask their husbands at home for it is a
shame for women to speak in the church. 1 Cor
1434-5
4
Early Modern Womens Writing

• The Problem of Authorship
• Revisions of Literary Traditions
• Reconstructions of Love and Friendship

5
1. The Problem of Authorship
6
The Ballad which Anne Askew made and sang when
she was at Newgate (1546) ... Not oft use I
to write In prose nor yet in rhyme, Yet will I
show one sight That I saw in my time. I saw a
royal throne Where Justice should have sit, But
in her stead was one Of moody cruel wit. Absorbed
was righteousness As of the raging flood Satan
in his excess Sucked up the guiltless blood.
7
The Ballad which Anne Askew made and sang when
she was at Newgate (1546) Like as the armed
knight Appointed to the field, With this world
will I fight, And faith will be my shield. ...
8
Mary Herbert, To the Angell Spirit of the most
excellent, Sir Philipp Sidney (1599) To the
pure Spirit, to thee alone addrest Is this ioynt
worke, by double intrist thine, Thine by this
owne, and what is done of mine Inspird by thee,
thy secret powre imprest. My Muse with thine, it
selfe dard to combine As mortall staffe with
that which is diuine Let thy faire Beames giue
luster to the rest. That Israels King may
daygne his owne transformd In substance no, but
superficiall tire And English guisd in some
sort may aspire To better grace thee what the
vulgar formd His sacred Tones, age after age
admire Nations grow great in pride, and pure
desire So to excell in holy rites performd.
9
2. Revisions of Literary Traditions
10
When everyone to pleasing pastimes hies, Some
hunt, some hawk, some play, while some
delight, In sweet discourse, and music shows
joys might Yet I my thoughts do far above these
prize. The joy which I take is, that free from
eyes 5 I sit and wonder at this day-like
night, So to dispose themselves as void of
right, And leave true pleasure for poor
vanities. When others hunt, my thoughts I have in
chase If hawk, my mind at wishèd end doth
fly 10 Discourse, I with my spirit talk and
cry While others music choose as greatest
grace. O God, say I, can these fond pleasures
move, Or music be but in sweet thoughts of love?
Mary Wroth, from Pamphilia to Amphilanthus
(1621)
11
My Muse now happy lay thy selfe to rest, Sleepe
in the quiet of a faithfull loue, Write you no
more, but let these Phant'sies mooue Some other
hearts, wake not to new vnrest. But if you Study
be those thoughts adrest 5 To truth, which shall
eternall goodnes prooue Enioying of true ioy the
most, and best The endles gaine which neuer will
remoue. Leaue the discourse of Venus, and her
sonne To young beginners, and their braines
inspire 10 With storyes of great Loue, and from
that fire, Get heat to write the fortunes they
haue wonne. And thus leaue off what's past
shewes you can loue, Now let your Constancy your
Honor proue. Mary Wroth, from Pamphilia to
Amphilanthus (1621)
12
Studious She is and all Alone Most visitants,
when She has none, Her Library on which She
looks It is her Head, her Thoughts her
Books. Scorning dead Ashes without fire For her
owne Flames doe her Inspire.
frontispiece to Margaret Cavendish, Philosophical
and Physical Opinions (1655)
13
3. Reconstructions of Love and Friendship
14
Isabella Whitney, To her Unconstant Lover (c.
1567)
... For they, for their unfaithfulness, did
get perpetual fame Fame? Wherefore did I term
it so I should have called it shame. Let
Theseus be, let Jason pass, let Paris also
scape That brought destruction unto Troy all
through the Grecian rape,
And unto me a Troylus be, if not you may
compare With any of these persons that aboue
expressed are. But if I can not please your
mind for wants that rest in me, Wed whom you
list, I am content, your refuse for to be.
...
15
Aemilia Lanyer, Description of Cookham
(1611) Farewell (sweet Cookham) where I first
obtained Grace from the Grace where perfect grace
remained And where the Muses gave their full
consent, I should have power the virtuous to
content Where princely palate willed me to
indite, The sacred story of the souls
delight, Farewell (sweet place) where Virtue than
did rest, And all delights did harbour in her
breast
16
Katherine Philips, Friendships Mysteries, To my
dearest Lucasia (1667) Come, my Lucasia, since
we see That miracles mens faith do move, By
wonder and by prodigy, To the dull angry world
lets prove Theres a religion in our
love. ... We court our own captivity Than
thrones more great and innocent Twere banishment
to be set free, Since we wear fetters whose
intent Not bondage is, but ornament. ... Our
hearts are mutual victims laid, While they (such
power in their friendship lies) Are altars,
priests, and offerings made And each heart which
thus kindly dies, Grows deathless by the
sacrifice.
17
Katherine Philips, A Retired Friendship To
Ardelia. 23rd August 1651. ... Here is no
quarrelling for crowns, No fear of changes in our
fate No trembling at the great ones frowns Nor
any slavery of state. ...
18
Aphra Behn, To the Fair Clarinda, who made Love
to me, imagined more than Woman (1688) Fair
lovely maid, or if that title be Too weak, too
feminine for nobler thee, Permit a name that more
approaches truth And let me call thee, lovely
charming youth. This last will justify my soft
complaint, While that may serve to lessen my
constraint And without blushes I the youth
pursue, When so much beauteous woman is in
view. ...
19
In pity to our sex sure thou wert sent, That we
might love, and yet me innocent For sure no
crime with thee we can commit Or if we should -
thy form excuses it. 15 For who, that gathers
fairest flowers believes A snake lies hid beneath
the fragrant leaves. ... Wheneer the manly
part of thee would plead, 20 Thou tempts us with
the image of the maid, While we the noblest
passions do extend The love to Hermes, Aphrodite
the friend.