Pulter Reads Geffrey Whitney’s A Choice of Emblemes
Evidence from throughout her poetry manuscript makes a very strong case for Pulter’s ownership of a copy of Geffrey Whitney’s A Choice of Emblemes, and Other Devises (Leiden, 1586), which surely was among the inspirations for her emblem series (of 53 poems). In “And Must the Sword this Controverse Decide” (Poem 64), Pulter may have been influenced by the personification of Truth as father Time’s “daughter deare” (Whitney, A Choice of Emblemes, and Other Devises [Leiden, 1586], 4, line 4).
Setting Time’s daughter, the female Truth “alofte,” mentioned in both stanzas, represents the battle against ruth, envy, strife, and slander. Defended by Time, Truth will triumph: “things longe hidd, [she] reveales, and bringes to lighte,” perhaps inspired by Luke 8:17.
- Veritas temporis filia
- Three furies fell, which turne the worlde to ruthe,
- Both Envie, Strife, and Slaunder, heare appeare,
- In dungeon darke they longe inclosed truthe,
- But Time at lengthe, did loose his daughter deare,
- And setts alofte, that sacred ladie brighte,
- Whoe things longe hidd, reveales, and bringes to lighte.
- Thoughe strife make fier, thoughe Envie eate hir harte,
- The innocent though Slaunder rente, and spoile:
- Yet Time will comme, and take this ladies parte,
- And breake her bandes, and bring her foes to foile.
- Dispaire not then, thoughe truthe be hidden ofte,
- Bycause at lengthe, shee shall bee sett alofte.